posted on September 2, 2000 07:31:20 PM
hi all. i'm new to this game and i'd like to get off to a good start. in all of my current auctions i have a statement saying that i will cancel bids from those with negative feedback (meaning non-paying bidders, not those that just had communication issues or problems as a seller). i put this in because i already had one problem on my first auction ever. i was wondering if any of you had the experience where a statement like this actually served to ATTRACT non-paying bidders just to mess with the seller. i have only had to cancel one bid so far, but i am going to be putting up other auctions soon and don't want to cause problems for myself. thanks.
posted on September 2, 2000 07:50:12 PM
Jenniphant -
It probably hurts more than it helps. I have a long TOS, but I don't bother to check FB on all bidders and cancel bids ... who has the time?
State very POSITIVELY what your expectations are and what you will do FOR the buyer in shipping and stuff.
posted on September 2, 2000 08:18:34 PM
Deadbeats come in all kinds of feedback, both positive and negative. unless you have some sort of "perishable" item that decreases quickly in value if not sold right away, such that a deadbeat would be painful, I'd stick with a more positive approach in my auction listings. Most people still pay, so why emphasize the negative minority?
I doubt that saying what you did will particularly attract negative feedback people to haunt your auctions (there aren't that many of them, and most of them won't find your auction anyway, and even if some do, most of them won't bother to hassle you).
However, I do know that too-negative a listing will scare off legitimate buyers (who wants to hassle with a grouchy seller), so i'd err on the side of positive.
You can always cancel a bid on an individual basis if you so desire, but I would make it an exception basis only.
posted on September 2, 2000 08:29:35 PM
I always try to give the buyer the benefit of the doubt and try to make the sale as pleasant as possible for them. I know when I am looking to buy something and the seller has more rules and regulations than the IRS I run for the hills. You can see trouble coming a mile away. People much rather do business with someone who seems freindly and enjoys what they are doing. Negativity seems to feed on its self.
posted on September 2, 2000 08:38:05 PM
From the experienced:
Stop worrying about it. Don't prejudge your bidders, especially before the auction ends. It's just not worth the stress. It accomplishes nothing.
I never ever do the eBay detective thing and investigate my bidders. I let all auctions run their normal course. I send everyone the same EOA and let the chips fall where they may. I've completed transactions with -3's where the feedback read "is a 10 year old kid" to successful conclusion.
I have no TOS. Nothing threatening at all. I don't demand payment within some silly and impossible deadline. I'm not out to change eBay or teach anyone a lesson of any type.
I don't care if you respond to my EOA. I don't care if you take a month to mail payment. My message is simple: "Send me money someday and I'll cheerfully send you your item."
In my experience, most bidders do follow common sense. Most respond to the EOA. A good percentage of payments arrive within a week. The next major wave is within the next week. Weeks three and four usually bring in the straglers.
After a month, I send out a "Have You Forgotten?" email. No threats or bull attached. Most folks respond with apologies and send the money. Yes, they just got busy and forgot.
Most of the problems I read with buyers here on the board are from sellers who do not subscribe to the above. People who brag here that after 10 days they return peoples checks and other stupid business decisions.
In fact, I will boldly say that most uncompleted transactions involve the sellers impatience and unwillingness to deal with normal people.
I will agree that some categories are worse than others. I have dealt in all kinds of collector categories but avoid trendy junk, electronics and things that kids seem to be lured to. It's part of my business plan. It's what makes it work.
The results? Over 500 transactions, 4 deadbeats.
Tom in NJ "I won't rest until all the junk in America has been shipped to a good home"
[ edited by Model_Citizen on Sep 2, 2000 08:40 PM ]
posted on September 2, 2000 09:40:46 PM
wow. model citizen, i don't think i could ever be as laid back as you are with your sales policy. don't you lose a lot in ebay's fees? i admit now that i shouldn't expect the worst from buyers, but i don't think i could ever be as patient as you are. part of me wants to say "good for you" and the other part of me says "are you nuts?". i guess if you can still turn a profit with that approach, then buyers must be more reliable than i have come to gather in these message boards....
posted on September 2, 2000 10:02:37 PM
I often sell items that attract a younger bidder, often young men with low and sometimes negative feedback. I've found that taking the laid back approach works very well with this type of bidder....most often they are college age kids who do want their item, but don't really understand how Ebay works and just need a little positive reinforcement.
When I suspect that I have a younger, more inexperienced winning bidder and I don't hear from them within a couple days after my EOA, I'll send an extremely non-threatening e-mail along the lines of, "hey man, how ya doin? You won my auction but I haven't heard from you, do you still want it? If you've sent payment, cool, if not, let me know and if you've changed your mind I'll just re-list it. Have a great day and thanks for bidding blah blah blah......
Well, knock wood, for some reason that has turned out to be a great way for me to get these guys on my side and they 9 times out of 10 send an apologetic e-mail right away (most people do have a conscience and want to do the right thing I think!) and I have excellent luck finishing the deal in less than two weeks.
So, being relaxed about getting paid often pays well! That's my two cents for ya. Oh, also I think the new bidders who have gotten a neg feel bad about it and are anxious to clear their name....
posted on September 2, 2000 10:06:04 PM
Oh, and I don't have any TOS except I state my shipping and handling fees in my auction, and in my EOA notice ask that the winner sends me their shipping address so I can have their order ready to be shipped. And that's all.
posted on September 2, 2000 10:32:47 PM
jenniphant - These boards are a great place to learn and discuss issues regarding internet auctions. But my experience tels me this boards seem to attract only the horror stories of problem deals and problem sellers. Most ebay buyers are hard working, honest people; who are just trying to find great items. Provide that and you will be a success. I wish you luck.......
posted on September 2, 2000 11:04:20 PM
Look at their history, if it seem like someone just having fun or bidding on multiples of the same item to cover their bases I might cancel their bid. Canceling just because they have a negative could be jumping the gun.
Threatening terms in your auction is a BAD idea in my opinion. Those warnings will make the serious buyers feel uncomfortable, and will have no effect on the prank buyers.
posted on September 3, 2000 05:22:16 AM
jenniphant -
My TOS has a link to it from the top of the page, reminding bidders to "Read the Boring Business Stuff" before they bid. It's a reminder that I expect business-like behavior.
It's a mix of firm and friendly, stating that I don't charge handling fees (if I ever have anything that needs super-duper packing I'll have the cost in the auction), I mail by whatever method the buyer wants, I won't refund unless the item is badly misrepresented, and if it's not insured you won't get a refund.
I also specify that I DO file FVF and leave negatives when warranted
posted on September 3, 2000 05:32:58 AMmodel_citizen,
"Most of the problems I read with buyers here on the board are from sellers who do not subscribe to the above. People who brag here that after 10 days they return peoples checks and other stupid business decisions".
"In fact, I will boldly say That most uncompleted transactions involve the sellers impatience and unwillingness to deal with normal people".
RighT on the money. Treat buyers like adults and they act like adults. Treat them to a load of threats and conditions and they'll often just walk away, probably thinking "Wow, weird. What a nazi". Or some such thing.
posted on September 3, 2000 05:44:40 AM
It's unfortunate that you had this experience right off the bat. But
don't let it get you into an adversarial position toward all buyers.
As Networker suggested, sometimes when you read these forums, you may
get the idea that it's a battlefield. Not true!
I would not add any warnings to the tos.
posted on September 3, 2000 05:59:41 AM
99% of ebay buyers are just great...I never report anyone most come around. I just move on to the next profit. Focuse on getting your items up and moving Good luck to you.
posted on September 3, 2000 06:58:16 AM
Yup, I'm laid back... and realistic! Remember, this IS retail. And it is a business, so strategize. Treat it like a business and leave emotion out of it. Stress is everywhere in real life. Choose not to find more of it here.
To answer your question, no I don't lose a lot of fees. Note in my original post, I've done over 500 transactions and have had 4 deadbeats. Not even worth filing for!
A few strategies. Physical stores budget for pilferage in their business plan. The eBay equivalent of this is a combination of deadbeat bidders, and that occasional lost package or "buyer from hell". Plan for it. It's unrealistic to believe that 100% of your auctions will sell and the deals will go flawlessly.
Define WHAT you want to sell. Search all the hobbies you've had, your past business experiences or what wholesale stuff you have access to. Avoid the trendy "instant collectibles" like Beenies and Pokeman, kid attracting markets like baseball cards and CDs or fraud inducing categories like electronics. The folks here can help you identify categories with more than the normal deadbeat patterns. "Sell what you know".
Define your price range. I've decided to sell items under $50, with an occasional winner going way over that! My reasoning is that there is less fraud on the lower numbers and people tend to complain less than with high end items. I wish to spread my risk over many transactions rather than have all my eggs in one basket. I'd rather do 10 $50 transactions and lose one of them than have 1 $500 transaction go south!
Spend your time on activities that will generate additional sales and profit. There is no profit in being "eBay Detective" and checking out every bidder. I believe I've covered that in my previous post. Spend this time listing auction!
Plan for your "buyers from hell" and dispose of these situations quickly. They are not worth your time. They are few and far between, but you will come across the occasional "Idiot from Mars".
There is another thread here where a seller is very angry over a $9.99 transaction. Send them the darn $9.99 and be done with it! Your time and emotional well being are worth more than $10. There is no winning and no possible profit here! Let them win and move forward.
Your business plan may start with your financial goal. "I wish to clear $200 a week". Then define your average sale (mine is between $12-17) and the profit of that sale (75%). Subtract a category for eBay fees, computer costs, shipping supplies and other business expenses. Subtract a category for "shrinkage".. these are your deadbeats and other "cyber-shoplifters".
Then add in the listing / sales ratio. I figure mine at about 60%. Taking into account all the above, you then can say "I need to list 50 auctions a week to make my financial goals". At that point you have a business plan and managable goals! I work best when I know where I'm at and what I have to do!
Hope this helps...
Tom in NJ "I won't rest until all the junk in America has been shipped to a good home"
[ edited by Model_Citizen on Sep 3, 2000 07:09 AM ]
