posted on September 22, 2000 09:28:24 AM
An earlier thread addressing an abusive buyer lead me to read the seller's feedback. I was astounded to read complaints about items being shipped in pizza and cereal boxes. Why in the world would a seller do this when USPS priority boxes are FREE? This practice only justifies a buyer's mistrust regarding "handling" fees. Seller's grabbing any old box- and in the case of cereal boxes, they're little more than heavy paper where I live- and carelessly shoving the item inside. Bad!!!
Also, I noticed that the seller's negs were all along the same lines - bad packing and overcharging on shipping. As a seller myself, it would take one Neg about overcharging on shipping to get me to rethink my pricing methods. That's a good reason to charge actual shipping. Period. If you need to pad shipping to make money on your auctions, you're doing something wrong. I don't think any reasonable buyer would object to a seller requesting $1-2 for bubble wrap on an extra-fragile item. But, hey- what do I know?
You're right of course. However, pizza boxes are good for shipping records or similar items and are strong boxes. I have used them a few times. I wouldn't want to send one out without wrapping it in plain paper first though. They'd just look too tacky.
posted on September 22, 2000 09:59:51 AM
"New" pizza boxes turned inside out are great for a group of LP's or a multi-record album when shipping special standard (book rate).
Shops will usually give me a few extra when I purchase something or sell them in the 25/35 cents range when I ask to buy a quanity.
Mailing my garbage to customers is not an option I've yet considered but new ideas is one of the reasons I keep coming to this board.
posted on September 22, 2000 10:44:04 AM
I guess there needs to be a distinction drawn between used and unused pizza boxes etc... one is OK, the other isn't! The people who pick up my recycling won't even take used pizza boxes.
I think it's OK to get creative with your packaging as long as the item gets there safe and sound (and your packing isn't offensive). A kleenex box is funny! I once shipped something small in an old check box and was careful about how I packed it - and my customer mentioned my good packing in feedback, too!
posted on September 22, 2000 10:58:12 AM
I've used old check boxes and the like before, but only on the inside of another shipping box. Shipping in a used pizza box is nonsense in my opinion, and I would neg any seller who shipped something to me in one. There is a huge difference between using a "used" box such as a check box, or even a kleenex box, and a "used" pizza box.
posted on September 22, 2000 11:01:04 AM
Yeah, the pizza box was tacky. The seller made a mistake there, no doubt. However, the seller in question has an overall good feedback rating: nearly 500 with a 99% customer satisfaction rate.
As far as "padding" the shipping, the seller's terms were plainly stated in bold lettering in the auction. Also, the vast majority of the seller's auctions started at $.01 penny. In light of the minimum bid, it's obvious the seller is trying to guarantee they don't lose money on the deal.
It's ironic that those auctions that sell for less seem to invite the worst kind of customers.
This seller made some mistakes, but I don't see any need to roast him/her alive, as commonly occurs in this forum. I'm sure any honest seller with a feedback rating of 500 will admit to making some mistakes along the line.
Since you are describing a seller's negative feedback, and it's obvious who is being discussed, I wonder if you gave the seller 24-hour notice of this thread, as prescribed in the CGs?
posted on September 22, 2000 11:36:06 AM
Regarding the seller that used the pizza boxes: he can only use the FREE boxes if he ships priority mail. That seller ships the cheapest way, he does NOT ship priority, so he cannot use those free boxes.
posted on September 22, 2000 11:40:44 AM
twinsoft - Have you even checked out this persons feedback to make sure he's not lying? Or are you just taking him at his word? Appearantly it's the latter and you seem awfully quick to defend. He does not have a 99% customer satisfaction rate. Approx. 6% of his feedbacks are less than positive. If you have read all of the posts about this seller you'll know that this seller will not post feedback until the buyer does it first and if the feedback is less than positive he retaliates with a negative. With 326 auctions in the past month and only 80 feedbacks, it doesn't take a genius to figure out that more than likely a lot of people aren't leaving feedback. Geez, I wonder why? Could it be that they are afraid of retaliatary negative feedback? Considering this persons attitude I would definitely lean towards thinking that was the case.
posted on September 22, 2000 11:52:32 AM
I have sometimes used less than "nice" boxes to quickly ship something. However nothing was crawling or ickky.
If you are going to ship on a regular basis, you need to have proper packing supplies.
A lot of sellers are very amateurish in the wy they conduct business. Most people think I am a full-time professional partly by my packaging.
posted on September 22, 2000 12:29:44 PM
I don't think there is anything wrong with recycling boxes, as long as they are clean and structurally sound. I even reuse padded envelopes, bubble wrap, and peanuts. No one has complained. It's a money saver and 'green smart'. If someone thinks I'm amateurish because I don't use a brand new box every time I parcel post, then so be it. Some people are way too fussy.
By the way I don't charge for handling, and lots of people appreciate that. I think that is why they are so understanding of my recycling.
[ edited by mzalez on Sep 22, 2000 12:30 PM ]
posted on September 22, 2000 12:41:05 PMnokternal, I took a quick look at the seller's feedback. As far as 326 feedbacks and eighty received, I think one in four customers leaving feedback is about the norm. I don't think there's any issue of fear of retaliation involved. If the seller has a rating of 500, chances are there are several thousand satisfied customers out there who didn't leave feedback either.
Feedback is one of those issues where everyone has an opinion about everybody else. I think it's everyone's right to decide what feedback is appropriate. I am a seller who doesn't leave feedback until after the customer. There are several reasons involved, but having the option to leave retaliatory negs is not one of them.
If a customer leaves a complaint in my feedback profile that I feel is unfair, I will often respond by leaving same. If the feedback is deserved, I take my stripes and thank the customer for bringing the problem to my attention. Last week I got a complaint from a customer because I overlooked their Paypal payment and shipment was delayed. I responded with an apology.
One problem is that new users, those with feedback ratings of 10 or less, don't understand the damage negative feedback causes for sellers. New users usually feel justified in leaving feedback if they think the seller looked at them cross-eyed. When those newbies get their first negative feedback, and realize it will stick with them as long as they do business at eBay. Then they usually think twice before leaving another complaint. That is right and fair in my book.
I worked hard at eBay for three years to build up a feedback rating of 3100+. I don't go out of my way to create problems for other users, and will only leave negative feedback in the most extreme cases. That sometimes includes customers who are unreasonable and leave undeserved complaints in my feedback file. This is not an issue of one user deciding what kind of feedback another user should leave. That's up to the individual. This is an issue of "think before you leave a complaint in someone else's profile." (Yes, I do think a crusty pizza box deserves a complaint!)
As for the seller in question, they need to work on their people skills and professionalism. But some of the remarks in the other thread were completely uncalled for. Do we really need to crucify this seller over shipping in a cereal box?
posted on September 22, 2000 01:15:13 PM
Take a look at the negative feedback for this seller, Twinsoft. A good portion of them are not left by "new" users. This seller uses his feedback as a retaliatory tool, he's as much as said that in the locked thread. He has every opportunity to respond to complaints in the feedback left to him, but chooses to withold his own feedback until his buyer leaves feedback, even though they have fulfilled his TOS. He even leaves negatives for buyers who leave NEUTRAL feedback. He is abusing the feedback system, and if you want to defend that, that's your business. But, that combined with his shoddy business practices paint him as a perfect poster boy for "Ebay Seller from Hell". I've no doubt that many many of his buyers have chosen to leave NO feedback rather than risk the retaliatory negatives that he gives as punishment for speaking out.
KatyD
(spelling)
[ edited by KatyD on Sep 22, 2000 01:16 PM ]
posted on September 22, 2000 01:41:37 PMamalgamated2000 - I hadn't followed the locked thread but after reading the "pizza box full of ants" bit you wrote about above I had to look at this person's feedback. Not only is that particular exchange hilarious, but if you follow the trail to the neg on the buyer's profile you'll find this:
Complaint: Item arrived safely, she's mad because I shipped it in a pizza box.. Why?
Response: maybe because it was full of ants. I have kids and pets to think about.
Follow-up: Yeah, you're right. There's nothing scarier or more dangerous than an ANT!
posted on September 22, 2000 01:41:54 PM
Eleven complaints and 472 positive comments. Excuse my math, that's about 98% satisfied customers. I agree the seller made some mistakes, but that kind of feedback record doesn't qualify him/her as a "seller from hell."
Assumptions that there are many customers who would have left complaints but feared retaliatory feedback are unfounded. As I wrote above, chances are there are several thousand customers who were happy with their purchase but neglected to leave praise.
Those of you who went through 20 pages of this seller's profile have way too much time on your hands.
posted on September 22, 2000 01:59:17 PM
Hi, again-
Sorry- didn't mean to "crucify" seller. That wasn't my point at all.
I guess I just don't understand anyone in this business who would ship an item in a used food container...
posted on September 22, 2000 02:14:31 PM
First off, pizza boxes are great for plates! Secondly, as my profits on eBay have increased, so have the quality of my shipping materials. I've learned where to go to get good free cardboard boxes, and how to better pack items. When I started selling on eBay about 6 months ago I didn't know anything about shipping, but I think I'm getting better all the time. I think you people that think I'm the "eBay seller from hell" probably don't sell too many items. If you do, you will find that anyone who sells hundreds of items a week is going to have people who are unhappy and leave negatives or neutrals. Those sellers that try to keep a perfect feedback profile are losers - they will bend over backwards and let their customers walk all over them, even if the customer was flat out wrong! I will not do this. I have issued several refunds when I felt the customer was right and I did something wrong. But I won't do it if I'm sure that I didn't do anything wrong.
posted on September 22, 2000 02:16:57 PM
You can say that he only has 1 or 2% negative feedback, but now really, isn't that excessive? Add to the that the fact that he abuses the feedback forum in every possible way. I would not be caught dead bidding on one of his auctions. This is what gives ebay a bad name.
There is a seller that people have been complaining about over on the Soapbox, he has hundreds of negatives. Sells jewelry and will not combine shipping rates, charges 4 or 5 dollars for each item then ships them in the same box. He says, "So what, read the auction, don't bid if you don't like it." He abuses feedback the same way. I used the link for the feedback site to view his negatives left. Do you have any idea how many new bidders feedback profiles he has ruined? Just because they complained? You should check it out then look and see how many of those buyers came back to ebay for more. Very, very few. We are all losing good bidders by the truckload because of crap like this, and it makes me sick. Heather
posted on September 22, 2000 02:18:49 PMTwinsoft - you're right about the feedback ratio. But if you received an item poorly packaged, left a neutral because of that and received a neg in return, would you find that reasonable?
posted on September 22, 2000 02:29:12 PM
I bend over backwards to make and keep satisfied customers- does that qualify me for "loserdom"?
Like I said earlier, I was not trying to crucify the seller- what I was saying is customers don't like having items shipped in dirty food containers.
Heather hit the nail on the head when she said a bad seller (not talking about a specific seller)- that's what I was trying to get across on the shipping charges. It just reminds me of a guitar I bought. It wouldn't tune properly, but the owner of the store said it the brigde was too high and it would be adjusted. Long story short- that wasn't the problem and the guitar was not tunable. The owner said, to my face," I put this merchandise out here and you can buy it or not." Needless to say, store is now closed.
I'm glad you are working to improve your shipping methods. Maybe your next step will be leaving a buyer feedback when he/she has promptly paid according to your TOS.
posted on September 22, 2000 02:42:54 PM
Hi, RainyBear. Yes, if that happened to me I would be somewhat upset. I have previously stated that was a mistake. I am not defending the seller, but on the other hand I wouldn't have a problem buying from him. When I look at the seller's feedback, I see overwhelming praise and a few complaints. In the last month, 83 positives and no negatives.
I disagree that a single complaint in a feedback profile "ruins" the profile, and I suggest that only the lamest users would walk away from eBay because of it. There are thousands of sellers at eBay and each one is different.
My feedback is high enough that I don't worry about individual comments; that is, if I feel they are unwarranted. For example, if the bidder complains about shipping terms that are plainly spelled out in the ad.
I sell one item at eBay that has caused me a lot of headaches. Basically, it is an informational guide, a list of links to free software available on the Web. I do not sell the software itself, that would be illegal. The ad states twice in the second paragraph that it is a list of links, etc. Many bidders fail to read the second paragraph of the ad and several have left complaints. So I have added a third paragraph, right at the top, in red lettering, to make sure no one can overlook it. A bidder would have to be blind to miss it.
It seems at eBay buyers expect sellers to draw attention to every little flaw. "Hey, everybody! I ship only once a week, so your item will probably be delayed, and you'll be pissed, so you probably want to bid on somebody else's auction. Thanks!" So what? If I complained every time a payment took three weeks to arrive, I'd be out of business.
posted on September 22, 2000 02:53:53 PM
You don't think that a zero feedback bidder who gets slammed with several negatives because they complained ruins a feedback profile? All you have to do is the feedback check for this seller, and you can see all the -1 bidders who did not come back to try again. That is shooting yourself in the foot, along with many other sellers. Hell, if that happened to me when I was brand new, I would not have come back. Many of us forget what it was like to have 0 feedback and not know what is going on. If you think this type of selling practice is good for all of us, well then you have a problem. Jacking up the shipping charge and not combining on shipping is a crappy way to run your business. JMO. Heather
posted on September 22, 2000 03:03:28 PM
Is it right for any seller to charge shipping for each sale and offer no discount for multiple items and then ship them altogether, keeping the rest of shipping charge? NO WAY IN @*%%! I just returned $13.00 to a buyer who had 4 sales I could combine and ship UPS cheaper than post office. She's the buyer and she will be back because I went the extra mile.
posted on September 22, 2000 03:19:35 PM
You're offbase quoting statistics, Twinsoft. Learn to look at the whole picture. He received 8 neutrals in the past month, every one of which he retaliated with a NEGATIVE! I pity the poor buyer who had a perfect feedback record (500+) who left a neutral commenting on this seller sending ALL 3 items in one package, but charging SEPARATE postage. THEN he left a SEPARATE NEGATIVE for each transaction. Result is 3 NEGATIVES in retaliation for her ONE NEUTRAL comment. As Julesy said, what a charmer!.
Out of roughly 259 successful auctions in the last month, ONLY 75 feedback comment have been left, that's a little better than 25% feedback left. 8 of these comments have been neutral. THAT's almost 10% of feedbacks left. And you think that 98% of his transactions have been positive? You need to take a class in statistics. You're way off base. It certainly appears that in fact, the majority of his buyers HAVE NOT left feedback, indicating that they HAVE NOT been happy, and taking note of his retaliatory negs practice, have opted to just say nothing.
THAT'S funny!