WEIRD eBay transaction

[BrianShaw]

So I've been buying trinkets for my Retina IIIc and was tempted by a eBay seller who had some incident metering diffusers, among his Retina camera/accessories and a line of medical ID bracelets that seems to be his business.

Many months ago I wrote to him and asked if I could pick up in lieu of shipping since he is only 2 miles from my home. He never responded. Last week I bid on this item, won, and decided to pay the shipping even though we could have walked and met half way in about 15 minutes.

Today, two days after the auction closed, the package was on my doorstep. So I'm thrilled and go to leave some nice feedback... only to find out that I can't because he's no longer registered. Someone left positive feedback earlier today but at 5:00 PM he no longer exists.

Hmmmmm. The guy has been registered since 1998 and had 470 feedbacks (180 this past 12 months) and a 98.6 positive.

Hmmmm. 😕

 

[RJBender]

Brian,

Call the guy at 800-926-3342. He said he has some IIICs new in the box and bunch of parts and accessories.

He said he got into a dispute over negative feedback and should have his eBay account back in a few days.

R.J.

 

[lmd91343]

Brian,

You live in the Valley? I live in Northridge!

-Lance

 

[saxshooter]

Sometimes sellers are suspended by ebay because they don't pay their bills. I've seen Power Sellers become "non registered user" and then a couple of weeks later "reinstated". If they sell a lot, they owe ebay a lot of money. Some may decide to ditch ebay after making a few big sales and allow themselves to be suspended without paying the fees at the end of the month.

 

[tedwhite]

I went to Manual Arts High School, 42nd and Vermont.

So there!

Ted

 

[lmd91343]

A former Angelino!

I went to Manual Arts High School, 42nd and Vermont.

So there!

Ted

 

[BrianShaw]

Brian,

You live in the Valley? I live in Northridge!

-Lance

Howdy neighbor... I'm near Roscoe and Winnetka.

 

[BrianShaw]

Brian,

Call the guy at 800-926-3342. He said he has some IIICs new in the box and bunch of parts and accessories.

He said he got into a dispute over negative feedback and should have his eBay account back in a few days.

R.J.

Thanks for the info, RJ... he seems like a decent seller. I'm certainly satisfied with my tiny transaction.

 

[Fedzilla_Bob]

Howdy neighbor... I'm near Roscoe and Winnetka.

There's a winnetka in the LA area?

I've always associated that name with Chicago suburbs.

 

[BrianShaw]

There's a winnetka in the LA area?

I've always associated that name with Chicago suburbs.

Ya... that's what Calumet always says.

Winnetka is in the West San Fernando Valley... THE Valley. It is North of Woodland hills, East of Canoga Park, South of Northridge, and West of Reseda. It is a former agricultural community that is now totlly covered by homes, apartments, and some small businesses. There is absolutely NOTHING significant about our little part of LA! The name came from the early residents... who all came from the Chicago suburbs. See the connection?

 

[RichardS]

There's a winnetka in the LA area?

I've always associated that name with Chicago suburbs.

Big Noise blew in from Winnetka
Big Noise blew right out again.

The first two lines of a very popular song way back when but I don't remember who performed it.

Dick

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

Bette Midler:

This is the story of a young girl who was the Einstein of the dance.
They called her Big Noise from Winnetka, against her no one stood a chance.
Big Noise blew in from Winnetka, stole each fellow's heart and then,
Big Noise blew in from Winnetka, Big Noise blew right out again.

Boys were sighing, their girlfriends crying, hearts were pounding when;
The Big Noise dances, hence romances, it's just astounding when;
Big Noise blew in from Winnetka, Big Noise blew right out again.

Stop! Look! Listen! Listen to the Big Noise.
Stop! Look! Listen! Listen to the Big Noise.

I am the one they call the Big Noise. I got to dance my way to fame.
I just blew in from Winnetka, that town will never be the same.
Now I had my fun, and yet there's just one who's got me from the start.
I'd love to conga a little bit longer but it keeps us apart.
Exit Big Noise from Winnetka, enter Big Noise in his heart.

Big men move me out. Senors zonk me out.
Zim zom zup ma ma. Big men boo bop ba, bah ba doo wop.
Boodeeah baby boodeeah baby boodeeah baby.
Boodeeah baby boodeeah baby boodeeah baby baby baby over 'n' out.

She loves the bass. She loves the drum.
She loves to stay out late and dance the samba, samba, how she loves to samba,
rhumba, salsa, limbo and pachenga.
She's so restless she's on every guest list.
None can please her. She'd say no to Ceaser.
Teach me, why don't you teach me. Show me how to let go!

There she goes 'round again, up and then down again, in and then out. Hooo!

When Big Noise waltzes through the door the bouncer has to clear the floor,
'cause everybody wants to see the girl get down, the girl get down.
And if you try to hold me tight, I'll disappear into the night.
My lover's waiting home for me (she don't do that! She don't do that!)

Everyone's got a bit of Big Noise in his heart,
everyone likes to toot his horn.
I've been the Big Noise from Winnetka for so long,
time for a new noise to be born.
'Cause I had my fun and et there's just one who's got me from the start.
Exit Big Noise for Winnetka, enter Big Noise in my heart.

Onc she was pickin' up the big boys . . .
Now I'm pickin' up my little kids' toys . . .
Big Noise we miss you.

 

[BrianShaw]

I'm speechless. So much for "Big Noise".

To bring this back to an "honest" RFF thread... I've been documenting the few remaining chicken farm houses in *my* Winnetka. In a previous thread I mentioned the 1920's utopian community that was established here and how it died in the crash of 1929. The farms remained, as did the residents. Eventually this once remote agricultural community was swallowed up and blended into the Greater Los Angeles suburban sprawl.

I should have started on this project years ago. Most evidence of the "old Winnetka" are either gone or disappearing quickly. I photographed one house a couple of weeks ago; today it is an empty dirt lot surrounded by a chain link fence with a "public hearing posting" announcing further subdivision/redevelopment. Within a couple of months there will probably be 6 new homes.

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

Mmmm I'm surprised by how many old village houses I photograph aren't there a year later, and how many smokey cafes with old men drinking homemade brandy become chic coffee shops the next time I call by.

 

[lmd91343]

Brian,

Did you catch any shots of "Fort Laurel" (Stan Laurel's estate) on Strathern one short block west of Winnetka, before it was torn down and several houses built there? (20213?)

-Lance

p.s. I am near Balboa and Parthenia, where Richard Pryor did his human candle impersonation.

 

[BrianShaw]

Brian,

Did you catch any shots of "Fort Laurel" (Stan Laurel's estate) on Strathern one short block west of Winnetka, before it was torn down and several houses built there? (20213?)

-Lance

p.s. I am near Balboa and Parthenia, where Richard Pryor did his human candle impersonation.

No, I missed that one. When was it torn down? I've lived (to get a bit more specfic) either one street north of Strathern (20142) or 2 streets south of Strathern (20447) since 1970. I thought Stan was in Malibu area but I don't know why I have that recollection. I heard that he kept his name listed in the phone book until his death, but I never looked him up or called. I had no idea that he was a neighbor!

Re: Pryor. My wife saw him and his nurse at Northridge mall about 6 months prior (no pun intended) to his death. She said he was so pathetic looking that she didn't have the heart to take a photo. What a rotten way to go!