Ebay Rant

[kilee]

Sometimes I really just want to ask a buyer if they're sane. I have had so many problem buyers lately.
I have 3 pending investigations w/ paypal right now from insane buyers.
1&2- Both people claiming they didn't receive their items. I have tracking info that shows delivery of both. The one being delivered 3 weeks ago. Anyhow- the 1 peron has since been suspended from ebay- and I'm going to bet she's not checking in w/ paypal. She won't answer her emails either. In both instances neither buyer contacted me first. Then when I got their complaints I emailed them their tracking info- showing their items delivered. I asked them both to please let me know where the error might be and check w/ their post offices. I had quite a few lately that show delivered, but in reality a slip was given for them to get their items. Not a problem- they were all solved. Anyhow, she hasn't responded. Now the other one is new to ebay and refuses to look up the tracking info. Says she doesn't understand the tracking number, and I need "to prove she got it".... only she won't even look at the tracking info or check w/ her post office- because it's not "her job".
Then I have another one that is upset because she bought pants that she says are almost 1/2 of an inch off from the advertised measurement. Okay--size and brand are listed too. I also state that no returns for the fit of an item. As well as all measurements are approximate's. I feel that within 1/2 inch is suitable. I am not a seamstress and I'm not giving to the tenth measurements. Pretty soon I'm gonna have to stop giving measurements out. She can return her item but she's going to pay more for shipping then her refund will be.
I've also had a women who got pants that she said I listed them as an 8 and they were a 6. Well, I offered her a full refund due to my error but she needed to post mark the item within 5 days. She agreed. Never got the pants or another email. I actually forgot. Until the pants arrived last week- which was 8 weeks after the fact!! 8 weeks!! I am considering putting return to sender on the package and refusing it.
Enough of my rant- I'm glad my winter clothing season is winding down. I'll get a break until the summer/spring items start selling in February pretty soon. Which is a good thing- because I'm ready to kill one of these buyers.

 

[DianeV]

Clothing buyers on ebay are some of the worst. As long as you have the confirmation numbers showing delivery and give them to paypal (they should have asked for them) you are fine with those. As far as the 1/2" measurements you are right, you should not have to measure in exact tenths and you stated they are approximate and really how does 1/2" effect anything? Sounds like buyers remorse

 

[HaleyB]

I hear you. I once had a buyer claim she never got her item. I sent her the tracking number. She still said she never got it. She sent me email about once an hour. Really, my box would have 20 emails from her every day. Then she started contacting my bidders and complaining about me to them. I think ebay has made it harder to get contact info on bidders now, this was several years ago. Anyway she was such a pain I gave up on ebay for ages.

I also had one new bidder that gave me a run for my money. She bid on some expensive, heavy items. Then after she won she said the shipping was too high and she didn't want it. I had to explain that the bid was binding... She did pay me after about 10 days. The very next day she started asking me where her package was. Yes that's right lady, I sent it Fed ex next morning for your $10 shipping charge... she even got my phone number (she got my name and address and then used 411, now my number is unlisted...) and started to call me twice a day, just to let me know the package was not there yet. I had an estimated delivery date, which I had told her many times. I guess she figured she didn't need to call me once she had it because one day they stopped and I have never heard from her again.

 

[dreams91]

Some people are insane. I don't think they should allow the newbies on ebay anymore. They seem to be the biggest problem for me.

I sold a wedding dress on ebay. Well, I happened to be traveling the direction in which she lived. I had a conference at a hotel. She sent her fiance to pick it up. He gripped the whole time. Didn't even offer to pay me extra for going out of my way so she could have the dress quicker than it would have been to ship. Nope, instead I have to deal with his insane butt asking a million questions. Argh.

Feel your pain. Good luck.

 

[HayGan]

I feel your pain! I had a buyer e-mail me an extremely long e-mail how they thought my shipping was too high. They based their shipping estimate on a weight 7 lbs less than the item actually weighed! Needless to say I replied with a nice e-mail explaining my shipping and then I quickly blocked them from bidding. She was one of those people you could just tell was going to cause problems from beginning to end!

There have been other minor problems lately but overall I've been happy with my results and buyers! Believe it or not out of almost 100 transactions in the past 2 months, I haven't had any non-paying bidders! Woo Hoo!!!

 

[Kelsie]

Some people are insane. I don't think they should allow the newbies on ebay anymore. They seem to be the biggest problem for me.

I'm afraid a few new sellers/buyers and feelings like this are the reason I am having such a difficult time getting bids on my items.

How does someone get started on e-bay? I can't build a good reputation until people buy BUT I can't seem to get them to bid because I'm new.

 

[CajunDixie]

I'm afraid a few new sellers/buyers and feelings like this are the reason I am having such a difficult time getting bids on my items.

How does someone get started on e-bay? I can't build a good reputation until people buy BUT I can't seem to get them to bid because I'm new.

I'd recommend you start as a buyer on Ebay to build your feedback. Many people just look at your feedback count and the %. I doubt every buyer actually clicks the feedback score to see if how many feedbacks were as buyer vs. as seller.

 

[HayGan]

I'd recommend you start as a buyer on Ebay to build your feedback. Many people just look at your feedback count and the %. I doubt every buyer actually clicks the feedback score to see if how many feedbacks were as buyer vs. as seller.

I agree! I would definately build up your rating buy buying and then move to selling. I refuse to buy from anyone new to ebay! Too many problems and cases of fraud that start with newbie sellers.

 

[robinb]

I agree! I would definately build up your rating buy buying and then move to selling. I refuse to buy from anyone new to ebay! Too many problems and cases of fraud that start with newbie sellers.

It's always worth it to check a seller's feedback and the kinds of auctions that they have won as a buyer. Many times they participate in the feedback pumping auctions like buying recipes for $1 or other schemes. IMO, that makes those sellers untrustworthy.

 

[Kelsie]

Sorry I highjacked your thread Kilee

I did buy from e-bay years ago but the account was no longer valid because the e-mail address I used was from a very old provider and I no longer had access to it so, I needed to start a new one. I don't think I will buy to get the feedback but thanks for the suggestion.

Thankfully some people still trust 'newbies' and I will just need to be patient. Everyone was new once and I would hate to think what would have happened if everyone felt new sellers could not be trusted. I've sold 2 items, shipped one and am waiting on payment for the other. I also have bids on a couple of things that will sell.


I know my feedback will be good on these and that should help.

Thanks for the feedback everyone.

 

[dreams91]

Sorry I highjacked your thread Kilee

I did buy from e-bay years ago but the account was no longer valid because the e-mail address I used was from a very old provider and I no longer had access to it so, I needed to start a new one. I don't think I will buy to get the feedback but thanks for the suggestion.


Thanks for the feedback everyone.

If you go on ebay live, they will help you out with your old ID. I just did that last night. Explained that I didn't have the old e-mail anymore. They helped me get my old ID back.

 

[cruisnfamily]

Not that this has anything to do with your rant but I was just surfing on ebay and found this auction:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4800827050&ssPageName=ADME:B:EF:US:1

I think that's so sweet of the seller and I hope she doesn't get taken advantage of! There are plenty of wonderful sellers out there!

 

[jenimay]

I've had some terrible experiencess as a buyer lately, but had one as a seeler that I thought was odd. I had 2 auctions that were the exact same(boys size 13 columbia snow boots). A lady with twins did buy it now for both auctions. I put shipping as $9 priority for both (they were heavy boots). She pays me $7.xx for shipping stating they would fit in a priority flat rate box. I told her that the one I had, they wouldn't fit, but when I went to the post office I would check to see if they would fit in the other. I really did think it would, but worth a shot. Anyway, of course they didn't fit, and told her I would mail them out parcel post for $8.xx and wouldn're require any additional money. I did tell her it isn't good policy to change the shipping amount without asking the seller first. I never did hear back and never got any feedback. I didn't leave her feedback either.
I swear sometimes I wonder what people are thinking. I've actually quit ebay for awhile(both buying and selling). I need a break from the insanity
Jeni

 

[MrsPete]

Sellers can be nutty too. I just had a terrible auction: Auction ended on Friday; it was Monday before I could get a Money Order -- sent it out the same day. 46 days (and many emails, and many excuses, and several flat-out lies) later I finally received my package.

I emailed the seller ahead of time and let him know I'd be leaving negative feedback. He says he understands why I'm doing that, then he turns around and leaves me negative feedback too, saying that I complain too much! (I repeat: 46 days)

Days later he offers to "mutually withdraw feedback". Yeah, right. I can see through that scam: He knows very good and well that I didn't do anything wrong, but he hit me with a negative in hopes that I'd be desperate to get rid of it and I'd withdraw his well-earned negative. Too bad for him, 'cause I don't care; I'm only a buyer, and feedback doesn't matter so much to me.

 

[MrsPete]

I did tell her it isn't good policy to change the shipping amount without asking the seller first . . . I swear sometimes I wonder what people are thinking.

I don't think there's anything wrong with ASKING a question, but whether you like the answer or not, if you've committed, you have to finish the auction.

For example, a couple months ago I bought a pair of children's jeans -- one pair of jeans -- and the shipping came to $13. I thought it was wrong, so I emailed the seller. Turns out she'd done something wrong and was very apologetic. I don't think she had any malicious intentions; she just made a mistake. If I hadn't asked, I'd be out about $9.

 

[pplasky]

Tired of hearing sellers complain. Buyers have problems with sellers as well. While I try to pay right away, it does not seem that all sellers are in such a hurry to send the items out in a timely fashion. I would never think of buying clothes unless I was very sure it was going to fit, but for those who do, they should be retunable(unless they were so cheap, it would be better to donate them). It is a two way street, and unfortunately sellers get stuck sometimes too.

 

[robinb]

Tired of hearing sellers complain. Buyers have problems with sellers as well. While I try to pay right away, it does not seem that all sellers are in such a hurry to send the items out in a timely fashion. I would never think of buying clothes unless I was very sure it was going to fit, but for those who do, they should be retunable(unless they were so cheap, it would be better to donate them). It is a two way street, and unfortunately sellers get stuck sometimes too.

ITA with this. Sorry, kilee ... I rarely buy from someone who has a NO RETURNS policy such as yours. I see returns as a cost of doing business and allowing returns good customer service. I would say that 30% of the things I have bought on eBay in the past couple years have been misrepresented in one way or another. I am far more choosy now on who I buy from.

FWIW, I occasionally sell on eBay but the lion's share of my sales are on Amazon and we are required to accept returns (for any reason) within 7 days of receipt. The buyer pays for return postage.

 

[Chicago526]

ITA with this. Sorry, kilee ... I rarely buy from someone who has a NO RETURNS policy such as yours. I see returns as a cost of doing business and allowing returns good customer service. I would say that 30% of the things I have bought on eBay in the past couple years have been misrepresented in one way or another. I am far more choosy now on who I buy from.

FWIW, I occasionally sell on eBay but the lion's share of my sales are on Amazon and we are required to accept returns (for any reason) within 7 days of receipt. The buyer pays for return postage.

I have a no return policy on all my items, clothing or otherwise. I just don't want to deal with the hassle. I also put in my listings that I am happy to answer any questions regarding condition, quality, fit, BUT they need to ask BEFORE they bid. I do make sure to include in my listings as full a description as possible, multiple pictures, and list any and all imperfections and/or damage (although I don't list items that aren't in tip-top shape to begin with). The buyer knows exactly what they are getting, and again are encouraged to contact me with questions. If someone doesn't bid on my item due to my no return policy, that's fine with me, they are free to look for other sellers that are willing to take the time and effort to process returns. For me, I'll risk making a little less money, returns are just not worth my time, and if I don't sell something, I just donate it to get the tax write-off.

 

[kilee]

As for returning clothing. The average item only sells for $3-4. Then ships for maybe $5.00. In the end it would cost the buyer more to return the item than they're going to get as a refund. I'm not going to be out money because someone thought an item would fit. Every auction (including kids) has the sizes, brands, and measurements. I am not going to be out money because someone doesn't like something in person, or didn't take the time to make sure it would fit w/ all the info provided.
As for sellers being a problem. I agree w/ that too. I buy and sell on ebay. I've ran into quite a few.
I know that for shipping- I don't go to the post office everyday. I put right in my auctions I'll try to ship within 5 days. However, I will only guarantee to ship within 10. There are weeks like last week I was so overloaded w/ work I only shipped one day. Then I had a lot of people pay late Tuesday night for their weekend auctions. Well, I didn't ship Wed-Sat due to being out of town and such. Then yesterday DS has a stomach bug- they didn't get out. They are going today. BUT a week can go by pretty quick.
My policies may lose some bidders, but I have a very low unsold #, so it can't be too much of a problem.

 

[robinb]

As for returning clothing. The average item only sells for $3-4. Then ships for maybe $5.00. In the end it would cost the buyer more to return the item than they're going to get as a refund. I'm not going to be out money because someone thought an item would fit. Every auction (including kids) has the sizes, brands, and measurements. I am not going to be out money because someone doesn't like something in person, or didn't take the time to make sure it would fit w/ all the info provided.

Oh, I would not refund shipping and I would require the buyer to pay for shipping in return. I would also get my final value fees back. You would be out the listing fee.

Can you really make anything selling things for $3 - $4?!?! Doing eBay for a $3 item sure sounds like a lot of work to me.