posted on February 6, 2005 06:16:47 PM new
Shag...Congratulations on warning the rest of the sellers about this whacko. It's a sterling example of how the feedback forum SHOULD be used. I know you're setting yourself up for a retaliatory neg, and I salute you for having the courage to nail him. If he returns the neg, wear it as a badge of honor.
A $75.00 solid state device will always blow first to protect a 25 cent fuse ~ Murphy's Law
posted on February 6, 2005 06:25:57 PM newPoppycock, Sah! I say: POPPYCOCK!
Supporting or resisting euthansia for youth in Asia ia a MORALITY decision...
Prez Snort-Snort's gutting of the VA is a MORALITY decision...
Participation (or NON-participation) in feeBay's feeble & corrupted FEEDBACK FORUM is NOT a MORALITY ISSUE, but rather a BUSINESS DECISION...
"Who could have possibly envisioned an erection — an election in Iraq at this point in history?" Prez.Jim Beam, at the White House, Washington, D.C., Jan. 10, 2005
posted on February 7, 2005 01:46:03 PM new
Whoa! Small world, Shag. As a Portlander myself, I've been to your store and LOVED it! Where are you moving to in April? I don't want to lose one of the few cool retro stores in Portland.
posted on February 7, 2005 02:07:35 PM new
HOLLYWOOD!!!!
We love Alberta Streets atmosphere. Love Alberta's Last Thursdays, especially during the summer. Where else can you see kids sporting mohawks, green hair, marching down the street playing rag time and NOLA style jazz every month? All of the fantastic artists, clowns, beatniks, all in one place. We will most definately miss being here. I love a life where I can all walks of life and you get it here day in and day out.
The Hollywood district will provide with with greater access, walk ins, visibility, functional space, and air conditioning. I was tired of roasting in the summer, though I will surely miss our bay door. We will be relocated by the first of May if all goes well, and will be located directly across the street from the Hollywood movie theater. Thanks for your kind words of encouragement. It really is nice to connect with others who appreciate our store and we will certainly miss our Alberta Street neighbors like the Tin Shed, Spank, Wild Child, and Fuel Cafe and all of our local customers. I'm talking as if we are moving across the world... it is only 3 miles. LOL.
posted on February 7, 2005 02:12:42 PM new
Cool, will have to check it out. I shop at the Trader Joe's out in Hollywood. Wish we had one here in Gresham!
"It is better to have none than to have some, but if you must have some, it is better to have few than to have many" - Ronald Reagan
posted on February 7, 2005 03:27:36 PM new
Yo! ebayvet:
Check yer PP...
"Who could have possibly envisioned an erection — an election in Iraq at this point in history?" Prez.Jim Beam, at the White House, Washington, D.C., Jan. 10, 2005
posted on February 7, 2005 03:42:16 PM new
Thanks Tom, I appreciate that! Can't wait to get the new scale, it will be nice to have something that goes above 10 pounds here.
"It is better to have none than to have some, but if you must have some, it is better to have few than to have many" - Ronald Reagan
posted on February 15, 2005 11:04:07 PM new
Hey Shag & eBay vet...Not to stray from the topic at hand, but since you're in the Portland area too, I thought I'd make sure you know about a place down on Front Ave. called Carton Service. They have super CHEAP shipping boxes! They even have surplus boxes from companies that have gone out of business, or had their boxes printed wrong (those are extra cheap), and will also BEAT U-line's prices if you tell them that's what you're comparing their rates too...And, of course, you can pick your boxes or bubble mailers up, so you save a TON of $ on shipping.
posted on February 16, 2005 06:34:28 AM new
eeeegad....what a buyer!!!
I agree with several previous comments made.
1.I suggest that your listing clearly state that if and when you refund it is for the purchase price only.
2.That hence forth you use the identify marker suggested, at $17.00 it's worth it in the long run.
3. That you state in your listing that photos may be required of a buyer to clearify a problem.
4. Require the item be returned before issuing a refund for the purchase price. (after all you have to take an itme back to Walmart to get a refund).
5.or simply state in your listings that you are not responsible for items once shipped and offer no refund unless the item that arrives is a total different time than they purchased (then offer a full refund once returned).
For the problem you now have. If you have no return policy clearly stated with limitations I'd pay the guy and get out of the agrivation. Change your policies and move on.
Recently we have had a larger than average number of buyers state they didn't receive their item...we then pull up the tracking numbers and find the item was delivered. We provide them the tracking number and they vanish. It has become apparent to us that a higher number of buyers are getting their items and hoping that the buyer won't be able to produce the tracking number to prove it (misplaced it etc...) and they'll push for a refund. I think ebay is attracting more difficult buyers than it once did. Your guy may just be one of that many. Get rid of him as soon as you can and move on.
posted on February 16, 2005 08:50:28 PM new
I disagree with the recommendation of posting a long list of policies, and stating that you don't give refunds "unless this," and "unless that," and making a point to say that you're only responsible under the rarest circumstances.
As infrequently as situations like this arise, it's unfair to make your GOOD buyers (which are 99.99% of the people perusing your auctions) read through paragraphs of catch-alls, and worst of all, it paints you as an unfriendly seller...People like to think they're buying from the average Joe, and they'll pay WAY more for items from someone who's not scaring them off with a bunch of rules.
Remember that your auction is about the BUYER...It's not about YOU (aren't I sounding preachy?...Too many eBay books this month!). Buyer's don't care what your problems are, they only care about THEIR problems, and if they think you're going to make things difficult for them, they're much less likely to bid. I, personally, NEVER buy from people who state a bunch of demands in their auctions.
If you are able to refrain from adding a bunch of rules to each auction in response to this ONE incident, you'll make much more money (since you're conveying an image of being friendly and accomodating). With the extra money you've made being nice vs. demanding, you'll have automatically covered yourself against any money you're going to lose in the rare instance that you run across one of the crazies again.
If you absolutely MUST add some of these policies, do it on your "About Me" page, so they're not in your potential buyer's face.
[ edited by mandaray3 on Feb 16, 2005 08:53 PM ]
posted on February 17, 2005 07:17:27 AM new
I agree with mandaray3. If you have a return situation, that info can be sent in a e-mail directly with the terms. They simply have no place in the auction listing. You could put them on you MY EBAY page and provide a link stating return policy. At least then you auction won't be cluttered with fine print.
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Alive in 2005
posted on February 21, 2005 10:31:43 AM new
Hey Shag, (AND ALL OF THE OTHER SELLERS OUT THERE) you may be able to EASILY have Mr. Crazy's negative comment removed from your record. I'd read in an eBay book that if a member had invalid contact info. (i.e. a fake phone number...which, I suspect, about 90% of eBayers DO since no one wants anyone to have access to their real #), then you can have any negative comment they've left for you removed from your profile. I followed up with eBay's Trust and Safety Dept. to see if this was true.
The good news is that this IS true. And, the BEST PART is that THE NEGATIVE YOU LEFT MR. CRAZY WILL STAY! Here's what they said:
Hello,
Thank you for contacting eBay, I'm happy to
answer your feedback
questions.
What you read in the book is true, if a
member is found to have invalid
contact information during the transaction
period then the negative
feedback can be removed. The transaction
period is 90 days from the end
of the auction or 30 days from when feedback
was left, whichever is
longer.
The comment you received will be completely
removed in these situations,
not just withdrawn. And, the negative
feedback you may have left for them
will not be removed or withdrawn.
We appreciate your membership in the eBay
community.
posted on February 22, 2005 06:52:37 PM new
Update: the guy has tried filing a dispute with ebay. it is quite a stupid process and I quit responding after the 2nd response because it was just a rehash of him demanding me to this and that... No mediator, no point.
Mandaray - I was just down at the old Carton Service today. Had to pick up boxes and recycled peanuts for our move this weekend. We're nuts. We are moving our store and our house on the same weekend. I'm glad we hired movers. lol.
As for the neg, oh well. I know it isn't the end of the world. My favorite thing is him calling us and "Ebay Mill". My feedback is just over 150, and we have two of us working our store. Go figure.
