posted on July 18, 2001 11:59:25 AM new
Is it just me or are sellers getting crankier all the time? I try to treat my customers with respect and try to make the sale go as easy as possible but this one leaves something to be desired.
"This toy was seldom used by my TODDLER, so its in good condition, but it is AS-IS. Non-smoking home. If you're looking for new, BUY new!
Shipping $8.00.
PayPal and BidPay preferred. I no longer accept Billpoint. The ONLY other form of payment I'll accept is US POSTAL MONEY ORDERS!NO unregistered Ebay Users. NO bidders with less than 10 feedback. YOUR BID WILL BE CANCELLED. I reserve the right to end auction(s) early. I am NOT responsible for ANY items lost or damaged en route. Post feedback. IF YOU CAN'T COMPLY WITH THESE CONDITIONS, DON'T BID!"
posted on July 18, 2001 12:17:12 PM newIF YOU CAN'T COMPLY WITH THESE CONDITIONS, DON'T BID!
ALRIGHTY, THEN! I WON'T!
Geez, take a nap with your toddler once in a while and chill out. (Not you, KatieDoodle, but this seller.)
YES, deadbeats and problem sales can be frustrating, but they are part of online auctions. We all know it goes with the territory and we should have procedures in place to deal with most contingencies. I think a seller should project as calm and professional an image as possible in their TOS. Come here or to another board to vent and scream, don't do it to me in your auction description.
IF YOU CAN'T COMPORT YOURSELF IN A PROFESSIONAL MANNER, DON'T SELL! (Again, not you, KatieDoodle.)
posted on July 18, 2001 12:19:04 PM new
Oh my!
I think I would just hit the back button. She said NOT to bid! Doesn't matter that I don't fit in her list that it is geared towards-- I just like a happier shopping experience.
posted on July 18, 2001 12:21:39 PM new
If selling is so traumatizing for these freaked-out sellers, I wish they would just quit the business and do something else. They give the rest of us a bad name, and most likely turn people off of eBay.
posted on July 18, 2001 12:48:36 PM new
I'm glad there are some sellers who dish it right back to the cranky buyers. This "walk all over you because I'm a buyer" attitude has to end and no better place for it to end then with sellers who don't depend on volume to turn a profit.
I'd have no beef bidding on this sellers auction. More power to her.
posted on July 18, 2001 01:09:52 PM new
This seller even has a "Hall of Shame" on the "About Me" page, listing all the deadbeats they've had to deal with. Then they whine about buyers who don't leave feedback. I wouldn't touch this person's auctions with a ten-foot bid.
posted on July 18, 2001 01:22:52 PM new
I got cranky with one guy after he sniped my auction, then decided he bid on the wrong item.
He sent an email saying he rather not buy it but he would if absolutely necessary. I told him that if I could sell it to the next highest bidder then he was off the hook, and that's what happened.
By then I wasn't too miffed with him any longer and sent him an email saying it worked out, that he was off the hook.
His reply was "ok". Not a "thanks" nor a "sorry", just "ok".
Now that rubbed me the wrong way and I mentioned it to him in one last email. "OK? Not even a thanks..."
He left me this feedback a couple of days later "This transaction was the single most inspiring moment of my adult life."
I haven't left him feedback. Should I? "The greatest non-customer so far, A+++" or perhaps "Great outlook and very understanding". Maybe "Rodney Dangerfield, look out!"
I recommend happy hands to everyone, even if I can't always abide by that advice myself.
posted on July 18, 2001 02:18:45 PM new
I have taken classes on salesmanship and a course on hypnotism and found similarities between them. One of the things they teach you is to avoid negatives. Everything must stay positive. The minute you say something like "don't like it - don't bid" what sticks in the person's mind is "okay, I won't bid."
You can try to phrase it like "if you're looking for a good deal, here it is. If you're a serious buyer, here it is." Same message but in a much more positive way.
posted on July 18, 2001 06:55:59 PM new
I think BOTH Buyers and Sellers are getting cranky. I once wrote up a very LONG TOS, and never posted it once I calmed down.
If you look at the increase of casual negatives on ebay, you will see that LOTS of people are getting cranky. I deal with perhaps 5 or 6 cranky buyers everyday.
posted on July 19, 2001 01:29:41 AM new
This seller even has a "Hall of Shame" on the "About Me" page, listing all the deadbeats they've had to deal with. Then they whine about buyers who don't leave feedback. I wouldn't touch this person's auctions with a ten-foot bid.
I have no idea who this seller is, but my response to this post it that if a person follows just basic common courtesy, there would be no reason to be afraid to bid on this person's auction. First of all, you are not going to be listed as a deadbeat if you pay. Something a lot of bidders seem to think they don't have to do lately. Second, if you leave feedback after the transaction is completed, which you should anyway, there is absolutely nothing to worry about. This person may have worded this a little more nicely, but obviously they are trying to get a point across. There are WAY to many bidders out there right now that have absolutely no intention of either paying or if they do pay, of leaving feedback. I really like the new eBay feature that allows you to see how many feedbacks someone has left. I've been checking this out, and you'd be amazed at how many people just don't bother with feedback at all. I bet they'd be the first ones to write though if they didn't get their feedback.
posted on July 19, 2001 04:43:33 AM new
Take note Ebay sellers: I refuse to bid on the following auctions:
1)No shipping/handling price stated; 2)Reserve auctions; and 3)Overly negative/punitive statements in TOS.
posted on July 19, 2001 04:44:48 AM new
Since I am not a deadbeat bidder, I know these different variations of "cranky TOS" don't apply to me. But what makes me think twice about bidding is how a cranky seller is going to deal with me if there are problems after the payment is made...like slow delivery, item not as described, etc. Is the seller going to be cranky then? Cranky TOS represents a lack of customer service skills and that is a red flag to me.
Unless of course, the seller has a completely VHTF rare mint unique you-must-see L@@K WOW vintage retro item!
Gerald
"Oh but it's so hard to live by the rules/I never could and still never do."
posted on July 19, 2001 05:24:22 AM new
I must admit I'm getting cranky this week. Seems to be nutcase week on ebay. Or at least I'll-send-an-email-rather-than-just-read-the-description week.
posted on July 19, 2001 09:44:37 AM new
I agree with quickdraw. Knowing the type of buyer that I am, if I see a cranky TOS, it doesn't bother me. I know that I always ahve payment in the mail within 24 hours, and I know that, unless the item was completely misrepresented, that I'm responsible for my purchases, like them or not. So, I like the cranky TOS, cause fewer buyers, = lower prices
posted on July 19, 2001 10:06:17 AM new
I wouldn't market my items the way this seller does. But I wouldn't pass on her auctions either.
We've had threads here about buyers not reading TOS.
We've had threads here about leaving bad feedback. And sellers who don't leave bad feedback are very often accused of being cowards, not doing their part, etc.
This seller makes her TOS very clear. And to add to her feedback, she's even added a Hall of Shame to her Me Page.
She's probably a very conscientious person who just goes a bit ballistic when others conduct their lives in a sloppy manner. She is probably losing some bidders though, and that's a shame.
posted on July 19, 2001 10:53:43 AM new
I was selling pretty good there for quite awhile. Then I actually did find myself getting cranky, because I was still waiting for payment on a few auctions, even after 3 weeks had passed.
I then decided to take a break from ebay, because it wasn't that much fun anymore. So I did some bidding, bought a few things, etc.
Then I decided to put something up for sale, and the winning bidder never came through and his contact info was BULL_ _ IT. Couldn't contact him via phone and I think he started declining my e-mails, because the delivery receipts stopped coming after awhile.
SO......I do have some decent stuff to auction off, but will wait maybe till next month, so I can once again "chill out".
Anyway, sorry I've gotten off the subject here, but I totally avoid sellers with anything negative in their description, or delivery seems just too confusing to figure out, even if I e-mail them.
Remember, you DON'T HAVE TO BID if you don't want to.
posted on July 19, 2001 03:06:24 PM new
I've spent the last four and a half years as a seller on ebay and have always maintained a professional and courteous manner. But... it's starting to slip - and I feel no shame. Here's why: In the last two months I have dealt with more deadbeats, slow-payers, bounced email addresses and just plain clods than ever experienced previously. I am tired of the same lame excuses. I am tired of filing FVFs and then dragging out the process for a refund. I am tired of impolite one-liners such as "How much?" - no hello, no thank you, no name, no address. I am tired of requesting confirmation of EOA notice within 3 business days and not receiving any. Tired of asking for shipping address and not getting one. Tired of messages telling me payment will be late but it's on the way - no apologies. Tired of leaving positive feedback first and not receiving any back. Tired of giving away a few freebies (related to item buyer purchased and of little value to me) and not receiving a thank you or even a feedback (never again!). Tired of buyers with very high feedback who behave like infants. Tired of ridiculously low bids on quality antiques. Tired of eBay's increased fees and policies. Tired of eBay. Yup, I'm getting cranky and feel I've earned the right to be that way. Nope, I don't write my TOS any different than I ever did but I'm giving it some serious thought. I'm tired ... and "I'm not going to take it anymore". Flame me if you like. After the last few months of eBay's new breed of buyers, I can take anything...
posted on July 19, 2001 03:37:51 PM new
I have to agree with antiquefreak. The first year on ebay was great, not one deadbeat bidder. Nowadays, a large percentage does not confirm their high bid even when requested to do so (politely)and a large percentage does not pay but I see them bidding on other people's auctions. When you have to send numerous emails requesting payment and then go through all of ebay's bull to collect the refund, it makes ebay a hassle. I don't mind necessary work but uneccessary work gets my goat. My new policy is, you don't pay - I block your bids on all future auctions. I have a life other than sitting at this terminal and banging away at keys to try and get some deadbeat to honor their obligation. I applaude the one seller's hall of shame.
posted on July 19, 2001 04:27:45 PM new
"I like the cranky TOS, cause fewer buyers, = lower prices."
Very astute observation, cin131. This is exactly why using a cranky TOS is how sellers can shoot themselves in the foot. I can't imagine this seller's attitude improving as her final prices drop and more items go unsold.
I also seriously doubt that such a harsh TOS will deter the deadbeats - it'll probably have about as much impact on them as it would be to ward off a grizzly bear with a crucifix and holy water.
posted on July 19, 2001 07:35:23 PM new
Buyers are definitely getting more rude, and like I said in a thread a couple months back, I did indeed institute a TOS that was very negative, but professional. My intent was to make it as negative and long as possible to ward off losers, not just deadbeats. So far-ZERO deadbeats. LOSERS-Three. At least that is a decline from previous months.
The bidding is hard to measure since Spring and Summer are my slowest months anyway, so there is a natural decline on some items, but I took off the negative TOS this last week and bidding results have not changed. As they say, proof is in the pudding. I recommend the negative TOS to everyone.
posted on July 19, 2001 08:17:13 PM new
I just ran into a cranky seller. I did not receive any end of auction notice from her (I performed 3 Find/searches to make sure I didn't miss it). I sent payment through Paypal as the auction states and added shipping as stated.
After one week, I hear nothing from seller, so I send an email asking if she received Paypal. She writes in caps (equivalent of screaming) that the payment cleared on 7/10, but I did not send HER and end of auction email. All of my shipping info was on the Paypal invoice.
I am wondering if she is trying to use this as an excuse not to ship since the item was well below cost. In reviewing her feedback through VRANE, I see several comments that she is psycho.
As a seller, I would be absolutely thrilled if someone Paypaled me immediately.
posted on July 19, 2001 09:35:51 PM new
In response to:
" am wondering if she is trying to use this as an excuse not to ship since the item was well below cost. In reviewing her feedback through VRANE, I see several comments that she is psycho."
Dear Cassiescloset,
Please don't take this wrong but I am thinking you could have avoided this situation if you would have reviewed her feedback before bidding.
And yes, you are probably right, she was probably mad that it went so low and was hoping if she ignored you you would forget and she could relist it. This is a trend that has been growing.
posted on July 19, 2001 11:48:09 PM new
I am getting cranky also, and decided last week to take a break. Fedex has been really slow delivering my packages and I am getting umpteen emails a day from people wanting to know where their items are. They were mailed when I said they were, I can do nothing but send them the tracking numbers. I guess some of them expected that I should have hand delivered them? I can truthfully say that right now, I do not even care. I am sick of the questions I get from bidders, when what they want to know is stated right in the auction. I am tired of fighting dishonest sellers who send me junk and expect me to accept it, left a couple of negs in the last few weeks, the lies they posted in my feedback were unreal.
antiquefreak, I feel exactly as you do. The worst thing is when you go out of your way to do something for someone else and do not even get a thank you or positive feedback. I am just tired of people in general. Heather
posted on July 20, 2001 11:30:24 AM new
Cranky or mean buyers can go elsewhere. Its not worth the headache for anyone that makes money on volume. I sent a Payment Received e-mail one tim saying that I will ship in a few days. He asks me why it wasn't shipped, it had already been paid for, etc. I tell him I had to work that weekend at my full-time job. Buyer says, I work too, so what? Buyer got a refund instead.
