Not to be dissuaded by a problematic buyer

One of the first things I have brought inside the apartment was a full-length mirror — something I did not have in our house in Marikina. As we still do not have a closet, all of our clothes are still to be taken out of  our luggages and bags. We also do not have a flat iron, so we just resorted to the old ‘pagpag-and-hagod’ method to sort out wrinkles.

Our nice mirror - PLAY by Comme des Garçons shirt,  brick pants, Red Wing 2913 boots and green Prada tessuto robot tote

Last Friday, I was shocked to see that an item sent via Registered Mail, which I thought to have been lost in transit to a buyer in Netherlands, suddenly showed up as “Item Delivered” in PhilPost’s online tracking. It has been almost a month since I sent the item and as the online tracking was under maintenance for weeks already, I was left with no choice but to refund the buyer. My mistake because I was too quick to refund her without waiting for Ebay to do so. Maybe I just wanted the whole thing to be over, and I was counting on the buyer’s honesty that she would return my funds back to my PayPal account once she gets the bag. Of course, I was wrong and naïve.

PhilPost tracking showing delivery to NetherlandsMy initial reaction was to dispute the case, but as it was already past the 45-day period to open an appeal, I was left with no other choice but to contact the buyer directly. In my email, I have informed her about the online tracking showing delivery, and if it was okay, she could send my money back OR return my item because I cannot NOT have both the funds and the bag. I gave her 24 hours to reply because we live in different time zones, and maybe she was busy with something. Then when I received her reply, she mentioned that she was preoccupied (for three weeks, huh?), that was why she was unable to give a feedback about the bag. The catch was, she did not like the bag because it was too small, has several scratches and the leather was stiff. Hmmm… I have disclosed all information in the auction description so I did not get why she was just telling me that when I already contacted her. As a buyer myself, my initial reaction would be to immediately contact the seller and inform her my dissatisfaction. So why wait for 20 days to react? I guess somebody wanted a free bag.

The worst thing about her reply was she was short of asking money from me so that she can send my item back. The auction description clearly mentioned that in cases of return, the buyer has to pay for return shipping. It was fair enough, considering that as Ebay and PayPal have a 21-day hold on my received funds, I have taken the shipping fee to Netherlands out of my own pocket. Therefor, it was unjust tht I shell out money just to get my bag back.

She did not bother replying until I gave her an implied warning about her school hearing from me, and discussing in full details about her fraudulent online activities. I managed to contact another seller from Slovenia, who received a negative feedback from her on May 5, 2013. I found it too hard to believe that she was busy to inform me of her dissatisfaction, yet she managed to give that poor seller a negative feedback three days after receiving my bag. I think her school administrator would not be too pleased to hear that they are employing a teacher with questionable morals in their school.

I think she got scared after that stern warning, as I flat out told her that all that hassle was not worth it — all of that for a bag. So in the end, she ended up shouldering the return shipping and eventually sent the item back to me. However, she did not mark the item as a “Returned Merchandise” and I have a feeling I will end up paying custom fees for a returned item. In my return policy, I have specified to send the item with the original packaging, but apparently, this seller was intent in keeping a bag and thought she got away after not hearing from me since May 2. What a devious buyer.

A 500g parcel to be sent to US via Philpost's IEMSMoral of the story? Do not use Registered Mail because it takes forever. I am now using International Express Mail Service (IEMS) from PhilPost, and even if it was slightly more expensive, the 3-5 working days delivery time would surely be more favorable against impatient overseas buyer. For instance, a 500g parcel sent to US via Registered Mail cost Php 885 (and Php 1,770 once it passes the 500g mark), while a similar weight via IEMS cost me Php 1,409 (and Php 1,853 if more than 500g). PhilPost’s website is also updated with the fee, and they have the rates printed and inside a clear book so they are definitely accurate. (See link: http://philpost.gov.ph/web/international-mail-rates/) Well, the new batch of items I have sent via IEMS should be received by early next week, but my first experience of IEMS years ago was pleasant. I do hope that my funds get released earlier than the expected 21-day holding period because shipping via IEMS was no dime a dozen!

P.S.

Mama, Kuya and Ate Ja visited our apartment today, and I was so happy they thought our unit was fair enough! ^_^

Hello! Ilocos Norte! – Day 1

I have never been to Ilocos Norte and I was very happy to be invited by Mon to stay in the place where he grew up. According to him, it was approximately a 9-hour night trip and I knew that Bonamine would be my best friend again. We arrived in Fariñas Bus Transit near UST, Manila because our bus was scheduled to leave in exactly 9:00 PM.

We were seated directly behind the driver and we had enough leg room to even put our bags on the floor. It was at Php 750 per person because they had an on-board comfort room! No more waiting for the stop over. It was difficult to sleep, though, because I was really suspicious of the people getting in and out of the bus. I fear for the sake of the duffle bag on the overhead compartment.

Laoag Bound - Fariñas Bus Transit

Around quarter to 6:00 AM, we arrived in Fariñas Terminal in Laoag City, where we were met by Mon’s aunt, who will be accompanying us to the house. The air was so cold and FRESH that the difference between city and rural atmosphere could not be starker.

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Red, Green and Whimsical

Just as I have suspected, the seller did not turn the fish-eye effect off! Now that I have received this Tessuto Robot 2, it was evident that the robot did not have a bloated body, unlike the original auction photos. It was exactly as I expected and a little bit more. I thought that it only had one key hand, but it actually has both keys still intact. I immediately looked inside the zipped pocket, hoping to see the removed heatstamped mouth inside, but it was just wishful thinking. =D

Green Prada Tessuto Robot 2 Tote

 

Prada Tessuto Robot 6 and Prada Tessuto Robot 2

But what I was most happy about was this Prada trick keychain included with the bag! Back in Halloween, when I got the nylon backpack, I contemplated over having one of these  quirky tricks/charms to use on the D-ring. I couldn’t believe that it was just given for free! I loved that seller a lot! I was trying to decide what this gingerbread looking man was. A sailor? A nurse? Does it matter?LOL

Prada keychain trick in saffiano from Spring Summer 2005

I immediately recognized this little man because I remember looking at previous collections of Prada before and the Spring/Summer 2005 collection was accessorized with whimsical tricks. I think these were first made as brooches, attached on the lapels and front pockets, then eventually produced as keychains. I also like the airplane one attached on Racquel’s top.

Prada trick on the runway - Racquel Zimmermann, Karen Elson, Daria Werbowy and Shannan Click - Prada Spring Summer 2005

(Photo from stylebistro.com)

I’m really delighted over this trick because it is extremely adorable! I can even attach it to my other bags for that added touch of playfulness in my otherwise stern-looking briefcases and messengers. It is my brightest bag yet and will fit nicely with the upcoming (or should I say, already happening) summer season!

Looking out the window - Prada keychain trick in saffiano from Spring Summer 2005

Green Prada Tessuto Robot 2 tote and Yves Saint Laurent white patent leather sneakers

And its first act was also something green. I have lots of empty PET bottles in the office and I don’t throw them out in the bin as much as possible. We also collect these things at home and bring them weekly to an area where they will be recycled. However, I was too lazy to bring them all home and my nephew even criticized me for not doing so. Since I already have a backpack with me, I decided to use the tessuto tote just once as an eco-bag for these PET bottles. =D

That one time I used this tessuto bag as an eco-bag

I had reservations before in using a tessuto robot tote, but the advent of eco-bag usage in Metro Manila recently will not make my tote look out of place! LOL I’ll just call it my more-flamboyant-than-usual-eco-bag

(Un)fortunately, the ban has been broken!

Never say never“, that’s all I could think of when I contacted the seller of one of the bags I’ve been waiting for on Ebay. Just as I gave myself a lovely pat on the back before Valentine’s Day on how I managed not to buy a bag for myself in 2013, along came this tessuto robot tote!

Prada Tessuto Robot 2 in Apple Green

(Photos from the seller)

I couldn’t believe the thumbnail that I saw when I was just lazily scrolling on a seller’s items. Again, due to limitations imposed by Ebay on sellers, the one selling this was restricted to include designer names/brands in her auction titles. But I knew right away what this bag was and it was ONE of the tessuto robot designs I’ve been looking for a long time (i.e. a Tessuto Robot 2 tote bag)! I previously posted about the other Tessuto Robot I have, which was a casualty in an unfortunate event. It was admittedly a botched DIY project and I dared not use the fabric dye, out of fear of utterly ruining it. So just imagine how happy I was upon seeing this green wonder!

Prada Tessuto Robot 2 from Rakuten
(Photos from Rakuten)

There were few missing parts, though, particularly one of the keys in the left arm and the mouth of the robot itself. The other tessuto tote I have suffered from the same fate as well, with the robot’s right foot lost for quite some time already. But I was not surprised to see the mouth missing because unlike the other tessuto robot designs, this fellow had the sewn-in, rubber-y, heatstamped material, rather than a triangular and/or rectangular plaque present on the others. That, of course, is easily lost.

Prada Tessuto Robot 2 in Apple Green - Details

Distorted leather tag of Prada Tessuto Robot 2

But there was something else odd with the seller’s photos: they looked quite weird and distorted. I checked her other auctions and noticed that all of the recently uploaded pictures were bulging in the middle. I was definitely sure that she had forgotten to turn the fish-eye effect off! LOL Nevertheless, I saw no red flags as the details, albeit quite distorted, match perfectly with the other one I already have (which was checked by the helpful Gwen from the PurseWatch two years ago). I can’t wait for it to arrive because I have waited a long time for another tessuto tote! =D

Where the hell can I get acid dye in Manila?

Back in 2009, I was able to buy this whimsical Prada Tessuto Robot Tote 6 but I never got the chance to use it and it was stuck inside my closet. I had few misgivings with the color because it was something I have never carried before. I didn’t mind the robot detail because it was exquisitely done, but lightly blue was something I was not keen about.

Prada Tessuto Robot 6 - head - Manila, Philippines

Prada Tessuto Robot 6 - body

But along came Ondoy and destroyed some of my items. I was most devastated when I saw that this Tessuto Robot Tote has sustained irremovable stains because of the light-colored material. I initially tried removing it, of course, but to no avail. Then last year, since I no longer had any use for it, my DIY-inclined self kicked in and I spent a weekend coloring the bag to black:

Prada Tessuto Robot 6 DIY Project - Before and After

I was first happy with it and even used it several times, but at some point, I really want to make the look more finished. Yes, the bag was accidentally destroyed and I have technically altered its basic identity. LOL But what else can I do? Last Sunday, I was out to look for something to dye the bag. After careful research, I’ve read that the best thing to use to dye nylon was an acid dye. I searched and searched but there was none for sale in the area.

Venus Dye locally-known as 'jobos'

So I grabbed the nearest thing to acid dye that I could get — three sachets of Venus dyes, more popularly known as ‘jobos‘. But until today, I still haven’t done anything with it and I’m still thinking of where I can find an acid dye! I’ve tried looking on Sulit.com but the one selling was offering it on the bulk (a supplier) and I just mentioned I only needed a couple of grams. I never got a reply. LOL I made up my mind that I’m fine with the bag being black, even the details. I can make it as my own reusable bag (does it need to be Prada? Really? LOL), always stashed inside my bag. With all the eco-consciousness going on in Metro Manila recently (which makes me extremely happy!), I can do with a little reusing/recycling myself. Now, where to find some acid dye? Hmmm…