Yesterday I left my first negative feedback ever on Etsy.

I’ve been a registered user there since November 2005 and have made more purchases than I can count right now. A little over a month ago, I bought some handmade rings from a seller who shall not be named as of yet, since the situation is pending. (Note for clarification: the bad seller is NOT smallbird–just wanted to make that clear, since I did buy one ring from her around the same timeframe. smallbird rocks, go buy from her instead! )

So I made my purchase with the seller in question, and as I always do, I paid via PayPal immediately. I was notified by the seller that my order would be shipping soon, so I waited. And waited. And waited. A couple weeks later, I sent her an Etsy conversation asking for shipping status, and she said that she would send a replacement package because I should have received my order by then. Great, I said! I’ll wait for it. So I waited. And waited. And waited. See where this is going?

About a week and a half later, I sent her another convo asking for a tracking # for my replacement order. She said she didn’t have one, because the post office said that her envelopes weren’t thick enough. eh?? I thought this was curious, but said ok, I’ll wait a little longer and see.

sigh.

Another week later, I asked for confirmation that she had my correct shipping address. I received no response.

Another week later, I asked about refund options, or where she wanted to go from there because I never received either supposed package. No response.

So yesterday, I left her a negative feedback (to add to the other two negatives other customers left right before mine). I also filed a complaint with Etsy, asking for resolution and maybe a refund, if possible.

I’m so bummed! I’ve always hoped I would never have to leave negative feedback, and my experiences on Etsy have always been stellar. Even when all the mayhem with Mystical Creation Yarns was going on and I had purchased from them, at least I always received my yarn and never even left them negative feedback.

But this is just unacceptable. I spent about $35 with the seller in question, and darnit, I want my order or my money back! (EDIT: I just re-checked, and my total was $27. Just getting my facts straight.) Anyway, that’s just bad business. I know it’s just Etsy and not…you know…Wal-Mart or something (not that their customer service is spectacular either, just saying), but still. When I pay for something, I deserve to expect to receive my products. I’m just disappointed and sad.

I’ll post an update if I hear from Etsy sometime soon, or possibly the seller herself? I’m kind of worried she might leave me retaliatory negative feedback, but I can’t control that. I’m just hoping this will be resolved soon!

EDIT: I just took Beth’s advice and filed a dispute with PayPal. Let’s see if this helps–I sure hope so.

Posted: June 29th, 2007 under My So-Called Life.
Comments: 8

I’ve found the cure for Second Sock Syndrome.

Socks That Rock.

I realized that every time I knit socks with STR, I don’t suffer from SSS! I always finish the second sock right away because I just love working with STR. Case in point: here’s my current sock WIP, the Razor Shell Socks pattern. I just started this a couple nights ago, and I’m already on the heel flap! That’s way fast for me. Normally I’ll knit on a sock for a good week before I even get to the heel.

So there you go, avoid SSS by knitting with STR.

Posted: June 27th, 2007 under Knitting.
Comments: 4

Time for a Bark Busters training update. Autumn is now in Week 5 (already!) of her behavioral training. Which basically means that it has been 5 weeks since the trainer came to work with her and teach me how to teach her. At the end of this training period, he’ll come back to re-evaluate her and we’ll decide what to work on next with her.

So far, she has done really well! There is a definite change in her behavior. She and Orion haven’t fought since her training began. (yes!!) The only minor setback she has had was yesterday when I was putting her back in the den, where they sleep, and she growled at Orion…randomly. I heard it and in about half a second, I growled back at her and she totally backed off. I’m not kidding. After I growled, she literally sat on her butt and wagged her tail at me. It was awesome! I really have no idea why she just growled at Orion (all he did was look at her!), and I’m going to mention it to her trainer when I see him next. But dude, this Bark Busters method really works. I’m soooo happy.

Sometimes I take her in the front yard, just to get her used to being on the leash out of the house. Today a couple people were walking past the house, and she barked at them a couple times. I kind of got her to stop, but I know what I did wrong (forgot to do the growl, it’s supposed to be used for all kinds of correction). This really is work! I have to consciously remember to use the correction, and I don’t always do it.

But still, she has made major progress these past weeks and I’m just so happy about that. My goal is to teach her to behave so well that I can take her on walks without her barking at every single stranger she sees!

Orion is my well-behaved doggy, hehe. He rarely barks. The thing he needs to work on, though, is the stay command. The dog will NOT stay. He sits just fine–for about 2 seconds. I tell him “sit,” and he sits. “Good dog!” Then I say “stay,” and his butt bounces back up as if on SPRINGS. It’s so funny, really. Maybe he thinks stay means get back up and play? lol I’m glad he doesn’t have any behavioral issues, but sheesh! Learn to stay, dog! lol I’m going to ask the trainer about that, too…watch, the trainer will have Orion staying in 5 minutes, I bet.

Clearly, I could talk about my doggies all day. Just wanted to post an update, and let y’all know that training is going really well!

Posted: June 26th, 2007 under My So-Called Life.
Comments: 2

I have the worst time trying to take photos of my knitting because indoor lighting here sucks. So my Waving Lace Socks look rather bright GREEN! here, but they’re a little less GREEN! in person, lol.

I knit on the second one like a fiend–I think I started it one week ago, actually, and worked on it every morning before work, during my lunch breaks, and finished it just today.

Now I’m playing with the idea of my next project–I’ve still got a couple WIPs, but I need a selection of things to work on, else I get really bored and end up not knitting anything, which isn’t good! Warning, I will probably start yet another pair of socks. I’ve got quite a few patterns in my Ravelry queue, plus I have a skein of Socks That Rock in Lucy that has been calling from my stash for a couple weeks now.

Posted: June 24th, 2007 under Knitting.
Comments: 5

Well. Here’s my latest FO, my Austermann Step sock. It’s soooo soft and fits perfectly. I <3 it muchly. I really should have cast on the second immediately, but instead I’m trying to finish my Waving Lace pair, so I’ve been working on the second of that set. I will conquer Second Sock Syndrome…eventually! It just takes a while to deal with it!

Something I’m also trying to deal with is my OBNOXIOUS next-door neighbor, who is apparently having some kind of party/celebration thingy going on. They’ve been blasting music for the past couple hours (it’s now 8 PM), and when I took my dog Autumn in the front yard to work with her on the leash, they were just hootin’ and hollerin’ and having a good time, from the sounds of it. They better not play music all night though, that’s all I’ve got to say! I will throw my sharp Knit Picks dpns at their heads if they don’t shut up soon.

I’m also trying desperately to resist buying new yarn. I’ve been stalking several yarn shops the past couple days, but miraculously, haven’t bought anything. I have this delusion that I’m going to make a significant dent in my stash because I have SO much sock yarn. I was in denial until I counted it all, and now I keep telling myself DO NOT buy more yarn…use what you have…resist! Hence, finishing mate-less pairs and casting on with stash yarn. This is really tough, you know! I have a legitimate yarn buying addiction. Help me, help me now.

Also in my delusional state, today I downloaded Cookie’s Twisted Flower sock pattern because I am CRAZY. The charts aren’t that scary, in theory…it’s knitting cables on teeny needles that’s scary. But I do have Louet Gems in my stash, so that will be a great pattern to use stash yarn with, yay!

Now I’m going to work more on my second Waving Lace sock (I’m close to turning the heel already!) and maybe the dorks next door will give us some peace.

Posted: June 23rd, 2007 under Knitting, My So-Called Life.
Comments: 5

With all the blue I’ve felt lately, I need some happy little songs to pick me up, or at least make me smile for 3 minutes at a time. Here, I’ll share a mini-playlist with you!

1. Gym Class Heroes - Cupid’s Chokehold
I know this song is soooo cheesy, but that’s why I love it. If I had to choose her or the sun, I’d be one nocturnal son of a gun. hahaha

2. Elvis Presley - Burning Love
Some commercial on TV lately uses this song, and it gets stuck in my head. I’m just a hunk a hunk of burning love. How can you not love that??

3. Mika - Grace Kelly
If this doesn’t make you smile, your face is broken.

4. Justin Timberlake - Love Stoned
You know I had to throw JT in there. Hot DAMN! haha

5. The Temptations - I Can’t Get Next To You
A little bit of old school for ya!

Download it here: happylittlesongs.zip Enjoy!

Posted: June 22nd, 2007 under Tunes.
Comments: 3

So I just realized something pretty significant.

Read more »

Posted: June 21st, 2007 under Deep Thoughts.
Comments: 8