The title says it all; it’s about “getting paid”. Or lack thereof.

But!

It is not my issue this time, though my issue is still unresolved since  it’s not the 23rd yet (that’s when I’ll find out whether I get paid or not)…

This time it’s our colleague. Let’s call him Mr FF.

So since April, Miss EZ, Miss Fera, and I have been complaining about not getting paid properly or getting paid at all (so Miss EZ has been getting paid, but not the correct amount… and Miss Fera and I have not been paid at all up to that point).

Mr FF… well, he’s been fortunate and has gotten paid consistently, from what we’ve gathered.

Every time Miss EZ, Miss Fera and I would complain to Miss Jamie (light hearted frustration), Mr FF would interject (as he always would) and tell us that “they are probably very busy with stuff” and making excuses for them. Miss EZ would argue back, and Mr FF would only say, “I’m just saying that I can see things from their perspective.”

That’s funny, ‘cos empathy was not something that Mr FF possessed. Yes, he had the grades and all, but empathy? Not a chance. Like, what if I only did those hours ‘cos my life depended on it, only to not get paid even months after?

And plus, this is the same Mr FF who tried to put me down after a class I took one day to make himself feel better, but that’s a whole other story (yes, because of his arrogant and inconsiderate nature, we all aren’t terribly fond of Mr FF).

Anyway. With that, Miss EZ simply stated, “I wasn’t even talking to you”. Guess he didn’t like that, as a bit of drama ensued afterwards (involving supervisor).

Fast forward a couple of weeks; May. Miss Fera and I were still unpaid, and Mr FF would not see what the big deal was, and I can sense him rolling his eyes at us every time we would say something about it, trying hard to not say anything about it. And whenever he had that look, Miss Fera and I would speak more, but only of the truth.

So, fast forward again: today.

Apparently, Mr FF’s luck ran out, and he was paid short this time ’round.  He was a little mad, and went to speak to the finance guy. Mind you, to this day, I have not even been paid a CENT as yet, he has been paid a fair bit… and yet, the first time he’s under-paid is the day he goes to complain about it. HA!

Now he knows what it feels like to be on the receiving end of this!

How’s that for a good lesson for empathy!

I really should have swapped what I wore yesterday for what I wore today… as yesterday was a LOT colder than today! It was actually quite pleasant today!

So after packing on a singlet, 2 long sleeve tops, a thin jacket, a thicker jacket, a coat, compression tights under jeans, 2 pairs of socks and a scarf for fear of the chilly wind/weather, I endured public transport overheated (it’s quite difficult to remove any article of clothing whilst on transport)… Man, I seriously can’t regulate my body temperature for the life of me!)…

And then when got to lab, I was greeted with “well, you look warm!” …Heck yes I do!

So anyway.

Today, the 9th, is supposed to be my pay day (see more here)! When Miss Fera announced that she got paid (finally, albeit not the total amount), I thought I’d check my account out for the moment of truth…

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Zilch!

Yes, I’m still not paid! But why am I not surprised?

Miss EZ made a good point that once everyone is on end of semester holidays, chasing up our pay would be even difficult… So I headed to the finance guy, and because I went there so much, he remembered me! He assured me that he’s logged my hours in (which he showed, and looked about correct), and told me that I’ll definitely get paid next pay period (23rd June); if not, then “I don’t know why that’s happening”… Well, that’s reassuring!

But hopefully it does come, or I think I’ll have to claim it next year, like the other 2 classes I took in semester 2, 2010!

BTW, I left lab early (5:30 PM) for the first time this week (YAY)… ended up being awkward to the mX guy, and I bumped into Miss AL on the train this evening; it was very lovely to see her, and we had a fun standing on the train, chatting away on the way home!

So my friend Miss Fera and I started demonstrating/tutoring since March… we did some paper work to get paid since early April, and half expected tol receive some money in the following fortnight or so.

When it didn’t come, we went to the finance guy and asked why.

“Oh, it’s because you’re not in the system yet. Just fill out your tax file declaration, and then we will put you into the system, and hopefully, you will be paid in the next fortnight.” He told us.

So we took this form, and went away to fill in, and gave it back in a day or two.

“Thanks for that, I will enter this for you and you will be paid next pay period.”

So we played the waiting game, and comes the next pay period, excited. Upon checking, we realised that both of us received zilch… Curious, we went back to the finance guy and queried.

“So Miss Fera, you are registered into the system now, and you will be paid next pay period. It says here that you’re getting paid for one hour, am I right?” Finance guy said.

And here Miss Fera and I were thinking a few things:

1. We both have done 13 weeks’ of teaching… that can’t be just ONE hour, right?
2. Why would Miss Fera visit you so many times, Mr finance guy, only to get ONE hour of pay (roughly $38)

So we tried to set it straight. Luckily, I had a record of the exact dates we both taught on, and told him all the hours and such. When he finished logging in Miss Fera’s hours, he reassured her that she will definitely be paid next pay period.

Over to me.

“I know why you are not on the system now. You haven’t given me your tax file declaration form.”

“But I have, and I’ve given it to you last time,” I started. I figured that there was no use in arguing, especially if he had misplaced the form. So I agreed to fill it out again.

“So have this filled in, and bring it to me, and I will fax it down to the uni finance department, and hopefully you will be on the system, and get paid during your next pay period.”

So I did as I was told, Miss Fera even wanting to take a photo of me handing my form to the finance guy. But of course, we were only joking.

Come June 1st (today), and I received a phone call early on.

“Hi, this is the uni finance department. I’m trying to register you into the system, but we don’t have your tax file declaration form.” The lady said.

“I have filled it in, it should be there” I stated.

“But it isn’t here.”

I was starting to get ticked off. “Actually, I have filled the form in TWICE already; our finance guy must have lost it again.”

So she softened up and told me to pop into their office, made me fill it in again (and she will register me directly), and asked me to hassle our finance guy if I wanted to get paid on the 9th Jun. If not, I’ll be paid on the 23rd Jun instead.

Wanting to express my frustration, I passed off a remark about not getting my pay yet, having already FINISHED my duties for this semester’s course.

She chuckled and said, “Why doesn’t it surprise me.”

So yes, hopefully, I don’t have to fill in another tax declaration form… for the FOURTH time!

Will update on when I get paid, and any dramas relating to.

-_-

I usually get my weekly travel pass early on Sundays when I go for my walks. I usually go with mum to get the ticket, and I always bring some extra money just in case. And I always get it from the ticket machine without fail (because I can’t be bothered asking the ticket seller to come to the counter to serve me).

But this week, it’s different. My aunt and them came over, so I haven’t the chance to get it early. So I got it late whilst on my daily walk. Mum was cooking (she cooks on weekends) so it was my dad and I. Because I overspent yesterday, I didn’t have extra money to bring.

So I got to the ticket machine, and stuck 20c in. Nothing happened, so I thought it needed a tiny push and put a 10c piece in. Still not working. I canceled the ticket and only the 10c piece came out. Then I went over to the counter (they guy was already sitting there today) and I told him the machine wasn’t working properly, and that my 20c was lost in there and that I was 20c short. The guy told me he couldn’t do anything about it, so I let it be and asked dad for some money (man, I was starting to look VERY cheap here). I got my $21.50 travel pass and started to walk home, having dad lecture me about bringing extra money in case that scenario happened (inner self: It doesn’t usually!!!).

On the way, I saw mum walking towards us. She was catching up on her walking, so we once again walked to the station again. Then I saw that guy who served me open up the ticket machine and asking the other customer how much he had stuck in. So I came around just to have a look, and the seller looked at me and said “you put 20c in?” to which I nodded (I’m like, shit, I must look VERY VERY cheap now).

Curiosity got the best of us 3 so we stood and watched him enter the pin and started whacking the machine to eject some coins out. Realising that the THREE of us look as though we were waiting for our 20c, I suggested us to leave before we got it back, because by then, we’d look VERY VERY VERY cheap.

So embarrassing! >.<

Moral of the story? None, it was just pure bad luck.

On a whim, I decided to drag my dad to the dentist with me today, since it’s been a while since I had my last dental checkup and I needed some in-fills (for the post-braces support thing, not my teeth, though I find out later that I did have some I needed to fill ><)… and I was in Campsie anyway.

So I went upstairs and waited until he was finished with his patient and then inquired about it.

In-fills: $70
Cleaning: $80

Okay, so $150, that’s not too bad actually.

But turned out I had to in-fill THREE of the supporting-braces things. That’s $210! Aww man… No cleaning, I thought, too much money already.

So he started removing the previous loose in-fills, splashed much water on me (thank you very much) and secured the new in-fills onto teeth. Put the chair up and told me to rinse.

And so, the chair went down again (an aura of “be afraid… be very afraid” that dentists give off) and proceeded hardening the in-fills with “the blue light” (they have the weirdest tools, I swear!).

Hurting after that, he asked whether or not I wanted to clean, to which I waved my hand at. I was already in pain! But dad told me to anyway because when uni starts, I wouldn’t have the time to go to the dentist. The dentist then told me it was advisable since my teeth were pretty dirty (thanks again).

So again, I decided “why not”.

It felt okay when he started with the bottom. And then I felt REAL pain. The pain before was merely just a warm-up, because THIS was REALLY bad!!! >_<

Throughout the ordeal, I had water splashing all over my face, I was flinching, curling my toes and gripping my dad’s hand (very tightly), and these were only part of the 20 minute process. My gums bleeding, bleeding and bleeding were the other part. It was THAT bad, no exaggeration.

Ah! And someone thought they went through “23 minutes in Hell” (cough cough Bill Wiesse)! Reminds me why I haven’t been to the dentist in 3 years.

And what made it worse was that the dentist kept complaining about:

1. Me not brushing my teeth properly (I swear it isn’t that bad!)
2. Me not coming in regularly for a cleaning
3. Me not cutting my hair (I like it the way it is, thank you very much!)
4. My eyesight (since I “wear such thick glasses” but “don’t worry, there’s always laser eye surgery when you reach -10.00″)
5. The whole hour worth of fixing up my teeth totaled $290! (Ouch!)

Sigh.

What’s with paying for services who treat you like a masochist being?!

Oh well, at least my teeth are shiny now =]

Inconsistency.

If this one didn’t convince you, listen to this:

I had 2 items to post the other day, so I took both my envelopes and went to the post.

Details about the items:

Just by looking at these measurements, do you think that’s consistent at all?

• Same measurements
• Same weight
• Packed the same way in same-sized envelope
• Same person serving me

And yet they are charged SO differently!
Why is one a large letter and the other is a parcel?
They contain the exact same product inside!

So needing to send it out as soon as possible with no other posts around, I decided to let them charge me as they like… just this one time.

Oh well, at least buyer 1 received item #1 today.
That’s right, the one charged with a cheaper postage rate!

Someone explain this to me… because I don’t get it.

Since I promised to blog, I’m just chilling out to Something for Kate (my favourite band) as writing this post…

I’ve been listing on eBay again. I’ve sold a few now (not many, only a few) since this tragic little experience… (the first part of the experience anyway). Out of the 11 items, 2 didn’t sell, which is alright. But now that I’ve worked out how to sell properly, the main concern is the amount it is going for. I mean sure, before all this, I was worried about whether or not I’d LOSE money AND the item from going on eBay, but now I know how it works, I’m wondering HOW to make the most out of my item.

Why do similar items get more than others?

The exact same item I listed received half as much as the other item listed, and my item was listed as “MINT” (because it was seriously mint!) whereas the other was “GOOD CONDITION”. AND my postage fee cost $2 less than the other one!!! What?!

Sigh. Sometimes I just don’t get it. Just unlucky I guess. Nonetheless, that item sold.

So anyway, today I had 2 listings end at almost the same time. A CD with one bid for 99c and a DVD with no bids at $5. Maybe I expected a little too much for it?

Anyhow. I was to meet Andrew today but when he arrived, the auction ended for the CD, still on 99c. The buyer was prompt and paid via paypal (and it did ask if I wanted to accept payment or not… charging 50c for it) so I got the buyer’s details and sent it off.

Came back with not much hope for the DVD… another one gone to the “Unsold” pile definitely… right?

Opened eBay (for the 100000th time today): Sold to the lovely gentleman living in Melbourne!

So relieved and happy as I was going to relist it for a lower price. Plus the relisting fees and final fees and so on. I’m just waiting for payment now, checking eBay/paypal for another 100000 times.

With this, I wonder, am I overdoing it?

I’ve been selling on eBay for a while now because we’re moving and I’ve dug up a lot of old stuff I don’t find value to anymore… They are mainly CDs and DVDs, but there are tops and stuff also.

So, I’ve found many CDs and DVDs (my mum and) I want to get rid of for a small fraction of the price I paid (I seriously don’t expect that much), got on my boyfriend’s account feeling a little nervous because I have no idea how much postage would cost, if anyone would bid on it, if the CDs are too old and unpopular, the normal thoughts, etcetera.

Despite doubts, I went ahead and listed a DVD anyway. Since I was inexperienced, I listed it for $5, with $4 postage fee. First time round, didn’t sell, and I lost 50c for insertion fee and 10c for buyitnow fee. But it said I am entitled to relist for free. So I did.

Second time round, I sold it.

YAY! That’s GREAT!

Wait.

I checked paypal (electronic banking thing) and it charged me 61c for accepting the payment of $9. Ok…

Next thing, I went to post office, the lady at the post charged me $4 and $1 for the padded bag. Damn, I only charged the guy $4 *reluctantly digs $1 from own pocket*

Not good.

Then I logged onto eBay and checked invoices. Charged 26c for final fees (a percentage on what I sold it for excluding postage fees).

Skim skim skim…

Uh… what’s that? They charged me 50c for relisting and 10c for buyitnow…!!! O_O; Wasn’t I entitled to relist… for free? Apparently, yes… but we have to pay when we sell it. Ok!

So all up, I made $1.93 from that DVD.

Not good!
Not good at all!!! =(

So the next thing I asked myself is: Is it worth it to list other items and risk the insertion fee, or not?

I looked around my very messy room, stacks and stacks of packed boxes with my name on them, the remaining things I had to pack, the pile of stuff I don’t want to keep but don’t want to throw out… GOD, it’s like a flea market in here!

AND so! I logged onto eBay once again with my 2nd item, wording my listing very carefully with the EXACT description, starting the bid off with 99c (so the listing fee would be only 30c) for the DVD, $4 for postage and making the duration of the auction 7 days; not too long, not too short. Surely someone would buy this for more than $2…? Because if not, that means a lost, and I don’t just mean the DVD!

Day 1 to 5: No bids, No watchers, few views.

Don’t despair, I tell myself.

Day 6: Wow, one bid. $5. WHAT? Very happy by this stage, I l didn’t know how it got to this amount with only one bid… Nor did I care. I was just happy it’s selling!

Last day, ending price: $10.50.

I’m in heaven!!! =] =] =] This is so great! They paid via paypal and the it didn’t ask if I wanted to accept or decline, which meant one thing: I wasn’t charged for receiving payment! WOO! I’m on the moon…!

Until the button worded “Mark as sent” ruined my mood. Great, postage time.

Hoping it won’t cost an arm and a leg, I hopped into the post office and got served, this time by a different lady.

Lady: This will cost $1 to send.
Me: Huh?
Lady: $1 to send and $1 for the padded bag, that’s $2 thanks.

And I handed her $2 with a smile on my face.

Then I worked out why… Apparently, the other lady charged the DVD as a PARCEL, not LARGE LETTER.

Damn.  I got ripped first time ’round!!!

And with this newfound ‘knowledge’ (I should say?), I’ve continued to list my items, checking obsessively for watchers/bidders, posting these LETTERS like crazy (the local post office is very busy, and making sure I was served by the same lady…).

One problem.

I’m now a newbie for combining postage rates.