I never imagined that my first job would do so much to prepare me for the world of business. Not in that “sell anything to anybody” way that so many people seem to think is something to be proud of, but for giving me a sense of ethical business. My first job was selling Mazda’s in 1978. I know, ethics and selling cars. Doesn’t seem like a likely match, but bringing ethics into everyday life, even work, is something I was raised with. Selling cars was a way to fulfill my responsibility to my family. Making sure everyone is happy and safe with what they buy was my responsibility to my customers. No questions…

I remember a single mother coming in to buy a car. I helped her find something she was very happy with but I found out later that the mechanics didn’t think the car would last long. I didn’t waste a minute in calling her up, telling her what I just learned, and offering her every cent she paid toward a more reliable car if she wanted to swap it. It may not have been what the bosses would have called “smart business” but it was good business. Honest business. This has been my philosophy throughout my career. I’ve been in situations where I’ve felt that I didn’t get what I paid for; where I’ve felt used, taken advantage of, cheated. We all know what that feels like. The last thing I ever want is to bring those feelings to another person. I like to know I am doing the right thing.

A few weeks ago a woman actually tried to BLACKMAIL me on eBay. She wanted money to leave me positive feedback after I fully refunded her money for a necklace she wasn’t happy with. I reported her to eBay and they told me to ignore it and hope the problem would go away (seems like the same way they handle all of their problems). Sure enough, when I didn’t pay her off she left me terrible feedback because I wouldn’t shell out on top of the full refund I had already given her. My feelings are hurt and I am rather stunned by this new breed of scam artist on eBay. I guess we should have seen it coming. eBay is looking into it, but they clearly have bigger issues to ignore than this.

People have trusted me in buying exotic cars worth hundreds of thousands of dollars But this miserable individual, who received a full refund for a gorgeous piece of Tiffany jewelry wanted money in exchange for positive feedback. I have nothing to be ashamed of and will NEVER pay a liar and a fraud.

The lady who ended up with the necklace had it authenticated and is truly thrilled with it. So the necklace is with someone who loves it and bought it as a gift for her mother. I guess I’m happy at the outcome, just mad that there are creeps like this trolling the halls of eBay.