Cats: Discussions

Hello all,
This post is not really “pet” related except in that I sell cat products on eBay. I am more venting and am hoping for some feedback as well.

What do you think the “feedback” means?
What do you think it should mean?
Do you think eBay users are quick to be rude? If so why?


My thoughts on these questions are:

What do you think the “feedback” means?: I see 2 answers to this one. eBay is vague in its definition of it. I spent a while reading up on it in the help and sometimes it implies a rating of the transaction, others your experience, others the product. It is as if 45 separate people came up with the help and no one read the others definition or discussed it with each other. I personally feel it should be a representation or reflection on the experience. How well did the buyer (or seller) conduct themselves. In other words how is the seller/buyer a good person to deal with. I do not see it relating to the product. Why don’t I see the product as part? Simply that after a time the auction number no longer links to a listing and people have no clue what you are ranting or happy about. How often have you seen a feedback that says “This product sucks and so does the seller!”. Wow, that was so not helpful. Beyond the item rant, how did the seller suck? Because they sold an item the buyer dislikes?

What is should mean: I think the feedback should represent how good of a seller you are (I am not even going to mention buyer since they can now ONLY get good feedback). Why? Well, imagine you decide you want to see a movie this weekend (aka go shopping on eBay), so you open the local paper and look over the movies in the area (look over listings of products) and then narrow it down by the movie reviews (user ratings). You happen to come across one that has this review: “This movie SUCKS! I went and the 3 people sitting next to me were loud and rude and the popcorn tasted burned! I will NEVER see a movie produced by 20th Century again, EVER!” That is the equivalent of a buyer saying that the seller sucks because they disliked the item. Or suppose you open the local paper tomorrow and see a headline that says “Avoid Safeway grocery stores! They really suck! They dare to sell Dole Pineapples in cans and they taste like poop!” How was that helpful?

On to the rude issue: As al seller I sometimes grow tired of rude and stupid buyers. Stupid: You have a listing that says: “32oz Can of Brand Flea-Be-Gone Pink Colored Cat flea powder” and then a potential buyer emails “How many ounces is the can?” or “What is the brand of flea powder?” or “Is this a powder or shampoo?” or “Is this the red, pink or grey powder?”. Actually I get even dumber questions sometimes, and I end up biting my lips to hold back sarcasm when I reply.

On the rude side I get many people who pay and then complain right away. An example is someone who buys an item on Friday, pays via PayPal at 7:34pm Friday and then emails me Tuesday demanding to know where their item is. I just had such an email and they sent me the email Monday night saying (in ALL caps) “I paid you on Friday and I live in the next state. I should have my order by now and my feedback will reflect how inept your ability to ship seems to be”. Being we deal on a computer with each other and not in person, we have to read a lot more into the replies to figure out tone and emotion. Sending me an email like that in all caps tells me you are screaming and a rude twerp and aside from trying to defuse the situation I will add you to my blocked list right away. Even if they sent me the email 7 days after paying, does sending a rude, nasty or inflammatory email help your case?

I also will get emails saying “The item sucks! I bought 4 and 2 were bad!”. In that case I always email back and ask what happened and offer to replace the bad items. Then I get “The items were so bad I threw them out right away! I want my money back or a replacement!”. Okay, why on Earth would you expect an exchange on a nonexisting item? Does this buyer also go to Bloomingdales and buy a new pair of shoes, only to return to the store 4 days later, go to the shoe department and yell at the sales person “I bought a horrible pair of Christian Dior shoes from you your, you stupid jerk! They suck! I threw them out at home 4 days ago and now I demand you give me a full refund or a new pair of the shoes that suck! NOW! Or I will go to the local newspaper and write a feedback op-ed on how bad your store sucks and how ugly you personally are!” Why are people so bold and brazen when anonymity hides them?

Have any of you ever acted in such a way in an eBay sale? (I doubt many will admit to this) If so, did you feel bad about it and try to make up for it, or did you just leave a bad feedback and not care how you acted? (I really doubt anyone will admit to that one)

Anyway, I just wanted to rant and see what others thought.

David

Hi,
We are moving from Florida to Nashville Tennessee. I have 3 cats and they cry so bad just going down the street to the doctor. Can anyone tell me the best way to transport them and keep them calm for the long trip? It breaks my heart when they cry and the trip is 14-16 hours. Any help would be great!
Thanks
Tracy

who will dress their cat up 4 halloween & as what?

One of my neighbors has 3 cats, who are never allowed in the house. 2 are unaltered males, at least one of which has developed a habit of visiting us and marking the bushes in front of our living room windows.

All of our cats are inside-only, and all are fixed, but one really is offended by this! (So are we - we replaced the windows about a year ago, and I love to open windows and get fresh air.) We cannot open the windows, or even the front door - their cat(s) spray the bushes AND the storm door. The smell comes right through or under the storm door, and my bad boy Simon gets himself into trouble by retaliating.

Are there ANY products that would keep the other cats away?
My dogs bark, but they aren't afraid. It takes too long to get out there to use a squirt gun, and I don't always see them doing it (they are identical sons.)

I'm hoping there is some kind of product that will keep them away from our yard, so this will stop happening, and we can open our doors and windows again!

(Talking to the neighbors was ineffective. Hinting at the problem seemed to go right over their heads, and they apparently don't believe in house cats OR fixing males! When I asked - weren't they worried about the cats safety, the father said, no - they can get into the garage if they need to. - They have dogs that stay outside in the backyard, so the cats don't go there!)

I'll stop back later to see if any one has any other suggestions! I love the fresh air in spring and fall - but THIS air is by no means what I had in mind!
Joan

I recently got a kitten, Winne, and when she lays on my bed and purrs she moves her front paws up and down. What does this mean?

ANY SUGGESTION WOULD BE HELPFUL. SOME OF THE DISEASE RELATED TO OWNING A CAT. THANK YOU!

Us gay people have cats too :o)~
I've added 2 new cards to my Pride Collection (handmade cards by Vero). Check 'em out, and spread the word! Where else are you going to find unique, hand made cards for the gay community? No where...I know, because I looked!