posted on June 2, 2001 09:02:24 PM new
I recently had a couple of transactions go bad with a seller. I told the seller that the condition of the 2 items was misrepresented--which it really was--but I would keep them nontheless, even though as a result of the misrepresentation, I really ended up bidding a lot higher than I would have. I know the other collectors (who I've dealt with directly) are also concerned about condition and very likely would not have bid as high either.
Basically the seller said I was lying and the condition was just as they said it was. Believe me, that is laughable if you could see the 2 items and how they described the condition. To make matters worse, I DID ask specific questions just to be given incorrect info.
Anyway, since I wanted to keep them and they whined about how this was probably going to be their first complaint in all of 3 months on Ebay, I tried to take the high road and simply said "look, I'll take the loss. You just have to understand that collectors of these expect a certain degree of accuracy in condition descriptions because these items can get expensive. Also, if someone takes the time to ask a specific question about condition, take a second look and double check--AND I am not going to leave you any negative comments, because I don't believe you understand this market and what serious collectors expect."
So, even though I felt I would be justified in leaving neg feedback, I didn't. I figured the seller was just clueless about the market for these items, no matter how many times I emphasized the importance of condition in the value. I walked away. I washed my hands of this one.
Guess what? About 10 days later I go online and see that they had burned me with a neutral feedback, stating that I made FALSE ALLEGATIONS about condition of item!
Excuse me?
I let them off the hook and they come back and slap me in the face? I gave them a pass! They got to keep my many hundreds of dollars while I got a devalued item AND on top of that I am called a liar in my own feedback?
Needless to say, it was double neg city for the seller, courtesy of ME.
Does this even qualify as retaliatory, since I felt justified in leaving it in the first place?
Also, something to wonder about: WHY on earth would someone have slapped me in the face after I let them slide? I didn't even ask for a refund and didn't leave any feedback at all.
posted on June 3, 2001 05:24:45 AM new
I would Definately have nuked them with a negative! Unfortunately, you ran across one of the "Crazy Newbies" that seem to be flooding E-Bay. These people feel they have the right to do Anything to anyone and get away with it! You did the right thing all the way around. Don't worry.......
posted on June 3, 2001 07:45:44 AM new
david2001
You asked...
"What is with people????? "
It is called the "Dumbing down of America" and we will see a lot more of it as the massive group of graduates from the 80's and early 90's attempt to function as "Educated Adults" in the 2000's...
Look for it to get much worse...much faster... The schools are pumping them out faster than you can count them...
..Life is like email, sometimes 'some people' just don't get it...
posted on June 3, 2001 08:51:39 AM new
If I wrote a polite e-mail to a seller explaining that the items he sold me were misrepresented as to condition and that he may want to be extra careful in the future because collectors of this type of item are very choosy, etc... and the seller called me a liar, I would have given a neg.
That response would have stopped all attempts to reason with the person. Someone who would call someone who just gave him "hundreds" of dollars for a purchase deserves to be treated better than that.
Why should you take his loss? If the seller thinks their description was just fine and that you were making false allegations, it sounds to me like they will continue describing things as they see fit. That means more bidders will receive misrepresented items.
posted on June 3, 2001 08:58:22 AM new
I would have negged them, too.
Good ploy that, "I'm just going to walk away."
Gives the stupid seller the chance to plonk down the feedback...then BAM!
I am not sure what the deal is with sellers. I just got through with an email exchange on a vintage camera. The guy was a product of every advantage his generation could offer. BUT he had had this item in his closet for 40 years and stored it with batteries in the compartment.
Well DUH!
Worse, he's all sentimental about the price. I am trying to tell him he has something that has dropped in value considerably as it's CORRODED! I feel sorry for the sucker who bids on it.
posted on June 3, 2001 09:20:18 AM new
No. I didn't assume anything.
I learned long ago to ask specific condition questions (especially of newbies) and to be very careful to be clear. If I ask a direct and specific question about a flaw and am told it does not exist, only to discover that it DOES exist, I believe the seller is either intentionally misrepresting the item to get more for it, OR is just not that bright.
posted on June 3, 2001 09:30:04 AM new
Although I tend to be a person who tries to keep things friendly and will bend over backwards to prevent conflict....I learned a long time ago that when one "turns the other cheek"....and does not practice and "eye for an eye"..they just end up blind and toothless.......in this day and age anyway.....I would have done the same thing you did....too bad the seller was just too stupid to recognize a break when he got one......There I said it and I feel better.......now I will go hide before the bricks hit.....
..now I will go hide before the bricks hit.....