posted on September 28, 2000 07:42:23 AM new
There is an item up on ebay that I would die for. Should go to $30-50. Now at $10. Haven't see one on ebay in the 6 months I've been looking for it.
I didn't bid.
TOS stated (paraphrased so not to be searchable)
1. sold 'as is'
2. not responsible for lost or damaged items
3. payment mailed in 7 days or less
4. no checks
5. we post negative feedback
6. we ship internationally but won't quote shipping until AFTER the auction.
posted on September 28, 2000 07:47:06 AM new
I would have bid.
1. sold 'as is' - no problem
2. not responsible for lost or damaged items that's what insurance is for
3. payment mailed in 7 days or less I ALWAYS send payment within 1 day anyways
4. no checks I pay with Paypal
5. we post negative feedback So would I, if the bidder didn't pay
6. we ship internationally but won't quote shipping until AFTER the auction. I would just ask them for a quote before and see if they would give it to me IF I needed it - I'm not international
7. 500 positives, 2 negs that's outstanding feedback. That alone should make someone feel comfortable enough to bid.
posted on September 28, 2000 07:56:06 AM new
I would probably bid on this person's auctions, but here is my question.
A seller has 2541 Positives, 99 neutrals, 202 negs, 20 of which were in the past week.
Their terms are mostly "As Is", items untested. Shipping is rather high, but starting bids are low.
Almost all the negs have to do with "doa" items, automated email responses, or no items showing up at all.
I'm surprised anyone bids on this sellers items. Many are computer components, electrical in nature. Would you plug something into your $3000 portable system that was untested but cheap in cost?
posted on September 28, 2000 08:19:03 AM new
Nope.
"As Is" could mean big problems in some categories (mine, for example). Unless the description is excruciatingly detailed re condition, that one provision alone would turn me away. FAST.
But the whole tone is anti-buyer. Who needs it?
BTW, high feedback means little to me and can even be a turn off or negative. As I've posted on these baords before, I've had more problems (read: anti-buyer attitudes) with Power Sellers and high hundred feedbacks than with *the little guy (or gal).*
Right now I've got a couple of old negs I ought to leave on high feedback and/or Power Sellers that I won't because I KNOW they'll retaliate (undeservedly) in a heartbeat.
posted on September 28, 2000 08:23:07 AM new
onsale
My concerns are, besides the general threatening tone of the whole thing,
1. $30 -50 is too much to pay for something that comes not as described.
2. I can't use paypal and will have to get a MO, no real problem though but it means a trip to my bank during banker's hours
3. neg feedback was also for payment mailed after 7 days
4. no shipping charge, and language very clear that they won't guote. US shipping is at priority rate but says via mail (no mention of priority) Doesn't add to my comfort level.
Bill
typo
[ edited by cdnbooks on Sep 28, 2000 08:24 AM ]
posted on September 28, 2000 08:37:05 AM new
>>A seller has 2541 Positives, 99 neutrals, 202 negs, 20 of which were in the past week.
Their terms are mostly "As Is", items untested. Shipping is rather high, but starting bids are low.
Almost all the negs have to do with "doa" items, automated email responses, or no items showing up at all.
I'm surprised anyone bids on this sellers items. Many are computer components, electrical in nature. Would you plug something into your $3000 portable system that was untested but cheap in cost?<<
Meya: Your post reminds me of something that I once brought up in a previous post. There are certain new items that can never be sold on ebay because the hucksters have ruined the possibility of getting a fair price. In my area I know specifically of computer monitors and digital cameras. ebay is flooded with posts for refurbished monitors and digital cameras, many of which say "new" in the title and then "refurbished" in small print buried in the description. It has been a long time since I tried to sell these on ebay because I never got more than about $100 for a brand new 17 inch monitor because I was competing with all the other ads for refurbished ones. The fact that a new monitor comes with a 3 to 5 year warranty and a refurb has only 30 to 90 days, should factor into the equation, but doesnt seem to. There are still way too many folks out there who think that the best deal is always the cheapest. Albert Einstein once said something to the effect that the most expensive things we get are often the ones we got for free.
I see buying a refurb for $100 instead of a new one for $175 as buying a lottery ticket for $100 where the first prize is $175. Even assuming that both monitors are identical, if you are lucky, you saved $75. If not, you lost $100. And it will take 3-5 years before you know if you "won".
posted on September 28, 2000 11:46:54 AM new
I'd probably bid. "As is"? Well, is there a thorough description? I'd ask any questions now, be thorough in the asking of course. Not responsible for lost/damaged items? Buy insurance. Payment *mailed* in 7 days or less, not *received* in, right? No problem. Seven days is plenty of time to get payment out. No checks? I don't write checks anyway unless I have to. I pay via PayPal (unless they don't take it OR a similar online service, which is more likely to be a reason for me not to bid than anything else!!) or money order. Getting a m.o. doesn't mean an extra trip to the bank during banker's hours for me: I buy my money orders at any of the oodles of convenience stores on the way to work or school and can get them until midnight.
"We post negative feedback"...? What's the problem there? So do I, if it's deserved. 500 pos/2 negs is, as others have said, *excellent* feedback and I'd bid. The international shipping thing.. they could re-word that and be friendlier, but I, too, say in my TOS that I will ship internationally, and to email me for that amount. No one has so far, it's always figured out post-auction. If I was really worried, I'd ask first.
Now, they are a bit "buyer-unfriendly" so if the item wasn't hard to find I'd bid on someone else's item first, but these terms would not keep me from bidding on something I REALLY had to have if they were the only ones offering it.
posted on September 28, 2000 12:23:08 PM new
cdnbooks: I would contact that seller...and tell them of your concerns.
If you don't like what they answer, then I wouldn't bother bidding.....but it does not hurt to send an email before you decide not to bid. ( Especially with the great feedback this person has.
"My concerns are, besides the general threatening tone of the whole thing,"
I don't think this seller has a threatening tone. Sounds like they might have had customers that do not like to pay in a timely manner & they had buyers remorse. Sounds like they might have experienced bounced checks. We don't know what this seller has experienced for sure.
I would hope you would give that seller a chance to answer your questions. Perhaps you could also send that seller a friendly email explaining how you felt when you read the terms.....Maybe add a suggestion or two.
I think most sellers would appreciate suggestions that come in a courteous manner.
CleverGirl: I'm sorry if you had bad experiences but that does not mean Power Sellers and those with high feedback are all bad.
By reading the feedback, you can get a pretty good insight if they are fast shippers and honest in their descriptions. The Power Sellers that I have come across, are very efficient and trustworthy.
"Right now I've got a couple of old negs I ought to leave on high feedback and/or Power Sellers that I won't because I KNOW they'll retaliate (undeservedly) in a heartbeat."
You're not suggesting that ONLY Power Sellers and those with high feedback leave retaliatory (undeservedly) feedback?
posted on September 28, 2000 03:19:13 PM new
I wouldn't bid without a clear understanding of how shipping is calculated. You would have absolutely no idea of what your final total would be. No way. There is absolutely no reason that the seller cannot give you some answers about shipping. They can certainly tell you before you bid how much they charge for handling. They can also tell you if they ship USPS or UPS. By the way if it's UPS, remember the thread a couple of weeks ago about insurance and UPS.
posted on September 28, 2000 03:27:35 PM new
I would bid with my eyes open. I have to weigh the price versus risk.
MOs are available all over creation POs, Gas stations, grocery stores, and department stores to name a few. I get mine at the Gas station across the road. I can buy one at 3 AM if need be.
posted on September 28, 2000 06:02:16 PM new
No. Not very welcoming. In my opinion it is like someone standing at the front door of a store barking out the business policy.
I have seen worse on eBay though.
I question is ok once I bid, follow their tos what if there is a problem such as misrepresentation, how friendly will they be?
Also my question is how is their customer service? By the look of the tos, they could work on serving those who sign their paychecks. So what if a problem arises?
(There is a fine line of sticking to your tos and doing customer service with a smile.)
posted on September 28, 2000 09:34:16 PM new
macandjan wrote:
[i]Yes if they are already this short with you before you even bid you can figure if there is any dispute about anything at all they are going to flip you off.
[/i]
Yes yes yes yes yes.
I RUN, not walk, away from sellers like this, and always wish I could whisper in their ears: Psst! You're burnt out. Or maybe just too jaded to work with the public. In any case, it's ruined you. Find another way to make a living or a different hobby as the case may be.
posted on September 29, 2000 06:06:00 AM new
I wouldn't bid due to the threatening tone in the terms. I understand a lot of sellers have had problems, but I am very lenient in my terms and even offer a satisfaction guaranteed. I expect the same when bidding.
When the auction terms take on a negative note in any way, I generally leave without bidding. I figure that they've had a negative experience and I'm going to be the one to pay for it...
