Another story from www.dinnerwarereplacements.net:   
      
   Selling and dealing with people is a challenge and not always a joy or a   
   blessing.  Most of the time it is fun and lucrative and makes your day.  The   
   shopping for what to sell, the picturing, the listing, the washing (of course   
   that depends on what you sell), the packing. Buying supplies so your packages   
   look nice, so the items do not break in transit, taking the time to do the   
   labels, shipping them.  Paying for gas and vehicle upkeep in hunting down your   
   inventory.  Having ample storage space and inventory control.  Making sure the   
   web page is up to date and accurate.  Making sure your computer works and you   
   have a good camera.  All the hours and time put into selling even one item.    
   All of the hard work!  The list goes on and on.  All of those things go into   
   being successful and having satisfied customers.  And each of those things is   
   very important to even try and have a good business for your customer and for   
   you as a business owner.  It really does not matter if you are small time or   
   big time.  It is important to do the best you can in having any business or   
   endeavor in your life.   
      
   And now here comes the BUT --- sometimes it is very hard to remain cool, calm,   
   and collected when you have a difficult customer to work with.  A couple good   
   friends of mine have said for many years we are going to write a book about   
   the "people" we meet in our business.  It would be in Volume 20 by now if that   
   was ever done!!   
      
   I have ran this business to the best of my ability for almost 16 yrs. now.    
   Most of it truly has been a joy and a blessing too.  But some of it:   
      
   1. One lady told me to shove my plate where the sun doesn't shine. She was   
   replacing a broken plate and when she received the new one from me she sent   
   back her broken one that she had had for years and got mad when I refused to   
   refund her money!   
      
   2. A man bought a $5 Johnson cup and saucer and it happened to be out of   
   stock.  I refunded his money in full the same day and explained why.  He wrote   
   back and said he was going to put a lien on my house because I lied to him so   
   I could relist the cup and saucer for more money!   
      
   3. I received an email from a person I had never heard of who told me I was a   
   $#$$%^+@%^ seller and should be banned from the internet and put in jail for   
   selling used items that could be found at a yard sale for pennies instead of   
   the dollars charged on the internet.   
      
   4. Another guy called me every vulgar name possible (some I had never even   
   heard before).  The email was several paragraphs long.  And all because HE   
   didn't read the listing description and thought he had purchased 12 Lenox   
   dinner plates for a total of $18.00 instead of only one dinner plate for that   
   price.   
      
   Only a few cases of crazy people I have dealt with over the years!! The list   
   is truly much longer!  On the flip side of the coin, I have made some really,   
   really good friends by having a store and website. Those are the blessings for   
   sure when dealing with the public.   
      
   1. A couple from GA wrote and asked me questions about how to sell things and   
   what to do to be a success.  That was 14 yrs.  ago.  We have still never met   
   face to face but we have become lasting friends over those years.  We email or   
   call each other often and share our lives and experiences.   
      
   2. One gal wrote and said I had the wrong name on a cookie jar. We started   
   chatting back and forth.  She came from FL to AZ to meet me and stayed with me   
   for about a week.  We have been friends ever since.  That was probably 7-8   
   yrs.  ago.   
      
   3. 4 yrs. or so ago another gal bought a pair of salt and pepper shakers from   
   me.  She came to my home and picked them up because she lives close by.  She   
   was here for about 4 hours asking questions, etc.  I taught her how to list   
   and sell and she now has a great little business going.  Plus she works for me   
   when I need help and we have become fast friends.   
      
   4. In addition there have been several others who have asked for advice and   
   direction in deciding to sell or not.  Some have done so, some have not.  But   
   the experience of trying to teach and help them has been lots of fun.   
      
   None of this is mind blowing or really even important unless you are involved   
   doing this kind of a business, part time or full time.  It is very stressful,   
   lots of hard work on the down side.  But on the up side, it is the BEST and   
   most FUN business I have ever had and I enjoy it immensely even if some the   
   customers need to wear a strait jacket!!  Just kidding.  No I am not, some   
   really should!  I pity their family and friends if they even have any.  Being   
   rude and nasty to a complete stranger is so uncalled for and certainly not a   
   good way to conduct your life.   
      
   So as you keep selling or if you are thinking about selling, remember that the   
   UP side is way more and much better than the few trouble makers out there.    
   Either side keeps you on your toes and puts a smile on your face or makes you   
   wonder why they are so miserable and take it out on others.  Oh and by the way   
   TIAS is a great site to have a store.  They care and take very good care of   
   their clients!! They know what business is all about and how important it is   
   to have a good customer relation program no matter who comes across the   
   internet!   
      
   Happy selling and buying too!!   
      
   Myrna   
   www.dinnerwarereplacements.net   
   https://www.facebook.com/TIASAntiques/posts/10203889741139443   
      
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   Thanks to those of you who have been responding! We really enjoy, and   
   appreciate, the feedback!   
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