posted on May 31, 2001 08:57:06 PM new
Has anybody else had silly, or just plain scary Ebay listing mistakes?
What was the outcome?
I posted a question earlier about how to cancel a bid on an auction.
The story is, I have 3 widgets, Very tired looking at control panel think I see 4 widgets listed, last one has no bids, I go to ebay and try to figure out how to cancel, I panic, Where do you turn for help when you think you need it now? Silly of course the great people at Auction Watch. I post my question.... Ahhhhhh.... I think I know how to fix this.... Off to Ebay I go.... Yeahhhh.... A job well done, Canceled.
I go back to control panel to see what is happening there. Ooops.... My mistake...There was only 3 auctions running, now I must relist.
Tomorrow I will go and try to figure out how to get credit for accidental cancellation.
When your at the end of your rope:
Tie a knot and hang on!
posted on May 31, 2001 09:05:31 PM new
My biggest mistake is not researching before buying.
Also to recognize the trends at ebay. I used to make a killing on cowboy boots and Levis 501 button fly jeans. I continued to buy way after they quit selling for good prices.
posted on June 1, 2001 05:05:54 AM new
I've probably made tons of listing mistakes and never knew the outcome [except, no sale!]. I've been using an inexpensive digital camera for the past 6 months and I imagine the fuzzy photos have hurt me sometimes. I just upgraded and hope to have the new camera routine down by next week.
Overall, my biggest Ebay mistakes were as a newbie, being too quick to leave a negative.I did that 2-3 times and feel bad about it still.
posted on June 1, 2001 06:20:48 AM new
Mistakes, I've made a few.....
The lighter that "just" fit into the shippin' box, and arrived at the buyer's in pieces...
The Torquay S&Ps that I list for $1 NR - NOT identified as Torquay...
But my favorite was the DESPRESSION glass dish that I listed, wondered why it didn't get past the openin' bid of $2.00!
posted on June 1, 2001 06:22:23 AM new
Over 4 years I've made a lot of mistakes. Luckily most happened the first year and I learned from them. Cross shipping to the wrong people,double listings,losing an item.
But the biggest mistake I ever made (and it still brings tears to my eyes!) was when I put up 2 pieces of turquoise jewelry and a lady bought one and asked if I would end the auction and sell her the other one too at $100. I did and later found out it was worth $2,500 at retail.
So I learned 2 lessons, research your item and never end an auction early by request!
posted on June 1, 2001 06:55:13 AM new
Biggest mistake?
I'm in the middle of it right now.
Looked at a box of cards at a trade show that are quite expenisive and have to be held in a certain light to properly identify. Checked enough to verify that they were what the seller said, got the price and returned the next day to pick them up.
First mistake: didnt check them again before paying.
Bought them, brought them home and started listing.
Second mistake: didn't re-comfirm authenticity either during listing or during mailing.
I've just recieved my first email from a buyer questioning them and if their authentic
or not and expressing a concern that he feeels their not. Go back and check box.....at least half (the most expensive)
have been replaced with identical cards but not what I bought.
As soon as I submit this post I have to sit down and try to figure who may have gotten the replacements and ask then to check them carefully for fakes and return them for their refunds. I'm not sure what the outcome may be
but Im hoping for some pretty understanding buyers.
The lessons learned are too many to list but the biggest one is CHECK THE ITEM WHEN THE MONEY CHANGES HANDS & Trust no one.
Oh and check the item, morning noon and night before sending it out. In far from a newbie and should have known better, the outcome could be as half dozen or so negs,
and pretty much deserved. Sheesh.....
[ edited by punkinhed on Jun 1, 2001 06:55 AM ]
posted on June 1, 2001 08:55:36 AM new
Mostly my first six months on eBay.
Used film instead of digital - very time-ineffective.
And I have a corner in my basement that I call my eBay hall of shame. All goes to a yard sale at summer's end, then whatever I can't even sell there, I'm thinking of turning into a Totem Pole dedicated to tacky.
(Hey, maybe I can sell the totem pole...)
posted on June 1, 2001 08:59:57 AM new
Lots of mistakes
- shipping an item to Switzerland by surface mail after buyer paid for air (refunded difference and he was soooo nice even though it took 8 weeks for the item to get there)
- poor pictures - not enough detail or closeups
- lack of research resulting in selling an item for less than it was worth
and I could go on... we all make these in the beginning, and I am still making some occasionally, but hopefully not the same one twice
posted on June 1, 2001 09:15:28 AM new
Shipped wrong items to 2 buyers. Contacted each and they exchanged with each other and even paid the postage. What a relief.
posted on June 1, 2001 11:38:57 AM new
Buying 40 shares of eBay stock at about 100.00 a share & holding it too long. Still have it.
Also sent two packages to the wrong people. I sent postage & they made the switch.
One time I listed an item twice (beanie baby)
& only had one. I had to bid on one on eBay & ask the seller to send it to my second buyer. I informed my buyer about my mistake & what I was doing to fix it. He left me great FB, something like "this seller goes the extra mile" Lost my profit, but at least I broke even & saved my FB.
I live in fear of loosing a package in the mail, having a check bounce or getting my first neg. Hasn't happened yet, but it's always on my mind.
posted on June 1, 2001 11:48:39 AM new
I had several of a particular widget to sell.
I accidentally listed more than I had, not realizing it until after the last auction had ended.
Fortunately I was able to order another one, and quickly had it Fed Ex'ed to me. The last buyer never knew any different, since I paid extra to have it overnighted. It was just a $2.00 widget, but I didn't want a negative!
Bad thing is ... a few days later, one of the previous bidders decided to back out ... leaving me with an extra widget.
posted on June 1, 2001 01:05:23 PM new
Continuing to believe in the Founders original vision that eBay was an structure to empower individuals and that each of us could be an infinitestimally small but important part of the opportunity for positive change, after the new management was put in charge.
Naive I know but I really do believe that a million people making a few extra dollars each week through their own initiative could provide the possibility that some worthwhile positive changes in many peoples lives could take place.
I bought into the concept of "Community", sharing and helping others make use of the potential it offered. And benefited more than I gave.
The time I lost to anger and frustration with the constant erosion of opportunity as the present management sucked the life out of the original concept was my biggest mistake.
They are who they are. They do what they do.
The promise is still there. It's just delayed and may emerge beyond eBay.
I had to relearn not to try to change people but to move on and work with people who share my interests and toward goals that are important to me.
No mistake was as painful, costly and destructive as deluding myself and refusing to stay within a changing reality.
eBay's present management is only a detour which will cause a loss of some time and drain a few billion dollars out of the process but I truly don't believe they will be able to stop where this movement is heading.
For all the mistakes I've made the worst still awaits me if I stop believing and give up.
posted on June 1, 2001 01:11:54 PM new
I cringe at that thought of my early 1998 auctions. I started with film, and then graduated to a scanner. I sell pottery and porcelain and don't you think all those things looked nice sitting on a scanner bed? I am sure glad things have changed, I can still remember nearly pulling my hair out over trying to figure out how to get photos on the net, the new people have it easy with all the options available today.
I have sent the wrong items out, forgot to mail items. I have hundreds and hundreds of pieces of vintage pottery, most of the time I just pick them off of my website and list them, it is a true tragedy to get a piece ready to mail and find that it has crazed, the crazing has discolored or, you find a flaw you did not see before it sold. Heather
posted on June 1, 2001 10:45:26 PM new
About 2½ years ago I had an older Yamaha motorcyle repair manual that I was convinced would do well. It might have if I didn't spell it Yahaha. Didn't even catch it until after it didn't sell the 2nd time. Figuring that the 3rd time is a charm (especially with the spelling now corrected) I re-listed. Still no bids. Someting told me not to throw it in the goodwill pile. Last month it sold for nearly $20.
I also had one package vanish from the face of the earth (and from my garage/warehouse) before it got shipped. I packed it, printed the mailing label/postage, but when I went to slap the label on the package I couldn't find it anywhere. All the other labels had matching packages, but this one was gone. I looked absolutely everywhere. Luckily it was not very expensive and the buyer wasn't upset. It's been 6+ months and it still hasn't turned up. Maybe when we move
posted on June 2, 2001 07:59:13 AM new
Failed to properly identify a book that would have sold for hundreds; sold for $76.00. High bidder was a Sports Celebrity. Every time I see his face on TV I cringe.
Sold an old barbie. High bidder insisted that her shoes were missing. Thought she was trying to get it at a lower price. Back and forth we went, not happy with each other. She a a MEAN person. Ended up giving her a 25% refund just to get her out of my hair. However, I thought she was a liar. When cleaning my sons room that weekend, found the darn shoes in his drawer. If she was nice I would have sent her the darn shoes along with her refund. Listed them a couple of months later and got my money back.
posted on June 2, 2001 08:04:57 AM new
My biggest mistake -- for my first several months on Ebay, I was not
CHECKING TO MAKE SURE EBAY BOTHERED TO INDEX MY AUCTIONS !
After a fellow seller clued me in to this, I discovered why many of my popular items would mysteriously die without bids. Ebay never indexed them in Title/Description search!
Now I sometimes believe that my biggest mistake at Ebay was REGISTERING at Ebay .
posted on June 2, 2001 09:10:53 AM new
borgt-maybe it wasn't supposed to be funny, but there was something about that "yahaha" that made me LOL.
I was packing a very large doll-dropped her and broke her foot. I emailed the buyer-refunded all her money-sent her anyway because I didn't want the buyer to think I was backing out of the deal. That cost me plenty. It was over $20.00 to ship. Buyer was very sweet about it and left me glowing feedback.
posted on June 2, 2001 03:51:49 PM new
I bought a valuable (or so I thought) book. First edition. When I bought it I was told first edition, first printing. Yeah, right. I refunded the buyers money - and an additional 10% because I felt so bad.
posted on June 2, 2001 07:28:15 PM new
OMG! I'm in the middle of it right now, what a mess!
I sent out 3 packages on the 23rd. Sounds easy enough, right?
Bidder A emails to say she doesn't have her item she has a different widget.
Without checking, I assume it's a certain widget I have several of. Oh, that must go to Bidder B, and I'm sure she'll have your widget.
Thinking I'm very efficient, I have UPS pick up widget at Bidder A and redirect to Bidder B.
I give Bidder B the heads up that she might get the wrong widget, but hers is on the way!
Feeling pretty good about myself, I hear back from Bidder B. She has the correct widget, and doesn't have Bidder A's.
What the...? Where is Bidder A's item? Just as it hits me I hear from Bidder C. She has Bidder A's item...and now I have sent her item to Bidder B!
Now I have to have a widget picked up at Bidder C's and sent to A, have a widget picked up at B's and sent to C's.....oh, I can't stand it! It's all too confusing!!!
posted on June 4, 2001 04:50:31 AM new
For the first 6 months I was selling jewelry on Ebay I spelled Brooch(es), BROACH(ES) and then one day a lady pointed it out to me I felt like such an idiot I had been spelling the word wrong for 6 months
JB
posted on June 4, 2001 05:26:12 AM new
I've been lucky that most of my mistakes have been affordable & not bad enough to earn a negative, books sent media instead of the paid for priority (I mailed back the difference).
One book went for sale with a picture but without a description of the flaws (all my books have some sort of flaw, I don't sell collectables). I was getting ready to pack it when I had a random synamptic connection and realized that the buyer was a bookseller and I didn't recall typing this book into the auction. So I sent her the description and asked if she still wanted it. She said no thanks, I returned her money, relisted it WITH a description and sold it for just a little less, but I got 2 good feedbacks out of it.
Sometime if I miss a significant flaw and stated the book was unmarred. I offer free shipping to make up the difference.
Sometime I get tired and towards the end of my auction launching night I use the wrong BINs and sell it for somewhat less than I knew it was worth.
But these are all small potatoes next to deco100. What a kicker.
!