posted on July 6, 2001 12:32:53 AM new
While going thru some of my old kid stuff, i found a textbook on Business that I "forgot" to give back to the school back in High School (Funny I managed to graduate without paying for this!!)
Anyway, I thumbed thru the pages, and found some questions that might see how well you'd react to customers (sorta updated eBay wise), and might spur a little debate here and there between us. Plus, it might spark some ideas and change your business practices.
Remember, their is no right or wrong answer...just debateable ones.
1. A customer e-mails you and tells you that the pictures to your auction aren't loading. After you give him the pictures, he asks for more picures. Your auction has a few more days to go. What is your reaction to his query??
2. Same vien; The customer complains to you that your "markings" obscure his view of the item picture in the auction. He also mentions that he has his eye on several of your auctions. If he bids, it means a sizeable windfall to you. He asks for unobscured pictures. What is your response??
3. A deadbeat bidder has caused a ruckas in one of the categories you list in. Just as the deadbeat is being kicked off, a new bidder, with a zero and shades, bids on one of your auctions.
Another seller tells you that judging by the history of the newbie (who is a few months old and lost her pervious bids and went stagnate a while before now), that this could be the deadbeat in disguise. The seller also tells you that her recent bidding history almost parallels the deadbeat to a degree. She is currently "spending" a huge sum of money.
What is your course of action? Justify your logic and explain why you decided to do what you did? And defend your position.
4. A customer complains that you ripped him off for S&H. He is threating to report you to the BBB and file fraud charges in small claims court unless he is either refunded or given credit for a future auction. How would you handle this??
:\\\\\\\"Crystalline Sliver cannot be the target of spells or abilities.
posted on July 6, 2001 01:04:46 AM new
The correct answer to all 4 questions is:
Grab another beer and head for the Hot Tub...
I guess that why I have a 11th grade education...
posted on July 6, 2001 03:17:54 AM new
#1) I would send a couple more pictures, with my markings on them.
#2) I would explain that I have markings on all of my pictures, it is my copyright, and I would send the same pics back with the markings moved to a different spot, so they can see the part that they were complaining about not being able to see.
#3) That is alittle harder. I would look at their bidding history at the time. I have had alot of 0 feedback bidders, and they have been great. This is something that I would have to think on.
#4) I would not let that bother me to much. I only add a handling fee to cover the cost of materials. Nothing high. So I can justify the added handling fee. I would explain in an email what the extra charges were for.
posted on July 6, 2001 05:07:40 AM new
#1 I see if they are loading. If not, I'd send him a direct link to the pictures.
#2 None of our pictures are marked. (but if they were, I would move the mark to another spot)
#3 I don't worry much about zero feedback bidders. Most of our problems have been with bidders that have some positive already. If it was a large amount of money I may email the newbie bidder to make sure they understood the TOS. I may also check to see what else they are (and have) bid on.
If I didn't like what I saw (or heard) I may take further action at that time. As ashadow stated, what it would be I don't know until I was put in that spot.
#4 We have no handling fees as of yet. If I did overcharge for shipping I would gladly refund whatever I needed to.
I make some judgements by looking at the bidding history of the person. I don't have a cut & dry method, just ideas.
In the same light I often bid on many different items so as to not to 'type' myself.
(I only have 1 ebay ID.....wrong move according to many on here)
posted on July 6, 2001 06:14:24 AM new
#1. I'd get the pictures up & running & send him back to the auction. If he asked for more, I'd send them w/my markings on it.
#2. I'd send some where the mark had been moved but not removed entirely.
#3. I'd watch the auction a bit more closely but not retract this bid just on the word of one seller who "thinks" this might be the problem bidder. In general, zero, shaded users have been pretty good for me.
#4. Here's my response to him:
Dear XYZ,
I'm sorry you seemed concerned over my shipping charges. I calculate my shipping charges based on $X for USPS postage, $Y for the new custom size box used, $Z for miscellaneous supplies which totals the amount you were charged.
I hope this answers your concerns regarding the shipping charge. If not, then I'll be glad to explain my shipping pricing to whatever agency you feel you need to contact.
As an aside, The $Z for the miscellaneous supplies is anywhere from $.05 to $.10 on my packages which includes bubblewrap, peanuts, shipping labels, tape, bags & some of the other items I use to safely pack items.
