posted on November 10, 2000 06:38:24 AM
Here's an intresting situation that I had happen to me last nite.....Wanted to get some opinions......I sold a piece of pottery last week for 128.00. It was a semi-well known marked piece. This item was a 5-day auction and was well photographed. In my description, I described the color of the piece as "sky blue". It was the closest interpretation of the color, in my mind, that I could come up with. Well apparently the buyer did not agree......She emailed to tell me that she had received the piece and that she was unhappy with the color. She said that to her "sky blue" was much more pastel and that the color of the pottery piece was the standard blue that this pottery maker had always used. She failed to mention however what it is that she wants me to do about this......she hasn't as of yet, mentioned anything about a refund.....So, what would other sellers do when they and the buyer disagree about the interpretation of something? Color, I think is a hard matter to call, as everyone interprets color differently. As I said before, this piece was well photographed. Pottery is not what I normally sell, so I am only vaguely familiar with the line that the piece was from. Otherwise I would have said it was "Pottery Name Blue". This auction was a 5-day auction and the buyer bid each day......If she was concerned about the color, why didn't she email to ask or request more pics? Frankly, I think she just wants to try to get a partial refund. By the way in case anyone is wondering, I am 1600+ feedback, 2 negs.......She is 23 feedback, 1 neg, 1 neutral......Any opinions?
posted on November 10, 2000 07:10:05 AM
AmyM123 -- In the gem world color is broken down to Hue, Tone and Saturation. I sometimes use it to describe color in my on-line auctions.
Use Hue like a colorwheel. An item can be just blue or have degrees of green or violet, so a description of very slightly greenish blue may be more acurate that my photos depiction.
Tone refers to the lightness or darkness on a scale of 1-10, 1 being the lightest.
Saturation refers to the intensity of the color. With colored stones we use a scale of 1-6.
In colored stones, description of color such as apple green or sky blue is not used because my green apples may be greener than yours.
As far as your buyers displeasure is concerned, It doesn't sound as though she is asking for a refund, she simply wants to be heard. It also occurs to me that her knowledge of the colors used by this particular potter should have led her to question the exact color before bidding. She's probably mad at herself and wants you to know it.
posted on November 10, 2000 07:13:01 AM
Hi...Funny you should mention this. I just went through something like this 2 weeks ago but it had nothing to do with color, but weight! I had an item up for bid that I stated clearly in the description, "This is a medium weight widget, neither flyaway lightweight, nor clunky and unweilding." I got a note yesterday that said in part..."this is not the weight I assumed it would be." Period! Nothing else about what should be done, or any suggestions. I responded with I am so very sorry but that the description was very clear, all sales are final, and what would you like me to do about this. Also that in the same line of widgets, I have much more expensive ones and I would be happy to show you those." No answer at all, so clearly, IMHO, a case of buyers remorse. I find that if the item is not damaged, broken, chipped, nor misrepresented in any way, do not refund. If it is lost, trace it. There is ample time for the buyer to ask questions before the end of the auction, and if they do not choose to do this, then it is not your fault. If your color on your photo was accurate, you have done your job.
posted on November 10, 2000 11:15:04 AM
That's another thing I was thinking about.....She said the color of the piece is darker than the picture.......now on my monitor the color was true......With all the different types of monitors not to mention the different settings of monitors, what is the chance of the color being the same?
Thanks geminspector thats gives me something to go on for next time.....
posted on November 10, 2000 11:33:53 AM
That is the same reason why people say they got their blue star, or their green star, or their teal star. ebay calls it a turquoise star. I believe that many people have trouble seeing the difference in blues and greens. Monitors can change the colors also.
posted on November 10, 2000 12:01:54 PM
Some times buyers will write about dispointment with an items color size or just not what they thought it would be.
but will not ask or want to return or be refunded for this item.
some buyer are sellers and will sell it hopeing for better return just because the color dont suit them dont mean it wont suit someone else.
others will request to return items for a refund they wont be able to use.
in any case I would Write the buyer offer to let them return it for a refund tell them since they received the Item you wont refund shipping but will pay the return shipping.
at least this way you offered the refund and this buyer will feel better maybe give you a fair feed back for attemping to make good even if the refuse the return and also they wont go in Time bidding on another of your auction feeling you owe them something due to past problems like free shipping or what ever. http://www.Dman-N-Company.com
