posted on August 3, 2001 08:24:21 AM
What makes me less likely to bid?
Demands of payment within 10 days if seller won’t take electronic payments. I won’t
commit to something over which I have no control, like the USPS.
Negative terms of service. If you are nasty in your TOS, I would not expect any better
treatment if anything goes wrong. I am not a bad buyer, don’t expect me to be. If a clerk
in a B&M store is rude to me, I am gone also.
I will trust the seller to be reasonable if they state actual shipping and no additional
handling if I can guess what it might be from the type of item. If no shipping is listed at all I am less likely to buy, depends on when the auction closes and if I have time to ask. I am not likely to follow links to figure it out myself.
No answer to my emailed questions. Wrong answers to my questions (shipping excessive,
item is not really what I want because of condition or something). I don’t expect the seller to know what might be important to me until I ask so I will ask if there is time.
Music or other obnoxious noise.
Obnoxious wallpaper.
Slow loading pictures.
AUCTION MANAGERS or other shopping carts required. I do not do Andale.
Keyword spamming in title or description, usually even if it is an item I want.
Links to see pictures or descriptions. I especially hate seeing links to TOS. If the seller can’t get it all on the auction page, I don’t want to bother reading it either.
Bad feedback that I feel is probably justified from reading the response and from other feedback from left and received by both parties.
I avoid B&M stores or garage sales that have so much clutter that I am distracted from what I want, same goes for cluttered auction listings. Stuff like animated cartoons, noise, pictures not related to the item, and busy wall paper. Keep it simple and I am more likely to get as far as the bidding section.
Concerning the original post...
"400mb cd loaded with tons of information and programs!!!"
This was probably done to keyword spam so the auction would show up in searches for
any of the words in the description.
posted on August 3, 2001 09:13:22 AM
"doormat: I have to ask... what your reasoning is for not bidding on an item where Andale is hosting the image??
Exec Girl,
First, I want to apologize. 99% of the time I have always agreed with your postings. This time I didn't. I only meant this discussion to be a constructive argument for and against but everyone else saw it as a personal attack and for that I am sorry as certainly not my intent!!
Now - I can answer the Andale one for you. Andale has a reputation for collecting buyers e-mail addy's so there are a ton of people who will NOT bid on Andale auctions or bid but will not complete the check out and will just e-mail the seller direct.
To understand the Andale situations - you only need read the andale.com help boards etc. and you will see what is going on.
GOOD DAY TO YOU!
[ edited by ypayretail on Aug 3, 2001 09:14 AM ]
posted on August 3, 2001 09:55:31 AMYPayRetail: Thanks for your post. I too have said things that were probably taken the wrong way as well, and for that I apologize. I'm certainly not trying to disrupt this thread, I'm just trying to figure out the reasons behind some of these posts. I think if we all knew the reasons for bidders not bidding on certain auctions, it would be beneficial to all sellers.
I understand why bidders would not bid on an auction using Andale, or any other service where they had to go to a 3rd party's website to enter their information. I would not do that either. But Doormat's post above said that they would not bid on any auction that had PICS hosted by that service. I don't know much about Andale - but do they offer pic hosting seperately? I guess that's what I meant to ask earlier. I didn't understand why someone would not bid on an auction simply because they didn't like where they stored their pics. But if Andale's pic hosting can only be used with their shopping cart/3rd party website post-auction stuff, then I certainly understand.
posted on August 3, 2001 10:07:27 AM
Not being a seller or having any wish to be one. I can only speak from one buyer's point of view. That view, being my own.
I,m a collector. I want a Description of the item, such as height, weight, condition, & colors.
Type of Packaging used & shipping carrier, is very important to me.
All the above will tell me all I need about the seller's knowledge but, it will not earn my bid.
The picture is the least important to me. Anyone can take a picture with practice or use one taken by another.
My email to the seller and way the seller answers my questions, will make me bid.
posted on August 3, 2001 11:45:45 AM
Unless something's changed recently, Andale's picture hosting service is separate of their check out service.
The latter can be detected by reading TOS descriptions in the auction and looking for phrases about clicking on links, checking out at Andale, the word "Checkout," or such.
This is the part I will not do in general (i.e. submit information to additional third parties, be they Andale or someone else), mainly because I'm not interested in spending an additional chunk of time trying to boil down several pages of legalese (i.e. the privacy statement) into a simple determination of whether they are going to add me or sell me out to direct marketing (mailing or calling) lists (something I absolutely hate). I don't necessarily know who does and does not do this, but I have better things to do with my time than decipher lots of privacy statements, every time I bid (statements change now and then).
The one auction I mentioned before as my regretting not bidding on was actually over Andale image hosting, before I realized how to recognize this as separate from the Checkout process.
However, even the Andale image service has an issue for me: to see a full-sized image from the thumbnail presented on eBay, I'd have to activate JavaScript, something I do for only a handful of sites, Andale not included. So my decision basis is self-limited to the thumbnail in that case, which may or may not be sufficient for me to bid. But that (my decision on JS) is my choice.
Basically, I am a no-nonsense shopper. It's not that I can't deal with complexity if I have to, but rather that I prefer cutting out or avoiding complexity in favor of simplicity and honesty. The more someone or something tries to make me "stick" with excessive bells and whistles, hype, and/or direct marketing, the more likely I'll skip them or it in favor of a more straightforward and honest-looking set up. I'll try new companies when it sounds like they've got a good product and/or service, but I only "stick" with those who do. Call it "defensive shopping" if you will. I don't mind some window dressing or a seller tossing in a freebie in appreciation, and I can be something of a browser if I have the time, but when I get down to the business of making buying/bidding decisions, I want and appreciate simplicity and straight answers.
[ edited by dc9a320 on Aug 3, 2001 11:47 AM ]
posted on August 3, 2001 12:15:46 PM
I won't bid on Andale auctions because their images take far too long to load. Whenever this happens, my first thought is "it's an Andale auction". Then I look down at the bottom of my screen, I see I'm right, and I move on without ever seeing what the item looked like.
I've never gotten any further than that to have any other issues with Andale.
posted on August 3, 2001 12:37:18 PM
I was all set to make a BIN purchase the other day-$149.00. UNTIL I read that winning bidder must call an 800 #. Stopped me in my tracks!
posted on August 3, 2001 12:53:45 PM
I chimed in earlier from a sellers point of view, but I'll take it from a buyers point of view (I do buy once in a while... )
To many negs and I won't bid. I look and see if they are retalitory, and discount any that look like they are. More than about 1 or 2 % is too many for me.
High s&h will not keep me from bidding, but it sure will make me lower the amount I'm willing to spend. Even if it looks like "fee advoidance" to me, I will still bid, but at a lower level.
I try to shop the "new today" (and bookmark to snipe later) list, and if I have questions, I will ask them. Not answering, or wrong answers will keep me from bidding.
All these annoying animations, mouse cursor trails, etc. won't keep me from bidding. I don't like some of this stuff, (the mouse trails in particular)but unless someone has some code on their page that causes my computer to go spastic, I'll ignore it.
posted on August 3, 2001 01:33:15 PM
As a seller it is apparent that the majority of bidding activity takes place during the last day or so - and often the last hour - of an auction. As a buyer I often shop this way myself - ending today. Everybody wants a bargain, it seems, and many don't bid until the last moment so as not to draw the attention of other last minute shoppers to the item. If the description is inadequate, the shipping terms questionable, the picture is fuzzy, or there is any question left in my mind about the item or you - as amwell68 has pointed out - there isn't going to be any time in which to ask them. So if I have a question in my mind when viewing the auction because the seller has failed to anticipate what I need to know - I move on.
I also particularly hate descriptions like this:
INCREDIBLE necklace, 18" long GOLD tone SNAKE chain with SUPER pendant of RARE artists GODDESS SCULPTURE in EMERALD green plastic!!! GREAT CONDITION for its age!!! (not an actual listing, I made this up)
Evidentally the seller thinks I'm such an idiot I'll only read the words in all Caps. Often these will also have titles in all caps or have *L@@K* or some other gimmic at the fore - thus I have come to avoid such titled listings just in case.
Also, recently something that kept me from bidding for several weeks: the back-button-pause-to-allow-the-advertising-to-drill-their-brains. I didn't list, I didn't shop. Saved myself lots of dough.
No thanks I have been reading the whole thread with interest. As I have also been selling a bit on E-bay, I certainly have picked up a thing or two. I just started thinking the other day.. what does really make me not bid and that basically is it: The US only. Well.. and lots of negative feedback of course, but I think that everybody agrees on that. Anyway, glad to have been of help.
And Naru:
I agree with you on the shipping charge when you are an international seller. Since I ship from Europe and most of my buyers are from the US, I usually put the shipping charges to the US in the auction. Which also apply worldwide in most cases. This at least gives my buyers a rough idea of how much shipping would be if they don't live in the US.
posted on August 3, 2001 11:45:10 PM
I'm not gonna bother reading thru 5 pages...
I don't know if this has been stated (and I was pretty vocal about this a while back)...
Placement of "watermarks" and requests for "unwatermarked" pictures.
When I bid, I wanna see the item, and not have some idiot watermark obliterating portions of the picture. This is an especial Pet Peeve when I buy occasional Fantasy Artwork for my Home. It's like France putting it's name smack dab in the middle of the Mona Lisa in Red Paint.
Watermarks serve one possible "question" for a bidder like me:
1. The way you position the watermark, if it's over the item, I question what your "hiding" under the @ of your e-mail name...
Even requests for "unwatermarked" pictures often illict snide attitudes and angry responses.
What ever happened to the notion that The Customer is Always Right??
:\\\\\\\"Crystalline Sliver cannot be the target of spells or abilities.
posted on August 4, 2001 07:08:31 AM
> I wanna see the item, and not have some idiot watermark obliterating portions of the picture.<
Crys brings up a good point......what is the deal with the watermarks?
I see this alot on star photo auctions & some other things as well. Exactly what would others do with a photo of the item that you have to sell? Maybe the star photos I can understand (although right clicking and saving is still not as good as the real deal) but if I have a used 'dink' for sale what do I care about protecting my photo?
We have never obstructed a photo in any of our auctions and cannot imagine why I would want to.
It is veeery annoying to look at an auction and find the word EBAY (or anything else) plastered across the item.
posted on August 4, 2001 10:51:52 AM
MO and checks only. Too much of a pain for me.. Makes me wonder if you are hit and run too.. not very professional.
Long Winded threatening TOS.
No shipping charge listed. For certain items under certain weight etc. It is easy enough to figure without a zip code!
Don't automatically ship Priority 'cause it is easier for you and you get the box and tape for free and what do you care how much it costs to send a $5 scarf and charge me $5.50! Use your head, ship the best way according to the item. Heavier items are sometimes better to ship priority because Parcel Post is only a few cents difference so then it makes sense.
Don't give us the old "I'm not sure if it is really silk (ivory, 100 years old, etc) but the lady who sold it to me was 90 years old and her mother had it and was in china as a girl, blah blah blah.. right off the bat I start wondering if this is the old come on for someone who thinks they are getting a bargain! Hey old people buy new stuff ya know!
Give me a break. If you have a pin and are going to put it in bubble envelope (tell me that isn't going to be about 65 cents to mail!!!!) and then you charge me $2 or $3.50 to send it and the item is about $3...you can forget about my ever buying from you again! No bargain there!
When in doubt, if you want to do business on the net, get a scale... there are some cheap ones out there...for things up to ten pounds. Lets you know if it is over a pound into the next priority price, etc. you can figure shipping WITHOUT a zip code pretty well. Or at least SAY "e-mail your zip for shipping charges before bidding" if you have problem.
Give me a full description, what is it made of, what are the dimensions, etc. Don't make me guess or have to e-mail you and ask ... common sense says people want to know what they are buying and not a pig in a poke! Sometimes things look LARGE in a photo and they are miniature.. Take some time if you want to be in business on the net. There I sadi it again.. this is business.. if it is your hobby then learn how to do it right the way a business would.
posted on August 4, 2001 11:00:38 AM
P.S.
Just noticed the watermark issue. I don't do it BUT:
I spend many hours photographing my items from every angle, and my photos are professionally done and my pages load quickly.
More than ONCE I have had other people use MY photos that I cropped and framed and took out backgrounds, etc. and ..essentially they are my competition and yet they are using MY photos that I worked at! This is theft and that is why so many are doing the watermark thing. Also a lot of people download a picture (postcard, photos, etc) and then print them up and sell them! that too is theft.
E-bay will remove an auction if it is found that they are using someone elses photos but who has time to police this! I happened to find them by accident.
If someone was hiding something under that watermark you have EVERY right to your money back as false advertising and item not as pictured and described because they hid a chip or a flaw and I am sure the auction would side with you.
posted on August 4, 2001 11:02:12 AMDon't automatically ship Priority 'cause it is easier for you and you get the box and tape for free
I mainly ship Priority Mail, the only exception is Media Mail for books. If I was to offer a cheaper method than Priority Mail for my packages, I would have to (1)buy boxes and/or envelopes, (2) buy packaging tape.
I would then charge you for those special boxes or envelopes, and by the time you figure that in with your "cheaper" shipping method, you are paying just as much as you would for Priority Mail.
Makes no sense to me. Unless, of course, you expect the seller to just eat the added expenses, just so you can pay less in shipping?
And in many cases, Parcel post is only about 5¢ cheaper than Priority Mail.
posted on August 4, 2001 11:55:43 AM
Not listing the shipping amount has come up a few times... however, as a foreign seller who ships worldwide, may I point out that there are MANY shipping rates to list, and some buyers want items fast, and others want cheap, some don't care how much the shipping is as long as it gets to them, and some seem to make it a rule that the shipping should never exceed the buying price which doesn't always make sense... I have domestic rates to consider, exchange rates, air and surface shipping, insurance.... and it also makes a difference to me (in Canada) what shipping will be to New York or California - they aren't the same.... So no, I don't list shipping rates, but if someone wants to find out, they are welcome to ask what it will be before the auction ends....
posted on August 4, 2001 11:59:10 AM
My own peeves are endless descriptions filled with editorializing... "Doesn't this beautiful object remind you of the bygone yesteryears when women sat on porches and drank mint juleps....It is such a joy to even look at this item, that I thought about not selling it....the woman must have had a wonderful time wearing this item when she went out jitterbugging the night away with doughboy fiance to the tunes of Tommy Dorsey and Glen Miller at the dance palace with mirror balls twinkling in the night....." blah blah blah.....
Get to the point....
posted on August 4, 2001 01:53:49 PM
After giving it some thought there are a few things that
would make me NOT BID
.
I will not bid on any auction that will not take the EURO dollar as payment
good god people if we are ever going to be one world we need to start with one
currency.
I will never bid on a auction that was placed on a SUNDAY
What’s wrong with you sellers that’s Gods day. I think eBay should just go
black on Sunday and give the heathens some pray time..
.
I will never bid on an auction the displays the Power Sell logo...err
no wait ..I will never bid an auction DOES not display a Power Seller
Logo.....err ..wait.....I’m so confused....
.
I will never bid on an auction where the sellers name is some kind
of scrabble game....you know ....Kweenb4u....OU812.....
You cant trust sellers like this....there is hidden message here of some kind .Just old
used car salesman trick....and Im not falling for it...
.
I will never bid on an auction that has the world ORANGE in the text
because once again this is some kind JEDI mind trick...is ORANGE
a fruit or a color....?
.
I will never bid on any auction where the proceeds are going to charity
I think that charity should start at the home..and those ones the help the kids
well those are the worst....
.
EBAY ID
JUMPIN*JACK
[ edited by jumpinjacko on Aug 4, 2001 01:56 PM ]
posted on August 4, 2001 02:03:31 PM
Executive Girl,
I have to disagree with you about Priority Mail. I sell many items where its cost is fully justified, and I use it in those situations.
But I also sell many small items that weigh well under one pound. I've invested in several sizes of bubble mailers, plus other packing necessities such as tape and tissue. All of these items are tax-deductible expenses for me, but even if I did charge each and every tiny expense to my buyers, most of the time it would still be a lot less than sending the same item PM.
For example, 3 silver teaspoons in a bubble mailer wrapped individually with tissue costs 80 cents for me to mail. Add 20 cents for the cost of the mailer plus, say, 25 cents for the tape, label, etc., and it is still WAY below $3.50. An added advantage for me is that I don't have to go near the inside of the post office to mail these items. They fit right into the outgoing mailbox that I can reach from the driver's seat of my car.
I'm a buyer, too, and VERY aware of the costs of shipping. I really hate it (and will not bid) when a $5.00, 6-ounce item has a $5.00 shipping charge attached. And I hate being charged priority mail rates when first class will do nicely.
posted on August 4, 2001 02:06:45 PMI would then charge you for those special boxes or envelopes, and by the time you figure that in with your "cheaper" shipping method, you are paying just as much as you would for Priority Mail.
That is true in some cases but most certainly not all. I ship a fairly wide variety of items and even with purchasing specialty boxes and tape, it's a lot cheaper for my customers than priority.
I've seen seller's charge priority to ship a tiny lapel pin that takes a 000 bubble envelope and 44 cents postage. Total cost to a seller to buy the envelope and all, probably less than 75 cents.
posted on August 4, 2001 02:14:22 PM
Sonsie: I understand your situation totally. I am just speaking from experience, and I don't sell small items. My items generally weigh between 2-4 lbs each. I ship them all by Priority Mail. I very rarely get a buyer who asks me to ship using a cheaper method. But when they do ask, it just isn't worth it for me to go to the store and buy 1 special mailer for them. You get them at a discount I'm sure, because you buy so many at a time. I would only need 1 mailer. After buying that one mailer, they are right up to Priority Mail prices. I also feel much better shipping by Priority Mail, and I put DC on all my packages.
For ME, it doesn't make sense to ship any other way other than Priority. But for those of you selling small items weighing under 1lb I can see how shipping a different method would be beneficial to the customers.
I think buyers should just have an open mind as to why some sellers will only ship Priority Mail.
posted on August 4, 2001 05:24:26 PM
<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<HTML><HEAD>
<META content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1" http-equiv=Content-Type>
<META content="MSHTML 5.00.2722.2800" name=GENERATOR>
<STYLE></STYLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY background=D:\GlensPictures\PenBk#8.jpg bgColor=#ffffff>
<DIV><STRONG>Thank You <A
href="http://www.auctionwatch.com/view_profile.html?name=caveatvenditor"
target=_top>caveatvenditor</A><BR><BR><FONT color=#800000></STRONG><STRONG>My
comment was going to say "unprofessional" as well.<BR>I except all types of
payment from the customer.<BR>Make it easy and pleasent for the buyer, and he
will return.<BR>Unfortuantly, a large precentage still like sending
checks.<BR>That is fine, if that is what they want.<BR>But to me, it defeats the
purpose, of an on-line business.<BR>Slows everything
down.</STRONG></FONT><BR><BR><STRONG><FONT color=#000080>Another Point:<BR>Why
would business people be so concerned about the cost of doing
business.<BR>Bubble wrap, envelopes, tape and boxes.<BR>Sorry ExecutiveGirl, I
liked some of your earlier comments<BR>but that is so trivial in the real world
of business.<BR>Your profit margins are not high enough and/or you are buying to
high,<BR>selling to low.<BR>I mainly do on-line selling in the winter
months.<BR>The costs are far less on-line than off-line in the summer.<BR>I am
slowly moving more business on-line over the next five years.<BR>The costs of
doing business is extremely low.</FONT><BR><BR>Take
Care<BR>G.W.</STRONG><BR><BR><IMG align=baseline alt="" border=0 hspace=0
src="C:\Program Files\Microsoft FrontPage\clipart\clip2\ag00082_.gif"><BR><BR></DIV></BODY></HTML>
posted on August 4, 2001 08:20:07 PM
Those of you who want the cost of EVERYTHING passed onto the buyer have never run a business! THAT is built into your profit on the item.. It is not a nit picky as you get!
Next you will be charging by the hour to go to the PO, stand in line, refill your gas tank.. mopre absurdities already talked to death on e-bay boards.
Dealing with non professionl, hobby sellers is a pain! Paying big money for mailing tiny items is absurd. I am as fair as possible with everyone and I used to take it personally when all the people complained on the boards about the sellers charges..then I started buying a lot and suddenly I knew what they were talking about..NOT me...they were talking about those people who actually make money from the postage... and don't tell me some don'tI I am very aware that many have made money from the postage from me, and it really adds up... I wish I was a devious sometimes!
Out of the country is another story, I always say "e-mail with country for costs" and that can be looked up on the PO site. And UPS has a site too and so does Fed Ex.. you don't have to guess at it so much. Out of the country is not where the problem is.
NO, all of you don't fit into the category, just as I did not when I used to write scathing letters back to the complainers about how I worked.. I had to realize that I was not the one they were talking about but because I was a "seller" I felt I was lumped into the plastic baggie box fill people who also have no clue about packing..ah but that is another issue. How many things have I received that looked like people empties their trash barrel into the box! or put the item on the bottom and all the packing material on the top...like the PO or UPS are REALLY going to keep that padded side (the top) on the correct side! I have lots of "shards" if anyone needs to make some stepping stones!
I have been shipping gallery items that are fragile and one of a kind in every shape and size to every State and many countries for 12 years and I know what I am doing.. I can't say that for too many of the "gee I think I will sell at auction" people.. NO I do not charge extra for bubble wrap, peanuts, foam, heavy boxes, etc. If you want to play... you will find that you will soon be found out and people will pass over your shoddy auctions for others.
People are not stupid.. they see handling changes and they figure what the item is worth and they go elsewhere.. and the same goes for those who build it in...if you don't know how to price an item then learn!
So if you are a professional OR if you list and pack and charge like one, this is not aimed at you, you know what you are doing and you are proud to be a real business person.
OH and the smell of cigarettes is just fabulous!!!!!! it means an item has to be set outside in the sun for about a week to be cleared of the disgusting odor.. at least warn people that you do smoke so we can figure that into whether we really want a silk tablecloth that smells like an ashtray (hey I used to do two packs a day and of course never smelled a thing when I did... figured everyone was over sensitive...WHEW... was I wrong!).....
And you have to throw out the peanuts and packing materials with smoke odor because you will only pass that on to the next buyer so forget about recycling....
posted on August 4, 2001 08:49:59 PMThose of you who want the cost of EVERYTHING passed onto the buyer have never run a business! THAT is built into your profit on the item.. It is not a nit picky as you get!
If I state in my auction that I ONLY ship with USPS Priority Mail, and a buyer argues with me and wants it shipped in a special padded envelope so it can be shipped at a cheaper rate, and I have to run down to the store to buy ONE mailer, YEP.. I will most DEFINITELY charge that to the buyer.
Like I said earlier, I rarely get requests like that, and I think this whole year so far I've only had 1 person insist on shipping a cheaper method. But don't tell me that I don't know how to run a business because I pass that charge on to my buyer. I've been selling on ebay for over 3 1/2 years now and I've been very successful at what I do.
posted on August 5, 2001 04:04:25 AMIf someone was hiding something under that watermark you have EVERY right to your money back as false advertising and item not as pictured and described because they hid a chip or a flaw and I am sure the auction would side with you.
Then again, I don't wanna hassle of returning the item, the war of words, and what will stop the seller from "changing" his picture after the auction end?!
I'd rather have no watermark or else your loss is someone elses gain. And it has happened constantly, more often than you think.
Here's something to think about Sellers, from a bidder:
The difference between an unwatermarked picture and a watermarked picture?? Maybe Hundreds of Dollars from a bid of no less than a dollar at start.
:\\\\\\\"Crystalline Sliver cannot be the target of spells or abilities.
posted on August 5, 2001 05:26:28 PM
Caveatvenditor
Took the words right out of my mouth.
Sorry ExecutiveGirl
You should have a good supply of all packing materials on hand.
Buy in bulk or second runs.
The only thing that a seller has ( besides his/her product ) to sell,
is service.
The last 3 1/2 years have been an easy run compared to the next 3 1/2 years.
Buyers are realizing that all sellers are not equal.
In the long run absorbing trivial costs will pay off 10 fold in the future.
Not trying to tell you how to run your business.
Just a little friendly advise from experience.
Take it, or ignore it, as you please.
)
[ edited by jumpinjacko on Aug 4, 2001 01:56 PM ]