Yes. I'm saying you have no character and that you are a money hungry greed filled schmuck.

NOT

Please, Tommy ... for the love of GOD ... can we have some sort of cognitive test prior to membership here?! The inability to comprehend the written word is staggering.

Look, I was being as genuine and and clear as I could be. I in NO way spoke personally negative about you. I used your quote to establish the SUBJECT that I was speaking of.

There is no difference of opinion on selling on eBay because I NEVER GAVE YOU MY OPINION.

It was a "what if" statement. "So, IF I chose to not deal on eBay, then it wouldn't matter if there were advantages."

It followed a personal line I defined for my life.

I was stating that we do not judge each other on where and how we do business. It was all in response to the subject of ebay being a problem for some and a business for others. You don't judge my choices and I don't judge yours and he doesn't judge hers and they don't spit on the whole ebay thing or poo poo the Craigslist gang.

We all make our own decisions based on the stands we personally define.

That's the jest of the post.

No one is out to get you and no one made a disparaging comment about you or your business dealings. Not one word.

Fact is, I believe what I said was,

"So, if you choose to deal on eBay, it's strictly your business and is not up for discussion or debate. I say, good for you. Sincerely. It is obviously a good thing for you."

Not a whole lot of **** and vinegar in that statement.

... geez ... so much for keeping this thread mature and unconfrontational. I guess I was wrong, John. It became incindiary without my even knowing it. Here I thought I was disarming the sides to keep it informational and away from the eBay slam-fest. Shows you what I know. Ok Purdie, you win this one. Ya big galoot. You are one up on me.

go back and reread what you wrote, both times. "cognitive test" ... what are you saying here? That I can't understand what you wrote? I think I did, very well actually, which is why this whole thing is going on here.

What exactly did you mean when you wrote, "I just wouldn't sell there. It's rather simple. It is called depth of character"?

Are my cognitive skills so inept that I misunderstood the meaning of that statement? I don't think so. Am I the only one that sees that as a derogatory statement? I don't think so. But whatever.

I am here on this site to gain whatever knowledge I can regarding the vintage drums that I do have, will acquire and wish to sell. I read so much on this site that I choose not to get involved in and some things that I do, such as this one, and this is where it brings me.

Reread your own words and tell me where I took a wrong turn.

Better yet, don't bother. It would just lead to even more of the same.

I harbor no hard feelings over your inability to grasp the perceived intent of the very words you wrote. Rock on brother.

You established your perception.

You stated your case.

Yes, I am saying you are still not capable of comprehending what I wrote. That is evident. I do not understand the confrontation ... that is evident.

My reactionary statements were directed towards your incindiary and insulting comments. I don't pull my punches, so they were direct. Yes. You ****ed me off. Plain and simple.

I explained clearly what I wrote. You still are not able to understand ... most likely due to feeling defensive and crossed. I get it.

I understand you felt I dug at you. That is why you jumped.

I have explained (now twice) the intent. For my part, I will say that I understand your reactions and will put it behind me. It is what it is.

Put it away and maybe when heads are clearer, you could reread this and see it for what it is. If not, so be it. The world will still be spinning and we will still be smiling the merry smiles of vintage drum enthusiasts. Later gator.

I'm staying up to do this, if for no other reason than to allow you to get some peaceful sleep without feeling that someone out there doesn't like you. (that's humor ... in case you didn't catch it)

Remember ...

"We all make our own decisions based on the stands we personally define.

That's the jest of the post."

The following is my opinion only. It is not based on any other input, but my own. No person should be held accountable for what is about to be stated.

The foundation in my life is first and foremost. It defines who I am. It defines my character. It is my word and my bond. And more importantly, it is not for sale. I do not compromise my ethics or morals in order to gain profit (however profit may be defined). My focus lies elsewhere (without getting into faith).

I choose to be very careful with my business deals. I get to know the person or do my homework (behind the scenes) to ensure the individual is someone that is with honor. Kevins, VM2K, Drumhack, etc ... these are guys that I feel comfortable with and trust to do business with. I know that they would not take advantage of me.

In my life ... my home ... the wife and I are very careful to keep money in the position of a "tool" that allows us to get things accomplished. We have something altogether different that is the center and core of our lives. We do not love money. We love that which is the center of our being.

That is the "what if" statement. It is not a statement of fact. It says "IF" I were to do this or that ...

BECAUSE of the foundational stand the wife and I have established in our lives, we would not compromise our decisions. IF (again, hypothetical) we chose to avoid ebay ... or Walmart ... or red meat ... or cat urine chasers ...

Pretty clear. Because the line has been drawn, it wouldn't be crossed. Not for money, convenience, or otherwise.

Do I need to elaborate on this sentence?

Depth of character is what was defined in the previous sentences. I do not put money first, I care about my personal business dealings, I do not compromise the lines drawn, etc. That is "CHARACTER" ... the depth of character that is "ME".

The lines I draw and the decisions I make are not up for debate. They are not up for discussion with any other living being on this planet. They are mine and mine alone (well ... and the wife!).

If one attempts to judge my character or correct me outside of HIS word, that is a line that is crossed and is not welcome. Most, I believe, share this.

This line is in reference to your justifying a business deal on ebay. You had stated that you sold a Ludwig kit on ebay and made some good dough. You chose to deal on ebay.

NO ONE should have an opinion on how you do business. It is your life and your personal lines drawn. We (everyone outside of your home) have no real purpose for bringing you to the table about your dealings. The lines are yours and yours alone.

From the example you provided, you are doing well on ebay. I am sincerely happy for you. Most excellent.

Again, I'm not saying whether I will or will not deal on ebay or Craigslist or any other arena. It is not pertinent to this post.

My opinion is but one single very very very minute voice in this great big ol' world. Why would anyone care or even bother to ask? Love the open nature of the forum. It allows schmucks like myself to at least voice 'em.

Again ...

"We all make our own decisions based on the stands we personally define.

That's the jest of the post."

Now, put your mind at ease. No one was peeing in your oatmeal.

Breathe ... Breathe ... Breathe ... ... ...

Now, isn't that better?

No harm, no foul.

WOW.

This got complicated.

For myself, I cant see why it should matter if a person sells the occasional item or sells a dozen items a day........... when they both are being shaken down.

When a portion of a market gets cornered or is artificially influenced, it isnt long before prices on everything connected with that market are artificially inflated. This isnt fair trade. Only a significant portion of the market needs to be cornered or unfairly influenced before you begin to see that inflation spread. Kind of like how silver was artificially inflated in the 80s.

At some point artificially inflated markets tend to implode. umm... housing?...

I doubt ebay is inclined to address what is going on under its nose.

What I do wonder is how many more niche markets are going through this same thing.

That may be how ebay started out, but it doesn't much resemble that now. When they decided to become a bank by acquiring Paypal, the whole game changed. They also began to cater to the large commercial sellers at the expense of the individual.

I can't sell on ebay anymore because I choose not to use Paypal. You can't create a listing unless you accept Paypal as payment.

Fortunately I can still sometimes use the site to buy because there are still sellers that are flexible in the payment they accept.

Ebay has tried to limit this by not allowing you to email someone directly like you used to. You can't even delete messages anymore, so I'm sure they are saving them for some reason.

The English written word ... tough to read, difficult to comprehend, impossible to swallow.

And for our next lesson ... Ladies and Gentlemen, please give a warm welcome to Alan Alda, who will now try and make sense of this Constitution thing we've all heard so much about and have evidently never bothered to read. Alan, take it away!

VROOOOOOMMMCar Driving2.

73Rogers,

I am curious as to why you choose not to use PayPal? ...just for edification purposes, not to be argumentative.

As a point of reference, I have purchased a lot on eBay but have sold nothing. In reality, I have sold quite a bit, however, I have used my wife's account to do the selling as she has been doing this longer than I have and she has a history selling. So instead of simply relying on my buying history to convince sellers I am ok, I rely on my wife's selling history to reassure buyers. Also, that means I can pass off the information to my wife and let her deal with it as I have another business to run, so for me that is more efficient.

All of that to say, I am just curious about some of the thought processes that are going into this thread.

Like sand "through" the hourglass, so are the days of our lives.

Talk about "tripe". The pompous @$$ rides again.......

Help! TommyP! Stop this crazy thing!

B

Who might you be referring to with that rather incindiary statement?