I shipped out the sealed LaserDiscs this morning after getting that delightful message from eBay stating: "PAYMENT RECEIVED. SHIP NOW! NOW, YOU LAZY SOD! GET OFF YOUR BUTT AND GET THEE TO THE POST OFFICE BEFORE WE SMITE THEE WITH NEGATIVE FEEDBACK!"
I thought I had my bases covered... Product? Check. Spreadsheet showing every step of the transaction in case Uncle Sam wants to sniff around my books? Check. Enough bubble-wrap to cover everything in my neighborhood that's not nailed down (including children and dogs) for a 3-mile radius? Checkity-check!
...proper boxes to send the media? Ohhhhhh... {checking for presence of my son... yup, he's within ear-shot.} ...shucky-durn. Considering I have an auction on some LP's ending in a few days, I texted my ex-book-hustler friend who checked with her friend who also does eBay auctions. When buyers purchase something, they expect it to be shipped to them properly. Sounds legit. Extra-heavy-duty record shipping boxes are now on their way, thanks to Amazon. But what about the LaserDiscs that need to go out now?
I don't function well on little caffeine. I consume more caffeine than is recommended for a small college class of art history majors. Brain work wonky caffeine low, when. So, it came as no surprise to me this morning that (of course) after I filled out the to/from addresses on the padded USPS envelope for the LaserDiscs, they won't fit.
[Brain is now scared that it's going to be taken back out behind the shed after it goes to fetch a switch.]
I eat the cost of the now sullied and defiled bubble mailer and ensure that the discs will reach their destination intact and in the same shape as when I purchased them -- my solemn promise to my beloved buyers. My little calculated field in my spreadsheet showing my profit margin groans as it accepts the loss. Well, lesson learned -- in this fast and furious game of auctions and quick sales, it pays to be more prepared than a Boy Scout in a prophylactic store. I will not be caught with my shipping pants down again.
Now, back to finding the perfect switch.
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