posted on May 25, 2001 07:08:12 AM
BJ:
Good thread!
Also on my Smart list:
Bidders with prompt communication.
Bidders who reference the winning auction with their payment.
Bidders who come back to buy again.
Bidders who appreciate my product, price, and service.
In addition to the items on your list, how many bidders do this?
Almost all, definitely over 90%.
If you're out there, buyers, and you haven't had a chance to look at the glowing feedback I've left you,
Thanks
posted on May 25, 2001 07:36:15 AMThere's been way too much negativity lately I thought. Time for something positive.
AMEN!
I deal with some very sharp, responsible, and well mannered buyers. Either I'm incredibly lucky or the picture painted on the message board doesn't reflect the average buyer (at least not from my experiences.)
If the buyers are becoming difficult maybe there is something else to look at besides the buyer.
posted on May 25, 2001 07:45:11 AM
I've had some very SMART buyers..who emailed me in advance to let me know they'd be out of town when the auction ended (in case they were the winning bidder).
Had some ask in advance if I would hold off giving a total since they were bidding on several auctions yet to close.
Some who've already used the links to pay before the ebay EOA notice is even out.
I mainly find my buyers pretty friendly & easy to work with.
I also get a good percentage of newbies & they seem to appreciate someone guiding them through their first ebay purchases.
Of course, there are always a few who fall into the dumber than a bucket of rocks class but you take the few bad w/the large good.
I'm not interested in their IQ, I'm interested in their bank account.
posted on May 25, 2001 08:17:49 AM
eventer:
>>I'm interested in their bank account<<
LOL!
I had a bidder e-mail me from a Cyber Cafe while he was on vacation!
How cool is that?!
About 50% of my buyers are extremely conscientious and pay within 48 hours of auction close.
I've noticed this "rapid payment rate" on the rise lately.
Anyone else?
In the past five or six months, if a bidder doesn't pay within 10 days, they are either
(1) a deadbeat or,
(2) more than likely, someone who thought they had paid electronically but did not complete the payment process. (I did that once, myself!)
posted on May 25, 2001 08:36:44 AM
A really with-it buyer uses the information in my ad [stated shipping, PayPal] and just goes ahead and pays with PayPal, making double sure their address reaches me by putting it in the message. I can then pick it up and mail maybe even same day. No fuss, no muss!
They also understand what I mean when I ask for non-credit card PayPal payments only. I certainly do not mind when customers have questions about that, but it's nice when they just understand from what I put in my ad.
posted on May 25, 2001 08:39:44 AM
Smart enough to:
E-mail or leave feedback to let the seller know that the item arrived and they are happy.
LOL to Eventer, "I'm not interested in their IQ, I'm interested in their bank account."
Actually some that take a bit of babysitting do get to trust the seller and they may concentrate more on their auctions. We find that is true in our RL store. Many of the "problem" customers that we had to have extra patience with now spend the most money each month.
Edited to say thanks to BJGrolle for starting a positive thread. You have made some very good comments lately and I appreciate your thoughts.
posted on May 25, 2001 08:41:27 AM
I had an item sell on Ebay a few weeks ago for $22.00, started it at $5.00. Listed the same item on Yahoo at the $5.00 price with no bids.
Bidders who do not check other sites from time to time, could be smarter. After all, just a few clicks away, that same item may be cheeper.
BTW, I was happy to sell that item on ebay for $22.00, but I would have been just as happy to sell one on each site for $11.00.
posted on May 25, 2001 09:17:29 AM
Kudos & Thanks BJ!
How SMART are certain buyers,anyway?
Smart enough to ask questions prior to bidding!
My auctions state that I do not ship out of the US.
How Ironic is it that I love when Canadian bidders ask prior to bidding ~ I adore the buyers who appreciate that International shipping is more than filling out a customs form. They know that sellers use free boxes, labels, and tape for priority mail. They appreciate that the widget is probably packaged and ready to go when an auction closes.
They DON'T ask me to lie on the Customs Form.
Now...
Would I be as Smart?
Doubtful.
I have an incredible amount of respect for bidders with such a thorough understanding of sellers.
I think it helps to make me understand their needs as well.
Yes, I admit it.
I have learned a thing or two from these Smarties!
posted on May 25, 2001 10:32:29 AM
Oh wow! Another positive thread...thank you, thank you THANK YOU!!
How smart are they? Smart enough to embrace a new form of commerce such as ebay.
But not only are they smart...but they are friendly, understanding (when I goof up royally!), concientous, have lovely senses of humor...in general, a pleasure to do business with!
posted on May 25, 2001 11:05:47 AM
Thanks for this thread!
CAM said: "I have an incredible amount of respect for bidders with such a thorough understanding of sellers."
Probably most of us that post here are both buyers and sellers. I started out just a buyer. I had no idea how things were from the perspective of the seller. After lurking here for awhile I began to realize the complexity of the venue. It was more than just putting one item up, taking the money, popping it in a box and shooting it to me. I really had not even realized (and I apologize) that many of the sellers were handling 100's or 1000's of auctions at a time and that might mean I wouldn't get my widget 2 days after the auction closed! I hadn't necessarily realized I was not the only person they were dealing with, so I shouldn't be upset if they didn't reply to my email 10 minutes after I sent it. I didn't realize without the auction number in my email they probably wouldn't know what item I am talking about. Afterall, I was looking at the auction page when I sent the email!!!
After sticking my toe in the water as a seller, I felt it made me a better buyer too!
It would be nice if all buyers were also sellers and if all sellers were also buyers. Then we would know what it's like to walk in the other man's shoes! Right?? Of course, I have read plenty of threads where a "problem" buyer was also a seller which only goes to point out, if a buyer, who is also a seller, can't be a model customer, is there any reason we should expect a buyer who is only a buyer to be one????
posted on May 25, 2001 11:27:28 AM
My buyers are wonderful~ I always feel great just with getting a bid!
One buyer wrote a very awful email~ how could you list such an item etc etc etc. ( ex library in fair only) so I sent off a full refund with a copy of the description and expected a neg anyhow and after he got the cheque and description~ he emailed me and said "sorry" guess he hadn't read the description and gave me back the cheque! So even what I considered a ugh deal, it turned out O,K!
I love buyers! ( and I started off buying too ) and I really appreciated the sellers! Oh and I did notice a big upswing with buyers paying immediately online!
