Choices in a World of Plenty

The Mystery of Choices

While muddling through a hurricane of choices 
these last few days I pondered the nature of 
choices and how strange they are. 

The instigator of this mental process was the purchase of an iPad. Well, sort of. I have had one for a few years and decided to upgrade. The decision came down to just a few choices: black or white, how much memory, with or without cellular service. Simple decision for me: white, big memory, wi-fi only. Done.

It arrived two weeks ago and still sits in the box. I'm waiting until I get a cover or case for it to prevent scratches. My used equipment, blemish-free, is sold used for decent prices.

Getting a case should be a simple choice. I want a case that covers the back of the unit, not a fancy cover that acts like a tipsy stand. My hunting and buying is mostly done online on Amazon and eBay. I started there and found one case with more than 4000 positive reviews. Wow, that is one to read about. It must be more than great -- perhaps it does miracles too! The most recent reviews are for the case in question but the majority are for earlier versions which are different sizes and shapes. Can these really be all reviewed together?

Some cases were listed at selling prices under $10 and their reviews said they were the same or better than the $79 case from Apple. Other people said these cheap cases broke, came unglued, smelled bad,  aggravated the dog, or worse. Besides, will I feel good with something costing several hundred dollars living in a $6 case made in an overseas sweatshop? Oh, the iPad itself is made overseas in a not-so-sweaty shop.  So . . .

Off to Staples I go with a coupon, but they don't have any cases for the new iPad. Then I trek to Office Depot, nothing for that model either. This is after being assured on both websites that several cases are "in stores." Then to Best Buy. They have plenty according to their website and my eyes glaze over seeing their huge selection. People were grabbing them up like free candy! I scanned the boxes for a back-only cover, not hard plastic. Oh, if said cover is compatible with a front cover it will have one side mostly missing as a place for a hinge. So I want a back cover made to stand alone and be incompatible with a front cover. Oh, I found one!! The only one in this store.

After a few minutes of clenching the precious box, I read the small print and learn it is for an obsolete (wrong size) iPad. Then upon further scrutiny I realize this plethora of cases is 90% for old model iPads! Some people are going to be very unhappy!

Every night the past week has had a vigil of online searching for the case. Hours and hours of searching. I learn that there are: leather cases, PU leather cases in which case PU means pseudo, vegan leather which does not come from an animal, hard plastic, soft plastic, silicon, TPU plastic also called soft rubber, and gummy plastic, yuck! Sometimes the exact same images are used with descriptions referring to any of the above materials. How can that be? How can the same thing be both hard and soft, real leather and PU leather? How can these be sold for $2 or even $6??

I love red, I want a red case! But this iPad has a much thinner border around the working part of the screen and the edges. I'm not sure reading books with a red border around the pages would be eye-friendly. Some red cases have a large border on the front of the iPad covering its beautiful white surface. Nah!

I'm thinking I have to return the iPad. I have spent countless hours looking for a case and am no where. Wait! I'll buy that Apple case that everyone says is hugely overpriced. It comes with a front cover which I do not want. But I cannot justify paying such money for a dumb case. Maybe I have to return the iPad. Why is it impossible to make a choice? Now this is getting to be a fascinating study of the decision process. It is not that there are too many choices, it is that the listings online are misleading and make me feel uninformed. I'm worried about the prices being too low. Why are the reviews supposedly for one item really reviews for several very different items all mixed in?

I can't make a purchase. Another few days of scurrying around the exact same mental crumbs and poorly edited listings for iPad cases that continually refer to iPhones makes me a crippled consumer.

There are not too many choices. There are choices without all the data. Choices with incorrect info and missing item views (what are they hiding!) prices that barely cover shipping costs. It all does not seem logical or practical or wise for any seller. That's what is wrong.

I'm promoting some of my own creations on Pinterest and Twitter. I'm cautious about my listings being accurate and photos showing what needs to be seen. I've edited every listing to eliminate ambiguity if possible.

Here's one listing:

Images: closeup, full length, clasp shown. The text outlines the dimensions, materials, and more. I hope anyone who checks out this listing does not fall into the decision quicksand that gobbled up my purchase of an iPad case. 

Dichroic Glass Is Incredible!

Dichroic Glass Is Incredible!

With a name like "dichroic" this material sounds a bit frightening, but it is really beautiful! Made of fused bits of glass, dichroic glass jewelry is incredibly shiny and sparkles with metallic shimmering. It is an attention-getter. Photographs cannot really capture the sparkle. I have several dichroic glass pendants for sale in my shop, this one shows an interesting multi-color pink one.

Everything on sale until Dec 2 in my shop.

Need a Dangle Charm?

What's a Dangle Charm?

Need to add a big of spark or school colors to your backpack or purse? For this reason the dangle charm was born. These are about 1 to 1.5 inches across and have a small swivel clasp incorporated in to the design. There are many color combinations available. 

We know of some of these that dangle from belt loops, but most ride around on gym bags, backpacks, computer cases and zippers. 

See these and more on Zibbet.

Special Sale on Zibbet

Zibbet CommUNITY Sale

Many shops on Zibbet -- a great place for handmade, vintage, and craft suppliers -- will be participating in a sales event Nov 29 to Dec 2. Some have already begun their sales. Click on the ad in the right column to see participants.

http://www.zibbet.com/Lehane  Is my shop and the rainbow items shown here are all on sale. The charm portion is handmade chainmaille which can be finished with a swivel for hanging on a backpack or purse, or it can be attached to a keyring, or it can be a pendant on a cord necklace. We can also upgrade the cord to leather with a sterling silver clasp if you wish.

Check out my shop, the sale has just begun! All prices have been reduced 20%. You won't see that again.

What Is It that Drives Us?

What Is It that Drives Us?

I've been pondering what might be the hidden force that makes us do what we do. I'm not thinking of the ordinary daily chores, but the incredible, sustained effort some of us unearth to undertake massive tasks. And not necessarily lucrative tasks, at that.

I started thinking about this because many of my friends in the world of online selling are experiencing the busiest time of year. Most create what they sell and others sell what those creating may need. They are all trying to stock their online storefronts, an annual cycle known to all entrepreneurs.

But this season is different. You might say our online landlord has caused some of us look for greener pastures. This means my driven friends, and count me too,  are now undertaking hundreds of hours of extra work to "move" all their many items. I know moving a brick and mortar shop could not be so demanding. Every title and description and item tags which you may not even notice must be edited, one by one, item by item.

What drives us to accomplish these things? Perhaps it is a search for perfection, a dream of sales, a chance to excel. I've been thinking about all these things because today I finally completed moving my online shop and all 282 different items! To celebrate the sale scheduled for Thursday to Dec. 2 is starting today in my shop right now. Ahem, see the discounts.

Many items I sell are pendants which come with cord necklaces. You can now upgrade the basic cords to gorgeous round leather cords in your choice of four colors and with a sterling silver clasp. Make your choice a customized one!!

Small Business Saturday,
Black Friday,
Cyber Monday, 

What do they have in Common?

These are days with lots of buying and selling going on! And the online world is just as important a player as the local shops.

Many shops on Zibbet are participating in a special event called a CommUNITY Sale, November 29 to December 2. Each shop has its own specials and they are all posted in one spot so you can easily find the items you might like, see the discounts and possible discount codes, and click to go right to those shops.

Click on the CommUNITY Sale button on the right to see the list of shops involved in this event. The list is expanding every day, probably right up to the sale date.

My shop zibbet.com/Lehane is participating, hope to see you there!

My New Shop Is: 

www.zibbet.com/Lehane

There is a lot new! In fact I recently removed thousands of hours of work represented in over 300 items listed on Etsy. Why? Like most things, there is no simple reason. Many factors were involved. But Zibbet is a somewhat newer company and I just like the vibe there. How's that for scientific?!!

I have a few new items and most of the old ones now listed on Zibbet, thanks to many marathons of brainless editing, copying, pasting, and rewording. Now I can finally get back to more creative things.  Here are a couple of new designs:

These pendants vary in color only. They are all the same size in the real world, about inch in inside diameter for the large rings. They are available with black cords or with colorful leather cords. This link will show more of these triad pendants.

These designs are simple and eye catching. I really like making them. The three-ring combo glides freely on the outer large ring. The number three is also one of those mysterious and symbolic concepts which appear in many ancient civilizations. Perhaps we tap in to ancient wisdom when wearing this trio of rings pendant.