zeenza
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posted on November 3, 2000 08:43:38 AM
Listed a large item in local Ebay. Bidder reached reserve. Shipping quote was 50.00 more than entire bid through a pack n ship service.
She said to take it around and get other estimates.
THIS was a large item!!
In doing that,... the item broke.
She no longer wants it since I disclosed that fact and sent pics.
I emailed that we should exchange feedback and move on given that I paid fees for a reserve being met.
She is ticked.
What should I do now? I think a neg is coming my way.
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eventer
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posted on November 3, 2000 08:49:10 AM
What the heck does she want? You did what she asked & the result was a broken item. You are the one out the money & SHE'S ticked?
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zeenza
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posted on November 3, 2000 08:52:22 AM
YES. She states I was unable to deliver and complete the transaction. She is mad that I asked for a comment. If I relist..it is a broken item now. Noone will want it.
She wanted cheaper shipping. What the heck can I do? I do not want a neg.
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eventer
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posted on November 3, 2000 09:00:15 AM
Perhaps the sticking point is the "exchanging of feedback". I would just send her a final email (unemotional, sticking to the facts) along the lines of:
"I'm sorry XYZ was damaged while trying to obtain estimates on lower shipping charges for you. Since you've indicated you do not wish to continue the transaction, I understand & will file for a FVF credit with ebay in such a way that it will not reflect on either your or my ebay account. Thank you again for bidding & my apologies for being unable to complete this transaction to your satisfaction."
Then file using the "buyer/seller" agree not to complete transaction.
That doesn't help that you are still stuck w/now damaged merchandise, but you might try to relist w/the flaws & see if anyone else might want it. (But this time, I'd have other estimates of shipping).
That may not prevent her from leaving a neg but you can just leave a reply which shows you tried to do the right thing & it will come through as an unreasonable bidder.
Sorry. 
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mballai
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posted on November 3, 2000 09:01:51 AM
If I quote someone shipping;that's it and that's my price. I wonder would have happened if the shipper broke it.
This is a no-win. Apologize and move on.
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mark090
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posted on November 3, 2000 09:03:36 AM
You made the mistake. You allowed a bidder to dictate your terms.
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abingdoncomputers
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posted on November 3, 2000 09:05:15 AM
I wouldn't leave any feedback at all unless the bidder leaves it first. If so, just leave your own version of what happened in feedback and respond to her feedback as well. But keep it professional. It will hurt the bidder much more than it does you.
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ExecutiveGirl
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posted on November 3, 2000 09:11:09 AM
Zeenza:
I'm sorry to hear about this! Your auction stated a shipping quote and you really should have made her pay what was quoted in your auction. But, you were trying to be nice and do the customer a favor and in the process the item broke. What a shame! I can not BELIEVE that the customer has the NERVE to be ticked at YOU!
I know you are out the fees, not to mention the bid amount itself. BUT - you can file for your FVF and at least get them back. And since the customer didn't want to pay the shipping that was stated in your auction you can say the reason was "bidder did not agree to seller's terms".
I'm not sure what I'd do about the NEG possibility. I almost think the BIDDER deserves one for not following through with the terms - but then again, you were not strict with your terms after the auction ended. Hopefully she won't neg you. If she does, reply with something like "auction stated shipping price; high bidder refused to pay it". Stick to the facts. Anyone looking at the NEG will see you were not in the wrong.
Good luck...
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mrpotatoheadd
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posted on November 3, 2000 09:14:21 AM
I'm not sure I understand why you suggested that you exchange feedback. She hasn't sent payment, and you haven't delivered the item. I can appreciate that your item is broken, but from the buyer's point of view, what kind of feedback should she leave?
"Item never sent. Seller said it broke."
She said to take it around and get other estimates.
If you didn't want to do this, you could have declined. Maybe she's cheap, but she didn't break it.
What the heck can I do?
Maybe you should suggest to the buyer that you both just let it go and consider the transaction cancelled, since the item is damaged. At this point, the best you can hope for is that she will not leave any feedback.
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zeenza
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posted on November 3, 2000 09:33:51 AM
I suggested feedback because I lost out on this Big Ticket Item that was fine at the start of the auction.
As it stands now, I am out the item.. and the Ebay fees.
I simply was looking for a crumb by way of some positive comment in that I attempted to help her save a few bucks by lugging it all over the place.
Like Mark090 has said...
I screwed this up myself.
It came back and bite me on the butt.
Always something new to learn...the hard way.
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BlondeSense
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posted on November 3, 2000 09:42:04 AM
When something like this happens, I think it is not uncommon that the buyer wonders if the seller just changed their mind about selling the item and said that it broke.
My suggestion would be to email the buyer and ask what she would like to do:
A) call off the deal.
B) buy the item at XX% off (but same shipping!).
C) any other ideas you can come up with.
I think giving the final decision to the buyer reassures them that it really did break and you really want to work this out with them.
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mrpotatoheadd
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posted on November 3, 2000 09:44:23 AM
zeenza-
I didn't mean to pick on you- I was just trying to understand the situation from both sides. Not having seen any of the emails that were exchanged makes it hard for an onlooker to know what really happened.
Now, I'm not saying this was the situation, but the original post could have just as easily been made by the buyer, instead:
I had the winning bid on a large item in local Ebay. The shipping quote was 50.00 more than entire bid through a pack n ship service. I asked the seller if she would get other estimates. She wrote back that in doing that, the item broke. I no longer want the item, since it is broken, but she emailed that we should exchange feedback and move on given that she paid fees for a reserve being met. I don't get it- I never received the item, but she wants me to leave her a positive comment?
Just a thought...
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ExecutiveGirl
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posted on November 3, 2000 09:45:25 AM
BlondeSense has a point - what if your customer really does not believe you? I would send her a picture of the broken item just so there are no questions.
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BlondeSense
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posted on November 3, 2000 10:07:51 AM
I re-read the first post and noticed that pics of the damage were sent.
My other point, which I guess wasn't too clear, is to say "We have a problem, how would you like to fix it", rather then telling them what to do. Give them a chance to make a decision or suggestion, and I bet you will have an easier time resolving this.
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zeenza
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posted on November 3, 2000 01:26:38 PM
Postscript...
ALL HAIL 'EVENTER' !!!!
I followed his advise (see above) and guess what?
We exchanged positive feedbacks!!
THANK YOU for the sound advice.
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