posted on April 5, 2013 08:52:07 PM new
Besides the pouring rain today, it seems that we are in the midst of one of those runs of things not going right.
We sold a chandelier 2 weeks ago. When we listed it, it worked fine. Before we packed it we tested it again. It worked fine as we worked our way around the lamp checking each socket, then... nothing. Refund $425.
We sold a tray last week and my partner shipped a very similar, but wrong tray. Then discovered it was a mixup from 2 months ago with another listing. Our fault, Refund $35.
Sold some new/old stock parts a few weeks ago. Have sold these for a year now with no problems. Buyer emails and says the new/old stock is not "new" and wants to return them. We bought them from an upholstery supplier that went out of business last year. Yes, they are new/old stock. Refund $22.
Sold a set of flatware to a buyer. We verified the pattern through 2 different sources including Replacements. I get an email today from buyer stating that the pattern is not what we say it is and does not match her set. She wants to return them. Refund will be $90.
The first was just bad luck and nothing can be done. I actually feel fortunate that we tested the lamp before packing, as it would have cost us a fortune in shipping only to have it returned with a very unhappy buyer.
The new/old stock parts were definitely a very picky buyer. I looked at their history and found they return a lot. Truly an abuser of the Item Not As Described policy. I even contacted another seller to see what their experience was, and they didn't have too many kind words to share.
The tray, completely our fault. We told the person to keep the tray and refunded their purchase. Terrible loss, but it happens.
The flatware however is really perplexing to me. I always measure everything we sell ourselves and noticed that even my measurements matched exact to Replacements.com. We verified the pattern with Replacements and another site. It is the same brand. I have not seen National (the brand) make anything even close to this style. I suspect that either the buyer doesn't have what she thinks she has, or... is doing a switcheroo. I guess we'll see.
It is just odd that we have had such a strange run of refunds lately. Most frustrating are the returns where we are losing money on the shipping. Feels like we are working backwards right now. Just venting.
posted on April 6, 2013 06:19:37 AM new
Wait till you hear my experience -
-I have posted here I was scammed of 2 pieces of gold jewelry by a Russian woman,I got my $$ back from the insurance co,so no loss.
-I shipped an item to Australia,it took 30 days to arrive,he negged me.
-I sold several items to an Aussie buyer,she burnt it down looking for powder stones and found none,she was livid,negged me 3 times for 3 items.
-I shipped an item to California,Ebay said this item would take 4 days to arrive,but it did not,so I refunded her payment.Then 30 days later,it arrived,I sent her a Paypal invoice and she would not pay,so I resent,she Neg me for harrassing her,Ebay would not remove her neg.
I AM NO LONGER A TOP RATED SELLER!
Then-A German buyer bought a small item ,then NEG me as he could find this item in Germany for 25 cents without paying high postage fee in German,he called it 'ABOSLUTE GARBAGE ' in German.
I asked him to revise his feedback,he admitted his English is not good and misread item description,but ignore my request for feedback revision.
-A Russian buyer emailed me yesterday -she has not received her item from 3 months ago,I refunded her payment.
Yesterday ,it is 3 for 1 deal day-
UK buyer said item arrive damaged,I know it cant be,so I asked her to show me a picture,so far no response.
US buyer claimed item is not as described,she is returning the items for full refund,thats fine by me,
But at this point,I WOULD NOT DARE TO CHARGE HER RESTOCKING FEE LEST SHE WOULD NEG ME.
Another US buyer claimed she bought 3 items and received 2 items and an empty box.
I never receive a notice from Ebay for the third item,and the empty box is not from me,I am shipping her third item today,hoping she will not neg me for the empty box which is not mine!
posted on April 6, 2013 06:17:20 PM new
Sorry about the rain Shag! Just remember in the immortal words of Annie :
The sun'll come out
Tomorrow
Bet your bottom dollar
That tomorrow
There'll be sun!
Just thinkin' about
Tomorrow
Clears away the cobwebs,
And the sorrow
'Til there's none!
When I'm stuck a day
That's gray,
And lonely,
I just stick out my chin
And Grin,
And Say,
Oh
The sun'll come out
Tomorrow
So ya gotta hang on
'Til tomorrow
Come what may
Tomorrow!
Tomorrow!
I love ya
Tomorrow!
You're always
A day
A way!
posted on April 6, 2013 07:24:30 PM new
The Uk buyer showed me multiple pictures of the broken item,I dont see where it is broken,but I refunded her in full.
Thats what Ebay is all about !
posted on April 7, 2013 01:45:47 AM new
I'm going to listen to neglus and wait for tomorrow.
But I've got some issues as well. My husband took early retirement at the beginning of the year. Once we found out how much our insurance - life - health etc is going to cost it - I could see money was going to be tighter than I had hope. But my ebay business would make it OK.
NOW it seems I can't sell anything. I've taken low ball offers and they won't even pay.
Had chair returned and had to refund $250 - 1st time ever anyone returned furniture to me.
We're now trying to spent 2 weeks a month on the other side of the state. This should really help my business as all my merchandise is here.
Last week my assistant said she wouldn't be listing for me for awhile (maybe never again)
So neglus, could you sing that song a littler louder!! And I need one of those little funny faces too. LOL
posted on April 13, 2013 01:41:01 PM new
I sold an expensive book (Olympics) last month, was getting ready to ship it when the buyer backed out. I'm sure she found a cheaper copy somewhere, but gee, when is a contract a contract?!
posted on April 14, 2013 05:48:04 PM new
Had to share these back & forth emails from a buyer. Buyer had bought an item from me previously:
"Can you change your shipping for $9.50"
My response:
Hi, if you do a BIN, wait for an invoice from me & I will change the shipping to $9.50. It will cost more than that to ship it to AZ from NJ. Thanks,
Next from buyer
I buy from you before and you charge me $9.50 and know you have another item for sale and you charge also $9.50 only this item you charge 9.50
Me
Hi, I do not know what you are talking about. You bought a xxx from me. It has already shipped. It cost $11.25 to ship it to you & this item weighs more, so what is the question?? Thanks
Next
Sorry i mean why for this item ###### you charge more for shipping .Thank you i gut my violin
SIGH....(the item was a sculpture of a violin, I don't think he/she gutted it)
[ edited by merrie on Apr 14, 2013 05:48 PM ]
posted on April 15, 2013 07:41:28 AM new
I would refer them to the post office website and encourage them to enter in weights and dimensions so they can see how shipping is charged.
posted on April 15, 2013 04:06:16 PM new
At 6:10am we sold an item. At about 9:30am we printed the shipping label, packed the item, and around 10am dropped the package at the post office. Around 10:30am we receive an email from the buyer requesting to cancel the transaction because they no longer need it. A newbie at that! I emailed them and told them that we had already shipped the item. If you look at my email history it clearly shows that we received the postage purchase email notification before we received the buyers request to cancel.
posted on April 15, 2013 05:15:04 PM new
Sorry to hear that,talk about abusive buyers,does he know he can refuse the package and it will come back to you?
posted on April 15, 2013 06:45:06 PM new
probably will, however eBay will not require me to issue a refund if tracking shows it was refused, especially after he emailed me attempting to cancel it after we shipped it.
posted on April 15, 2013 09:18:36 PM new
Sold a doll, still in package from the 70s. Just before the auction ended buyer requested I cancel her bids because she just lost her job. It was too late for any bid cancellation. I looked up her history. 5 minutes before she sent me the email she purchased the exact same doll. After 5 days I filed NP. She emailed her brother will buy the doll. I knew thre was going to be problems, but what could I do. She paid. I shipped. She says doll was smelly, etc. wants to return. I say, even though item states, no returns, I will refund only if doll is in the box, still attached, etc. Doll received today, bindings that held her to cardboard, cut. No longer not removed from box.
posted on April 16, 2013 07:15:51 AM new
Whenever possible I always avoid the problems by going along with canceling a transaction.
I had a Russian contact me about an item. Wanted a quote for shipping to Russia. I told them I didn't ship to Russia. They pleaded. I reviewed their feedback and decided to give them a quote. Quote was about $115. It was large.
They emailed me back that even though the shipping was expensive, they really wanted the item and would submit an offer. They did and I accepted it. Sent them an invoice... and then nothing. No contact, no cancellation request, nothing.
They essentially removed the listing for 10 days and wasted my time.
Yet, I can't give other sellers any warning of their activities.
Whenever I have a situation where a buyer was extremely difficult and they already left positive feedback, I will leave the following: "ok". I figure that is as negative as I can get without drawing attention. If sellers look at our other feedback left they will notice the distinction.
posted on April 16, 2013 07:56:56 AM new
I thing we all know that cancellations will be treated like a return by eBay and they will favor the buyer. Haven't listed anything recently does eBay stick the seller with return shipping?
posted on April 16, 2013 09:13:09 AM new
I dont think neither Paypal nor Ebay force sellers to pickup the return shipping,but there is a feature now on Ebay to expedite return,seller may opt into the program where the buyer can print return shipping label paid by the seller.
Wonder how many sellers sign up?
Ebay is now expecting us to behave like Bestbuy,Macy,Tiffany,14 days return,upload shipping within 24 hours,pay for return shipping and no negative feedback,unforunately,after all these years,we are still small sellers,no one get rich selling on EBAY.
posted on April 16, 2013 04:45:12 PM new
Just had a buyer make an offer, then immediately retract it. Then they made an offer for less.
My first reaction was to block them, but instead raised the Auto Accept Price. If they really want it, they will have to pay more for it. Not going to play games with these fools.
[ edited by shagmidmod on Apr 16, 2013 04:54 PM ]
