posted on March 4, 2001 10:45:48 AM new
My FB on half.com has been taking a battering lately! First a "neg" over a shipping snafu [turned out the buyer gave me an incorrect address].
Then I just got one for poor packaging. I've been experimenting a bit, and I guess one experiment failed. I'm not 100% sure, but sounds like it was when I tried to fold some cardboard around a book as a mailer and staple the ends. I am sure I would have also taped it well, but the FB said the staples didn't hold and the book came out [but hopefully they got it?]. It's frustrating not to be able to email them because I would offer to refund in return for more information about what happened. My only guess is that maybe the cardboard was too thick for my heavy stapler and it came apart.
posted on March 4, 2001 11:03:43 AM new
Keziak, I haven't bought any yet, but have discovered that they make a flute which is perforated across the flute every 1/4" or 1/2" inch (forget which), so you can fold the ends to fit, then tape. No staples at all. If I ever get around to selling books online (and I have thousands), it is probably what I will use. By then it may be standard.
Sorry about the neg; just try to be as philosophical about it as you can. In the bigger scheme of things, it doesn't weigh very much.
posted on March 4, 2001 11:43:38 AM new
To answer your question gc2, buyer/seller cannot communicate in half.com, although you can at Amazon. Thank goodness, because two of my sales got stuck at Amazon's halfway point, and I had to contact my prospective buyers so they could contact Amazon and and get the transactions back on track.
I guess being affiliated with EBAY has heightened half.com's paranoia about off-venue sales, and they've curtailed it to the best of their ability.
The seller is also prevented from making any reply to the feedback, so the buyers can write anything they want without the seller being able to defend themselves.
posted on March 4, 2001 05:40:44 PM new
As to the neg, it's unfortunate, but I don't think many of the buyers look at the feedback, they're only there for the price, not a relationship. If they did, the large bulk sellers (whom half.com courts and favors) wouldn't be getting so much business.
Many of these corporate sellers have extensive scathing feedback from irate customers for not confirming on time, not describing accurately, and never shipping. They get away with service we would be ashamed of.
Believe me, half.com, is just like ebay, they don't care about the buyer, just as long as they get their 15% commission.
I have reported ripoffs twice but they obviously do nothing about it. I even sent a disc back and never got a refund (or even the cd returned!) just a formula email saying it wasn't more than two grades different from what was described.
The strategy to use on half.com is to read the feedback and deal with the reputable dealers like on ebay.
Oh and as to packing books, check out the bubble bags and fluted cardboard mailers at uline.com which are sturdy and very affordable. I find that even with the part of the shipping that half.com keeps for itself, it usually covers the postage with 30-40 cents to spare for the packaging. Heavy books are an exception.
I pack all items with sufficient protection to make sure they can't get wet, and that the corners of the covers can't get dinged.
[ edited by beatgoeson on Mar 4, 2001 05:48 PM ]
