HOW I TAKE MEASUREMENTS:
Do NOT just read the size posted and assume it will fit! There is NO size standard for most of these pieces from company to company, so everything will be measured. Since I first started on ebay mainly selling big Renaissance skirts, I begin laying the garment flat and measuring across the front only. That has “stuck” and that’s the way I measure.
The bust measurement is taken at the very tip top of the garment side seam and measured from side to side. Hips are generally 10" below the waist. The easiest way to figure out if something will fit BEFORE placing your bid is to compare the measurements on the listing to something you have in your closet. Please make sure you are measuring properly. If you email me that the measurements are wrong on the listing, and I accept a return (all tags attached, unworn and unwashed returned within 7 Days ) from my ok to send back, I will re-measure the item once I receive. If my measurements were correct, please know the item will be returned to you So please be sure when you are viewing measurements that you are measuring where I am.

My Shipping & Handling:
All our items are new, we travel to find them. We spend a lot of time on our listings. We subscribe to our own stamps service, some of ebay's services and really, anything that will automate the process--every bit of which has associated costs. We print our own labels, buy our mailing envelopes, drive to ups, usps and sometimes FED EX-- usually on a daily basis--sometimes twice per day, and--the long and short of it is, (At the risk of sounding like a sniveler) there IS overhead.
So we DO charge a handling fee along with shipping. Please review the S&H cost BEFORE you bid. If you email us saying the S&H is high, we will point you back to this page. If the fact that we pass some of our expenses in labor on to you in the form of handling bothers you, we'd rather you not bid, please. We want you to know all this up front!! And, with the new DSR'S (which impact seller's rating and fees) truly, if you don't like my shipping charges, do not bid, because anything below a 5 on the DSR's DOES impact a seller's rating and fees.

Fiction: "If I buy 2 or more items from this seller, she should ship for free":
First of all, my lowest shipping is $6 for items up to a pound. I charge $3 for each add’l item. That’s 3 bucks if you buy a 2 lb heavy rayon set, too. I will often lower the shipping even more for you if you buy 5 or 6 items. Do I ship for free though? See my comments in the “sellers rip buyers off” section. Expecting me to ship your items for free when I’m making $4.59 on your item is like your boss coming to you at the end of the 2 week pay period and telling you he’s going to deduct 5 hours pay for the 2-15 minute breaks you took each day for the last 2 weeks. Would that sit square with you? Read on to "Do ALL Seller's Rip Buyers off?" below for a welcome to my real world......

Do ALL Sellers Rip Buyers off?:
Let me give you a real life example taken from my own stock. Let’s say I pay $20 for a skirt that is supposed to sell, off the rack, for $40 (oh, and I also paid roughly $2 to get that skirt sent to me). I like to list at least 20% below the suggested retail price. So I’d likely list that skirt for $32.99. When it’s all over, I’ve paid ebay and paypal $6.40 for the privilege of using their venues. Doesn’t sound too bad, right? Ok, let’s go back over all the costs. The skirt cost me $22 + $6.40 in fees so my total cost was $28.40 minus the $32.99 = $4.59 profit. Profit? Well, there’s shipping labels, tissue paper, ink and tape. A gallon of gas here was $4.05 a couple months ago (As of the past weekend I found it for $1.96 but I imagine it'll go back up in no time). It takes me about 3/4 of a gallon to and from the PO.
In the past, I loaded my costs for the gas and tape and such into my shipping charge. (My shipping for 1 lb and under is $6). Well, folks, now that ebay tells you, the buyer: “hey, when you leave feedback, be sure and rate the seller on these other areas and tell us what you really think, ‘cos they’ll never know it was you”. Do you realize anything less than a 5 rating can impact our fees from 5% to up to 15%? So I really ask folks that are considering buying from me, that if my shipping is too high, PLEASE do not purchase my item. I’d rather not make the sale and pay the fees and then have the buyer think, oh yeah, I’m gonna rate her a 2 in shipping because $6 was pretty steep for my little blouse (that was wrapped in tissue, taped, boxed with the box taped also, labeled and most likely taken that same day to the post office).
And, honestly? Most small to mid size sellers won't be around much longer if you agree to their terms up front and then shoot them in the back later with low DSR'S. I'm not saying everybody's perfect but I DO know that most sellers, myself included, are available to answer questions and clear up any problems or misconceptions BEFORE you bid. See, we WANT the transaction to go perfectly. If you read the listing and agree to the terms (you clicked bid or buy didn't ya?) then what would make you change your mind on the DSR later? Just wondering!?!

ALL SALES ARE FINAL:
I do not take returns. This means once it leaves my hands I do not accept an item BACK. This includes "exchange" or "return for credit" because you didn't read the measurements and the item doesn't fit or you plain, in person, don't like the item or changed your mind. WHY? Well, I'm not a Macy's so I don't have a "jobber" that comes in and buys all my returns to resell to ebay sellers that schlepp "new with tags" Macy's stuff. I took returns for the first year of selling. You know what? I got clothing back with food on it, I got clothing that smelled like body lotion and I got clothing that smelled like it was hanging in Kentucky Fried Chicken for a week. Not to mention the stuff that smelled musty. NO, I am NOT kidding. So, let me be straight here. If I advertised a dress as "new with tags" and you opened your box and got a wiff of the Colonel's secret seasoning and grease, would I have been honest when I told you the dress was "new with tags"? I think not. So I would never EVER send you someone else's mistake because I wouldn't want to get a "new with tags" dress that smelled of Estee Lauder Youth Dew. 
A)Is Extortion Ever OK?:
I do not take returns. Get it? The other day I got a ridiculous veiled threat from a “buyer’s remorse” buyer. In a round about way I was told that I’d be reported because the item wasn’t “really” as described because THEY made some sort of “assumption”--rather than doing the upright thing and emailing me BEFORE bidding to ask a simple question. Again, swing away and take your best shot. As a buyer, you have an obligation to READ my stinking overblown diatribe, read the measurements, be honest and quit imagining yourself looking like a size 8 Barbie in something that will never even come close to fitting a size 14. Read on:
B) Common Misconception: I am not asking for a refund, I just want to exchange my item:
I do not take returns. What part of “all sales are final” do you not understand? Seriously, Gals, I am not kidding. Now, on the flip side…did I make a huge mistake on my measurements? Is your item damaged in some way? Well, guess what? I began this whole thing by saying I like to treat people the way I want to be treated. If I’ve screwed up, that’s a different story. Of course I will take a return. But here’s how:
C) The Only Time I Will Take A Return & Your Obligations:
 I’m human. If my measurements are more than an inch off (see the disclaimer on my listings) or if there is some problem with your item (a tear or such) that I missed, I will take a return. Here is your obligation:
1) Contact me within 48 hours of receiving your item to let me know there is a problem. If your item does not fit, you need to go back to the measurements that were posted. If you simply didn’t read those before you bid, I do not take returns . If my measurements were, indeed wrong, no problem, you may return it. Once I receive it, I will re-measure. I will tell you, though, if my measurements were accurate, the item will be returned to you via parcel post .
2) Once you’ve made contact and we’ve communicated and I’m expecting your return, I must receive your item back within SEVEN days. If your item arrives after the 7 day return window the package will be refused and sent back to you.
3) All returns must come back to me the exact same way they left me. They must be unworn, unwashed, and with all tags attached. 
4) Once I receive your return back within the 7 day window, I’ll process your refund immediately. Your refund is the bid price only. Postage either way is NOT refunded. If this is a problem, do not bid on my items.   
5) I keep really good records. If you have not communicated any problems to me and take it upon yourself to simply send your item back? Thanks for the present. It will be "refused".

Feedback:  
Swing away. Feedback has always been voluntary. I’ll continue along that vein. If you are the buyer that bid on 5 of my items, hung me up for 10 days telling me payment was on the way…you can dang sure expect that I’ll be filing a NPB on you. Just because I cannot leave feedback to alert other sellers that you are a cheesy ebayer doesn’t mean I’m not going to try to recoup my fees. I’ll take ebay up on their offer and dispute the bad feedback YOU left ME when YOU didn’t pay. I don’t know about the rest of buyers and sellers, but this playing field isn’t even CLOSE to being level. So be it. People say "if you don't like it...leave! It's why, for those of you who know me and watch my stuff, you're seeing 200 items when there used to be 800. I've taken my ball and mainly went to my OWN home on the web :)

About now you may be saying "I don't think I want to buy from this crabby seller": 
That's absolutely your choice as a buyer. But I promise you, I will treat you the way I want to be treated, and truly, I do not like being kicked in the teeth. Respect should definitely be a two way street. Ebay is, in a round about way, telling sellers that respect for the buyer is mutually exclusive. It is not. We are all part of the circle. Ladies, almost 3 years ago I had a gnarley medical experience. Yeah, one of those ones where I really *should* be on the other side of the lawn. But I'm not. Although I DO have to make lists to keep track of my lists. I have sticky notes everywhere. In short, being as sharp as a tack came naturally. I'm still sharp as a tack but that's only because it takes hard work and I have to do things differently now, create more work, if you will, to maintain my "edge".  I therefore have a very great understanding when things happen to a buyer, they need to pay late etc. As long as buyers are honest with me, I am forgiving and patient! I am proud of the job I do but I do get irked when people make more work for me (the buyers who say they are going to pay but then never pay...the buyers who don't read my gigantic diatribe listings...the buyers who say "Hi thanks for the quick delivery. Unfortunately the blouse doesn't fit and I need to send it back".....ad nauseum). Please cut me some slack. I'll do everything in my power to make sure I do right by you. Just treat me with the same respect. I'm not some fly by nite quick hit seller that is doing this to make a fast buck. 

A few words about 3^rd world country clothing:
We love texture combined with style. Lots of the funky hippie type stuff we purchase is made in countries that follow old ways of fabric processing and dyeing. For this reason, if you demand perfection, bid on Ralph Lauren or designer lines. Our funky stuff is generally one of a kind. What may be considered flaws to the picky folk, should be considered that which gives the garment its' character. Expect some slubs, nubs, color incongruities or the like with this clothing. We don't consider these flaws. We cannot guarantee color-fastness and suggest that, if you the tag states the item may be washed, that you HAND WASH in COLD. Especially the first time around--in case there is any color bleed. Also, because of the fabric manufacturing and dye process, some of these items have a "loud" odor.
Also, I have been in warehouses picking out packages where the warehouse manager is smoking or cooking or who knows what!! Some items that I select are not in packages (I yank things off mannequins if it's the last one and I want it!!) Also, the packaging on all items is plastic (a petroleum product) and some truly do smell.  I don't use Fabreeze, fabric sheets or anything like that, just because of allergies that some folks may have. What I have found is this: If you hang the garment outside, the wind will generally pull the smell away. Also, you CAN throw your garment in the dryer on air, with a fabric sheet and this works fine too. We just can't be sure! SO if you are allergic to weird dyes or really ANYTHING, do not bid as we will NOT refund because your item has an odor. I have a non-smoking home but I do have a darling little Yorkie named *Star* that keeps me company all day. She has her own clothes, though so she doesn’t try on my stock! But if you're allergic to Yorkies, please don't bid on my items.  

What You Can Expect From Me:
If you've read to this point I only have a couple more things to add. First, I steam and take pictures of an item but that isn't necessarily the item you will receive. Please read the listing carefully. Generally you will receive your stuff just like any other catalog order (includingChico's, J.Jill, etc). I receive each piece in a plastic bag--like you would normally receive when you order online catalog stores. However, I remove the items from the plastic bag (plastic bags are made from petroleum products -- as noted above-- (P.U. some of these bags stink)) and wrap them in tissue for transit to you. I no longer steam everything that leaves my house. Unfortunately, time does not permit it anymore. Please note: Often times steaming can add up to an inch on a rayon piece. If you get your item, it happens to be rayon, and it doesn’t match up with the listed measurements, give it a press. (Just don’t remove the tags). You’ll generally find the missing inch once you steam press your garment.
I will generally ship within 24 hours of payment receipt on week days. On weekend payments, my next ship day is Monday. Your items will be sent USPS. I generally use their boxes, but  I will use my own poly bags, too,  depending on the size of the order. If the order is huge and won't fit in any of the USPS boxes, I generally don't go rooting around behind liquor stores for boxes, so in all probability your order will be in a huge poly bag.
If there is a problem, let me know right away. Don’t let me know by using the feedback system. That’s not how you’d want to be alerted of a problem is it? Let’s treat each other how we want to be treated. We’re all part of the circle, after all.

Some final words from a long time buyer and seller:
(Skip this part if you are tired of the Snivel-a-thon). Ebay is no longer allowing us to reference any outside links on our “me” page or, of course, our listings. Sellers are no longer on a level playing field but instead are dealing with unilateral rules and, in most cases, semi-annual fee increases (masked as “decreases”) dictated by the ugly monopoly that we’ve helped create.
If I sound bitter, you got it, I AM. The thanks seller's of my size get for paying ebay easily a grand a month. I hope you'll find me on the web and visit since ebay will no longer let me tell you where my main venue is. I don't pay huge fees there so that savings is passed along.
Until then, I’m the same person I’ve always been. For all the spew about the corporation making all these changes to protect the buyer from all the bad seller’s out there, I gotta say, in my tenure, I’ve run across great buyers AND sellers 99% of the time. And, let’s face it, folks, if ebay really wanted to, they could cull out the seller’s cleaning buyer’s clocks selling phony Vuittons and those sellers charging $16.95 to ship a $3 item.
In short, it’s hard NOT to be jaded when a buyer can cruise in, buy 5 or 6 of your items and NOT pay. If a seller now tries to get their closing fees back from a non paying buyer, if the seller follows ebay’s OWN rules and files a non paying bidder alert, the seller then runs the risk of a negative feedback for doing so. My opinion is that Ebay is going to be left with a bunch of drop shippers and the good buyers will go away because, since the upstanding sellers cannot afford to stay and put up with the unilateral changes, there will no longer be anything worth a bean TO buy. Of course my opinion and $1.50 will get me a cup of coffee at Denny’s.