It’s still snowing and last night we got about six or so inches.

Our vehicles have been plowed in by the plow man.

We watched the Oscars, and while I’m happy for Scorsese, I was a little bored overall.

Good friends of ours got in a head-on collision last night, with a kid who crossed the median while bending over, looking for his cellphone. Fortunately, they’re OK, but our other friend took the 911 call and sent our other friend, J the EMT, to the call. It was scary.

I found this weirdness the other day and it made me laugh.

Today one of my favorite people turned 40.

FORTY.

Sweet lord, she’s old.

I’d write in large type, but last time she threatened me, lol, so instead, I shall just wish her a very happy birthday. Wish I could be there.. hope you enjoy your present. 😉

Here’s a little musical message from the Porkchop…

And just so you know that we are thinking of you… I found you a stripper.

Fortunately, he doesn’t leap off the screen.

You’re welcome.

😉

She refunded my money. (and nope, I’m not getting what I purchased)

She also wrote me a couple of more emails, since I was so negative and cruel to her.

Yeah, I know, I’m confused too.

Apparently my calling her a “child”.. she was acting like one… was one of the many cruel and negative things I said to her. She also made sure to point out that she had found out that I had, had a shipping problem before.. which made me chuckle, since the person before HAD shipped it to the wrong address and never responded to emails, so I had left a negative comment (of course, they then left a negative comment, claiming I never contacted them, but since I had the emails in the eBay system to prove I had emailed them several times to confirm shipping, nothing came of it).

(Bear in mind, this comment was in response to count ’em FIVE emails where she was obnoxious, including telling me how I had made a mistake with my mother’s address and given her two cities and etc., and I only responded once and said: “Actually, you can use either city for her address, but eBay only accepts one as a verified address. So, child, I was doing you a favor.”

Yeah, I know, I shouldn’t have. I exasperated the situation and yes, after I sent that email I realized calling her a child was stooping to her level… I know, I KNOW already.)

For a minute, I was tempted to actually respond, but then I realized that was what she wanted. And it really makes more sense to ignore petulance than to reward it with a response.

Still.. holy god, this girl was insane. And of course, I learned a very important lesson.

Don’t eBay whilst angry.
Don’t talk to eBay people ever via email.
Don’t stoop to their level.

And most of all.. learn to let it go. (Not my strong suit and I probably won’t learn that lesson very quickly.)

I’m doing my taxes for 2006.. or rather, I’m putting together the stuff for the tax guy.

My credit card company has a “download your 2006 year-end spending summary,” so I’m using that to figure out just how much money I spent trying to save my old computer. 🙁

What I’ve found so far?

I spent $1,955.63 on gas. Dear SWEET GOD.

The bad part is that I know it will be worse this year. :((

Part of me wishes I had a rambunctious dog or adorable child, or even a super irritating boyfried.

Because then I would have something to write about.

Instead, the days go by swiftly, with nary a qualm.

And so I am reduced to fighting with people on eBay and debating blogging about a new falafel place that opened (oh my god, so amazingly good), the fact that we spent most of Sunday at the Cape (where the Porkchop and J’s boyfriend got totally drunk and debated killing a very bad Irish singer… who was singing TV theme songs) and how bloody fucking cold it is.

See? See why I haven’t blogged lately?! MY LIFE IS BORING!

Yesterday I had a bad day, for dozens of reasons, and then I had a problem with a girl from eBay.

Sigh.

And so, feeling quite wronged (not entirely because of her, but at least in part), I posted all about it.

Then I took it down.

But when I woke up this morning, I changed my mind and decided to go ahead and leave it up, mainly because I don’t want to censor myself, but also because while I was sharp with her toward the end, I don’t think I was wrong.

I’m fun, hmm? 😛

I’m not the biggest fan of eBay, in general, but I think it has its uses and so therefore I have no problem using it when I need it.

That being said, I had a VERY, VERY BAD DAY TODAY, dealing with irritating, obnoxious people and the final “straw in the coffin of hell” (yes, OK, I was having troubles with my metaphors… don’t judge me!) was this person who I purchased from on eBay.

I “won” (seriously, won? such a dumb thing to say when you are paying for something, but whatever) two items from this person and the automatic email sent after it had ended asked me to confirm the zip code. I did so, and asked if the seller combined shipping.

She responded that yes, she did and she would send me my total right away.

She sent it, I paid and then (so very stupid of me) assumed all was well and moved right along with life.

I received an email this afternoon, following most of the insanity of my day, informing me that she had given me the shipping for my PayPal confirmed zip code and not the zip code I had given her.

Now first off, normally I’d be all, “yeah, yeah, no worries, here ya go” but today, today I am RIGHTEOUSLY PISSED AT THE WORLD.

So I responded, “Yep, it needs to go to the [my mom’s zip] address. That’s why I emailed it right away.”

And then she’s all “Oh, I’m sorry I must’ve deleted it and blah blah, and..”

OK, I’m just going to post what she said and yeah, here:

Thank You for your PROMPT Reply & Paypal Payment!! However, I have a concern I want to confirm with you before your package is sent. When you first emailed me that you’d won and asked me if I combine shipping, I can’t remember for sure(I thought)you provided me with a zipcode. When I combined your items and had your package weighed, I went with the [my state] Address/Zipcode([my zip])which is on your Ebay Item Won page. So, your shipping rate was $7.15(package weight 7lbs. & you’re considered in my local zone, based on my zipcode & the [my state] Address). It wasn’t until I received your Paypal Payment today(2/15)that I saw the [my mom’s state] Address/Zipcode([my mom’s zip])that I realized the shipping rate was incorrect/based on the [my state] Address/Zipcode([my zip]). That’s when I remembered your first email and the possible([my mom’s zip])zipcode you provided me with. I’ve tried to locate the email before replying to you. I must have deleted it. The [my mom’s state] Address/Zipcode(98466)will be a different shipping rate. Although the package weight(7lbs.)remains the same. That zipcode([my mom’s zip])is considered zone 8(the furtherest zone from my zipcode)and the actual shipping rate is $14.80. I APOLOGIZE FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE CAUSED. THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED TO ME BEFORE!! PLEASE, reply back as to which address you’d like your package sent. If you want it sent to [my state], the package will be sent as planned. If the package is to be sent to [my mom’s state], I will refund your ENTIRE invoice total(through Paypal)and try to send you an invoice total with the correct shipping rate($14.80)based on the [my mom’s state] Address/Zipcode([my mom’s zip]). AGAIN, I APOLOGIZE FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE CAUSED. I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE YOUR UNDERSTANDING TO THIS MATTER AS THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED TO ME BEFORE. I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR REPLY. I WILL WAIT FOR YOUR REPLY AND THEN DO SO ACCORDINGLY!! TALK TO YOU SOON….
Have a great day!!
Thank you,

So then it turns out that she can’t do what she wanted, so she instead sends me another invoice for seven bucks and change.

And rolling, my eyes, I’m thinking, fine, whatever, I’ll pay it. But, I thought it was important to state that I thought that since this was her fault, she shouldn’t have asked me to pay the difference—hello, customer service anyone?

So I reply:

I’m going to go ahead and pay this, but I wanted to let you know that since it was your mistake and not mine, you really should have just told me about it and said you were going to pay the difference, since it wasn’t a customer error. That would be good customer service. It would also make people more likely to shop with you again.

And OK, yes, according to the Porkchop, I was a little smidge mean, but I mean seriously people, you have to be kidding me here.

So then she responds:

Thank You for your PROMPT shipping difference payment. You must have made the payment in between the email I was typing you(after I sent the invoice). Yes, it was my mistake~ an honest mistake which I apologize for. However, the shipping amount $14.80 is the ACTUAL, combined shipping rate(your initial invoice would have had if I would have used the [my mom’s zip] zipcode). So, I’m not sure why you’re upset. I was only requesting the difference to equal the ACTUAL shipping, not any additional shipping funds and/or fees(I’m charged). The zipcode/zone(from [my state];East Coast to [my mom’s state];West Coast, based on my [her state];East Coast Address/[her zip] Zipcode)with the 7lb. package weight determined the rate change from $7.15(local zone 1,2,3)to $14.80(zone 8)~ I didn’t. I’m merely charging you exactly what shipping rate(I’ll pay)to send it. I charge all of my buyers, the exact rate, not a flat rate(as most sellers do). I also combine shipping(some sellers don’t & the shipping calculator doesn’t). The seller has to manually enter the correct combined shipping rate. Each oval bowl package weighs 4lbs. and would have cost $10.35 per package = $20.70. The combined package weight is 7lbs. and $14.80($5.90 combined shipping savings). Believe me, I’m an honest person. AGAIN, I take great pride with each ebay transaction. I’ve also refunded additional shipping paid(customers bought multiple items and didn’t wait for their combined shipping invoice and proceeded to pay)or if their package weight weighed less than calculated. So, I’ve also refunded additional money paid(as I would have done for you if you would have overpaid). My goal is to only charge(and take)the ACTUAL shipping rate. I HONESTLY didn’t expect this reaction from you. I only requested the ACTUAL shipping difference(corrected my mistake/confirmed correct zipcode/address the package will be sent). However, I want you to be COMPLETELY SATISFIED and if that means a $7.65 refund~ I’ll GLADLY do so. I look forward to your reply,

So oddly enough, at this point, I’m just more pissed off and let me count the ways. All caps? Seriously? You want to do the Internet equivalent of YELLING AT ME? Argh. Second, “I didn’t expect this reaction”.. oh yeah, you expected me to be all roses since you fucked up? Yeah, no.

So I respond:

Well first, you can’t expect any response from someone you don’t know, and second, I was simply pointing out a well-known customer service issue. As someone who sells in the online sphere, and has lots of customers, I was honestly shocked that you asked me to pay more. Not because I wouldn’t have been willing to pay the actual shipping rate (and seriously, all caps? online that’s considered really quite rude), but because that’s just poor customer service. I did everything I was supposed too, and so the onus was on you, not me, to handle the problem and handle it fairly. I don’t care about the seven bucks and I already said I would pay it and I did. I’m not angry, I’m not going to fight with you, I just think you should know that in retail circles, this response would be highly frowned upon. No offense to you, but I would probably not buy from you again. Not because I’m mad, or feel like I got screwed, but because that sort of customer service isn’t what I like dealing with.

I also wanted to say, “And learn how to spell and use punctuation. No normal human uses that many exclamation points and you can tell you didn’t read this before sending it.”

But, I did not. Which, personally, I think shows great restraint on my part.

Now, there’s a good chance you are with the Porkchop on this, that a) I overreacted and b) that you would never have said anything in the first place.

And normally, I wouldn’t have either, but a) my mom always tells me I should stick up for something that I think is right and b) I HAD A BAD DAY.

So, my side, or the Choppy’s side?

——-UPDATE———-
Oh, and there is SO much more.

I’ve been as kind with my replies as I thought possible. I made an honest mistake. I never tried to offend you(when I asked for the shipping difference). I was thinking more about having the correct address and shipping it correctly. I wasn’t trying to be rude. I only capitalized actual because I was hoping you didn’t think I was making up additional shipping funds. Again, I never knew words wrote in all caps were offensive. It seems as if you’re trying to find fault with everything I’ve done. I’ve been in retail/customer service for many years(aside from ebay). I realize the customer is always right. However, I was just correcting my shipping error(at the time, I honestly didn’t think it was rude). It wasn’t as if I sent the package to the wrong address and it came back to me. I then charged you additional shipping to have it sent to the address requested. A shipping error of that kind, I would have totally understood your anger. I guess if your ebay mailing address would have coincided with your paypal address, your invoice total would have been correct the first time. I’m not angry and I’m certainly not going to fight with you either. The customer may always be right. However, there’s certainly a descent approach to going about it. To say you probably wouldn’t buy from me again, mention the word screwed(you don’t think that’s rude)and this type of customer service isn’t what you like dealing with, is totally unjustified. I’ve only sent kind emails with sincere apologies. As someone who considers customer service a top priority, as a buyer, I would never react this harshly. Thankfully, this was only ever my first mistake. It’s unfortuante though, I had to experience it with someone unlike myself. I could also reply stating I would hope to never do business with someone like you again(similiar reasons as you listed and unenjoyable). However, what does a statement like that prove. Ebay is based on mutual respect between buyers/sellers. Your $7.65 will be refunded.

My response:

Well a) I said I didn’t feel screwed, not that you screwed me. There is a difference. And b), your responses to me just became quite rude.

Also, right here: “I guess if your ebay mailing address would have coincided with your paypal address, your invoice total would have been correct the first time.”

That right there just proves my point. You think this was my fault because you messed up. I followed your instructions to the letter. Lots of people ship to different addresses than their PayPal confirmed ones.

Don’t refund my money. I didn’t request a refund, nor do I want one.

You honestly think you responded with mutual respect? You did not.

You honestly feel we are different? I do as well. I would never have asked for more money after a transaction had finished.

You feel you wouldn’t do business with me again because I simply gave you advice? That’s also quite rude. I said I wouldn’t because I don’t like your customer service. I never attacked you; you shouldn’t attack me.

What I wanted to say? BRING IT BITCH. My sister could totally kick your ass!

That somebody’s birthday is… TODAY!

And he’s.. oh my gosh, wait for it, wait for it.. so freaking old.

Yes, ladies and gents, the Porkchop turned 32 today. And for a porkchop.. whew, that’s right up there.

😉

Happy Birthday dear. :*

Somebody has a birthday coming up, and this evening, at a party for another friend, he got an early present from our friend J.

My personal favorite.. on the back, there’s a little snout. 😉

LOL… by the end of the night, even the waitress was calling him Porkchop.

I came across an ingenius blog via dooce… it’s called “Stefan G. Bucher’s Daily Monster” and it contains time-lapse videos of him drawing.

And he’s brilliant.

The most interesting part is that he then encourages the readers to write the story behind the monster he’s drawn each today (he’s highly trafficked on YouTube).

Incredibly intelligent marketing.