So a couple weeks ago, I received an invite to a Body Shop event at Pacific Place and I RSVP’ed.  Celebrity makeup artist (oh, she’s good!), fun products, and a new line of bronzing options so that we sun-fearing, fair-skinned ladies can still rock a golden look during the summer… It sounded interesting, so I said, “yes!”  Let me just say, the Body Shop was a madhouse when I arrived – probably a testament to their line of products.

I met Irene from Couture Petite (who’s super adorable) and their Celebrity Makeup Artist Shalini Vadhera, whose had quite the roster of clients.  Throughout my session, Body Shop associates kept coming up and commenting on how luminous my makeup looked, courtesy of their full line of bronzing products. We were offered goodie bags and photos with professional photographer Paul Nathan. I was really impressed with the quality of their makeup products. Helloooooo Gorgeous!

I was amazed at how much fair trade sourcing they do, and I really liked the idea of “trade,  not aid“.  The Body Shop promotes small and struggling economies around the world by sourcing ingredients, with the objective of “creating trade to help people in the Third World utilise their resources to meet their own needs”.  Having studied the phenomenon of trade in third world economies in Econ, I believe this is much more effective than throwing money at a problem until it goes away. This might be considered anti-capitalist or anti-globalization, but the Body Shop philosophy is actually in favour of international marketplaces. The Body Shop uses its profits and influence to enact fair labour practices, safe working environments and pay equality.  That’s definitely cool in my book, because that’s the best way to boost the international marketplace.

Another interesting thing the Body Shop lists in their values is their Stop Trafficking campaign, calling for a safe harbor law for child-victims of sex trafficking.  In their campaign they say,

The US should change the laws that allow children to be arrested and prosecuted when
they are victims of sex trafficking. Instead of arrest they should be offered support and
protection as they are in New York and Washington states.

A “safe harbor” law can:

• Protect and prevent any person under the age of 18 from being charged, prosecuted or incarcerated for prostitution.
• Refer exploited children to special services and shelters that will support their recovery.
• Require the training of law enforcement, judges and first responders

I think this is a wonderful and worthy campaign so I asked how I could help. Lara, my Body Shop contact, said it’s as simple as getting people to sign the petition.  She offered a couple goodies to give away to participants who’ve signed, so I have 3 items from their Honey Bronze line to give out to you, dear readers.  They are the Honey Bronzing Powder in Medium, the Honey Bronze Face Gel, and the Honey Bronze Brilliance Powder.  Faux, being my preferred method of bronzing, I can say I’ve used all three products (as well as the Honey Bronze Shimmering Dry Oil) and they’re shimmery, but not too heavy – great for a sun-kissed glow without the risk to your skin.

So click below to add your signature to the petition and comment to let me know you’ve signed.  You can also tell people about this petition (and contest) by tweeting:

Help @birdiee and @thebodyshopusa stop Sex Trafficking! Sign the petition (& let us know, to win a Honey Bronze set). http://bit.ly/j6VYsK

On July 15th, I’ll pick a name from the comments and tweets about this post, and the recipient will receive this lovely little care package, courtesy of the Body Shop.  I’m excited to be helping the Body Shop with such a great cause.

It’s been a whirlwind year already.  I look back at goals I had set for myself and miraculously watch as they’re each ticked off the list.  This year has been like a lesson in personal manifestation – the more tuned-in you are to your goals, the more you work consciously and subconsciously to achieve them.

This year I got the boot from my “safe” job that was slowly wearing away at my nerves.  This was probably the best gift-in-disguise I’d ever received.  I felt safe, and totally relied on the paychecks that came in on the regular.  I had motivation to leave, but I didn’t have the cojones.  You know when you are stuck in a rut and there’s reason to leave but you’re afraid to take that plunge?  That was me.  When it did happen, I packed up my things, walked out to my car and did a Saved-By-The-Bell-style, jump and “Woohooo!”  I never thought I’d be so relieved to be laid off (for “restructuring” apparently…)

This year I found a new job doing work that I love, and inevitably find myself doing.  I work with a Web Design, SEO and Social Media company: RoryMartin.com.  I’m their Campaign Genius (that’s what my cards say) and we specialize in thinking outside the box.  Being able to creatively think about the work I have is a huge bonus, and everyone I work with is incredibly cool. Oh and did I mention I get to work from the comfort of my own office, write creatively every day and set my own hours?  Productivity is bliss!

Oh and I got into school!  The pursuit of that magic piece of paper from an esteemed university somewhere has been my goal for… well… ages.  I’m a brain.  I like learning stuff and I finally felt it was a good time to get with it.  I hadn’t previously, because former job frowned on my educational goals.  For real.  Like they told me I could not work and go to school (nevermind that I’ve been taking evening classes for like 3 years).  I was pretty appalled that they’d tell me I couldn’t go to school – most employers are thrilled because they can mold your education to their needs. So I put in an application at UW (hard school to get into) and they laid me off, and then last Friday I got the acceptance letter.  I’ll be studying French (something I love) at an amazing school.  And my new employer is totally stoked for me.

Other goals have been connecting and maintaining relationships with amazing people and making sure Deco Modiste is off to a good start.  It’s amazing to watch all this stuff just fall into place.  I generally don’t give a whole lot of credit to magical manifestation, but I really feel like when you want something badly enough, your whole being goes into overdrive to get there (whether you realize it or not).

Little things are: Being more creative about my ensembles.  Attending fun events like Haute Summer Night and the Body Shop Honey Bronze event (more on that soon).  Learning from those with experience.  Gym-related endorphins.  Being able to walk the pup around the neighborhood in the sun.  Buying my ever-coveted white Chanel sunglasses (COVETCOVET).  Summer travels.  Gettin’ shit done!

How are your goals for the year going (so far)?  Is there anything you want to achieve in the next 6 months?  I’d love to hear about it

Not having a whole lot of extra spending money, I’m constantly trying to look for ways to update what I have for cheap.  I still love the thrill of a purchase, but I have to be very choosy when it comes to what I’m buying.  I’m looking for quality items that work with what I have (I’m trying not to bring home wardrobe “orphans”).  Lately, this is how I’ve updated my wardrobe:

I’m looking for two things:  Boldness and Versatility. Sometimes, if it’s versatile or bold enough I will forgo a little quality to buy these pieces – especially unique, handmade pieces at street fairs, craft fairs, etc.  (FYI, if you’re in Seattle, the University Street fair is coming up and features all manners of artisans + crafts).  I do consider quality in terms of, “can I fix it if it breaks” – and I have a spending limit for that kind of thing.

Bold but Versatile Example:  Chain + Crystal earrings from Heart Of Glass Designs on Etsy

Speaking of repairs:  “Buy it, use it, break it, fix it, trash it, change it, mail – upgrade it…” Some of the best pieces I own were once broken jewelry pieces I picked up at Goodwill and put back together in new/better ways.  I have a Gap tee with a hole in the sleeve that I shredded and “laddered”, giving it a new life as the ultimate grunge tee.  I constantly re-hem skirts, add embellishments, play DIY designer when it comes to shoes…  Whatever it is – before you toss it and look for a replacement item for your wardrobe, consider giving that item a new life… whether it’s a simple repair, or completely reworking it.

Look to your fellow bloggers.  There have been a couple lust-worthy pieces that I have picked up in various bloggers’ “Shop My Closet” sales.  For instance, the Rodarte for Target dress I wore to last week’s Hollyhood came from The Clothes Horse.  It garnered a lot of “oohs & aahs” and wasn’t a strain on my budget.  Another example – I picked up this little tweed cropped jacket from Tiffany of I am Style-ish – it’s my light, go-to jacket when I want something fresh that will bring a lot of structure to an outfit.

I know, you can’t see a whole lot of the jacket, but it was the only photo I had of me that didn’t have a goofy face.  You get the picture though – studded epaulettes, tweed, satin binding, slim zippered sleeves – oh and did I mention it’s cropped?  It was a great find and works well in my wardrobe.  And it wasn’t expensive.

Shop my closets can be difficult considering we’re all different sizes, but if you can find a blogger with a style you like who does them regularly, this is a great place to pick stuff up!

And then there’s the old-fashioned way: Layaway.  I’ve found one store that does this – which is great news for those of us who can pay in increments, but don’t wan’t to do it with plastic.  Need a spendy new pair of ‘Vogs?  They offer layaway as an affordable option – which is great because they offer such limited quantities.  It’s also great because they’re some of the most comfortable shoes I own and I’m happy when my feet are happy.  Which is how these babies became mine:

Mmmm… Shoes.  I had to have cash in hand to take them home, and that was a good way to do it.  However, if the stores don’t offer layaway, I have a little pile of cash that I’ve saved so that I can buy when I want to.  And then I pay myself back – every penny, plus a little extra.

So what are your secrets?  How do you keep your wardrobe fresh on the cheap?  Let me know!

Friday was party-night; we celebrated Jess Estrada’s birthday at Hollyhood!  I was under the weather most of last week (hence the lack of posts), but it sounded like too much fun to miss out on.  I was waiting till the very last minute to pick something to wear, when I remembered this little frock the Clothes Horse sent over when she was cleaning out her closet!  It was the perfect party dress ….

Why yes – I am wearing a frilly dress with black tights and my Doc Marten Darcies!  I seriously wear these boots all the time.  They gave this dress a 90′s grunge rock, babydoll-dress-with-boots-vibe.  I was going to be taking photos – I wanted stability in my shoes.

The dress itself is interesting.  It’s three different textures in the same color – which I’m a big fan of.  The mesh top is so subtle, that accessorising was an interesting feat and I didn’t want to cut into that subtlety too much.  I opted for hair bling, pairing feathers and bold glitter in a light gray that almost matched.  I just happened to forget I was sporting that spoon necklace.

This is the point where I lament the fact that I didn’t have a tough moto-jacket to toss over the top.  I went with a long gray cardigan and Mister told me I looked like something out of Clueless.  Like, Woah. I attempted to wear a cute little blazer with studded epaulettes (for lack of a better description) but Mister told me I probably shouldn’t leave the house looking like I did.  Unfortunately, no photos of the entire outfit.  It was warm in the club that night, and I had to bribe a pretty lady to snap my photo.

I admired all the party girls out that night in their cutest club outfits.  Pictured here, Birdie Royale in a striped bustier and gray pencil skirt, and Katie Marie in an amazing animal print number.  Me-yow!

I wore:

• Rodarte for Target Blue lace dress
• Doc Marten Darcie boots
• Black sweater tights from Sockdreams
• Spoon necklace found on Etsy
• Sparkly feather headband from CharlotteRusse
• Not Pictured: Gray cardigan from Ann Taylor Loft, Asymmetric coat from Allsaints

It was fun and hilarity.  And champagne and cupcakes.  My favorite kind of party.  If you were there, you can check out the photos on the Bonne Vie Facebook page!  Give us a like, little kittens!

Mister and I were talking about our recent trip to Vegas and about some of the tics and funny things you notice when you’re playing table games. Craps, for example, is totally a fool’s game, a poor investment, a waste of money and time, but there’s a bigger lesson to be had at a Craps table than any money won or lost. The things you learn there are inadvertently applicable to life in some way.

Image by CatherineJamieson on Flickr

For example…

Making friends is easy. What do you a have in common with a table full of strangers, other than the fact that you’ve all got your chips on the pass line? Absolutely nothing – but that’s the great part. You only need to have that one thing in common (and sometimes maybe not even that if the goofball next to you is playing against the table) to strike up a conversation where you’ll realize how much more that set of strangers has to offer. All it takes is a common scenario – everybody against the man – to create a bond within a group.

Remember, a smile can get you everywhere. That kid at the end of the table will try to roll just a little bit better if you flash him your best grin. A smile will bring out the better side in people – and scientific research suggests that a smile will bring out the better side in you, too.

Show up ready to play. If you show up, cynical about winning or losing or learning or any of that, you’re going to kill the table, and quick. Your self-doubt is apparent. It’s a catch-22, but you’d be amazed at how quick a game can go downhill if you’re a “negative Nancy”. Loosen up. I know you doubt that you’re going to win, I know that you think you’re never going to learn to play, and if you fake it a little, you’ll be pleasanty surprised when you “make it” on a hot roll.

Part of faking it is playing along a little. You’ll find a lot of superstition at a gaming table. Some superstitions are actually what keep people on the board. There are people who have a dice-rolling wind-up or those who like to blow on the dice before throwing them. Some people have a very specific way of stacking their chips to optimize their luck. Cheer them on while they’re doing their thing, and be open to cultivating your own idiosyncrasies.  They will roll better if you’re enthusiastic.

Fake it til you make it, and you may find yourself having a lot more fun. Let’s face it, I know you don’t really think saying “seven” is going to reflect the outcome of a roll of the dice, but saying it in a crowd of people who are also playing along is going to make you look like a jackass. It’s part of that faking-it thing. Nobody needs to hear that each roll is independent of the others, making their little rituals useless. They’re having more fun because they have something to believe in.

And on that note, each roll of the dice is independent of all the others. I know, I told you nobody wants to hear it said, but it’s a good lesson to take away from the table. The world is not conspiring against you (save for maybe the casinos and that one jackass who keeps playing the don’t pass line) and nobody is truly out to get you. Everything is an independent system with it’s own independent variables that make it unique. Just because you crap out the first time doesn’t mean you’re going to continue to crap out til you’re bankrupt.

Trust your inner voice.  I’ve seen people lose boatloads of money trying to play games strategically.  Though, there’s something to be said for knowing what the dealer is supposed to do in blackjack, the decks are stacked in the house’s favor.  The same is true in craps.  There’s really only so much you can do to hang onto your hard earned dough (because the point of gambling is to spend all your money on frivolous entertainment, yes?).  More often than not, people who trust their gut instinct end up with the rewards.  If a table doesn’t feel right to you (read: everybody looks like they’re not having any fun), don’t play.  If you wanna bet the field cos the player just rolled a five, go with it.  Just trust yourself.  I’ve seen people use strategy over intuition and they often lose.

The bad news isn’t always bad. 7′s are good on the first roll, but bad when you’re trying to hit a number. Boxcars (double 6′s) are terrible first rolls unless you’re playing the field. And if you crap out, you’re giving it to the next guy who’s got a good chance of having the best roll of his life! There’s always another way of looking at a crap situation (hurr hurr!) – you just have to find the right spin.

Last, know when to fold ‘em. Kenny Rogers had that one right – though I think he was a little off on when to count your money (I mark mine so I don’t leave with less than I had when I started).  When you’re up, take your original money, put it in your pocket and leave it there.  Know what you have and what you’re prepared to lose. Never chase your fortune; that elusive Lady Luck knows how to stay just out of reach. Just do what you know and what you’re comfortable with; maybe try a new thing here or there, but don’t bet the rest of your bank on boxcars hoping to hit it before the roller strikes out.

Have fun, keep an exit-plan handy, and what you don’t know, you’ll learn by just doing it.

Hi Guys!  Time to toot my own horn and fill you in on what I’ve been doing outside of Bonne Vie…

As you know, I’ve spent a lot of time curating a lot things with Kimberlee from Deco Modiste.  Recently we’ve discovered we have a lot of scrap, a lot of unused or broken vintage to repurpose and a little free time.  We created this shop to off some of that excess and maybe make a little cash as well!  Right now, it’s a little sparse, but we do have more to come!

Also, I made that banner and I love the shit out of it.  What do you think?

More work with Totally Blown – including the launch and administration of the Totally Blown Etsy shop.  I’m Dehanna’s assistant and online sales gal.  I’ve been doing product photos here and there, and it’s been a lot of fun!  Need gorgeous gifts from local artisans?  Let me know.  *wink!*

In addition I’ve been working a little with Recycled LOOT! Genevieve creates gorgeous glass jewelry out of the broken, otherwise unrecyclable pieces of art glass from local artisans like Totally Blown Glass.

I’ve been helping Genevieve set up the Recycled LOOT! Etsy shop as well, and helping out with product photography, so she’s able to spend her time making delicious eco-friendly, repurposed, candy-colored glass jewelry instead of farting around on the computer.  You may remember I talked about LOOT! last Christmas.  Don’t mind the banner though – that was a quickie, slapped together on Picnick (through Flickr).  Her jewelry is so much fun, and worth every penny.

Last but not least, I’ve been working with Dana from Sustalux, hoisting her vintage empire off the ground.  Currently we’re working at LUXOutlet, where you’ll find an array of fun vintage stuff at incredibly low prices.  I’m assisting everyone and their mother right now.  Yeehaw!

Let’s get personal…

I wonder how many people are feeling this … “penultimate” weirdness towards growing older.  I know I’m still fairly young, but I can’t help but notice how events transpire around me that give me the shivers.  I wonder how life can be so tragic, beautiful, and how it can transpire so quickly.

I’m in that weird life stage between 20′s and 30′s – I’m supposed to have figured out who I am and where I’m going, but I feel a little lost.  I’m starting to get used to this “time”-thing and sometimes the days seem to slide right by.  The doom and gloom of aging doesn’t sit well with me and I can’t pinpoint the source of this dread.  I’ve read that the discomfort of aging sometimes stems from not being completely satisfied with your life at this point.  It’s like having a quarter-life crisis but it isn’t just relegated to your 20′s.  I start to realize things like the fact that I’m not invincible, that sometimes I’m barely even noticeable, that we’re all aging and nothing will ever be the “same as it ever was”.  I’m on the cusp of that group of free spirited party animals and the so-called “adult” set.  But I don’t know that I quite fit in with that adult crew.  And I don’t want to ever be “old”.

More than that, I sometimes feel subtly pressured to measure my greatness and success – which proves especially difficult within our hyper-media culture.  I’m a regular person, who sometimes happens to be semi extraordinary, trying to find a way to exist with the fact that I don’t even know where the “top” is – let alone how to get there.

The people we inadvertently measure ourselves against are working, breathing machines, simmered in the pop-culture mass-media-hysteria stew.  Meanwhile, we are the over-average – dreaming of our Warholian 15 minutes of fame where someone will discover that we are secretly superwomen in disguise.

Psych Today did a study on people who felt the pressure to be greater than they are currently, even though those people may be some of the most intelligent hardworking people in their field.  The article made me ask what makes a person truly “great” and what we are really comparing ourselves to?  Why do we compare ourselves to people who are not even playing the same game as we are, let alone those who aren’t on the same playing field?   What makes anyone’s path “better” because of what they’re achieving?  For example, is it better to be the high-profile blogger raking in money hand-over-fist on ad campaigns or the accessible newbie blogger with the fresh ideas.  And does that high-profile gal feel content, or is she secretly struggling with the nagging suspicion that even she is not yet great enough?  When will we be content?

I wonder how much of it is age, and how much of it is coming to terms with the inevitability of life.  Michelle says the thing with greatness is that people spend the first part of their lives (up until they’re 18-24) thinking they’re immortal, talented, and special; and then, at that point they stop being told they’re great and they’re foisted off onto the world.  Nothing prepares us for a life of being a regular person.  You realize that adults work desk jobs that suppress creativity so they can spend that precious free time they have, loving the rest of their lives.  You realize that those people at the top are only the top 10%.  And they are the people who are out there making money doing what they love, while the rest of us must find some other acceptable gig to keep afloat.

But wouldn’t it be better if there was some magic way to make our lives amazing?  Or to just realize how truly extraordinary our lives are?  Instead of cursing the system, there has to be a way that we make our ordinary lives a little more magic and a little less of a finite drudge. What’s your take? How do you do it?

Maybe it’s just about defining that little slice of pie you call your own, making it as bright and shiny as you can.  Maybe it’s sitting down with that definition of who you are and why you’re here and figuring out how to make that as magic as fucking possible.   Maybe it’s being fearless cos you get one shot – and hiding under the covers will get you nowhere.  Maybe it’s about sleepless nights, baited breath and the knowledge that you are a miracle – the fact that you exist was a one-in-a-million shot and you’re here, and you made it, and you still have a lot of unknown road to travel.  “…Stretch yourself…” and look at what makes you great in your own sense.

And by the way, there are things more important than your so-called intelligence (see also greatness…)

Teagan White (Found on Tumblr)

Whether it’s the way you get ready in the morning, the relationships you keep, your New Year resolutions or what you’re doing with your life, remember this.  And then, brainstorm how to step outside of this, and how to make it work for you.  You can change the cycle if you realize it for what it is.

Everything is a Cycle.

It’s been just over 4 months since Mister and I embarked on the marital journey. It’s funny because it doesn’t seem much different than before and people continually ask, “How’s married life?” And I reply, “Same as real life?”

It’s funny how little marriage changes reality, and the weird ways in which it does. I think I’ve learned a lot (cliché, I know…) about both myself and relationships in a four short months and we’re still in ultra wedded bliss…

Before I chopped my locks. With Mr at the Tanqueray Party. And Sara in the background, there…

You are not your other.  Go shopping with your girls, and don’t expect them to tag along.  You need your separate time.  You need that time away so you have a chance to miss each other.  Absence makes the heart grow fonder, and all that.  You are your own person and you are part of a whole.  The part of the whole won’t grow if the two of you don’t grow on your own.

That said, you should treat your other like they are a part of you.  I know this can be difficult sometimes when they’re stinking up the bathroom and you’re hell-bent on a bubble bath.  In the same vein you wouldn’t want your other nagging about the giant pile of your shoes cluttering up the front entry, right?  In a word – love them how you love you.  It’s the little things that add up.  It’s not forgetting to care about them – not taking them for granted.

Arguments should be discussions, not fights.  Don’t be afraid to talk to them, even if it makes you choke up, and tear up.  You’ve got the next how long that you have to hang out with this person?  (Not that that’s a bad thing)  You need to know how to express yourself.   Oh, and going to bed angry is like setting the mattress on fire and trying to get a good night’s sleep.  Honestly, nobody wants to clean up the ashes and rubble the next morning.  If you’re in distress, take two seconds to imagine your partner as that person you fell head over heels with – that’s not necessarily who they are when you’re arguing with them, but that’s still the person you need to talk to.

Does the garbage need to be taken out?  Do it.  Don’t complain.  Get over it.  He’ll notice.  I promise.  And if it seems like he never remembers to take it out… there’s probably something else he does that you’re forgetting.

Talk about money.  Talk about how you’re going to spend it, talk about how you’re going to save it.  Talk about each getting a little allowance for your own personal fun stuff.  I like shoes and I like having a little money of my own to spend on it.  Talk about how you’re going to keep from going in the negative.  Talk about it and make sure your goals work together in the long term.

Which is my next point – plan, plot and strategize together.  Figure it out.  Solve together.  Problems, puzzles – another set of eyes is never a bad thing.

Learn to realize when you’re wrong and be gracious about it.  Get over it.  Being wrong doesn’t make you a bad person.  It just means you’re now better off than before whatever “it” is happened.  And if he’s wrong… don’t gloat.  Maybe correct it, but don’t dig it in.

It IS just the two of you.  Everyone else is a third party who’s not within the confines of the relationship.  Any of their advice comes from someone who doesn’t explicitly know/understand/care about your arrangement or needs.   Besides, you have a partner that you trust – why not just talk about it with them?

Make yourself happy (considerately).  Happy = sexy.  Sexy =  marital zest.  Get zesty!  Aim for your partner to be happy too, but remember, you can only do so much.

Love, Love, Love!  Act with love.  Walk with love; talk with love.  Make love.  Be love.  Gaw – I sound like Lennon.  Not such a bad thing, though, eh?

Who loves you, baby!

Got anything to add?  I’m sure I can use the advice.

PS – I suck at this.  Rabbit Write has much better relationship tips for you than I do!

With the prevalence of private sale sites comes the new way to play – online auctions. They’re not just any old auction, though, making Ebay seem tame.  Sites like OohILove are starting to crop up, along with a lot of debate as to whether or not many of these sites are scamming consumers.

I’ll admit, I was curious and considered a whopping $30 worth of bids a post-worthy investment.  Call it investigative journalism – and I’m totally Fletch.  I was incredulous that anybody would win Tiffany jewelry, Louis Vuitton bags or anything else for pennies.   After reading through the site though, the immediate business plan became clear.  As Michelle Madhok from the Huffington Post so aptly put it:

OohILove gets products from the boutiques. (And they can afford to.) The site never claimed to source the products at the bargain prices they sell for; on OohILove, shoppers have to pay for bids, which means the site gets paid even if you don’t win. A rep from OohILove confirms the company buys all of their items from designer boutiques, department stores, or stores that are authorized resellers.

If 200 women each buy one 50 bid package for $50, the company makes $10,000 (that’s nine Louis Vuitton Alma bags).

What about the consumers who felt scammed?  They say they felt tricked – and they were - in the way that you’re not automatically going to winif you toss a ten-spot on the Craps table.  OohILove is not a scam, and their Better Business Bureau score reflects that.  The fraud claims filed against OohILove seem to all conclude in the same way – in signing up for the site and buying bids you are agreeing to the site’s clearly stated terms.  The auctions are a gamble, but they’re fair as far as the site terms go.  It seems that the story of many disgruntled customers is the same:

I am glad to hear that I am not alone in being “scammed.” I saw this on the news, and it was a great way to buy designer items at very low prices. After 2 times buying $99 bid packs, (eeeeeeeeek) I feel scammed by the site. Having a few people look over my shoulder, they determined that the auction end is arbitrary. So it looks like there is a price selected and when it hits, you win. I feel scammed and will be contacting the attorney general of CA about it, although they have bigger issues to worry about…..and I just should have known better!

The end auction is not necessarily arbitrary – whomever has the highest bid and is using the bid assistant will ultimately win.  I tried it, fully understanding how the site terms worked.  You buy bids – you will NEVER get that money back.  You bid on an item – and it helps to use the bid assistant, to use odd numbers like 15.03 and to be patient.  I realized that if I didn’t win an item all the bids I used, that $30 I just spent, would go towards another bidder’s purchase and I’d never see it again.   Yet, I won.  I actually won a beginner’s auction using those tactics, and paid approximately $2.00 for a Tiffany pendant… if you don’t factor in the $12 in shipping that they charge for every order and the bids wasted not winning this item.  It’s worth noting that the beginners auctions seem easier to win – you’re not up against a gaggle of other gamblers who are practiced at winning auctions and ruthless in how much they’re willing to spend for a piece.   For example:

I just watched an auction on this website for the Louis Vuitton Galliera bag. The winner spent $1,362.08. This bag costs $ 1,280 for the 16.5″ x 11.4″ x 6.7″,  purchased directly from Louis Vuitton. If you are taking part in these auctions with the purpose of buying the item, regardless of whether you win or not you might want to cheek out the real retail value of the item.

This piece retails for $115.  I paid:  $30 in bids + $2 for the auction (-$4 in bids spent on the auction) + $12 in shipping.   The pendant cost me approximately $40, if I don’t win anything else with the bids I had left over.  If the bids I still had in my bank had won something else, the price for the pendant would decrease, of course.  But is it worth it?

My only beef with the entire transaction – and trust me, I understand the gamble and risk behind it – was the customer service.

When you want to contact OohILove for something – for example, to find out their shipping methods – you have to email them.  There’s no contact number to be found on their site.  After a lot of digging on the net, I found a suitable phone number for them, that was promptly answered by voicemail.  I don’t trust companies that I can’t call to talk to a customer service rep.  You lose accountability in a company when you’re emailing a general email address, because your issue could be handled by 1 or 10 people.  There’s not any one responsible agent who is willing to help you right there (and it could be that I have great luck with call-center service reps).

My customer service complaint was actually address based.  Like a smart cookie, I opted to use Paypal for the transaction – and OohILove only ships to confirmed Paypal addresses.  However, they emailed to say I had an unconfirmed email address and they’d be unable to ship the item unless I could verify who I am (as part of their terms).  They asked for a piece of mail or other document with any sensitive info blacked out (their email suggested a bank statement!?  Are you kidding?) or a scan of my driver’s license (also, are you kidding?).  That seemed like a prime way to have my identity stolen.  I opted to call Paypal, who contacted OohILove to confirm that I am who I say I am.  The Paypal rep noted that it’s probably for their protection since they have limited seller protection on Paypal – but she also noted that OohILove’s site generated the “unconfirmed” address that they had on file.

After spending a few hours back and forth between Paypal and OohILove, OohILove gave up and emailed to let me know they were shipping my item UPS ground (oh. yay.).   The item came with the authenticity card, in a small blue box, wrapped in ribbon and Tiffany watermarked paper.   Though I was delighted at owning my first Tiffany piece, I felt that the entire transaction left something to be desired.

I went back to the site later to see if I could score a second time with the rest of the bids I had.  I did the deed about the same time I’d bid on my Tiffany pendant.  I used the same technique to bid on a pair of Chanel sunglasses and promptly burned through the remaining bids.  I felt a little cheated like you do when you lose a hand at blackjack and remembered why gambling is okay when done in moderation.  I’m still technically “up” $75 on this Tiffany pendant, right?

For further reading on online gambles and your shopping habits, check out this post by Yuli Ziv on Private Sales, Gambling and the Dangers of Innovation…