posted on February 11, 2001 12:37:06 PM new
Why do many buyers wait weeks or months before they let you know there is a problem with an item?
I'm always willing to give refunds or offer compensation when something is wrong, but I prefer to deal with the problem right away.
Several times I've had buyers win auctions, receive the merchandise and even leave positive FB. Then when they buy another item from me (and can hold the threat of a negitive over my head) they complain about a defect in the first item and ask for a price break on the second auction.
This has happened several times and I feel like I'm being setup. If there was a problem with the first item, why didn't these buyers contact me right away? Why do they wait until they make a second purchase to complain? I feel like I'm being blackmailed.
posted on February 11, 2001 12:45:58 PM new
You probably are being blackmailed. If a buyer waits weeks or months to report a defect they more than likely caused it themseves.
posted on February 11, 2001 01:09:42 PM new
Hi Libby, Yes that could happen, but if you wait too long it would make a seller suspect maybe at least little untruthfullness there.
If I bought something & didn't look it over right away I would blame myself. It's really tough to come back weeks or months later with a complaint specially if the seller didn't know the item was flawed. If they did know your not going to get any satisfaction anyway. Tough spot to be in either way.
I'm so curious, what was not in the box ??? I don't think your too late to email the seller though.
posted on February 11, 2001 01:10:07 PM new
Sometimes it's buyers remorse, sometimes they use your item once and don't need it anymore, and sometimes they need the money more than owning the item so they can pay their late rent bill. Tell them the 30 day return guarantee has expired. People who buy their things in the mail should check their item immediately.
\"They say the grass is greener on the other side. But have you flipped it over and looked?
\"
posted on February 11, 2001 01:17:00 PM new
If you have a return policy state it in your TOS that you will refund up to a certin time period and then stick to it. Thats what most brick and mortar do. If it was broken in shipping then it is their job to file a claim with the p.o. if they have insurance. If they don't-----tooooo bad!
posted on February 11, 2001 01:27:52 PM new
Don't you just hate it when you pick up a bunch of clothes from the cleaners, and just stick them in your closet. Weeks later, then you take that plastic wrap off, only to find that that stain that you pointed out to the person at the cleaners, is still there? I've done this once, and kicked myself for weeks! Not only was the stain still there, but a button was now also missing off the jacket. I unfortunately, have also purchsed exercise videos off of ebay, only to play them a few weeks later to see how the screen and picture jumps around, not me. Now I always check the item out ASAP before leaving feedback.
posted on February 11, 2001 01:34:40 PM new
It was a DVD. It was sold factory sealed but some of the plastic had been ripped, although that was no big deal. I've gotten a lot of DVD's in the last month and I haven't had time to watch them all. So I finally sat down to watch it last night. I took what was left of the plastic off and instead of there being 3 security seals on it like there usually is, there was 1, across the top and a piece of Scotch tape across the bottom. I opened the case and I almost flipped out. I was really upset. I fired off a very not nice email to the seller and then emailed again with a huge apology. I know better then to email someone like that and I was upset and I should have waited. The seller is taking care of it for me, which I appreciate. If he would have ignored me I've had deserved it for being as rude as I was. But from now on when I get my DVD's before I leave feedback I WILL check and make sure that the DVD is in there and that everything is as it is supposed to be. I learned my lesson.
posted on February 11, 2001 01:54:27 PM new
i've been guilty of this more times than one.
not bugging the seller for a refund/replacement, but waiting forever to open a package.
i usually get ins. on it in the first place.
hope this never happens to me as a seller. i always put remarks in 'return policy'.
item can only be returned if not as represented. ins. is highly suggested.
posted on February 11, 2001 02:00:50 PM new
I give my buyers a 30 money back guarantee. So far, no one has returned the merchandise. That must mean that they are happy. If I do get a return, I would honor it, but only for 30 days. I have this on ebay, my website and one the invoices that I send them.
posted on February 11, 2001 07:36:12 PM new
I wouldn't replace the item, personally. A buyer should inspect the item immediately when they get it, and not leave feedback til they do so. They left positive feedback for you, but now are unhappy with their item? Come on! If there was something truly wrong with the item, they should learn from it. If it's a scam then shame on them, but people do it all the time in real life - today a woman came into the gift shop I work in and wanted to return a thermos her son had got for Christmas. Of course the kid had received it "broken", and the lady was very rude when I said I couldn't exchange it for her. We haven't even carried the thing since before Christmas -- which was nearly 2 months ago anyways! Good luck and be firm! )
posted on February 12, 2001 07:37:06 AM new
I had my first complaint from a buyer. She said the item was all scratched up. The item was brand new when it left the warehouse. I told her I would replace it and I even had UPS it up. I sent her a new item, checked it to make sure there was nothing wrong with the item. She writes back that this item is even more scratched up than the first item. Why should she pay $100 for something that wasn't perfect. I finally told her to return it at her own expense. I think she is looking for a discount. I have not heard from her since.
posted on February 12, 2001 08:07:42 AM new
I bought a digital camera that was supposed to be in "mint" condition. When it arrived, I was so sick with the flu that taking photos and downloading them was the last thing I wanted to do. Two weeks later when I did take it out of the box and try it out, I discovered it was all scratched up, the LCD is not working so I can't tell how many pix I have taken, whether the flash is off or on, if the batter is low, etc.; I didn't think the seller would do a refund after that long a time since I didn't inspect it when I first received it. So, I am stuck with it.
posted on February 12, 2001 10:16:57 AM new
This doesnt just happen with auctions. I sell computers right out of my store with a one year on-ite warranty. I get the occasional customer who calls me 2 or 3 years later and first pretends that he only bought the machine a few months ago. When I remind him how old it is, he says, "Really? Well, I didnt really use it for the first year (or two) so I guess the warranty is still in effect."
I once had a customer come in with his girlfriend to return a printer ribbon (that's ribbon, not cartridge) that he had bought a year before. I told him that I dont give lifetime warranties on ribbons. He claimed that since he never used it (how am I supposed to know?) he should be entitled to a refund. His girlfriend piped up with "Where I work, if there's something wrong, we refund. That's it." Back then I had a pretty good memory and this customer had once mentioned that he was going out with a girl that he met where she worked. So I said to her, "Don't you work in a bakery? Will you really refund if I brought in a year old danish?"
Anyway, it wasn't worth my time to argue, so I gave him a refund and told him to never call me again. Since he was one of my biggest pests, always calling me for free advice but only making small purchases, it was a wise decision on my part.
If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again, it was money well spent.
posted on February 13, 2001 05:55:59 AM newrottweilergirl
I hav deleted your post because it contained an eBay ID. There are specific steps that must be followed if you wish to post identifying information within the Message Center. Details can be found in the Community Guidelines
You are welcome to post again but please leave out any information that will identify the Seller you wish to discuss.
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