From the Depths of My Feelings

Well, I seem to have acquired a forum violation this morning. Though these days you are never quite sure what will get you one and what wont. So, the only way to avoid one is to say nothing. Or, just do the best you can and be prepared. Amazing how ludicrous can be so entertaining.

this is the thread

http://www.bonanza.com/forums/4/topics/149166

this was my post that got the DMV

now, thinking, I guess if I won the bag, I could sell it cheap and come out ahead... but, with my luck it would get pulled as not authentic cause I was selling it cheap or didn't have proof or something or other

then there was this in the formal violation email

The moderator also added the following note: Expressing negative viewpoints in a non-constructive manner. This applies to negative viewpoints about Bonanza, or negative viewpoints about life in general. There is more than enough unrequited bad news to go around, just check your local newspaper. If what you feel is unrequited dreariness, the Bonanza forums are not a good place to explore the depths of your feelings. Keeping subject matter upbeat is essential to making buyers feel positively when they arrive at Bonanza. More positive feelings for buyers means more sales for sellers, and by golly, that's what picks up everybody's mood.

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By golly, I had no idea I was exploring the depths of my feelings, I must not be as deep as I had thought. 

What was that he said once the we didn't always have to be happy ... you don't have to be happy, but be upbeat at all times by golly.

??More Info and Opinions Bonz Doesn't Want You To Hear ???

I have no idea why this thread would have vanished. Don't know why the OP would have done so or if she did. I would not be surprised if management zapped it... as they are known to do at times of late.

All I know is a few more people posted, and agreed with me, I went to the store and when I came back it was gone. ...unless it really went down hill after I left I see no reason for it's removal.

Regardless of why  it is gone,  I feel the info provided from both sides and all opinions of this discussion are important for people to read.... so, here you are... all but a few comments that I know of and whatever happened after I left.

So, decide for yourselves if you want to read it or not :)

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Someone from Bonanza PLEASE help

 

21 post(s), 11 voice(s)
	Posted by casaxrowenna, Orlando, FL. 38 total posts | Posted about 13 hours ago | Report this I have had no sales since I joined Bonanza except one that was not paid through the automatic system. Now I got this message from a buyer: Buyer message: PayPal won’t let me pay; it says “The seller accepts encrypted website payments only. You cannot pay the seller through un-encrypted buttons." I wonder what is happening. This buyer persevere because as he said “he needs the book for a class” and I wonder how many others have just given up on the purchase because of this… PekesBooks's booth
	Posted by johngermaine, Topanga, CA. 1,727 total posts | Posted about 13 hours ago | Report this How odd, I have seen lately that there have been problems paying with PayPal for others. This must be yet one more of their glitches. Did you call PayPal yet to see what they can tell you? Don’t try emailing them, it takes too long to get an answer. G's New-N-Used
	Posted by LoisCollis, Lignum, VA. 1,442 total posts | Posted about 13 hours ago | Report this Have you emailed support hun? I don’t know what could cause that. Maybe someone will come along that this has happened to and could better help. I would email support and explain what is going on. They will be able to help. SassyMelonDesigns
	Posted by leezamaries10, Osage, MN. 10 total posts | Posted about 12 hours ago | Report this I don’t know if this will help but if you go into paypal, Then go to profile, Then in the far right column there is a setting for Encrypted Payment Settings. Mine is Blank. Maybe check and see if you have something there that can be deleted. I really hope that helps. Lisa Alyssa's Wish
	Posted by abbysattic, NJ. 4,743 total posts | Posted about 12 hours ago | Report this Please email support, support@bonanza.com, if you haven’t already done so. I’ve had this happen a time or two. Ask the buyer for his/her email address and bill him/her directly via PP. Then come back to bonz and just mark the item as paid. Abby's Attic
	Posted by techlover, Tustin, CA. 320 total posts | Posted about 12 hours ago | Report this It’s not Bonanza. It’s a paypal setting. Login to your paypal account. Go to > Profiles Click> account Click> Seller preferences (on the bottom, right hand side) And make sure to uncheck the box that says “require encrypted transaction” or something like that. This should fix it. Bear with me as I am doing this from memory Bargain Gifts
	Posted by momspennies, Lusby, MD. 17,765 total posts | Posted about 4 hours ago | Report this What Techlover says is correct. There was another seller who reported the same issue and Judy came on to advise the same thing had to be done on the sellers PayPal account. Moms Pennies From Heaven
	Posted by rod3955, Broken Arrow, OK. 2,020 total posts | Posted about 4 hours ago | Report this Think the above is correct……it’s a PP setting……… Collectible Stamps
	Posted by momspennies, Lusby, MD. 17,765 total posts | Posted about 4 hours ago | Report this Yep, from this thread: http://www.bonanza.com/forums/9/topics/148859 Miss Judy Said: Ask the seller to contact support the issue is with the encryption settings in their account. What the seller should do is log in to PayPal, go to Seller Preferences > Website Payment Preferences and uncheck the box titled "Block Non-Encrypted That will fix the encryption error.. Judy/blue bluepennylady Moms Pennies From Heaven
	Posted by casaxrowenna, Orlando, FL. 38 total posts | Posted about 2 hours ago | Report this It may be the buyer’s paypal account because mine is not showing anything like that in seller preferences and usually all my transactions are paid via PP. Thanks everyone – I hope other buyers will not have this problem. PekesBooks's booth
	Posted by pugs, Baton Rouge, LA. 18,256 total posts | Posted about 1 hour ago | Report this pardon, if you unblock unencrypted pages, that leaves you with a security risk, doesn’t it ?? I personally wonder if these checkout issues we have seen lately have more to do with Bill and crew working on a new checkout system. if the problem was on PP end then why are these people not having issues with payments on other selling sites. are you really going to ask buyers to change their settings at PP… good luck with that… and how many will even bother to tell you they have issues… most will just move on personally I will not be changing any PP settings that have been just fine for 8 years or more Edit post pugs' myriad
	Posted by techlover, Tustin, CA. 320 total posts | Posted 41 minutes ago | Report this The encryption they refer to is from the button used, not the transaction itself. According to PP some sites don’t use encrypted checkout buttons. And if you have the encryption checked in PP, it won’t allow purchase made from non-encrypted buttons… so they say Bargain Gifts
	Posted by pugs, Baton Rouge, LA. 18,256 total posts | Posted 35 minutes ago | Report this so why only on bonz is this happening and why are their buttons not encrypted …. and that does not solve the problem of buyers feeling uncomfortable if asked to do this or not bothering to tell you they have a problem for that matter it does not make some sellers feel confidence in a site where this is necessary Edit post pugs' myriad
	Posted by pugs, Baton Rouge, LA. 18,256 total posts | Posted 29 minutes ago | Report this Think of it this way …What if you, as a buyer, were asked to do this on some other site you were not familiar with, after buying on line for years without this ever happening, would you feel safe Edit post pugs' myriad
	Posted by pugs, Baton Rouge, LA. 18,256 total posts | Posted 23 minutes ago | Report this this is an interesting article that you may find of value http://news.cnet.com/8301-27080_3-20022889-245.html Edit post pugs' myriad
	Posted by techlover, Tustin, CA. 320 total posts | Posted 21 minutes ago | Report this Don’t shoot the messenger. I’m just relaying the message. First off, lets clear up the misconception. The button is not encrypted, however the link to login to pay pal, etc is encrypted. The transaction is encrypted… It’s only the button to get there, that is not. So no need to cause a panic attack. We need more people here, not less. lol Bargain Gifts
	Posted by pugs, Baton Rouge, LA. 18,256 total posts | Posted 16 minutes ago | Report this sorry, didn’t mean it to sound like I was shooting at you tech LOL and not trying to cause a panic, questions and concerns do not make a panic, or shouldn’t LOL, but people should also be informed … I know I don’t like flying in the dark and you are missing my point once a buyer sees that message chances are they will leave without ever letting anyone know and that many sellers are not going to let their guard down and change their settings in PP here is another good article http://www.yoursecurityresource.com/eBay/articles/Understanding_Encryption%20/index.html Edit post pugs' myriad
	Posted by bookbrowzers, Dallas, OR. 7,025 total posts | Posted 8 minutes ago | Report this “Think of it this way …What if you, as a buyer, were asked to do this on some other site you were not familiar with, after buying on line for years without this ever happening, would you feel safe” Excellent point, pugs. No one should have to change their settings just to use a site or make a purchase. I, for one, would turn and run the moment I was informed that I needed to do something like that. BookbrowZers BaZaar
	Posted by pugs, Baton Rouge, LA. 18,256 total posts | Posted 5 minutes ago | Report this I would think the best solution is for the boyz to fix the button that tech talks about… apparently it is fine on other sites since no one is experiencing this elsewhere seems that would be the best solution for buyers, sellers and bonz Edit post pugs' myriad
	Posted by CritterCreekRanch, TX. 6,530 total posts | Posted 4 minutes ago | Report this I just purchased a book for granddaughter from your booth via paypal and had no problem, so either bonz has a glitch or the buyer did, no problems checking out for me CritterCreekRanch's booth
	Posted by pugs, Baton Rouge, LA. 18,256 total posts | Posted less than a minute ago | Report this as with most glitches around here critter, it doesn’t happen to all buyers or all sellers but, as with all checkout issues, the problem is that we do not know how many sales we have lost by those who experience a problem and just move on without a word… and we also do not know how many have experienced this problem since many would never report it Edit post pugs' m

Bonanza Social Media or How Many Times Can You Fumble the Ball

This is in reference to the newly hired social media person for Bonanza and the way he recently responded to a friend request on Facebook.

First let me say to sofy... I know this was between you and him.. but, you brought it out into the public and rightfully so... what happens with  Bonanza and it's employees affects us all who sell there. You requested that when Jeremy apologized on your FB thread that no one comment after that about his apology. I went along with your request, however,  even though you probably didn't mean it this way ... the way it made me think was 


>>>I want you to be nice, cause, when he finally drags himself here for an apology he is too much of a coward to be able to handle any criticism and we should all just accept what he says<<<<


again, I am sure you didn't mean it that way .. but that was what it made me feel like... I said I would not have my say on your thread.. so here it is.

Not only was what this young did outrageous but the way it was handled after the fact is as bad if not worse IMO.

I find it astounding that Bill and Mark can find the time to read our blogs and post to them at will yet when a serious issue arises and they are asked and expected to comment they are no where. IMO this was up to them to say something. Instead they sent in Alex. I sure hope Alex, that you are comfortable in the role of sacrificial lamb as I am sure this will not be the last time. It seems no one wanted to step up to the plate.  I can understand Bill not wanting Bonanza's dirty laundry hanging out on his FB wall and his deleting comments. However, there was no response to FB comments, emails, bmail or anything else to Bill, Mark or Jeremy... at least the only one I know of is the one from Mark to sofy about her forum thread and finally the apology to her from Jeremy.

I have no idea why this surprises me, as Bonz has increasingly not taken responsibility for things for awhile now. From glitches to anything else. Things are always our fault, our computers fault, and if you do finally prove it was them there is no apology. So, this behavior should not surprise me. Disappointing though, yes, it is.

HIRING JEREMY

this was for the social media positon
here is his intro to Bonanza
http://www.bonanza.com/blog/main/Introducing_Jeremy

His website page .. he calls himself a "specialist"
http://www.jeremiahmattocks.com/

= online media specialist
+ super cool guy

Now we may ask, just what qualifies someone to be a media specialist?  These days with cell phones, texting, twitter and Facebook,  I guess that could be anyone over the age of 12.

the young man writes an online comic book.. if you take a look at the context of this... one may ask .. is he a good fit for an online shopping venue???
http://itgetsworser.com/

two things I see are obvious, he has a youthful quirky, not always professional or appropriate,  sense of humor and likes computer games.... that may be a good fit for Bill, but, is it a good fit for Bonanza or for this specific position?

You might say it isn't my business who they hire. It is a concern and should be to all of us that management hire the right people for the right jobs. Their choices, good or bad,  affect us all and our businesses. 

THE APOLOGY

OK, yes, I know some of you will say that I'm a real "B" and should not pick apart someones apology .. after all, they did apologize and we should forgive.. yada yada, yeah, ah huh... but... it's how an apology is given and the way, and what is said and how.. and it is only human nature that we take those things and it's those things that instantly put a feeling in us as to how we handle this (or any) apology. Do we forgive instantly, do we accept it but not feel good about it, do we feel it is sincere.

Granted we all apologize differently and accept and forgive differently .. that being said... this is my personal take on the apology. Granted good mostly for my own opinion only.

I think what we have here is a generational issue.... this was  a typical apology of the young

"I just wanted to sleep on it first."

WTH was there to sleep on ... get in there and say you are sorry ... how tough is that to figure out

first 2 paragraphs

"For all the anger, hurt, frustration, and loss of trust I’ve caused, I am very sorry. Your anger with me is expected. But the thing I’m most ashamed of is how I’ve damaged your relationship with Bonanza. Not content to hold me personally responsible for my own private, stupid actions, I’ve seen Bonanza’s name dragged through the mud; I couldn’t feel more terrible about this than I already do.

When Bonanza hired me, they did so not because I was an expert, but because they saw potential. I’ll be the first to say I’m not an expert. I’m learning, I’m human, and I made a big mistake. This is, without a doubt, the biggest and stupidest mistake I’ve made. But that is exactly what it was: a mistake. This was not me being malicious or callous or knowingly disrespecting a Bonanza seller. This was an honest, albeit idiotic, mistake. But I promise you this: I won’t make this mistake again. No matter where I find myself in the future, I’ve learned a valuable lesson that I’ll never forget."

I don't see this about sofy, or us or Bonanza.. I see this as me me me. I see >>my butt is in a bind and I need to cover it. Since my job may be in danger let me go their first. Let me tell the boss how sorry I am I did this to his company.<<

now, lets see "expert" "specialist" ....hummmm

then he moves on

"Since my message has already been made public, I owe you all more than just an apology—I owe you an explanation."   (and then the explanation that I wont bother to post here)

again, we needed the apology way more than the reason.... but, here is the generation thing again... let me put my excuse out there first instead of sucking it up, saying I'm sorry and I hope I can make it up to you.

and it's funny cause he ends that part with "This is not intended to be an excuse at all. I accept full responsibility for the mess I made. This is just an explanation."  But it was so important to get his excuse...sorry, explanation out there that he put it between covering his butt with the boss and the apology.

Oh, yeah that came next.. again I will not waste space here .. if you want to read it in it's entirety here is the link   http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=180531435300228&comments

and if you are interested in listening to Phaedra and Colderice discuss this  http://soundcloud.com/colderice/john-and-pheadra-talk-social-media-mistep-at-bonaza


And finally

It is not so much that I do not accept his apology, I am quite certain he is very sorry, if he really understands and if the sorry is for the right reasons ... who is to say. I personally think the young man had no alternative at the point he posted that.

I think we have a huge generation gap .... in the way we see professionalism, how companies should be run, how people should "man up", in humor, in those we would hire for what positions, in how apologies are given.


This may also be me as the older generation looking at it but, those who represent a site should have a public persona that is friendly but professional. How can we expect more from an employee than what we see from the top, both of which have made some very unprofessional comments on and off site. ... .. that however, is enough to do another blog on LOL


I can always hope that they have all learned something about public perception.


thanks for reading :)