Unless the seller can provide evidence of state agriculture inspection, Do Not buy plant material on eBay. Interstate shipment of uninspected plant material via eBay is a growing concern for state agriculture departments across the country. The current situation is a receipe for disaster. Who wants to be responsible for introducing Japanese beetles, Sudden Oak Death, etc., etc. to a previously clean state?

Just a remider.....Sears is the only authorized seller of Kenmore appliances. I don't know if it is possible for an independent seller to sell Kenmores. I would insist on a record of custody. Check the model numbers and the serial number. Call sears customer service and be sure this man is an authorized agent. I have only ever know kenmore appliances to be sold outside of sears as repo models or second hand models. It is important to verify this as you may have no warranty or recourse if a problem occurs, even if you bought an extended warranty. Some warranties do not transfer or become valid id the appliance isn't brand new to you......

He should have listed under 'make offer', and included instructions in his listing, for cash only at time of pick-up. It's my understanding that cash is actually preferred for local pick-up only--you inspect in person, you make your decision, and you pay. You then have no grounds to file an 'item not as described' case, because you accepted the item as is. eBay uses the shipment tracking # in making decisions about 'item not rec'd' cases. No shipment = no tracking, so there would be no proof that you ever received your item. If a buyer pays through eBay/PayPal, and picks up his item, he could then say that he never received the item, and eBay would refund the buyer automatically, because there is no tracking to prove that the item was delivered. When you pay in cash, the seller has his money, and has no need to prove delivery. If I were an eBay seller I would insist on cash for local pick-up. I'm not a seller, but my late husband was, and sold a few things for local pick-up only. The 'buy it now' option asks for immediate payment to complete the transaction--the seller might not have realized that, and he might be anticipating a negative feedback from you, for trying to protect himself. I've read recently that negative feedback can result in a seller paying higher fees (losing discounts) or being suspended, so he might very well be panicking. He can relist under 'make an offer', with local pick-up, and accept your offer for $50. You pick up within eBay's time limit, pay cash, and everyone is happy. However, if the seller does not want to relist and allow you purchase through eBay, then take your refund and forget the chairs, as has been advised. You'll know he wasn't being honest, whether it was because he rec'd a better offer, or because he's trying to cheat eBay out of their fees. If he relists, and the chairs are worth it to you, make your offer, and after he accepts, take a friend and meet the seller in a public parking lot. Good luck, and I hope it works out for you.

This is a first for me: Jean Schlumberger jewelry being described as "costumey"! It is some of the most beautiful "real" jewelry ever made. I've drooled over these enamel gold pieces and other of his gorgeous brooches now for over 50 years. No, I do not own any - WAY out of my price range, but a girl can still dream. They were NOT made to imitate costume jewelry - they were made when Schlumberger and David Webb and a few others changed what "real" jewelry looked like. It had previously been platinum and diamonds, emeralds, rubies, and sapphires, and was only worn in daytime for the most elegant occasions. Schlumberger and Webb made pieces that women could wear anytime, anywhere. They incorporated semi-precious stones such a lapis, coral and turquoise, with diamonds and yellow gold and made some amazing pieces. This was mainly in the 1950's and 1960's and those pieces are still in great demand today and sell for very high prices. It was the "golden age" for spectacular daytime jewelry that was fun to wear. Of course, "daytime wear" in those days was NOT jeans and a hoodie and trainers; it was a suit or lovely daytime dress and most likely even a hat. Look at what Grace Kelly was photographed in at that time - it's how "ladies" shopped and travelled. I long for such days - SO tired of the "slob" look that celebrities have made the "look" today and that everyone has happily bought into. BTW, "real" jewelry vs costume means 14 or 18kt gold, rather than gold metal or gold plate, and stones that are real, not paste or CZ's. It means the materials themselves have intrinsic value, not just the design. Today, price doesn't even factor in - Hermes bracelets are most often not "real" but the price is still very high - the price is for the design and name. I find it sad that today many of the great jewelers of yesterday have gone to mass produced "real" jewelry - I call it 18kt gold costume jewelry as it is produced by the thousands. The Van Cleef & Arpels Alhambra necklaces are an example. They are very expensive and beautifully made, but just about every wealthy Asian woman walking down Fifth Ave is wearing one (no, I'm NOT being racists - Asian women are very attracted to "name" designers and are their best customers). Why would anyone want to own something of which there are thousands? It's one reason I adore estate jewelry - I don't want every third woman on the street wearing the same thing I am wearing.