Question
For some reason, I've been on a buying spree on eBay over the last month. I'm usually the seller, so I forget just how BAD most sellers are.
So here is my list of things that eBay sellers do that really tick me off
1 - No shipping/handling costs listed. No calculator. No mention at all of shipping costs in the auction. (sub-irk: when you write and ask, they get all pissy about it).
2 - No emails. They don't tell you they've been paid, or if they've shipped. (sub-irk #1: you wait a week, and when you write and ask they tell you they shipped it today. sub-irk#2: you wait a week and when you write they apologize and tell you they forgot to ship it but will soon. sub-irk#3: they tell you they will ship it - next week - with no explanation about the delay).
3 - Shipping. I don't mind paying a little for handling, but when I pay $5 to ship something that weighs under 1 lb, at least ship it priority and not just stick it in an unpadded envelope with a $.60 stamp. Or worse, paying $20 for something heavy and then waiting 2 weeks because they spent $2 and shipped it "media mail". (sub-irk: regardless of what you charge, tell me HOW you plan on shipping it)
4 - Combine shipping. I hate sellers that sell small items that cost less than $1 to actually ship, charge $9.95 shipping, and refuse to give any breaks on quantity.
5 - eBay store owners that seem to have no idea how to use their stores efficiently. Like the seller running 50 BIN auctions for the same item, but no multiple quantity store items for the same thing. So if I want 12 of them, I have to buy 12 auctions - cause there's no actual store inventory for the item. Why even have the store?
6 - Buyers that don't respond to questions. (Sub-irk: they respond, but don't actually answer your question).
7 - Poor packaging. They charge enough to put your item in a bought office depot box, packed with peanuts and bubble wrap, and shipped FedX. What you get is a flimsy handmade box with no stuffing at all, shipped media mail.
8 - Backorders. How is an auction item EVER backordered? I remember there used to be an actual eBay rule about this, and it was a policy infraction to not have an item "in hand". Can't find that rule any more...
Anything tick you off?
Answer
Originally Posted by Tradeguy
8 - Backorders. How is an auction item EVER backordered? I remember there used to be an actual eBay rule about this, and it was a policy infraction to not have an item "in hand". Can't find that rule any more...
http://pages.ebay.com/help/policies/pre-sale.html
"eBay permits Pre-sale listings only on a limited basis. The seller must guarantee that the item will be available for shipping within 30 days from the date of purchase (i.e., the day the listing ends or the date the item is purchased from a store front listing). The seller must also clearly indicate within the listing the fact that the item is a pre-sale item with a delivery date that indicates the item will be shipped by the 30th day from the end date of the listing."
Answer
All of the above.
Which is why I now ask so many questions before I bid.
Of course 75% of those questions go unanswered, which is why I don't buy much anymore.
Answer
Thanks for that
Course, the items I bought were not listed as "pre-sale"....
Answer
I've had some awful experiences as a buyer lately as well. The majority of the ones I've run into don't send payment received or shipping notifications. I am in an "item not as described dispute" with a seller who NEVER RESPONDED to me when I wrote him repeatedly that he'd sent me the wrong and damaged items. He hasn't even responded to the PayPal complaint.
I just don't get it. I LOVE my repeat customers. I wouldn't buy anything else from this guy now. If he was the last person on eBay selling what I wanted, I'd do without.
Now that I've whined, I have had a really good experience with a seller (uh, just got my third order and am about to pay for my 4th). She is a great communicator, her packaging is professional, and her items rock!
Beth
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Wow. I just got an email. I requested a partial refund from the seller . . . and got it. They never responded to PayPal . . . so I guess I just sorta won by default?
Beth
Answer
Originally Posted by iron_chick
I've had some awful experiences as a buyer lately as well. The majority of the ones I've run into don't send payment received or shipping notifications.
Beth
Beth, I think that many many sellers do not have automated or bulk received / shipping notification service since it cost money.
I frankly don't think that it's important for casual sellers.
Since eBay opened up, as buyer I have prolly ran into less than 10 sellers who actually give me notifications lol.
Oh btw, things from buyers that annoy me to death is still emailing me if items are shipped or not, AFTER I sent them payment received, item shipped.
Answer
Oh btw, things from buyers that annoy me to death is still emailing me if items are shipped or not, AFTER I sent them payment received, item shipped.
That always is one of those "scratch your head moments." I send out an e-mail that says I have received their payment and their item has been shipped. I will get a polite e-mail back from them that says "be sure and let me know when it has been shipped." DUH!
As a buyer, I had a bunch of jewelry sent to me in a box. Unfortunately the box was only half full and the jewelry just rattled around in there during the trip. When I opened the box and paired all the earrings, etc. up, I found that probably 25% of them had been damaged. I am not a happy camper right now and still waiting to hear from the seller but giving them the benefit of the doubt that they might have been on vacation last week.
Answer
I think the bottom line is that buying on eBay has become somewhat of a dice roll with so many clueless sellers now active. If some of them would take the time to participate in forums like this they might find their sales increasing.
As someone who believes that a sale is a wonderful opportunity to turn a one time buyer into someone who watches your auctions, I think that avoiding the pitfalls and shabby practices Tradeguy points out helps the bottom line.
Many of us here multiple repeat customers, so a few seconds sending out a "shipped" and "thank you" notice does return dividends. I also answer all questions, even the inane ones or those which protest my starting price is too high. I am amazed at how many people just want a little personal attention.
There are some items I sell that I only make a few dollars on, but that does not stop me from paying attention to customer requests. In the end I would rather have the bid or BIN and always respond rather than to save a few seconds.
A good example is a person who grumbled that my niche DVD could be bought at Best Buy for $5 less than my BIN. I wrote back that it was also part of a complete 6 volume set which could not be found anywhere else but on eBay and they ended up buying the set - for $95!
To me that just proves that complaints are opportunities in disguise.
Larry
Answer
Originally Posted by Sai-Jin
Beth, I think that many many sellers do not have automated or bulk received / shipping notification service since it cost money.
I frankly don't think that it's important for casual sellers.
Since eBay opened up, as buyer I have prolly ran into less than 10 sellers who actually give me notifications lol.
I'm talking about buying from powersellers with stores, who I know get Selling Manager for free, who don't send out shipping notifications.
Even when I was selling half a dozen items a year, I still sent them out, manually.