NOTICE: March 20-28 is VMTEAM sale time! Search for vacation-themed items with the ‘vmteamgetaway’ tag by clicking here.
Each participating VMTEAM store has their own special offer for this sale. Please be sure to visit a shop’s main page for that store’s specific details. Here at Tiddleywink, any item tagged ‘vmteamgetaway’ is 20% off the listed price through March 28, 2010.
I bought a pair of vintage (1950s) frames from another vendor on Etsy a few months back, and recently set about having them filled with my own Rx. I’ve done this before locally, but this time around no lab wanted to take the risk. I called perhaps a dozen places in various price ranges, and every single person I spoke with was full of hesitation and quick to remind me that I would have to pay a pattern fee on top of the cost of the lenses, since I wasn’t using any of their frames. The rep from 39DollarGlasses was, without a doubt, the most optimistic about the task at hand. Yes, I would have to sign a waiver, but this was the first person who assured me that they had confidence and would take good care of my frames. He even encouraged me to fill out detailed information about minutia such as any loose screws or anything else that the techs should be careful of. I felt so much more convinced about sending off my irreplaceable frames to a discounter after that one phone call! Still, I had my doubts. I mean, really. $39? For polycarb lenses in customer-provided frames? By mail?
My finished glasses arrived today, in a simple padded manilla envelope. Tucked into my packing slip is a clear vinyl credit card-sized envelope, which contains a lens cleaning cloth and a micro screwdriver with a keychain loop. Also inside this homely wrapper is a brand-spankin’-new black satin-covered hard case. But that’s not enough protection for 39DollarGlasses, no. Within the hard case is a microfiber drawstring pouch, and inside THAT are my glasses. Which are completely intact, exactly as I sent them. But, you know, with my Rx in the lenses. (The obnoxiously thick lenses, because even with polycarbonate plastic, my “stout” prescription pushes the boundaries of modern technology. I know, I know, I should splurge on High Index lenses, but I rely primarily on contact lenses and the expense of fancy glasses isn’t rational in my case.)
I am ecstatic. I don’t know how they do it, but they do, and with good customer service. Thanks!
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TRUTH IN BLOGGING: 39DollarGlasses.com had absolutely nothing to do with this post, aside from impressing me with actual customer service. They have no idea that I even write a blog, until I send them this link as a form of thank-you letter. Also, the American Optical ad used above is from, and links to, the mind-boggling collection of mid-century imagery at Plan59.com and you should go there right away if you don’t already have it bookmarked.
I became a vintage seller because I am also a vintage buyer. When I realized that my personal collection included too many “specimen pieces” which were lovely but not my size, I decided to share the booty. I can have a dress tailored, but too-small shoes are going to remain too-small shoes. And how many silver lamé handbags should one girl rightfully own?
Of course, in order to keep things going, I need to keep buying. When my inventory is running low, I may pick up a few things that aren’t to my taste, but which I feel have merit. However, most of the time, I pick up stuff that I would be happy to wear (or use) myself. Which leads me to…
I’ve been scouring eBay for vintage swimsuits. I need a “new” one, and as long as I’m looking, I’ll see if I can afford a few for the store. If you feel like it, you can do a keyword search and see how many come up. A good number are vintage-reproductions. An equally large number are represented as true vintage, but I can tell from the photos that the seller is either confused, clueless, or flat-out lying. I saw one that definitely was vintage, but the Rose Marie Reid label either wasn’t original to the suit, or was original but had fallen out and been sewn back in (badly) by an owner at some point. There are all sorts of things to look out for, and I consider myself pretty savvy. I have to be.
When I spotted a listing for a “50s-60s rockabilly VLV vintage bathing suit” “in great condition” with no accompanying photo and a low starting bid, I added it to my Watched list. After a few days, a single photo appeared. The photo was small, blurry, and cropped off the very bottom of the suit. I’ve passed over other listings for similarly vague photos, but the low opening bid and 100% feedback score must have encouraged me to dive in. I placed a low bid, and forgot about it. Completely. I mean, when I received notification that I won the auction, I honestly didn’t remember bidding on it. But hey, there you go. I paid right away, and waited. Priority Shipping meant that I wouldn’t have to wait long.
Oh, but I did. 11 days after I paid the invoice, I contacted the seller and asked about the status of the package, and for a tracking number (heads up: all Priority packages include tracking, although it isn’t as robust as UPS or FedEx). I heard nothing. I thought about writing again the next day, but decided to give it another 24 hours. Lo and behold, my package arrived today! Postmarked 11 days after I paid! And wrapped in a United States Post Office bag, because the seller’s original packaging, a brown paper grocery bag, had torn open in transit. Now I ask you: If you’re selling a 40 or 50 year old swimsuit, are you shipping it in a grocery bag? Well no, no you’re not. Because I finished opening the bag to see a swimsuit that isn’t more than 5 years old. It’s an attractive color and a flattering, vintage-INSPIRED cut, but with clear hints as to its modern creation. For one thing, it’s a spandex blend fabric with a fine hand. Swimsuits weren’t made out of fabric this drapey before the ’80s, and the matte finish puts it no older than the ’90s. The lack of pilling, the blue-on-blue faux brocade print, and the cast metal rosettes on the straps indicate that it’s likely even newer.
This seller doesn’t accept returns, but I’ve sent a message explaining my dissatisfaction and am now in Wait And See mode. The next step is to contact eBay and PayPal and file disputes with both, but I’m hoping it doesn’t come to that. Be careful out there, kids!
Filed under collections, fashion, shopping, vintage
Thing One
I’ve been in a long-overdue barrette making frenzy, when I ran out of the barrette bases. That’s okay, I need to run over to the County Workforce Center, and Hobby Lobby is right next door. The trip went something (exactly) like this:
(interior, Hobby Lobby. Heroine has bag of 24 barrette blanks in hand.) Shoot, they’re not on sale this week. Which means they wind up being cheaper from Dollar Tree. I’ll get them there instead.
(interior, JoAnn. Heroine has bag of 8 barrette blanks in hand.) Shoot, they’re not on sale here either. I’ll get these buttons that I need, but the barrettes are cheaper at Dollar Tree AND Hobby Lobby.
(interior, Dollar Tree. Heroine getting pouty.) Shoot, no more barrettes. I guess it’s back to Hobby Lobby tomorrow. ::grrrr::
Thing Two
Dollar Tree has started carrying a wider selection of foodstuffs, in order to qualify to accept ever-more-present food stamps. Cookies and chips have been supplemented with bologna and frozen veggies… and scallops. Wild-caught (according to the packaging) bay scallops, packed 4 ounces at a time, frozen. Curious, I splurged with a dollar. I sautéed them in a nonstick pan with teensy bit of olive oil and a healthy shake of Stubb’s rosemary-ginger rub, then tossed them over steamed broccoli. It was delicious. In a sense, none of the trips mentioned in Thing One were wasted. I got my fax on at the Workforce Center, I bought the buttons I needed from JoAnn, and those scallops are good to know about.
Tomorrow: Hobby Lobby. Again.
I am pleased to announce that my online shop has been accepted for membership into the Vintage Market Team (see groovy new button on right —>). VMTeam is dedicated to promoting quality vintage goods on Etsy, and as a vendor, it will provide me with a network of camaraderie and support. As a customer, you can count on VMTeam shops to keep you supplied with a hand-picked selection of vintage clothing/accessories/housewares that are accurately described, well photographed, and shipped with care. Also, team-wide sales! Click on the link to see some beautiful “treasuries” of wares offered by VMTeam shops, and search for listings tagged with “vmteam” whenever you search Etsy. We (hee, I can say we!) are a group of shop owners with some pretty good taste, and you won’t be disappointed.
Note: I have started the slow process of retagging my own listings to be vmteam-compliant, but I’m heading to the airport in 4 hours and I have errands to run before I go, so it may be a few days. I’ll show up in those vmteam searches eventually!
shoes and pie 