I'm also into scrapbooking. Many of my wood/clear mounted/unmounted rubber stamp collections are displayed on the shelves and curios all over my home. Visit my Scrapbooking Gallery.
Check out my
"My Auction Finds" !
And, also, my "History of Rubber Stamps"
Thanks for viewing our special Page, and we certainly hope you remain satisfied as our buyer or seller. Thanks a bunch! Read my August 2001 OAUA article about eBay's Feedback Forum: "Some Observations on Feedback". This should give you a hint about my style of leaving feedback.
I'm a firm believer in business ethics, as I publish our newsletter Website, THE SHIH TZU FORUM. I'm an honest buyer & seller in auctions- once I bid/sell, it means I really want the item(s) / or I need to sell the item(s). (I usually buy/sell rare, hard-to-find items only). Auctioning is not like buying something at Wal-Mart then simply taking the item(s) back because we changed our mind; auctioning is for serious buyers/sellers who really want the item(s) / or really need to sell, right? Importantly, we're in a SMOKE-FREE environment!We were a proud & active member of the defunct The Online Auction Users Association since January, 2000! My ID over there was "funcollectorgirl".
From my June 2002 OAUA article:"To neg or not to neg...That is the question." Some Observations On Feedback
by Karen Catalioto
A Good Idea
Feedback forum is a "report card" designed to compliment or warn buyers and sellers of how each of the parties involved in a transaction performed accordingly. Instead of grades A to F, it uses Positive, Neutral or Negative scores. After eBay's inception, the feedback forum was warmly welcomed and taken for granted and looked like a great idea, sort of our protector. It has helped buyers and sellers look great or very bad, and the latter has caused a lot of resentment or worse: temper flare-ups.
A Good Idea Tuns Bad
Until more discussion and chat rooms were added by eBay about various categories such as toys, new features, etc., many posters using the rooms eventually had become disparaging, and some had unjustly used the feedback forum to vent their frustrations simply over a disagreement, (rather than observing the buyer/seller transactions rule).
After the 'innocents' complained to eBay begging to remove the negative scores, eBay changed the format allowing posters to apply feedback only after the actual buying/selling transactions were performed.
Some Good Came My Way
For me personally, I am thankful eBay didn't exercise this new format when I joined in 1999. My first seller was from Canada and the auction ended with someone else outbidding me. But he had a second copy for me to buy, (on the side). He left me my first positive feedback with a nice message welcoming me to eBay! He would not have been able to do that with that new format. Although I rarely visit the discussion and chat rooms, whenever I did, it was enjoyable with no negative experiences. I am more of a lurker than a poster. I learn more by 'listening' than 'talking'.
Fun Is Good, But More Is Better
My auction experience with eBay has been an overall fun event. I buy more than sell however I should have a little more than 17 positive feedback postings. Why? I can only guess that some didn't leave anything for me because they either they forgot or were busy or had computer problems, or had trouble with eBay's frequent technical problems with processing feedback.
My first buyer was a "good one". I had a long wait for the money. At the time, there was a hurricane in Florida, (where she lived), so it's possible she was having problems. She did send me the check, (after my polite note), and the item was sent. That's really what matters. She did not leave me any feedback though I left a positive one for her.
Some Good Comes Of It
Nowadays, I make sure to leave feedback for everyone. But there was one I didn't leave. Because I was the buyer, I must admit that I was waiting for them to leave a comment first before I would respond. That was my test. What should I do? Send a polite reminder or just disregard it and move on. As it happened, time passed without any exchange of comments. But, being a fairly new OAUA member, I now know that it's better to just leave a feedback comment without waiting or expecting one in return.
Because people lead unpredictable lives and may not be communicative, I no longer take feedback seriously,. I am dealing with strangers, not family or friends and I buy from, or sell to them because I honestly meant to do so. What counts is I either have the item I died for or made money! Feedback is good but a good transaction is better. Karen
Karen is known as "funcollectorgirl" on eBay. She lives in Arizona with "Beau", a "winsome liver/white 8˝-year-old Shih Tzu" and a new 1-year-old red/white Persian kitty named "Rudy".Here are links to her eBay auctions and About Me page.
Education is PowerFrom my October 2002 OAUA article:
Empower Your On-Line BusinessTips for Sellers from a Buyer's Viewpoint
by Karen Catalioto
I think it is exciting to sell at an auction online, but I rarely have anything to sell. I primarily buy. So, I have prepared a few tips from the buyers' viewpoint for auction sellers.
I use eBay exclusively. The Sell Your Item form that eBay uses looks interesting, but best of all, it accepts HTML. The end result is so much nicer than classified ads in newspapers.
While most of the form looks like a multiple choice test, the one big text area is what I would call like an essay test: the description. This is the defining section of the form. It determines your bids. Every single character you put in there affects whether you'll sell or get a bidding war.
When writing the description determine whether you are selling an item that bidders truly want? Is it rare or hard-to-find? Is it in demand as today's 'hot item'? Describe any flaws precisely. Be careful when using words such as vintage, rare, beautiful or cute. Keep it objective. Make sure you indicate if it is damaged, broken, or whether it works, when applicable.
Using HTML entices bidders. It shows you took the time to design the listing to please your buyers. Text-only listings may tell the buyers that you do not care enough to take the time to learn HTML. It also makes you look like an amateur!
When using HTML, please stick to the basic commands. Avoid fancy things such as javascript, audio, and lots of graphics or pictures. They slow down loading time. You wouldn't want a potential bidder to give up while waiting for the auction to load. When putting pictures in your listing, keep them small. Set up thumbnails if you have several pictures. In addition, eBay has recently blocked javascript and frame codes.
I also highly suggest that you build your About Me page first. I tend to feel more comfortable buying from a seller who sets up the About Me page. Again, keep it simple and to-the-point.
You might want to include your auction philosophy, as well as simple-to-read rules. This can help your buyers understand your selling ethics. A couple of small pictures and a few fast-loading graphics are nice.
With respect to payment, I think accepting Billpoint and PayPal is beneficial. I currently buy from sellers who accept either. It makes me feel protected. State whether you accept PayPal with credit cards or only with existing bank accounts or funds set up in the PayPal account.
If you accept cash, state if it is at the buyer's risk. If you accept personal checks, mention whether they must clear first before shipping the item. Include any guarantees or refund policies.
I also like to see the shipping cost. If I don't see it, I don't bother to bid. Having it in writing prevents surprises. Don't force a buyer to pay extra for insurance. Sometimes insurance is free through credit card companies. Make sure you mention sales tax where required.
When mentioning feedback forum information, be cautious. I think stating that you will leave negative feedback if your buyer doesn't complete the transaction makes you look non-negotiable.
When should you leave feedback? I prefer to receive it right after I buy with Billpoint or PayPal, not after the transaction is complete. I pay right after the auction ends and I like to be rewarded for that.
It bothers me when I pay quickly, and I don't get feedback until after I have received my item. I leave positive feedback anyway. Then I tell the seller I like the item, left positive feedback, and would like the same in return. If waiting is your policy, please mention it.
After all of this, I try to be light about it. I still made it past 10 feedback.
Collector's Corner
Attention Rubber Stamp Collectors!by Karen Catalioto
(funcollectorgirl)Love rubber stamping? I do!
I signed up with RSA, because I was attracted to the free listing with no final value fee. You would only have to pay directly to RSA (via PayPal or snail mail) if your total goes over $3.00, after selling. That's usually if you list a lot of items and use the RSA server to host your pictures. You can avoid that if you use a separate host for your pictures.
When registering, all RSA asks for is your mailing address and phone number for buyer/seller purpose. You choose an alias (ID) where the first letter is capitalized but not case sensitive (I selected "funcollector" to match my eBay ID, and they automatically set it as "Funcollector"), and a password. You do not need to have credit cards or other sensitive information for storage on their files. Of course, you have to be at least aged 18.
RSA is not a very busy site, but it is fairly new. While word passes around about it in the rubber stamping community, it takes time to build up more recognition and credibility. I found out about RSA from an eBay seller who was selling rubber stamps, where she listed the RSA link in her eBay About Me.
The overall simple design of the RSA site is similar to that of eBay, by offering features such as Buy It Now, About Me, and feedback ratings. The selling form setup is a bit different. It even has a bulletin board, where you must register separately just for posting. Some sellers accept PayPal.
It loads very quickly and has repeat links at the bottom of every page. You can use one Search box to look up a keyword or a username. The site has been around for a couple of years, but last February, new software was installed and everyone's feedback went back to zero.
Sellers do not offer rubber stamps exclusively. Since anything associated with the rubber stamping hobby can be sold at RSA, and rubber stamping and scrapbooking are related hobbies, I have seen stickers, decorative scissors, and scrapbooking items.
The rubber stamp enthusiast will find RSA a convenient alternative auction site for a variety of styles of stamps. For those who want to sell, using RSA would save money. I look forward to browsing there regularly myself.
Check out RSA at: www.rubberstampauction.com
From AuctionBytes.com/November 3, 2002 edition:
Collector's Corner: A Collection with Special Meaning (November 03, 2002, Issue #82)
Karen Catalioto talks about the factors that have influenced her collecting activities. From Precious Moments figurines, which she began collecting in her early 20s, to the rubber stamps she now collects, all of Karen's collectibles hold special meaning to her.Collector's Corner: A Collection with Special Meaning
By Karen Catalioto
November 03, 2002
A "collectible" is an item being collected either for its appreciation in value over time, or for the satisfaction the owner receives from owning, using and displaying the items.
I started my collections because they represent my life, my home environment, my life style. In my early 20s, I started with the Precious Moments figurines, because of the manufacturer's representation of Christianity and its specialty towards animals and the handicapped. I am a Christian hearing-impaired animal lover. I was also inspired by an acquaintance, who collected them with her sister. I purchased the figurines hat depicted the rain-drop eyes of a girl with a cat or with a dog or both.
As I eventually moseyed on to a different collection in my 30s, I fell in love with rubber-stamping and scrap-booking, because they value family ethics and about being thoughtful towards others. I had a Tuxedo cat (who passed away) and have a red/white Persian cat, along with a Shih Tzu dog. Therefore, I collect (and use) rubber stamps that depict them and their ways. Not only have I succeeded in finding several Shih Tzu, Persian, and Tuxedo stamps, I've also branched out to seasonal stamps with dogs and cats involved.
I have amassed such a collection of stamps that I've purchased various shelves to properly display them. I don't put them away in the drawers or boxes. I have one shelf for Christmas, the other for other seasons, the other for animals, the other for miscellaneous, etc.
I also collect figurines, statues, sculptures, and miniatures of a Shih Tzu (any color), a Persian (reds), and a Tuxedo. I'm mainly partial to the stamps, because they don't sit there and take up so much room like the figurines; you can use them at play by creating and making things with them. The retired figurines and stamps have very high re-selling values, and I know I can have them as security for my future.
Anytime you acquire or are given an item that you absolutely do not want, don't throw it away; hold on to it and research and find out if there is a value. Maybe somebody else will value it and pay big money for it.
About the author: Karen Catalioto from Phoenix, Arizona, is "funcollector" on eBay.com and "Funcollector" on RubberStampAuction.com. She mainly buys on eBay and also supports buying from local merchants. She has been with eBay since June of 1999 and RubberStampAuction since June of 2002. She is an active member of the OAUA since January of 2000, as "funcollectorgirl." Check out her eBay About Me page: http://members.ebay.com/aboutme/funcollector.
Collector's Corner: Rubber Stamping: History & Collecting Craze
By Karen Catalioto
AuctionBytes.com
September 07, 2003
F.W. Dorman is said to have been the first to actually commercialize the making of rubber stamps. He started as a sixteen-year-old traveling stencil salesman in St. Louis, Missouri, and opened his first business in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1865. He learned the technique of manufacturing rubber stamps from an inventor. His eventual specialty was the manufacture of the basic tool of the trade - the vulcanizer (the process of making such a stamp). His company continues in business today.
The early days of rubber stamps were designed so folks could affix a red marking for proof purpose, such as the Post Office stamping "1st Class" on envelopes. Later, more designs were destined for offices for stamping paperwork.
Rubber stamping did not become a mainstream hobby until the early 1980s. Stamps made by companies that went out of business are sought-after and very difficult to find. Several new companies emerged and became "famous" for their trademark artwork such as dog breeds or Christmas themes. They often hired established artists to draw designs for them, either on a full-time or freelance basis. These artists create stamps from their personal experiences.
Some early companies that are still a mainstay are All Night Media, Inkadinkadoo (known for their foam mounts), Personal Stamp Exchange/PSX (also used foam mounts), Hero Arts, Stampendous (whose stamps are gray) and Rubber Stamps of America. Their full-time artists design and make their own stamps on the premises.
Most stamps are made out of gum erasers that are dyed red, deeply-etched using a set of carving knives and other related tools, and industrial-strength-glued (or rubber cemented) onto a thin foam cushion (for ease of stamping- not to be confused with foam mounts, which is thick).
The stamps are then glued onto thick maple wood (called mounted; unmounted is just the stamp design by itself), thus forming three layers of process. Some stamps are glued onto foam mounts, and the thin clear acrylic block is the newest form of mounting in place of wood. One company even makes green stamps! Very few stamps are made clear, which is not highly desired due to deteriorating under extreme humidity. Part of the stamp's popularity is the longevity, provided it's stored properly away from extreme heat or sun.
Today, there are thousands of active stamp companies and designers who have cropped up to help stamp-collecting hobbyists like myself. I discovered rubber stamps and began collecting in the late 1990s. I use the stamps for old-fashioned letter-writing, scrapbooking and to make handmade cards. I have amassed my collection to the point of displaying most on various open shelves and curio cabinets all over my home, so that I don't have to worry about storage. Like the artists or designers who created the works based on their real-life experiences, I collect them based on my own, as well.
For more information, here are three Web sites:
http://www.stampguide.com (comprehensive portal links of rubber stamp companies)
http://www.kerchunk.com/cosweb2.html (another links listing of some rubber stamp companies that also make other non-rubber stamp products that can be utitilized with rubber stamping projects)
http://www.stampabarbara.com/info.cfm?More=History (interesting tale written by Stampa Barbara rubber stamp store founder Gary Dorothy of his humble beginnings in the '80s to ascension throughout the '90s)
Earliest Book:
The Rubber Stamp Album, by Joni K. Miller & Lowry Thompson. Paperback. 1978. Workman Publishing Company. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0894800450/auctionbytescom
For a comprehensive list of rubber stamp books: http://www.kerchunk.com/rubberbooks.html
About the author:Karen Catalioto from Phoenix, Arizona, is "funcollector" on eBay.com and "Funcollector" on RubberStampAuction.com. She mainly buys on eBay and also supports buying from local merchants. She has been with eBay since June of 1999 and RubberStampAuction since June of 2002. She is an active member of the OAUA since January of 2000, as "funcollectorgirl." Check out her eBay About Me page: http://members.ebay.com/aboutme/funcollector.
From AuctionBytes.com/February 2, 2003 edition:
My Crossword Puzzle - Rubber Stamps (must be java-enabled)
Others' Crossword Puzzles (must be java-enabled)My (printable) Crossword Puzzle / RUBBER STAMP (no java needed)
was born in New Jersey!
Updated: 1-19-06 Materialization of this Page: June 27, 2002 (602)246-2501 fax only (Phoenix, Arizona USA)
Proud to be American
(Created and maintained entirely on WebTV / MSN TV)
You may e-mail / fax (e-mail first) me RSA-related selling/bidding transactions or even if you find something in common w/ me and would like to correspond/chat for fun about Shih Tzu & cats, & WebTV. No junk or attempt to sell junk please (illegal). Thanks.
(from bluemountain.com!)
