posted on March 23, 2003 11:44:17 AM new
Let me open a can of worms here...have heard there are some eBay sellers boycotting these countries but haven't found any auctions like that yet. Although I like $ as well as the next person does and despite the fact that I've lived in Canada and usually like Canadians, I'm tempted to put a "no sales to Canada, France or Germany" in my location box in auctions for awhile.
Yes, I realize it's not the faults of the citizens, yada yada yada. Am just angry and venting. For example, my boyfriend, who is Canadian, has said in the past that Canada's military forces have been greatly reduced over the years and in the event of a need for such defenses, Canadians figure they can count on us to defend them! And yet yesterday I opened a newspaper from the town I've lived in there, and there was a person burning one of our flags downtown. etc.
My sales have been a little sluggish since the war started, but steady. Am I nuts to consider a political statement/boycott of my own? Just curious what others are thinking about this.
posted on March 23, 2003 11:53:37 AM new
Why only those countries? Unless something has changed in the past few minutes, people in nearly every country in the world are burning our flags.
Heck are you going to stop selling to Americans too? I have seen some of them burning flags.
posted on March 23, 2003 12:07:09 PM newmy boyfriend, who is Canadian, has said..... ya, right. My boyfriends have said many things also but I learned quite quickly in life that it was best to think and find things out for myself.
It's up to you if you wish to judge or punish everyone in a country for what their leaders do. But I am running a business and hopefully I won't be narrow-minded enough to look at it the way you perhaps want to. I prefer to look at the big picture and there are protests everywhere. Have you noticed this or perhaps your boyfriend didn't bother to tell you?
I refuse to get in discussions of war with the buyers and sellers I deal with. I will comment whether it is affecting sales but not on the issues of who is right or wrong.
posted on March 23, 2003 01:13:04 PM new
As a Canadian seller, I have wondered if my auctions would be boycotted, but the truth is, that although I live in Canada, my husband and I, and 3 of our children were born in England, and the 4th in the U.S. When I watch the news, I see thousands of Americans demonstrating against their country's decision to go to war, that after all is democracy, that is what makes America, Canada, England etc different from a country under dictatorship. If you talk about boycotting sales from certain countries, you don't know who you are boycotting, and it is just such intolerance of others that leads to war in the first place.
posted on March 23, 2003 02:07:54 PM new
Don't boycott or girlcott or CATcott. This may too open a can of worms but what I understand from a forensic economist at the local university, boycotts don't really work in international contexts. Too hard to control. For example, we boycotted Iraq but half of Europe did not. Anyway, I think we should take the money of those that oppose us and buy something made in the USA.
posted on March 23, 2003 02:37:39 PM new
I'd just proudly put my location on my auction and let the chips fall where
they may. It's possible a buyer might not agree with the USA and wont
want to deal with you because of that. But, then again they might want
to do what small thing they can by purchasing something from any
American just to show their support or solidarity with our efforts in the
Gulf and the international arena.
As to your shopping, you might not want to buy from them but many of
them most likely support us. Unless you disagree with a individual seller
on the stand he has made I'd figure buying from him would be fine.
posted on March 23, 2003 08:19:42 PM new
I have two brothers there now (one in the
North, and the other one in the South), both
in the U.S. Army.
I have also been disturbed by the behavior
of some nations we thought were our friends
and allies. It now appears some are fair
weather friends at best, happy to sell us
their products and services, but not willing
to back us up when we need it (I thought it
was interesting that we import 85% of ALL
the products Canada exports, for example...)
After all, THEY weren't attacked, so if they
stay out of it maybe they won't be. I hope
they are NOT, but if they are, I know (KNOW)
that we will stand by them.
I thought about this situation for awhile
and I finally decided to continue to accept
sales from outside the U.S. I've been
selling on-line for over 10 years now, and
have always sold to anyone who wants to buy.
This of course sometimes is troublesome, as
not everyone speaks English well, and I
can't be expected to speak every foreign
language.
I decided that even if they live in a
country I'm PO'ed at, they know from my
auction that I'm in the U.S., and if they
still want to buy from me then great. I
normally average between 5% and 10% of my
sales from outside the U.S., but this year
it is up, slightly, to 11.5%.
Oh, and there are lots of people holding
Pro-U.S. marches and demonstrations too,
but since some networks have their own
political agenda, you don't see much of
them. And either way, a few thousand
people here or there is pretty small
from a U.S. population base of 280,000,000!
---
"Cannot say. Saying, I would know. Do not
know, so cannot say". -- Zathras (Babylon 5)
posted on March 24, 2003 12:58:27 AM new
I do not blame any of the countries that do not agree with US policy. I do not agree with US policy. I have and will continue to sell to those countries such as Germany, France and Canada.
To the people who boycott, do name calling etc. It is extremely childish. Let those who have their beliefs keep them.
Oh and by the way, not supporting the US and not supporting the troops, are 2 entirely different things.
I too, have a son in the armed forces who is currently in Turkey. He is over there supporting a president and fighting for something that he does not believe in.
posted on March 24, 2003 01:20:17 AM new
I do not blame any of the countries that do not agree with US policy. I do not agree with US policy. I have and will continue to sell to those countries such as Germany, France and Canada.
To the people who boycott, do name calling etc. It is extremely childish. Let those who have their beliefs keep them.
Oh and by the way, not supporting the US and not supporting the troops, are 2 entirely different things.
I too, have a son in the armed forces who is currently in Turkey. He is over there supporting a president and fighting for something that he does not believe in.
posted on March 24, 2003 07:30:45 AM new
Did you know that France buys it's oil from Iraq and for 50% less than the US pays?
Did you know that the US soldiers found a bunch of Russians who got trapped in Iraq? The Russian gov't had sold Iraq some GPS jammers and GPS guided missles. These Russians were trapped in the country when the war started before they could finish the set up and leave.
Is it any wonder these countries were against any military action?
posted on March 24, 2003 07:49:59 AM new
Hey! I'm a boyfriend, and happen to know that I am always right. At least, that's what my girlfriend keeps telling me.
posted on March 24, 2003 08:37:46 AM new
At this point in time, I certainly wouldn't make purchases from France or Germany, but as a seller, I'd be happy to sell to them and take their money.
Across the board I have absolutely NOTHING to do with FRANCE, this isn't the first of the very Anti-American actions they have taken, and they are the most anti-Semitic of all of the European countries - I have no use for France.
Boycotting/Girlcotting items from a given country effects the citizens, who CAN effect their government -
Those who are anti-war, I suppose in they are the ones who in the 1940's would have turned their heads to the holocaust occurring in Germany - Sadam has committed horrid atrocities against his own people - do we just ignore such?
P.S. No I'm not Jewish - I just human!
************
So You Are Anti-War
This is just a “drop in the bucket” of the endless of horrid atrocities committed by the Hussein government (many are so disquieting I didn’t even start to list them – by not removing Saddam and his sociopath government is paramount to knowing about the Holocaust and doing nothing !!! These crimes against humanity and more were authenticated by and recorded in detail by the UN, the US, Kuwaiti, British, Iranian and other Governments and groups such as Human Rights Watch, Amnesty and Indict.
There was a machine designed for shredding plastic. Men were dropped into it and we were again made to watch. Sometimes they went in head first and died quickly. Sometimes they went in feet first and died screaming. It was horrible. I saw 30 people die like this. Their remains would be placed in plastic bags and we were told they would be used as fish food . . . on one occasion, I saw Qusay [President Saddam Hussein’s youngest son] personally supervise these murders.”
Another witness told us about practices of the security services towards women: “Women were suspended by their hair as their families watched; men were forced to watch as their wives were raped . . . women were suspended by their legs while they were menstruating until their periods were over, a procedure designed to cause humiliation.”
In October 2000, dozens of women accused of prostitution were beheaded without any judicial process in Baghdad and other cities. Men suspected of procurement were also beheaded. The killings were reportedly carried out, in the presence of representatives of the Ba'ath Party and the Iraqi Women's General Union. Members of Feda'iyye Saddam, a militia created in 1994 by 'Uday Saddam Hussain, the eldest son of the President, used swords to execute the victims in front of their homes.
Some victims were reportedly killed for political reasons. Amongst those beheaded were Fatima 'Abdallah 'Abd al-Rahman, Shadya Shaker Mahmoud and Iman Qassem Ahmad, who were all beheaded in Mosul.
For more than 20 years, senior Iraqi officials have committed genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. This list includes far more than the gassing of 5,000 in Halabja and other villages in 1988. It includes serial war crimes during the Iran-Iraq war; the genocidal Anfal campaign against the Iraqi Kurds in 1987-88; the invasion of Kuwait and the killing of more than 1,000 Kuwaiti civilians; the violent suppression, which I witnessed, of the 1991 Kurdish uprising that led to 30,000 or more civilian deaths; the draining of the Southern Marshes during the 1990s, which ethnically cleansed thousands of Shias; and the summary executions of thousands of political opponents.
All these crimes have been recorded in detail by the UN, the US, Kuwaiti, British, Iranian and other Governments and groups such as Human Rights Watch, Amnesty and Indict. Yet the Security Council has failed to set up a war crimes tribunal on Iraq because of opposition from France, China and Russia. As a result, no Iraqi official has ever been indicted for some of the worst crimes of the 20th century. A UN official said, "I have said incessantly that I would have preferred such a tribunal to war. But the time for offering Saddam incentives and more time is over."
posted on March 24, 2003 09:27:07 AM new
Business is business! Ones personal feelings have no place here. If you can not seperate the two then you should not be selling in the first place.
As far as some state..take their money but buy nothing from anyone outside of the U.S. then you are missing out on some great buys.
If one wants to buy U.S. made only then you will be in for a rude wake up call as just about every thing is made in asia etc.. this includes most of the flags people are flying.
Boycotts hurt everyone and in the long term solve nothing. Boycotts are after all a two way street.
posted on March 24, 2003 09:33:32 AM new
In 6 years online I have seen the world get smaller and smaller with the trend toward globalization.To whoever doesn't want to be a citizen of the world--which basically is getting smaller everyday--go ahead and ban countries.They may feel the same about you anyway.
To those who feel slighted because other world leaders can't agree with the USA all of the time and have a moral and democratic right to do just that--disagree--there are 30 countries besides the US I think you can safely sell to.
Just like in the USA--if you have a B&M store--you sell to whoever walks in the door regardless of race, color, creed or national origin. I think if you open your store doors online--if it is not against USA law--you should not discriminate.JMHO.
posted on March 24, 2003 10:28:22 AM newAll these crimes have been recorded in detail by the UN, the US, Kuwaiti, British, Iranian and other Governments and groups such as Human Rights Watch, Amnesty and Indict.
The U.S is also on many of these "human rights" groups violation lists. Many African nations are no better than Iraq. No one is attacking them.
Authenticated. How? Sworn statements. O.J. Simpson made a sworn statement that he did not kill his wife. Bill Clinton swore that he "did not have sexual relations with that woman".
Edited to add:
I am so tired of countries trying to rake their neighbors yards before raking their own. Russia's alleged tratment of the Chechen people is not much better that Iraq's alleged treatment of its citizens. Neither is China's. The difference? Russia and China have good weapons, good militaries and weapons of mass destruction. Bullies only pick on those they think they can beat.
posted on March 24, 2003 10:46:38 AM new
Many people that were born in one country are now living in other countries or they have family in other countries.
"Buy USA" sounds good but that means no longer shopping in a dollar store or Walmart for many of the things you wish to purchase. Did you see the picture here?
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/827732/posts
Where are the products made that we are presently selling on ebay?
Yes trai, many US flags are made in Asia and also in Canada.
posted on March 24, 2003 12:58:06 PM new
Hey if everyone is burning our flag, I think I will go into the flag business and start selling international, what a killing I would make Yes I am Capitalist Pig
posted on March 25, 2003 10:10:27 PM new
ccharned,
I know, I know, how about this TOS: "Do not bid on my auctions unless you have all the same political beliefs I do." Then list how you stand on everything. That will show them all!!!Come on, you aren't looking for advice. You are looking for a soapbox.
posted on March 26, 2003 01:28:49 AM new
I FEEL BUSINESS AND POLITICS DO NOT MIX WELL. BOYCOTTING IS A BIZARRE THOUGHT. WHY WOULD YOU LIMIT SALES? KEEP POLITICS WHERE THEY BELONG - EBAY IS EBAY! NOT A "TOWNHALL" MEETING!
'BUY' THE WAY WHY DO SOME MANY US SELLERS ONLY SELL TO THE US? SHIPPING TO CANADA IS BASICALLY THE SAME THING AS SHIPPING TO THE US. WHEN THEY HAVE 30 MILLION CAPTIVE FROZEN INTERNET USERS SCOWERING EBAY FOR DEALS - ITS FREE TO CLICK "SELL TO CANADA" ON EBAY - THEY HAVE THE HIGHEST INTERNET USAGE IN THE WORLD PER CAPITA - IF YOU WANT TO MAKE MORE MONEY - SELL TO CANADA.
posted on March 26, 2003 04:30:29 AM new
Personally, I won't boycott anyone. Not only do I need the sales, why in the devil would I punish someone for what their government does? I'm so tired of everyone assuming that my government's position is also mine.
Just sold to someone in Canada! Thank God they bid. I needed that sale.
