posted on December 1, 2000 08:41:35 AM new
Yes I know, there are twice as many auctions running this year as last.
But here's something:
I bought three things on eBay within two weeks, and received them all this week.
#1: Book: VG+ condition says the seller. Item arrives with pen marks/notes all over about half the pages. Not worth the postage to send it back for a refund. Seller offers me free shipping on my next order from him. AS IF.
#2: A collectible textile thingy I like to collect. In auction, seller describes one flaw ok, but leaves out a very major flaw that is a material factor in the ability to use this item. I haven't decided how to react to this yet as I'm still to steamed to email the seller calmly.
#3. Same type of collectible thingy as in #2. Item exactly as described. Perfect transaction. It even smelled so good, I'm tempted to email her and ask her what fabric softener she uses.
So there you have it. One in three of those auctions, the seller honestly described the item.
The thing is, I bought about 35 things on eBay before I started selling. A few days ago, I posted on another thread that I'd been happy with almost all my purchases, and that 90% were better than described. Then I get the above three items.
Sellers like this chase people away from eBay. Is this what's been happening on eBay this last year? Had these been my first three experiences with eBay, they'd have been my last.
posted on December 1, 2000 09:05:37 AM new
Hi Sadie, Sorry to hear that this has happened to you also. I mentioned this in the discussion the other evening (KathyD's thread I think?) that I would buy for awhile and then all of a sudden I would have quite a few disappointing experiences all at once. This happened to me a couple of months ago. And yes, it did slow down my bidding.
No matter how careful I am to ask questions, check feedback and trust the sellers I still find that it is a crapshoot when buying. And I am not bashing sellers as I also sell.
posted on December 1, 2000 09:22:50 AM new
I agree. I don't buy anything anymore unless it's described as brand new or, if applicable, brand new in the box. It seems as though sellers are deliberately trying either omit altogether material facts or mislead buyers.
The ones in particular I have trouble with:
1. Not mentioning whether or not the item has been around smoke
2. Not mentioning how item will be mailed, just $3.20 shipping. Is this priority or standard? If I'm in a hurry, it would help to know that the seller plans to ship standard and I need to pay extra to get it sent priority.
3. Not mentioning what actual shipping is--is it postage only or will it include a handling charge?
4. Not saying when the seller ships. If the seller ships once a week, say so in TOS.
5. Not describing mint condition. Does this mean no flaws? I had one seller tell me it was in mint condition for its "age." What does that mean?
I don't bid much because it's a hassle to try to remember to ask all these questions and to have to email sellers for clarification. If you don't email, then you get "You didn't ask if I smoked." I think the seller should be as thorough as possible when describing the condition and their mailing practices.
posted on December 1, 2000 09:27:05 AM new
Hmmm ... I've either just been megalucky or ? I stated my first buying experiences in another thread (I think the thread died then so here's the repost:
I have 2 daughters in junior high. In the first week of August, I sat down at the computer with a cup of coffee and I bought ALL their
school clothes through ebay. I was even out of town at the time and almost everything had been delivered by the time I got home -- I
was away for a week and every time I talked to them on the phone, they would excitedly tell me about the package that had arrived for
them that day! (I had sellers address the pkges to each girl by name)
Anyway, I got them all the latest fashions -- their friends have been "Can I borrow that shirt/pants/jacket?" since school began -- they
each got enough items to last three weeks without wearing the same thing twice, it cost me about 1/10 what I would have paid in the
stores, and my shopping was done in two days.
Talk about a happy dance !)
My next-to-last buy was for an expensive item and I found to my horror that we had a credit card problem for the first time in our lives ( we'd gotten charged for a group of rooms instead of just one for a trip recently taken)-- I emailed the seller and he was fantastic about waiting till it got cleared up ... then the item came and it was in even better condition than the listing had stated. Finally, this week, I was unsuccessful bidder on concert tickets I'd wanted for my mom's birthday. The high bidder deadbeated, the seller emailed me, but there wasn't time to send payment before the concert date (paypal wasn't working). What did she do? She sent an email saying " Your feedback is good, I trust you to send payment and am overnighting the tickets to you cause I want them to go to someone who appreciates them". This was Tuesday and they arrived at 9 am yesterday morning.
This is the kind of person-to-person transaction that makes ebay better than brick and mortar companies, to me. I am even happy to be paying her 50% more than the high bidder's bid -- which is still less than half the value of the tickets.
So, there are still people out there who are great sellers and make it all worthwhile.
On a side note, now that I am becoming a seller, I have found as I went through the house gathering items (I'm one of those "clearing out stuff" sellers), that first glance doesn't do it. I am amazed realizing all the dusting, cleaning, polishing, etc. that I will need to do to get the items into first-rate shape for buyers. Selling something is far from the grab-it-and-pack-it that I think many of us buyers thought it was. My hat's off to you who have been doing this work for a while. Never realized how much care you have had to put into it.
posted on December 1, 2000 09:30:00 AM new
Each category must be different. I've purchased over a hundred items, and have been dissatisfied with only two. When I emailed the first seller, he asked me to return it for a refund (although there was no mention of such in the listing), and he promptly refunded the entire amount, including shipping both ways. When I told the second seller that I believed the item had been described improperly, he credited my cc for the total amount (shipping included), and said I didn't have to return the item- I could keep it as a gift, for my trouble.
posted on December 1, 2000 09:34:06 AM new
I know what you mean. I started my buying career picking up Pokemon cards to complete my collection. I then turned to selling my extra cards... to get the money to buy the ones I needed.. 8) From there I've expanded to selling sets of cards, and Pokemon plush toys and Christmas ornaments. I'm finding if hard to find appropriate sized boxes, but that's another issue.
I love to knit and crochet. My home is filled with afghans and sweaters and almost anything else I can think of to make. I usually have leftover yarn from these projects. I've been making Cabbage Patch kid and Barbie clothes with the excess - but my daughter can only use so many clothes. So I thought, hey, why not try Ebay? I put 2 items up and they both sold on the first try. I was shocked, and VERY pleased at this. So now instead of just selling my extras, I'm going to be making my own inventory - wonderful thing to do during the winter months, I assure you. And my buyer is SO happy with them, nothing like that homemade touch to things.
posted on December 1, 2000 09:54:55 AM new
I have purchased hundreds of items in the past couple of years. I have bought books, clothing, radios, carvings, dolls and lots of glassware and china among many other items. Some of these items are for my collection and some are for resale.
I have been happy with almost all of my purchases except in the china & glassware category. Most of my problems have been with high feedback high volume sellers. I think they are too busy for "quality control" and they are too busy to answer e-mails and they are too busy to get a refund out (sometimes takes 6 wks).
So now I am very reluctant to ever bid on their auctions. Otherwise I am a happy bidder.
Edited a too to a to.
[ edited by shaani on Dec 1, 2000 09:58 AM ]
posted on December 1, 2000 09:55:39 AM new
I won't sell anything that I personally don't love and would keep...except that I already have one, or it's the wrong size, etc. If it's too junky for ME, it's too junky to sell on eBay, and off to the donation pile it goes. Really bad stuff is just thrown out.
I sell (and sometimes buy) nice used clothing, which is a category that is really open to problems with poor descriptions, misleading photos, sizing mistakes, etc. That's why I take special care to describe clothing accurately and take good photos...and especially why I will not sell something I would not be comfortable wearing to work or with friends. This involves making minor repairs, cleaning garments, etc. It's NOT easy to be a good seller in this kind of category!
I also sell (and buy) vintage silver. I soon found that most buyers (me included) really appreciate having the silver cleaned before photos or scans were taken and before it is shipped. You can actually see what the pattern is, and the actual condition of the plating, etc. I'm developing quite a set of "polishing muscles" from all that rubbing!
I haven't had a huge number of disappointments as a buyer, but I've had enough to become much tougher when I'm browsing for goodies. I almost never buy something without a picture (or with a fuzzy, unreadable photo), unless the description is crystal-clear and it's an item about which a mistake in identity cannot be made. No shipping info? I'll contact the seller if I have time, but 80% of these items I skip right over.
In the categories I visit, I would say that at least 1/3 of the sellers make serious errors in their presentations...mainly in not describing shipping costs fully, in taking poor pictures, and in inaccurately describing their items. In a way, I am glad, since this makes good sellers stand out all the more. But overall, it's bad for eBay because when new buyers feel ripped off, they don't come back and they blame "eBay in general" or the online auction experience, rather than the poor seller.
posted on December 1, 2000 10:13:19 AM new
I believe that these sellers get away with stuff like this, because people are so damn scared to leave honest feedback, for fear of a retaliatory neg.
Don't get me wrong, I DO understand, and have been guilty of the same in the past.
If people get ripped, and don't let others know about it through feedback, then they are just helping the seller to rip off the next unknowing buyer.
posted on December 1, 2000 10:37:24 AM new
Pocono,
I'm kind of in a quandry about the feedback thing for Item #2.
I haven't emailed the seller yet because I feel like there's no way for me to get total satisfaction and hate to put a seller in a no-win situation.
For one thing, because of the weight of the item, if I pay for postage back to the seller in order to get a refund, I will have essentially spent almost the amount of the item (postage to me and then back to the seller) for absolutely nothing.
I can have a seamstress friend of mine fix this so it's usable (useable?), but that's not the point.
See? I'm confused. What I'd like to do is keep the item, get it fixed and just leave a neutral saying, "My advice is to ask this seller many questions before you buy," but that seems cowardly without emailing the seller first. I've had a couple of stealth neutrals myself, and felt a bit burned.
posted on December 1, 2000 10:47:33 AM new
Sadie, do you think the seller of the flawed item omitted the flaw deliberately, or could it have been an oversight?
I might react this way: I would email the seller detailing the flaw. I would tell him that I had decided to keep the item and have it repaired, and would appreciate a partial refund of an amount to cover the repair. If he agreed to a partial refund, then it would be appropriate to leave a positive stating that the item was flawed but the seller made good. If he did not agree to a partial refund, then a neutral or negative would be in order. Simple statement of fact: "Undisclosed flaw in item when received; seller did not agree to pay for refund or repair."
If it was an oversight, then you have not said anything that would put him on the defensive, and you've offered an honorable out that would cost him less than refund plus shipping. If it was deliberate, then his reply will probably reflect that, and you'll be justified in leaving a negative.
posted on December 1, 2000 11:01:39 AM new
SilkMoth - thank you!
Your idea sounds perfect. I guess I was just too close to the situation and too disappointed to think clearly. My caffeine and nicotine levels must be down.
posted on December 1, 2000 01:37:12 PM new
Even though there are complaints in this thread, I find it refreshing to see good experiences too I mostly have bought and sold new and used clothing. Most of my experiences have been wonderful! But like most, I've had a few disappointments too and now I'm more selective when choosing items.
Like sonsie if I don't like it/wouldn't wear it, it either gets donated or trashed. So far, knock on wood, I've had no complaints. And even though I say no returns, if I missed something I would refund. I want them to come back! I love my repeat buyers
I do smoke and if I can't clean it to where it passes dh's sniff test (he doesn't smoke and has a sensitive nose), I say so in my ads like london4 points out. I look at it this way, it might go for less, but I'd rather be honest because I don't want it to come back and bite me. I like to sleep well and conscience free.
Great suggestion SilkMoth on how to handle flawed, but fixable items. I've had a couple myself and while I can get Mom to fix them (silly me never really learned to sew ), I feel I should some compensation. I'll remember that, thanks!
And that's a very awesome tale kinkajougirl! I sold off my winter clothes I never seem to wear and replaced the whole shebang (with mostly new Disney stuff no less) and still had money left over! I love eBay, it's great for hard to find stuff and for someone on a budget.
posted on December 1, 2000 02:13:53 PM new
I buy mostly to keep, occasionally to resell. Bought a book for resale. It arrived last week. It was so bad and so badly misdescribed that it went straight into the trash.
More significantly, I have had two buyers in the last week send me a lengthy list of questions (no problem there) and then appologized for asking them saying that they have recently had several bad experiences buying on eBay.
Bill
[ edited by cdnbooks on Dec 1, 2000 06:21 PM ]
posted on December 1, 2000 11:17:12 PM new
I try to describe an item exactly, but sometimes I miss something. However, I do tell the buyer if I see it before I ship it. I also offer a money back guarantee on everything I sell.
If something gets messed up before I ship it, I tell the high bidder. I love using models, however, they do sometimes get stains on clothes or rip them and of course I don't notice until I get ready to ship.
Oh, a good clue, DO USE DRYEL to clean everything, even washables. It saves having to press it (vintage fabrics wrinkle, wrinkle). I am going to contact the people who make Dryel and see if I promote Dryel to my bidders and send them a freebie, I can get some free samples from them.
Anyway, bidding seems to be down although I am still selling well, it doesn't seem as easy as two weeks ago. I find vintage clothes very inexpensive in my area and so my prices are low so I can survive. How long will this slow sales last? Does anyone know why?
posted on December 2, 2000 12:16:04 AM new
Seems there was a gap in communication. VG+ in some collectible circles is defined in such a way that it really means less than average condition to the discernable eye. Toss in each owns tastes and there's a world of room for confusion. When items are described vaguely, such as VG+, Exellent condition, ask detailed questions, point out that the condition is very important to you. When buyers send me emails like this, I take out my Magnifying glass and search for the most miniscule flaws, however petty they may seem to me.
Your 1 less than good experience out of 10 doesn't signify a sound off alarm that would indicate a proof for dropping sales on ebay. I would think that this is the par that is achieved when viewing all the variables that go into making a perfect transaction.
Since you can set your own prices, you are allowed to set them lower to compensate for the risk that it may not turn out exactly as you interpreted. Certainly some people would never consider to buy on ebay in the first place. Does that mean ebay will ultimately fail? Some people will have a couple experiences that will turn them away from bying on ebay. Does that mean ebay will fail? Of course not. The people who continue to buy on ebay are the ones who accept some element of risk. Experienced buyers learn ways to cut some of the risk, and I already mentioned one way, by asking for more details for the item description.
In the end your experiences are what you make it out to be.
posted on December 2, 2000 06:33:55 AM new
OK, I'm not trying to toot my own horn here. Just doing business as usual. So I was kind of surprised to receive this email this morning from a 6 feedback buyer after completing a transaction:
(Proper nouns *d out.)
__________________
Kathy,
Thank you so very much for the great communication! I haven't yet dealt with
someone so professional, so polite, so quick, and so on-the-ball! You
answered any and all questions I may have had before I even had time to ask
them. You are the first person to actually take the initiative and offer an
invoice and also give positive feedback without me asking. Of course,
barring any unlikely problems, I will definitely give you positive feedback
also; as a matter of procedure, I always wait until the product is in my
hands... I will let you know as soon as I receive the **** ****, and thank
you again for conducting the ideal transaction, raising the bar for all
other ebay users.
FirstName LastName
__________________
Some good insight from a new eBay user, and offered only as evidence that Yes, there MUST be a some very sorry sellers out there.
posted on December 2, 2000 06:54:08 AM new
My selling rule is very simple, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you".
All my buyers have been very happy so far.
That is how I like it and want to keep it.
Have a good day everyone.
posted on December 2, 2000 07:09:41 AM new
Just yesterday received a piece of costume jewelry from a power seller that was missing 2 stones. This was a signed piece aimed at serious collectors.
When I contacted seller he gave me a one line response indicating I should return for a refund. Okay, I won't be out much money but I was appalled at the lack of concern.
This guy didn't even bother to apologize for the inconvenience. I was disappointed and angry--not the emotions serious sellers want associated with their business.
I find that many of my bidders are very excited about their purchases and can't wait to receive them. Positive experiences reinforce those feelings and these bidders will bid again and again--until they get burned. And when they get burned by a high powered seller, they tend to think the worst of every seller.
Some reliable method for quickly stopping and correcting these poor sellers is a real dilemna for all of us who want ebay to continue to be our marketplace. Feedback just doesn't do it anymore.
!)
), I feel I should some compensation. I'll remember that, thanks!
