Those three little words
At times like this, when I'm feeling a bit stressed about my job situation, it takes very little in the way of a positive message to raise my spirits. So it made me feel really good tonight, while I was wading through stacks of email to get one that made me smile. The message was short, sweet, and music to my ears. You've got cash! True to his word, the buyer of my second piece of eBay merchandise sent his payment tonight. The minute I know that it's cleared the international paypal bank and is safely in my local account, I'll begin preparations for sending the receiver on its way.
I'm not an exciting person, but anything that crosses my mind that I care to share with the rest of the world will appear here.
Friday, April 22, 2005
Finally - it's official
I'm unemployed (well, not quite yet, but I've received my termination notice). I've taken note for some time that the queue of pending assignments was shrinking. There were times when I had to beg for work to keep me busy. And then there were those assignments that looked like they'd be a piece of cake, only to turn into quagmires. The combination of inefficiencies and lack of work were my ultimate undoing. My boss still wants me to work on a piece-work basis (translation: work when we need you, with no benefits). I may keep that option alive, but only until I can find something more stable.
I'm not ruling out a more entrepreneurial direction, but right now, money's really tight - so I have to find a position with a regular paycheque. I think I was a lot more depressed on Tuesday and Wednesday. Having had some time for the shock to hit me, I'm a bit calmer. But only a bit.
I'm unemployed (well, not quite yet, but I've received my termination notice). I've taken note for some time that the queue of pending assignments was shrinking. There were times when I had to beg for work to keep me busy. And then there were those assignments that looked like they'd be a piece of cake, only to turn into quagmires. The combination of inefficiencies and lack of work were my ultimate undoing. My boss still wants me to work on a piece-work basis (translation: work when we need you, with no benefits). I may keep that option alive, but only until I can find something more stable.
I'm not ruling out a more entrepreneurial direction, but right now, money's really tight - so I have to find a position with a regular paycheque. I think I was a lot more depressed on Tuesday and Wednesday. Having had some time for the shock to hit me, I'm a bit calmer. But only a bit.
Thursday, April 14, 2005
Disillusioned
How quickly we fall. Buoyed by the success of my first foray into eBay, I had high expectations for the second sale. I suppose I should be happy that my item sold for more than any other identical model in the past few months (the results of past auctions are only available for a limited time). Still, the condition of the equipment had led me to believe the ultimate selling price would be higher. What I hadn't counted on was the fact that, throughout the one week auction, four other identical models of the equipment were put on sale.
With such a choice, I guess none of the buyers felt compelled to pay a premium for my particular one. But that's not even what bothers me the most. While the buyer of my first item was communicative and active in the process of closing our deal, the buyer of the latest item is worse than reclusive. He has avoided all attempts at contact, by email or phone. His posted information was "out of date" (some might claim purposely elusive), and I only managed to track him down by doing what I do best - using the power of the internet. He was not pleased that I managed to track him down. In fact, the only email he did answer was in response to a phone message that threatened to cancel the transaction.
Will I get paid? That remains to be seen. One thing is for sure... if the payment does arrive, it will be in my bank for a good long time before I ship any goods.
How quickly we fall. Buoyed by the success of my first foray into eBay, I had high expectations for the second sale. I suppose I should be happy that my item sold for more than any other identical model in the past few months (the results of past auctions are only available for a limited time). Still, the condition of the equipment had led me to believe the ultimate selling price would be higher. What I hadn't counted on was the fact that, throughout the one week auction, four other identical models of the equipment were put on sale.
With such a choice, I guess none of the buyers felt compelled to pay a premium for my particular one. But that's not even what bothers me the most. While the buyer of my first item was communicative and active in the process of closing our deal, the buyer of the latest item is worse than reclusive. He has avoided all attempts at contact, by email or phone. His posted information was "out of date" (some might claim purposely elusive), and I only managed to track him down by doing what I do best - using the power of the internet. He was not pleased that I managed to track him down. In fact, the only email he did answer was in response to a phone message that threatened to cancel the transaction.
Will I get paid? That remains to be seen. One thing is for sure... if the payment does arrive, it will be in my bank for a good long time before I ship any goods.
Monday, April 04, 2005
I'm hooked
After the success of my first ebay experience, I was encouraged to try selling another of my retired stereo components. It went on the block yesterday, with a minimum purchase price set higher than would normally be considered prudent. I was asking nearly three times what was being asked by others for the same model.
Before the night was out, I had a bidder (and therefore, a guaranteed sale). If other auctions are any indication, I could see bidding go up by as much as 250 - 300% before the auction ends next weekend.
I guess I'm going to keep on doing this until I run out of old stuff to sell!
After the success of my first ebay experience, I was encouraged to try selling another of my retired stereo components. It went on the block yesterday, with a minimum purchase price set higher than would normally be considered prudent. I was asking nearly three times what was being asked by others for the same model.
Before the night was out, I had a bidder (and therefore, a guaranteed sale). If other auctions are any indication, I could see bidding go up by as much as 250 - 300% before the auction ends next weekend.
I guess I'm going to keep on doing this until I run out of old stuff to sell!
April Fool?
In the town of Essex, a few miles from here, one romantic gentleman chose Friday night (April Fool's Day) to propose to his girlfriend. To his delight, she said yes. Good thing too! The very next morning, the newly-engaged girlfriend was awakened at 7:00AM. When she answered the door, she was greeted by the entire wedding party! They got married on April 2nd.
What I find amazing is that this man got the idea last December of proposing to his girlfriend, then marrying her the very next day. In order to do that, he had to plan an entire wedding, invite the guests, book the church, book the honeymoon, and buy a wedding dress, all without the knowledge of his girlfriend. The last element of the plan seemed like it would be the toughest.
To pull it off, this clever gentleman had a couple of his friends "pretend" that they were going to elope. When the friends went to buy their wedding attire, the "real" couple was invited to join them to offer advice. Just as the fake bride was to try on her wedding dress, she feigned illness, and the "real" bride (who is similarly sized) offered to try on the dress to help with the fitting.
By last week, the entire town knew what was going on, and the topic was discussed in gossip groups everywhere (without naming names). Fortunately, lover-boy managed to keep his girlfriend away from the main social hangouts, and the secret was preserved.
I've got to hand it to this guy. Not only does he become one of the few men to help with the planning of his wedding, he's probably the first to do it without the knowledge of his intended.
In the town of Essex, a few miles from here, one romantic gentleman chose Friday night (April Fool's Day) to propose to his girlfriend. To his delight, she said yes. Good thing too! The very next morning, the newly-engaged girlfriend was awakened at 7:00AM. When she answered the door, she was greeted by the entire wedding party! They got married on April 2nd.
What I find amazing is that this man got the idea last December of proposing to his girlfriend, then marrying her the very next day. In order to do that, he had to plan an entire wedding, invite the guests, book the church, book the honeymoon, and buy a wedding dress, all without the knowledge of his girlfriend. The last element of the plan seemed like it would be the toughest.
To pull it off, this clever gentleman had a couple of his friends "pretend" that they were going to elope. When the friends went to buy their wedding attire, the "real" couple was invited to join them to offer advice. Just as the fake bride was to try on her wedding dress, she feigned illness, and the "real" bride (who is similarly sized) offered to try on the dress to help with the fitting.
By last week, the entire town knew what was going on, and the topic was discussed in gossip groups everywhere (without naming names). Fortunately, lover-boy managed to keep his girlfriend away from the main social hangouts, and the secret was preserved.
I've got to hand it to this guy. Not only does he become one of the few men to help with the planning of his wedding, he's probably the first to do it without the knowledge of his intended.