ilovemygirls

Monday, October 30, 2006

The 4 B's

The 4 B's!
Bloomingdales
Barneys New York
Bergdorf Goodman
Bendels

My daughter and I along with my two dogs did the 4 B's today!
It's such fun! I love these stores - everything is so beautiful - the people are so beautiful - everyone looks so good - everyone is carrying packages - everyone looks happy!

I guess it's a time to forget all of the terrible things going on in the world today! at least for a little while!

Bloomingdales was jammed - actually too crowded for me and the dogs - I was afraid that people would trip on my girls! Too much for them. So much merchandise - quite amazing! and there fat-free yogurt is the very best!

Barneys - a little calmer - more expensive - everything is beautiful!

Bergdorf Goodman - to me the museum of clothing! I love the first floor - the handbags, the scarves, the gloves - the beautiful people! Quite decadent!

Bendels - very young! very hip! (showing my age!) I was happy when we left!

The dogs got a great walk from store to store - my daughter and I had some nice exercise and we were just happy that we found a cabbie willing to take the dogs in his cab. They were so well behaved.

Nothing like New York City! I love it!

Sunday, October 29, 2006

You want to see REAL STYLE?


My Stoli!
All ready for HALLOWEEN!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
Hope it's not tooooo scary!


Saturday, October 28, 2006

Style! Who's Got It?

Where does style come from? Who's got it? Who doesn't?

Some people can buy the most expensive clothing - beautiful clothing and still not look great! It's not expensive and great looking clothing that gives you style - it's you - it's something that a person just has. I guess you can try to buy it - a good salesperson can help you pick out things that are right for you - but you have to something that comes from within you! You can't buy that!

I knew someone once who "came into some money" and started shopping like a mad woman - beautiful expensive things - tons of them! But the linen was always crumbled looking on her - now that is what linen is all about - but on her it just looked awful - she just looked disheveled! Her blouses were always hanging out of her pants or skirts (of course now it's the style to have your shirt hanging out - then it wasn't!) - it didn't matter what she wore - she was messy, sloppy - she did not have style! And nothing was going to change that!

I see a lot of young women who are not spending a fortune on their clothing - yet they look fabulous - they wear it well, it fits - it works - they've got style! It really isn't something that you can buy!

I love clothing - I have always loved clothing - from the time I was a little girl - I had my own style - I still do! I'm lucky!

The one thing that really makes me crazy is a woman who needs her friends approval before she will buy something. She doesn't have enough faith in her own taste to buy something. And believe me, you can't always trust your friends! I have seen women looking really fabulous in something - really fabulous! and what does the friend say? "Oh, I don't know - I don't like it". And BINGO - the other gal doesn't buy it! I guess there are times when I might ask an opinion - but overall, I know what I like and what I want to wear.

Shopping should be fun!

Friday, October 27, 2006

I don't understand this at all!.......

Why would someone bid on something - win it - and then not get in touch with the seller at all. OK - so you're assuming that this person is just a deadbeat! No, this particular person has 11 good feedbacks. She pays so quickly they all say - and how good an ebayer she is.

I don't do what a lot of sellers on ebay do - THREATEN! I hate that - you read the description of their item and then they start ranting and raving about how you have to pay in 3 days OR ELSE! Or else what? Are they going to come to my house and get me? Or.....if they don't get paid in 10 days they will relist the item and give you - ah yes, you know - NEGATIVE FEEDBACK!

How dare they threaten anyone? I don't understand it at all. I mean, isn't this a friendly transaction? Aren't we happy that someone wants to do business with us? At the store when someone decides to buy something - we don't start yelling at them about which credit card they are going to give us - or how quickly they're going to get their checkbook out. We smile - we're friendly - we're happy that they are making a purchase.

Should it be different for an online purchase through ebay? I don't think so. I don't threaten anyone - I don't tell them I am going to give them negative feedback - I just assume that if you have bid on an item and you have won it - well, then I assume that you're going to pay for it.

So - I send out the invoice as soon as the auction is ended. Most people pay at once - some people pay the second the auction is over (I do that) and some people will get in touch with me to tell me when they are going to pay. Some people will say that they are watching another item that I have on and is it OK for them to wait so that they can be shipped together if they win that too. Of course! I have had people ask me (before the auction is over) if they can pay on payday? or in a week? Of course! Really, with me - everything is OK - except for this.......you win the item - I send the invoice - I don't hear from you at all.

Once I heard from someone annoyed that I even sent an invoice - afterall, someone in the familly died - now she doesn't want it at all! Duh! Was I supposed to know that? I don't even leave negative feedback for that - but you know why, don't you?

So - my suggestion to all buyers - pay the invoice as soon as you can - and if you can't - please - please, just email and say how and when you are going to pay. I don't mind waiting - I'm totally reasonable - I just like to hear from you.

THANKS!

If you would like to comment on this - please click here.....

Check out my items listed on ebay - here.......


Just for the record - after 10 days went by I put in a non-payer dispute with ebay - obviously when she got that she paid. Not a word from her - no apology - nothing. This doesn't make for a great ebay experience. She winds up with a fabulous (really fabulous value - $1200 Issey Miyake suit for $180!) and not a word from her. And of course I don't even want to say anything negative in my feedback (I wouldn't leave a negative - but I'd love to leave a neutral - which doesn't hurt her record) - but you know I could pay the price for that. Read - What's wrong with Ebay's feedback system.....


Sunday, October 22, 2006

Why do people do this?

Ebay is such a fun place. So many great values and so many nice people. Why do I feel personally hurt when someone doesn't do the right thing?

A fabulous Issey Miyake suit sold for $180 (a definite $1200 value to be sure) and this person has not gotten in touch with me at all! She (I'm assuming it is a SHE) has only 11 feedbacks - but they are all from sellers and they are all good!

So rarely does this happen. With over 1000 items sold I can count on one hand (and not even using up all of those fingers) how many times this has happened. People always let you know one way or the other when they will pay. Sometimes they are watching another item that is up for auction on my site - sometimes they want me to wait for payday - never a problem - I always wait. BUT why would someone NOT bother to get in touch at all?

So I sent this email out this morning - DO YOU THINK THAT I WILL GET A RESPONSE?

I am very confused by the fact that you have in no way bothered to get in touch with me regarding payment of this amazing value that you won on ebay. This very expensive and beautiful outfit cost over $1200 and you managed to win it for a mere $180.00 - a great value to be sure.

I have been selling on ebay for three years now and have been most fortunate to have had this happen only a few times. Did you know that ebay was founded based on the idea of honesty and integrity? Yes, that is indeed how it started and it disturbs me greatly when someone does not uphold their end of a bargain. I have had items sell for much less than they should have gone for - BUT I have always sent them out with a smile because that is also what ebay is all about. I myself have gotten many great deals and enjoy seeing it go both ways.

The fact that you have not made any effort to get in touch with me regarding payment is very surprising. You do have very little feedback - but what you have is all good. Unlike other sellers who threaten their buyers - I do not and never have. I expect the same from them as I give myself. I pay for any item that I win immediately and although not everyone pays me immediately - they ALWAYS let me know what their intentions are.

Perhaps there is something going on in your life right now that prevents you from getting in touch with me - that has happened once or twice - I respect that and hope that everything is OK -

One way or another I would really appreciate hearing from you..

If you've changed your mind - let me know. But please remember - ebay is a great and fun place - you should treat it accordingly.

I certainly hope that I will hear from you soon.

Thanks
Barbara
ilovemygirls3

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Please check out my items on ebay....right here!......



Thursday, October 19, 2006

I'm telling you this again........

While talking with my sister-in-law the other night, she mentioned that she thought that this SNIPING situation sounds kind of low and remembered the time we were bidding on a Vera Wang wedding dress! My daughter was getting married and I saw this fabulous wedding dress - Vera Wang - after all, it had only been worn once! It was quite gorgous and was the right size.

We watched and watched the auction...............the problem was - it ended at 2:15 AM! What were we going to do? How could we get our bid in at the last minute? We weren't even going to be home and at that time didn't have a lap top (at that time an "airport" was a place to catch a flight!) - this was years ago. So we arranged with my niece that we would call her at 2 AM and she would get our high bid in at the very end!

We woke her up at 2 AM as planned and we all sat around the telephone while my niece got ready to place the bid. It was a reserve auction and even though we were the HIGH BID we didn't win the gown! No one bid high enough to win as it was an auction with a reserve. I did contact the seller, but by that time she had already sold it to someone else.

All's well that end's well - my daughter never married that fellow, never needed the gown and was married a few weeks ago to a really wonderful guy (and is soooo happy) in a gorgeous dress that we bought at the bridal shop in town.


BUT - if we knew about Auction Sniper we would have just bid in our high bid and wouldn't have had to get up in the middle of the night! Wouldn't have had to wake my niece and things would have worked out just as well. Again - we wouldn't have won the dress anyway as we would not have bid as high as her reserve had been.

So I agree that it seems kind of low - BUT ON THE OTHER HAND - it can come in rather handy. You put in your bid (the highest you're actually willing to pay) and then you can forget about it. If you win the item - great! If not, there is always something else!

Check out SNIPER by clicking
here......

Check out my items on ebay by clicking here.....

If you have a comment leave it here......



Wednesday, October 18, 2006

This is what can happen........

It really makes no sense - but the thing about ebay is that you can list something on ebay - let's say for $99 - the item does not sell......so you wait a week or two and relist it for less. What can happen? Well, it will sell for more!! It happened just today. I had a pair of Kelian wedges on for $79.99 and they didn't sell. I couldn't understand - shoes were fabulous (if you like Stephane Kelian shoes AND I do). I relisted them three weeks later for $49.99 - what do you think happened? They sold today for a little over $111.

Of course - with ebay you just don't know anything. The same item listed one week or another will bring in a different amount each week.

Sometimes when people give me things to sell they ask what I think it will sell for. Well, I can give an estimate - but you really never know. That's one of the reasons you can get such value on ebay. It all depends on how many people might want what you are selling - if two people are bying for the same item - the price can go very high - but if only 1 person is interested - chances are they will get a great deal. That also happened today - I was selling a really wonderful pants suit from Issey Miyake - in brand new condition - it sold for over $1200 and went today for $180! What's better than that? Miyake does not go out of style - this suit was in impeccable condition. Someone has gotten very lucky.

Interesting......I think.

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Check out my items - see if there is a great deal for YOU!


Monday, October 16, 2006

Puleeze!

Really! I love The Today Show - I don't miss Katie (is that OK?) - I'm happy though to see her on the CBS News - a little more serious - less giggly! (Thank GOODNESS!)......I always ramble....but I am enjoying Meredith!

BUT this morning they had someone on who decided that wearing all
that BLACK was/is not a good thing. I just love these makeovers - who made them the fashion police? They take this woman who loves to wear BLACK - throw in some GRAY....to me she looked good - she looked comfortable - and what do they do? They put her in this Gray/Green suit with a belt under her breast and they say "now isn't that better?" - check out the color.....Gray/Green - are we calling that color? Firstly - she looked comfortable in the clothing that she had on before the "makeover" - and she looked GOOD! After they made her over - she looked uncomfortable! Why try to make her look like someone else? If she needs some color throw a pretty scarf around her neck - give her a handbag with color - a necklace (if she will be comfortable with that - I wouldn't be) - but really - changing her whole look - I don't think so.

But then - the next one! Oh boy! Here she was - definitely chunky (OK - I'm chunky tooooo) in her sweats (I agree - sweats gotta go) and they put her in a black chiffon tight dress. Now - you tell me - is someone going to go from wearing comfy sweats to tight chiffon dresses for their everyday lives - right - I don't think so! Why not put her in a nice pair of pants with an elastic waist (I know that they're there - we sell them!) with a beautiful comfortable sweater. The same feel of the sweats without the terrible look! AND THEN - a diet!

I used to have a friend (a hundred years ago) who used to wear "outfits" - yes, pieces that went and came together. That's OK - she always looked GREAT! I never dressed that way - slacks/sweaters, etc. - pieces - not outfits. So I went out and bought myself an "outfit" - and there it sat in my closet - never worn. It wasn't me - it was my friend - so I gave the "outfit" to her. Really - we have to do what is right for us.

Have fun - be comfortable! Be YOU!

Check out my items on ebay - I always have those pants with the elastic waists - they're expensive in the store - starting at $500 - fine them on my site for a lot less along with those fabulous ESKANDAR sweaters that start at $650 at the store and are a lot less here!

AND - if you'd like to comment on PULEEZE! Click here!

Have fun - be comfy!



Sunday, October 15, 2006

Thanks for sharing your experience!

The following is a comment from an ebayer responding to What's Wrong With the Feedback System on Ebay?

I, too am in agreement with you. I bought a few vintage Vogue magazines from a seller. He described them as being in "ok used condition" and said they "seemed complete." Well each magazine was missing at least 30 pages. He was pretty hostile when I complained about it and answered me in monosyllabic illiterate sentences. "OK, lady, so what about it?" kind of thing.

He was not going to do anything for me. I noticed that despite the fact that I had paid instantly, he had not given me feedback. After all, I had held up my end of the bargain. In fact, I noticed that he was in the habit of giving negative retaliatory feedback to anyone who dared give him a neutral or negative.

My solution: I checked the positive feedback box, but wrote something very negative in Spanish. Enough people speak Spanish that at least they will get a chuckle out of it. "Received magazines. Están faltando muchas páginas y huelen mal! Muy gracias!" Translation: They were missing many pages and smelled bad! He immediately gave me positive feedback. It turned a bad experience into something I can now laugh about.

So YES, this is what is wrong with the FEEDBACK SYSTEM on EBAY. I'm glad that this gal had the opportunity in her little way to get the last chuckle - but this is just not fair. It would be great if EBAY were willing to review unfair NEGATIVE Feedbacks - perhaps that way they could stop people from BLACKMAILING their buyers.

If you'd like to leave a comment - Click on this link....

Check out the items I have for auction on ebay.....click on this link....

Sorry!

It's been a few days since I've been able to take computer in hand to write something. After getting some news from a friend that has put me in a bit of a funk I just didn't have the energy. I won't go into that - BUT it does get you thinking about taking life ONE DAY AT A TIME (as if we have any choice).

I guess that is what I love about clothing and working in a store that has THE most beautiful clothing. It's all so simple - it makes you forget about the really bad things that we deal with everyday (just by listening to or reading the news). Of course we know it makes you forget for only a little bit....

This is what I tell people when they worry about making their purchases - if you love it - if you can buy it - then you should. I see the pleasure that women get from their purchases. They love the clothing - it makes them happy. I don't think that it will really make you forget or fix the bad things that are going on - but at least it makes you feel good for a little while.

This must sound very materialistic, but you know - none of us know what will happen tomorrow. Will we get hit by another car while driving? Will we discover we are very sick? (OK now you must thinking that I'm just another depressed soul - but really I'm not - I just see and hear what each day is about). So dammit - buy the fabulous sweater - enjoy what each day can bring and take whatever little pleasure it gives you - how easy that is.

The last few days at the store have been very bustling - we really did a lot of business and it was really fun watching people feeling good and enjoying their purchases. Everyone goes back to the other things no matter what - so I hope that their new handbag, or their new sweater or the great new warm comfy coat that they bought will make them happy - if only for a little while.


Wednesday, October 11, 2006

These are really beautiful!

If you love fabulous handbags - these are for you....each one is Genuine Alligator and they are just gorgeous! I will be listing these over the next few weeks. They're all fabulous and all excellent quality and in great condition.

The first one is
Burgundy alligator - lined in burgundy leather and in perfect condition - it was carried once.The next is from the same company - LAI - Luxury Accessories International - a very good company. I looked on their site and see their alligator bags starting at $5,000!



This one is gorgeous and also used once - why do we do these things? What are we thinking when we buy something that we'll only use once?









The next is made of Baby Alligator (somehow that sounds very upsetting to me-the word BABY is the problem!). It's from Swarovski Crystal - the alligator is amazing and perfect!














Then comes the very best - Paloma Picasso - this bag is really amazing! I would have it dyed
BLACK immediately and I think it would be fantastic (although the RED is pretty nice too!)


Let's not forget this little wonderful thing - and in my favorite color -
PEANUT BUTTER BROWN!







So if you like these - watch my site - they will be listed shortly - I think that they will make great holiday gifts! Especially if you like to buy yourself something special!!!!!

In the meanwhile don't forget to check out my site and see the things that I have up
ilovemygirls3

AND....if you'd like to leave a comment -
CLICK here



Tuesday, October 10, 2006

G-d Bless UPS!

We were on Martha's Vineyard all weekend for a beautiful wedding. Weather was perfect and the wedding was GREAT!

We were talking to someone who lives on the island ALL YEAR ROUND! Seems like it can be hard to live there all year round! COLD - SNOW - ICE - STRANDED! and what about shopping? Where can you buy all of your goodies? Of course with the internet I guess you can buy just about anything - especially with ebay! But then I wondered - how does the UPS truck get there?

Do they keep a truck on the island? Do they fly the packages to Woods Hole? and then put them on a truck once they are on the island? Oh my!

On our way on to the ferry heading back home - there it was - coming off of the ferry - A HUGE UPS truck!

So that's the answer - they must take a truck to the island each day with all of the goodies that everyone needs to live there all year round!

I love UPS! After all, what has BROWN done for you today?

BUT - as much as I love UPS - I use the USPS for my ebay mailings. They provide free boxes and I have found that the
USPS is very reliable!

Saturday, October 07, 2006

Minnie Mouse Would Love These!


The first thing I thought of when I saw these was MINNIE MOUSE! Wouldn't she have loved these fabulous shoes!

I get so many wonderful and unusual things to sell - when I saw these I thought "whew! - can anyone really walk on these?" - but then going through October's WWD I came across these shoes - all for sale - right now! Do people really buy these shoes?

I would guess that they do -

Gone are the days when I could wear such high heels - I used to walk my baby carriage in the park in New York City wearing Charles Jourdan high high heels - now, it's all about comfort! I couldn't even ram my foot into those shoes anymore. Perhaps my feet would be feeling better now had I not worn them then either.




When I see the young women in those high high heels I wonder how they do it - but then I remember that I did it too!
















You can see the other items that I have on ebay right now EBAY ITEMS


Have a comment? Leave it here.....






Wednesday, October 04, 2006

Back to Hell's Angels!


Browsing a BARNEYS NEW YORK catalouge I came across this photo! These boots are from Junya Watanabe Comme des Garcons.....

These BIKER BOOTS are quite nice - but NOT as nice as the ones I had on ebay.......

These boots are $710 and don't come close to these.........







check out my listing for these BIKER BOOTS. Maybe I just need to find a gorgeous model to put them on!




You can check the auction out on October 16th (PM) as they are scheduled to go back on then - Item #110040564360 BIKER BOOTS

In the meanwhile you can see the other items that I have on ebay right now EBAY ITEMS

Have a comment? You can leave it here.....

Tuesday, October 03, 2006

What's wrong with the feedback system on eBay?

Feedback is very important - if you are buying a big ticket item especially. BUT I find that I have to be oh so careful when I leave feedback for someone that I have bought something from or for certain people who buy from me.

There are dirty things that go on here - like the sellers who say "I will mirror your feedback" - to me that's BLACKMAIL! That's like the creep who gave me my one negative - NO I will never get over it! SORRY! If you are not happy with your purchase the first thing you should do is contact the seller and discuss it through email. If you feel that you have been cheated - or that the item is really NOT AS DESCRIBED and the seller won't do anything for you - well then you want to leave either NEUTRAL or NEGATIVE feedback. BUT if this seller has not left feedback for you yet - well, BE CAREFUL! Because that will open the door for them to leave NEGATIVE feedback for you!

What's wrong with this picture? A LOT!

This is what is wrong with feedback as far as I'm concerned. When I want to say that the item that I received was not up to snuff - I won't - because I know that person will then leave NEGATIVE feedback for me.

I feel that it works when a person like myself has mostly (oh, there we go again) Positive feedback. You read my feedback and you see that I am honest, ship things quickly and that the items that I ship are wonderful.

But what happens when a person is totally unreasonable - like the gal who bought the $400 sneakers for $50 and decides she does want that $10 credit! She can leave me
NEGATIVE feedback. She can say that the sneakers weren't new (even though they indeed were/are) - than what? - if she left me NEGATIVE feedback - do I do the same to her? Well, truthfully, I wouldn't - I could possibly leave her a NEUTRAL (which doesn't effect her actual percentage) and say that I felt she was being unreasonable. That's about the most that I would do. I actually left her POSITIVE feedback as she paid immediately.

Or what about the crazy who told me that the CHANEL sunglasses were FAKE! When they of course were TOTALLY real? My niece bought them at Neiman Marcus. She was really crazy - sent me about 10 emails threatening me! I don't have to be threatened - I take anything back - who wants such a nut to have such wonderful sunglasses anyway? I took them back and they sold immediately to someone else (for more money) who wanted to wear them to her High School reunion! She loved them - even paid more to have them shipped express!

So tell me - how can eBay make the feedback system work better? It's good, but certainly has its flaws!

Have a comment? Leave it here!




Accessorize, Accessorize, Accessorize!



I can't say much more about how important it is to accessorize! These pictures say it all!