posted on October 26, 2000 07:25:54 AM
I think I may have my first case of someone trying to pull the old "switcheroo" and return their old, damaged item for the one they purchased for me. I've already responded that we'll be happy to issue a full refund, including return shipping, if the item returned is the same one we shipped, as verified by our mark. However, I'm seriously considering doing an "About Me" page and including our refund policy with an explicit warning that attempting to return merchandise other than that actually purchased from a seller constitutes mail fraud. Is that overkill? Would it do any good, or will these people try to pull this cr*p anyway? I don't want to scare away legitimate bidders, but I don't have any desire to get into a head-butting contest with someone whose sole purpose in bidding on my auction in the first place was to get something for nothing at my expense.
always pickersangel everywhere
posted on October 26, 2000 07:38:33 AM
Just state the facts ma'am. I would simply say whatever it takes to get the message across. Maybe you could add...."Due to one person out of the hundreds, (thousands??) we have had as customers, trying to return switched product, we must issue this warning. Switching our products for a damaged item to get a refund fraudulently is a mail fraud offence and will be delt with as such." Also issue no refunds until you examine the returned product to make sure it is yours. Do you use the black light identifying tool with your own mark on it? Worth the small investment if you often have this problem. Someone posted a link once where you can get this handy-dandy gadget.
posted on October 26, 2000 07:40:19 AM
I wouldn't think that potentially trashing your 'me' page with common sense statements would do you any real good.
They are going to do what they are going to do and they know dang well what they are doing.
MHO.
posted on October 26, 2000 10:18:19 AM
If it is a troubling issue for you, get it out on the table...but try to do it in an unemotional manner and in the most positive light possible. I have seen sellers schpeels in the TOS and/or About Me page which is almost a rant: "You CAN'T do this and I DON'T do this and if you do this, bad things will happen."...you know, we've all seen it... and I, for one, walk right on by. Negativity breeds negativity.
As a seller I also am very careful to keep my policy schpeel as short as possible, while getting the most important points out and trying hard not to dwell on negative and/or emotional wording because if it makes bidders think, even a smidge, on a negative tone, they are walking into the deal less enthusiastic, if at all.
posted on October 26, 2000 10:21:44 AM
Maybe it's because my feedback and experience keeps most of the deadbeats and chopbusters away, but I am beginning to do a more silent TOS. Essentially it's send the dough and email me your address. On the flip side, I'll NPB alert and FVF credit when the clock strikes the appropriate hours. No nag. No baloney. I just don't bother.
On a switcheroo, I'd email them saying that the item they sent does not appear to be the one sent out. I'd give a tight deadline for sending in the correct one and deducting the cost of remailing their junk one if desired. No accusations, no baloney. If you don't get the other one back in ten days or so, the transaction is closed.
Chances are very good they'll either stomp up and down (stay cool--amazing to see adults acting in their terrible twos) or you'll never hear from them again.
posted on October 26, 2000 10:42:20 AM
I had this happen once about 2-3 months ago. I do mark items using the invisible ink with a signature, glass with a wax stamp with ahnd scribed initals. I politely stated the facts and told them if they would like to return the correct item, that perhaps it was confused during comparision with another item in their collection i would be glad to do a full refund, but the item would be returned COD that they had sent me as a replacement. Given the return shipment was received in the same condition as shipped out and with the unique markings I would issue a refund of item plus shipping charge. I promptly returned the item they shipped (COD) and never heard from them again.
I do hope you mark your items, let us know how this works out for you.
posted on October 26, 2000 04:10:02 PM
I haven't heard back from the bidder yet--either he is simply shipping the item back without confirming that he's going to do so, or the implication that my item was marked convinced him that switching a damaged item for return wouldn't work, and he's dropping the issue.
I really have to question this particular situation, as the item I sold was described as "No wear to either enamel or decoration on front of *****; slight surface
wear and scratching to bottom with all enamel intact." I stand by that description. The customer is claiming that the item he received "had several nicks and small rust spots on the
front and some slight rust on the back". His position was that perhaps we had sent him another of the five identical widgets we had up for sale at the time, but I know that none of them had the damage he's describing. Fact is, two of them were in MINT condition, with the other three of them as described here. It will be quite interesting to see where this goes.
posted on October 30, 2000 05:56:50 PM
Curiouser and curiouser...the buyer does not want a refund. He has "only one of these" and doesn't want to return it. (Really strange, considering we're talking about collectible dinnerware.) He had hoped that I could exchange this one for another. He can't find my mark on the item. (Was I supposed to tell him what it is, so he can duplicate it?) I told him that I could only offer him a refund, as I don't have any other widgets like this available. Haven't heard from him since. What's your gut instinct about what's going on here?
always pickersangel everywhere
posted on October 30, 2000 06:55:14 PM
You know what.. There is this great application named Auctiva Showcase, that put into one web page all my listings... The great thing is that I get to create a Welcome, About, and Contact page... so the buyers can know all about my bussiness and contact me if they need to... And the best part of all.. It's FREE!!!
You can go to my personal showcase and see an example: http://showcase.auctiva.com/rcovo.
I hope this help you all!
