I hate to change the subject back to unpleasantness, but I'm gone for a few days and it seems like a few people think it's ok to drag my name through the mud. So I'll speak my peace and then we all can go back to happier things.
When I posted that the person who had offered to buy me the pins and then sent me a refund without an explanation, that was a FACT, not an opinion, and I certainly did nothing to provoke her changing her mind. I received a response several hours later as to why she refunded my money. I did not share her name because it's not anyone's business and it's irrelevant. If she cares to explain herself or even refute my story, than she has that right, but considering some of you are ready to form a lynch mob I wouldn't want to share my side either. My post was about my own feelings about what happened, I never once pointed any fingers and said she was a bad person. Did she change her mind, maybe, did something happen and she couldn't make it, maybe. I was simply writing about how her decision affected me. And when I explained the difference between a seller backing out and a buyer backing out, I was speaking in generalities, not my specific situation.
Since some of you can't see the hypocrisy in your own words, let me explain it to you. When a buyer tells a seller that they are going to take something that seller is counting on that sale and if they take it off the market they could lose out on other potential sales. While that buyer is stalling and looking for a better deal, other potential customers are also making other arrangements.
And since it appears that you received an explanation for why your purchases was reversed I think it would be fair for you to share that so that people know the whole story.
Why is it in the pin community, when something good happens to someone everyone says "oh, you deserve it" and "it's because of your good pin karma!" but when someone doesn't get what they want, why isn't it bad karma? That's the thing about karma if you choose to believe in it...it works both ways too.
And quite frankly, I don't get what the problem is. If you wish you had just shelled out the $600 plus the cost of pins to go to the event then why is buying them such a big deal? Even at marked up prices you could buy everything you want for less than it would have cost you to go there and buy them yourself. You keep making comments about how pin traders are so nasty and how you have had so many negative experiences but it seems to me that the person here being the most negative is you.
Erudolf, since I seem to not understand what hypocrisy means, please explain it to me.
I've never sold a pin so I don't know how that applies and I've never backed out of a trade I've already committed to. And as I said, when you are the seller, you already own the merchandise which means if a buyer backs out you can sell it again and it seems to me that people are still selling the pins so no one is missing out. Even ebay allows you to relist for free if a buyer backs out of a purchase. And as I said it's not my place to tell all of you who the person is. One it's completely inappropriate and two it's no one's business. I will speak to the appropriate people, but I will not share that information with you.
The thing about "karma" since most people have molded the idea to fit their own purposes, if you do something good, something good comes back to you, that's not karma, it doesn't work that way. Karma is a religious belief, found in many Indian religions, Buddhism, Hindi and Sikh and it isn't about what you do in one life and how it comes back to you, it refers to reincarnation and how you live your entire life and how each life affects what kind of life you will have in the next life. So you can believe in "pin karma" or that good things happen to good people and bad things happen to bad, but the truth is that it's not karma at all. And some times justice isn't served at all.
As far as me spending the money to go to the event, sure I could have done that, but I moved back to Oregon to help my family in their time of crisis and spending that money on something frivolous, even if it was important to me, was not the right thing for me. Can I just buy the pins? Sure, I never said I wasn't going to. My post was my reaction to a situation in that moment.
As for my comment about having had negative experiences with traders, I have, as have a lot of people. I've also posted on other boards about a few of my positive ones, but I suppose you didn't bother to read those before you commented and I don't see how I've been negative at all, but examples would be more than appreciated. As I said I posted one comment about what happened to me and when people showed me their compassion I thanked them and just explained that I'm not sure if pin trading is for me. And can be very cutthroat, so I should thank you for reminding me of that.
And Mr. Nightmare, as I said, what I told you all was FACT, not my "perspective". The only thing you don't know is who the person is and why they refunded the money. I did post that she offered me an explanation and if she wants to offer one to all of you than that's her choice, but as I said above I wouldn't want to. I appreciate everyone's kind words to me, but I in no way was trying to instigate anything. Was I upset about what happened, yes. Disappointed, yes, but angry, no. I'm not trying to get this person thrown under the bus. She did what was right for her. And I don't appreciate you implying I'm a liar. That it's all my perspective. And if this becomes a bigger issue, I will go to the moderators and share with them my PMs with this person. Hell I'll share them with all of you and just black out this person's name. Whatever this person's reasons are had NOTHING to do with me, and as for you "possibly knowing the parties involved" you might know the other person, I don't know who she shared things with, but I guarantee that you don't know me. I have never met anyone on the board, I've only been to a couple of PTNs and I don't generally socialize with anyone there.
I am sorry to everyone who has had to be an involuntary participant to this, but I do not tolerate anyone questioning my integrity. I appreciate all of the people who showed me compassion over my situation, but I by no means am a part or will be a part of crucifing someone else just to appease the masses. I was very disappointed that I didn't get the pins, but it is not the end of my world, I have so many more important things to worry about and when the time is right I will get the ones that I want. I do feel that everyone has a right to their own opinion, but personal attacks are childish and unnecessary. And I regret I ever said anything. Some of you were very kind and again I thank you, but others took my words and twisted them to fit their own agenda, but if it's possible I'd like this topic to be done with. I didn't get the pins, que sera, sera. It's over with, done moving on, for those that wish to comment, I hope that you will think twice and just move on as well. No one wants to hear anymore negativity. The pin event was a happy day for so many people and I want to focus on that. And while I wasn't there and don't have any of the pins, I am eagerly awaiting 2 beautiful Alice in Wonderland watercolors of the Duchess and of the Cheshire Cat, which I will share with all of you when they arrive to share my happy purchases as you have done for me with your pins.