for crying out loud... - Page 3

wptw · #31 01-06-2002, 02:00 AM

Achtung: No, I'm not "teapot dude". I'm a badge collector, so I've got a pretty good grasp on what all the letters and symbols are. And there's no "rag" - I'm not angry or upset. Just perplexed why some people continue to cast so much ire toward people who are just trying to make a living selling estate jewelry. Get angry about pins being sold on ebay if you like, but why take it out on the dealers? Calling an anonymous person a stupid loser simply because they aren't knowledgable about the details of a narrow niche of American society is unfair and actually makes you look like the narrow-minded one. I certainly don't expect the entire world to know or care what my badge looks like.

DeltAlum: Circular stereotypes. That's funny. You're right of course. I should have said "some greeks".

Alpha Gam: Agreed. A little research to get the description right would certainly attract more bidders and bring more money. I don't mind the mistakes though - you can find some great bargains that way.

You know what's funny? Have you seen the ones where the item is mislisted, and then there's note down below that says something like "thanks to a helpful ebayer who identified this pin as a Delta Zeta sorority pin and not a Triangle-Z teapot pin..."? Do you ever chuckle to yourself and wonder who these "helpful ebayers" are? And why in the world they would do this? Seems like shooting yourself in the foot to me.

wptw

33girl · #32 01-06-2002, 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by wptw
Get angry about pins being sold on ebay if you like, but why take it out on the dealers? Calling an anonymous person a stupid loser simply because they aren't knowledgable about the details of a narrow niche of American society is unfair and actually makes you look like the narrow-minded one. I certainly don't expect the entire world to know or care what my badge looks like.

Like AlphaGam1019 said, it is to the SELLER'S BENEFIT. If I acquired a large amount of athletic equipment (which I know nothing about), I would definitely identify it correctly before going to the bother of listing it on ebay. I mean which will get me more bids - listing a "Brie Neptune Lacrosse Stick" or "petrified butterfly net looking thing"? If someone is intelligent enough to use the internet to sell things, they are intelligent enough to do MINIMAL research to identify those things properly. If they don't, then yes, they are stupid losers. That applies to ANYTHING, not just pins and badges!

wptw · #33 01-07-2002, 10:18 AM

But 33girl, I think you might be mistaking a seller’s conscious choice for stupidity. I often buy large lots of pins when there is a greek badge hidden in there. So after a few months, I’ve got a drawer full of miscellaneous pins and jewelry. I group them as best I can and I sell them off with little or no research. I’ve probably mislisted plenty of Masonic and other fraternal items. It’s not because I’m stupid. It’s because when I weigh the time it takes to do the research against the extra few bucks I’d make, doing the research just doesn’t pay off. Costume jewelry is a better example - I know nothing about costume jewelry, and if I type that into a search engine I’ll get about 205,000 hits. No way I’m going to waste my time researching it. By the way, type in Sorority Pin and you get about 5,500 hits.

If I just found a sorority pin in an old drawer and it’s the only thing I’m selling, then sure it makes sense to do the research. But if I’m a dealer and I just bought 5 estates last weekend, I’m going to describe the little items as best I can, get them listed, get my money and move on to the more valuable items like cars, antique furniture and fine jewelry. If I’m a smart dealer, I know that people are doing keyword searches for “Sorority Pin” and as long as I’ve got those keywords in there someone is going to properly identify it and buy it regardless of whether I call it a teapot or a lamp. That actually sounds like a pretty smart business decision to me.

Some of you write these pleading emails to sellers asking them to understand why your badge is so important. Well, who has taken a moment to try and understand what the seller is all about, and what’s important to them? Just trying to make you see both sides of the argument, which is what educated people like ourselves are SUPPOSED to do. I’m quite sure there are stupid dealers out there, but that really isn’t the issue. The issue is how greeks are perceived by our communities. And when we continue to let emotion lead us to making judgments without real basis, then we continue to present ourselves as spoiled elitist children.

wptw

shadokat · #34 01-07-2002, 11:38 AM

And now for the free advertising!!

Pins found: 2 LXA, 1 KS, 3 Pi Phi, 2 Beta Theta Pi, 2 PIKE, 1 KKG, 1 ATO, 2 Phi Kappa Sigma, 1 TKE, 4 XO, 3 DKE.

1 each: Phi Kappa Psi, DZ, AGD, SAE, Sig Ep, SGR, DU, Omega Psi Phi, DTD, Fiji and DDD.

wptw · #35 01-07-2002, 02:19 PM

Thanks for the advertising Shadokat. I'm selling a few this week and could use some help with those Christmas bills.

wptw

ZZ-kai- · #36 01-07-2002, 02:44 PM

I have a Mark McGuire rookie card, from the Oakland Athletics. But because I do not like the Oakland Athletics, I am going to get rid of the card. I will probably just give it to some Oakland Athletics fan, for free. NOT.

Somewhere in this 4 page thread, somone said, "Why would somone want a pin that they do not know the meaning behind?".

I say money, its all about the benjamins, baby. Plus they are just pretty cool.

Check out the Alpha Delta Phi pin on ebay right now, well over $500.

I am thinking about resaddling this dead horse and taking her for a ride.

shadokat · #37 01-07-2002, 03:03 PM

No problem wptw. I live to line your pockets

33girl · #38 01-07-2002, 09:11 PM

wptw - I totally see your point about having tons of stuff to sell, and I agree. But if you (not you personally, of course) don't know FOR SURE, just list it as "sorority or fraternity pin" and leave it at that. Don't try to sell the "Epsilon Chi" pin and think you're smart...when it's Sigma Chi. You'll just make yourself look dumb. As you said, people do searches on sorority pin, why make it more difficult?

wptw · #39 01-08-2002, 10:42 AM

Agreed 33girl. Guess they're just taking a shot in the dark. In any case, their loss is our gain - a mislisted pin is to the advantage of badge rescuers and collectors alike.

wptw

KappaStargirl · #40 01-08-2002, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by hocnsoc81
So, what you all are trying to say is that sometimes newly initiated members can recieve badges from DEAD PEOPLE?

Yes!! I am not only a Kappa but an Sigma Alpha Iota (professional music fraternity for women) as well, and when I got my SAI badge it was in pretty bad shape. The pin was bent, a pearl was missing, and it needed some severe polishing. It had definitely been worn and used before I received it. My educated guess is that it was worn for years by someone who passed away, sent to HQ, and then sent to my chapter when the badge order was placed.

hocnsoc81 · #41 01-08-2002, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by KappaStargirl

Yes!! I am not only a Kappa but an Sigma Alpha Iota (professional music fraternity for women) as well, and when I got my SAI badge it was in pretty bad shape. The pin was bent, a pearl was missing, and it needed some severe polishing. It had definitely been worn and used before I received it. My educated guess is that it was worn for years by someone who passed away, sent to HQ, and then sent to my chapter when the badge order was placed.

Ugh, this something I did not want to know! I thought all of these pins are new, not recycled.
Damn, someone could have dropped a pin in a toilet full of crap or something, and not even know it!
I even recalled putting a PP in my mouth once, don't even ask why!

hocnsoc81 · #42 01-08-2002, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by wptw
Agreed 33girl. Guess they're just taking a shot in the dark. In any case, their loss is our gain - a mislisted pin is to the advantage of badge rescuers and collectors alike.

wptw

Isn't there a better way to make money?

33girl · #43 01-08-2002, 08:20 PM

As far as wearing pins from "dead people" - it's not like they were pried out of their fingers on their deathbeds.

I personally would be honored to wear a deceased sister's pin if the family returned it to HQ - just like wearing your great grandma's wedding band. She's my sister, after all. And I'd rather the pins were passed on than melted down. Honestly hocnsoc, if everyone thought the same way as you the antique/estate jewelry business would go bust.

Oh, and why did you put a pledge pin in your mouth? I thought you had never pledged anywhere.

DeltAlum · #44 01-08-2002, 09:27 PM

33,

I couldn't agree more.

hocnsoc81 · #45 01-08-2002, 11:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by 33girl

Oh, and why did you put a pledge pin in your mouth? I thought you had never pledged anywhere.

Did I say pledge pin?

I pledged for girl scouts.

You know the "story" don't ya'?