eBay is NOT a store (small rant)

[ohiominnie]

I'm a her and it's ok. It's been a very long night. I should go to bed.

oops!
Yeah, me too....hence the punchy, sarcastic post.
You make good points in your OP!

 

[WatchinCaptKangaroo]

oops!
Yeah, me too....hence the punchy, sarcastic post.
You make good points in your OP!

Hehe. I didn't think it was sarcastic

And thank you!

 

[Cindy B]

I agree. We sell old used computers for parts. We put in the description non working and then you email me to tell me to complain that the laptop doesn't work.. HELLO! NON WORKING FOR PARTS!

We are not a computer store. We sell laptops/laptop parts, computer parts and hard to find pieces that maybe were broken, or hard to find. We don't do tech support (my DH does that enough at home). We do as is on used parts--if you thought it would fit/work and you thought wrong--well, thats where you should research and ask lots and lots of questions.

My new toys are giving us a problem as well. People aren't reading the descriptions to see that the pieces are inside other pieces (the manufacturer packaged it that way).

I use Ebay as a fun supplemental income when I'm not working in the summer and December. IT is a place where I get rid of things that I have in my basement.

 

[bicker]

Today, the vast majority of ebay sellers are businesses, either big or small.

However, either (1) that is a problem that should be fixed, or (2) folks buying from "businesses" on eBay should realize that businesses are selling on eBay solely to capitalize on the advantageous seller-friendly environment eBay offers, and therefore buyers should expect to be treated as if the item was being sold by an individual, in the true spirit of eBay.

Anyone who purchases from a business on eBay who expects that business to operate like a normal online retailier is deluding themselves. If they operated like a normal online retailier, they'd sell product like a normal online retailier. If they do sell product like a normal online retailier, then think about why you're not buying from them that way.

[And I'm not talking about companies that have their own site within eBay (like Disney) because the OP isn't talking about those companies either.]

I have wondered how many people searching this way, that have no experience as to what eBay is all about, go as far as to purchase something thinking it is a regualr retail outlet on the web just like any other.

Why would anyone send money to, or give CC information to, anyone on the Internet, without first learning at least that much about the person the money/information is being provided to? It's just plain irresponsible to abrogate personal responsibility for making good purchasing decisions, based on adequate information, like that.

If you cannot learn enough about a seller to feel confident in their products and service, then do not buy from them, regardless of how good the price is. Otherwise, please accept responsibility for the risk that you're taking.

 

[bicker]

Since when did "customer service" become a dirty word?

Customer service is a premium element of the purchase of a product. Putting eBay aside, for a moment, even in the regular, commercial economy, buyers have been choosing low price over customer service, in alarmingly increasing numbers, for the last twenty years. So, in essence, customer service became a dirty word when buyers realized that they could save money by buying products from companies willing to skimp on some elements of the purchase. If you've ever chosen to buy from a retailer based on price, without regard to the differential between the service provided by different retailers, then you've contributed to this situation. Even if you have not, the vast majority of the consumer marketplace has, and has imposed this disturbing situation on all of us.

I don't understand how sellers do not treat their customers as they themselves would want to be treated.

Go back and read the OP: "When I sell on eBay I use it to get rid of stuff I don't want. If I don't want it now I certainly don't want it back because you decide you don't want it after it gets to you." Given that: I don't understand why buyers don't treat the people they buy from as they themselves would want to be treated, when they're holding a garage sale.

I don't understand sellers who feel it is not worth their time to negotiate a return or partial refund to make a buyer happy.

Again, a garage sale is intended not to foster a repeat business, but rather to come to a win-win proposition, in the moment. The whole point of eBay is for buyer and seller to treat each other as peers. That eliminates the typical consumer advantage that buyers have in the commercial marketplace. In return, buyers get a lower price than they would have in the commercial marketplace.

I don't understand sellers who seem to view buyers who may have a problem with an item as scammers and scumbags first and honest people last.

There is more than enough evidence to support the advice that folks using eBay should beware of both buyers and sellers who are "scammers and scumbags" -- even those with allegedly good "ratings". Without the protections normally afforded by a normal commercial transaction, both buyers and sellers had better "hope for the best, but prepare for the worst."

... to the good of all of eBay.

Sorry, but I'm utterly mystified by this statement.

Just to make things clear ... I don't expect sellers to roll over and refund for buyer's remorse or that the buyer didn't read the description properly

I don't think it is reasonable to expect that regular commercial businesses will typically do so either. While some might do so, to foster good will, that comes at a price, and for companies trying to offer the lowest possible price, it isn't appropriate for them to cover the costs of buyer's remorse.


Full Disclosure: I'm not a regular seller on eBay. I've sold two things, both were sets of furniture that we were replacing. Again, garage sale: Come take it away, and no, I'm not interested in taking any returns, since I already would have purchased new furniture.

 

[robinb]

If you've ever chosen to buy from a retailer based on price, without regard to the differential between the service provided by different retailers, then you've contributed to this situation. Even if you have not, the vast majority of the consumer marketplace has, and has imposed this disturbing situation on all of us.

It's interesting that you brought this up. I the past I have bought from a retailer on price alone. I have also bought from a retailer on quality and customer service alone. I have recently become choosier on which retailer I purchase from IRL. I always check refund policies to see if I feel they are fair and I don't shop at Wal*Mart anymore for a variety of reasons. So, I am trying to walk the walk and talk the talk.

Go back and read the OP: "When I sell on eBay I use it to get rid of stuff I don't want. If I don't want it now I certainly don't want it back because you decide you don't want it after it gets to you." Given that: I don't understand why buyers don't treat the people they buy from as they themselves would want to be treated, when they're holding a garage sale.

I don't disagree that some people view eBay as a garage sale to dump their stuff that they don't want. One man's trash is another's treasure. However, at a real garage sale I can examine in the item more carefully. I can pick it up, check for chips or rips. I can plug in the electronic item to make sure it works. And I can do all of this for a fraction of what I would pay on eBay.

Again, a garage sale is intended not to foster a repeat business, but rather to come to a win-win proposition, in the moment.

{snip}

I don't understand sellers who treat newbies to eBay as people who can have a few selfish dimes squeezed out of them instead of someone who can be encouraged to become a frequent buyer to the good of all of eBay.

Sorry, but I'm utterly mystified by this statement.

I quoted my whole quote and one of yours to clarify my point. I believe that this thread came from a previous thread where a poster's 7 year old son accidentally bought an eBay item through a seller's store with a Buy It Now. The poster had just signed up for eBay that morning and was obviously very, very new with a Feed Back of 0. The seller tried to hold her feet to the fire so he could keep his sale and now the poster says she will never buy anything on eBay ever again. She has a bad taste in her mouth over the whole thing. While holding the buyer to her bid is best for that individual seller, it is not the best for eBay and all the other sellers that will miss out on selling their items to the poster.

I want to touch one more time on the garage sale argument. I do think there are a lot of small sellers out there selling items that are laying around their house in a garage-sale fashion. Especially here on the DIS where selling things on eBay is a time honored way to raise a bit of extra cash for a vacation. But I see more and more people who make a business out of it. They buy stuff with the intention to re-sell. Everything from buying new electronics in huge lots to garage saleing (the real kind ) for their specialty items. Don't even get me started on the liquidators who sell all kinds of junk under the sun and all of it "as-is". And it's those people, the people who are running a business, who have the poorest customer service. They just can't be bothered.

Honestly, I think the "garage sale eBayer" has more compassion for their buyers since they are closer to a buyer than a seller. Even the OP said this:

I guess I've been lucky in my selling. I've only had one person ask for a shipping refund (I charge cost = $0.25 for printing, paper, tape and time) because a VHS tape didn't work when it got to her. It was tested before listing and it worked fine and I offered her a full refund of shipping both ways and her purchase price if she sent it back and it didn't work here with the caviet that she pays for shipping back to her if it did work. I was fully ready to accept it was damaged in transit. Needless to say she wasn't happy and disappeared. No feedback either. Now if it really didn't work wouldn't she be happy to send it back to me so I could stick it in my VCR and see that it doesn't work?

IMO, that was a perfectly reasonable and fair response to a buyer's complaint .

Now for my "Full Disclosure". I have been selling on eBay since 1999. I am a combination of a garage sale seller (stuff around my house), stuff I buy for resale (books and high end clothes) and extra sports tickets I can't use. I have filed a NPB only twice in that time, but I don't sell a lot of stuff .... maybe 30-40 items total this year. The majority of my sales are on Amazon where I sell used books. Those Amazon sales pay for my Disney trips.

 

[Chicago526]

I agree, and don't allow returns on items I sell, either (and that's spelled out in my listings). I just don't want to deal with all the hassel of refunding and re-listing. If I lose bidders because they don't like my policy, oh well! I encourage questions and list full descriptions and include several pictures of the item. If you can't figure out if you want the item based on that, then I don't want you bidding anyway.

 

[~Kathie]

Just to lighten the mood a bit.......thought you might enjoy this ebay song.

Weird Al's Ebay Song

 

[bicker]

I have recently become choosier on which retailer I purchase from IRL.

It's especially difficult since the quality retailers have to charge SO much more, because there are so few people willing to do this. The low-price retailers benefit, so much, from their high volume.

However, at a real garage sale I can examine in the item more carefully.

Which is an argument against buying off eBay. By the same token, what you incur in terms of higher risk may be worth it for the convenience of buying online. You'll have to make that judgement on a case-by-case basis.

While holding the buyer to her bid is best for that individual seller, it is not the best for eBay and all the other sellers that will miss out on selling their items to the poster.

I think that's really a problem for eBay to address, but doing so may cause more harm than good, chasing away potential sellers by imposing too many rules. There are already a lot of complaints from sellers about eBay's rules, including those along the lines of, "I might as well just open my own online store..."

 

[Andrea]

we sell on ebay some of our stuff we dont want anymore

and i just right in the ad sorry no refunds or exchanges.

 

[jekajekalynn]

I guess I've been lucky on Ebay..

I really enjoy it, both from a buyers perspective since I can get the dolls I want to collect for VERY low prices in most cases, and from a sellers persective selling some of my old stuff.


When it comes to buying , I NEVER buy from anyone one with a 98% feedback rating or lower, and I always read the item through... For me this can mean the difference for forking out money for a MIB doll or a NRFB doll.


As far as selling goes , I just make sure to respond to bidders questions, I offer NO returns/refunds to ward away scam artists, I always get shipping conformation. Also unless it's something special where I know that I can get more bidders by offering it as an option, I never ship internationally. This rule I bended a few weeks ago when I sold a extremly rare doll of mine to a lady in Australia.

Doing these things over the years has earned me 120 feedbacks with a 100 percent feedback rating.

 

[cseca]

I second (or third, fourth, etc.) the sub board for ebay related discussion...
I want to learn a lot from you guys.

 

[Donna]

We have asked for an ebay board awhile ago and for some reason, it wasn't allowed. Moderators? Is there a specific reason why we can't have a board for ebaying so that other DIS budgeters don't have to wade through our posts?