posted on July 14, 2001 04:53:48 PM new
Hi all, I was wondering, if you were browsing and saw someone had really missed the mark on their listing, would you bother to email the seller or let it be?
The error I came across is plain to anyone who actually collects the stuff, but a novice might miss it and just take the seller's word. The mistake is one that would greatly increase the value if it were true, but it isn't.
It really is none of my business, but would I be helping out if I made mention of the error? Should we let fellow sellers hang themselves or should we band together?
What do you folks usually do? Have you ever had someone email you out of the blue telling you of your mistake? How do you take it when they do that?
posted on July 14, 2001 04:59:13 PM new
I did it once when I kept seeing this particular seller listing 'Leather Camera Bags' that I knew for certain were NOT leather. Emailed him to that effect. He actually responded with some lame thing like 'I thought they were as my supplier told me they were' ... He still kept listing them as leather for a short while. (I guess til he ran out of them!) But, although it was none of my business, it ticked me off that people were buying these things, paying leather prices for what they were specifically told were leather and getting burned.
posted on July 14, 2001 04:59:42 PM new
Tell them, WITHOUT a doubt.
I sell silver jewelry among MANY other things. For months, I've been listing a charm that has a marines emblem on it with NO luck. Meanwhile, navy, and coast guard charms are FLYING out the door. I've been baffled and had cut the price just to move them and MOVE ON.
Finally, someone emailed me and told me that the emblem in question was really an ARMY emblem. I checked with my Father-in-Law last week and sure enough, it's ARMY special forces. Duh! NO WONDER it wasn't selling. I relied on my vendor and he was wrong. Neither of us are former or current military.
I'm VERY grateful to that buyer who took the time to email me. It was VERY considerate and I thanked her repeatedly!
posted on July 14, 2001 04:59:54 PM new
I've emailed other sellers, and I've had other eBayers email me.
I appreciated it - I want to know if I made a mistake! The times I've emailed sellers are examples of "You have 2 of XX listed - did you know that?" When it was a very exensive antique ring. The seller was very happy I mentioned it, he accidently submitted it twice.
posted on July 14, 2001 05:02:40 PM new
I do occasionally. More often on things that are unique to our area (like postcards) such as telling them this is the old ________ residence, or letting them know what locals call a certain scene etc. I live in a small town, and small town stuff can often go very high. I've never seen anyone change an auction on something to do with my town so Ive given up.
Sometimes i do on other things, but only if it will cost them quite a bit of money
posted on July 14, 2001 06:13:32 PM new
Heck, I have put items up on eBay not knowing what they were exactly in hopes of finding out from someone what they were. Definately worth the listing $, if you put a high enough reserve price on it so noone wins it...
posted on July 14, 2001 06:14:11 PM new
You should email the seller but definitely not the bidder.
A few months ago I was the high bidder on an item and knew exactly what I was bidding on. A self appointed "expert" on this specific item emailed the seller and me. He told me I was a fool to bid on this item because it was really xxxx, not what the seller said.
This really ticked me off and I turned him in for auction interference.
The seller wanted to give me a discount on the item because of what he told them, I didn't need a discount, I was getting a great deal.
posted on July 14, 2001 07:29:20 PM new
Once, I listed some VERY expensive silverware incorrectly, and immediately got a $1,000.00 bidder. Someone emailed me and told me they thought it was another pattern, and after thorough research, it was the other pattern! I immediately emailed the bidder, and she asked me to cancel her bid, which I did. I relisted as the correct pattern, and immediately got a bid from someone else, although it was only $750.00 But, imagine my horror if I had sent that to the first lady, and then had to refund $1000.00 (or more) to her because it was not the right item!!! PLEASE email the seller and tell them!!! And I profusely thanked the person who told me about the mistake!
posted on July 14, 2001 08:14:47 PM new
Glad you mailed the seller.
I once did that as well.
A seller was selling an antique violin, with a reddish cast. He advertised it as a possible copy of the infamous red violin. (There was a great movie about the red violin, but it was not non-fiction).
I told him that the movie was actually a work of fiction, and no such violin existed in real life.
He was probably wondering why he had never gotten any bids, anyway.
posted on July 14, 2001 08:23:11 PM new
I sell some items "on consignment" and, even after research, sometimes get details wrong. I've had people e-mail me and give me corrections on my listings...and I really appreciate it! If I've had no bids, I'll go in and edit the listing...saying something like "a potential bidder said thus-and-so". If I've had a bid or two, then I'll e-mail the bidders and give them the information I was given. No one can know everything about everything and I think any responsible seller would be most appreciative of that kind of notice.
edited because my keyboard is a lousy speller!
[ edited by blueyes29 on Jul 14, 2001 08:25 PM ]
posted on July 14, 2001 08:47:16 PM new
Sometimes I email them, it depends on how much the mistake bugs me. I'm also happy to hear from other sellers when I've made a boo boo or overlooked something. In the auction business you are always learning and I appreciate all of the help I can get.
There's a seller who always list postcards on a certain town. He always spells the towns name wrong. I've emailed him and he has never corrected it. And he probably wonders why he never has bids on those postcards.
posted on July 14, 2001 10:19:08 PM new
If I spotted an error I would politely email the seller and advise them of my opinion on the item...but I would not expect them to change their description based on my say-so.
The seller wouldn't know me from adam and would have no idea of whether I actually had any expertize in the area or if my opinion was in fact accurate.
Recently I had a teapot, creamer and sugar bowl up for sale that I listed as a "Nippon Wannabe" because it was a 1970s fake Nippon set. I had an "expert" on Japanese teapots email me and tell me that the set really was Nippon and if I listed it correctly it would go much higher.
If I had changed my ad based on that ebayer's "help" I would have been selling misrepresented merchandise because this item was definately a fake.
Just because someone emails us with "help" does not mean they are correct...nor should the "helper" get upset because the "helpee" doesn't take the "advise".
In some cases it is possible the "helper" is in fact a competitor who is trying to hurt his competition...it is possible the seller of the leather camera bags felt the "helper" was a competitor who was trying to kill the competiton (and no, I don't think that is why the poster here emailed the camera bag seller)
[ edited by amy on Jul 14, 2001 10:23 PM ]
[ edited by amy on Jul 14, 2001 10:24 PM ]
posted on July 15, 2001 12:25:28 AM new
OK...there are 2 sides to this one...I collect a certain type of widget, and if I se one mis-represented, I will e-mail the seller IF I think it is an honest mistake...ONTH...If I find an item that I SELL that is mis-spelled, or in the wrong category, I put it on watch, and hope that I have found a bargain!!
Keith
I assume full responsibility for my actions, except
the ones that are someone else's fault.
posted on July 15, 2001 02:51:51 PM new
I have emailed sellers with additional information on an auction when I have it, especially on Johnstown Flood items. Just putting certain words in the title changes the amount of bids dramatically. I have been able to correctly identify some items and different areas for sellers and I email the information to them. I even had a seller email me to ask if a certain bidder was for real with his high bid on a certain book. (He had become a friend so I was happily able to reassure the seller.)
If I have an auction on and I receive an email correcting my information, I will check into and alter the auction if necessary.
posted on July 15, 2001 06:15:23 PM new
I once had a buyer e-mail me if such and such software could still be registered for the upgrade price? Oh, I found out that this software was still unregistered. After adding that bit to the auction description, took my bid from my expected $10 to $300.
Please, please, inform the seller. They can take or leave your suggestion, but at least they have an opportunity to listen.
posted on July 15, 2001 08:41:33 PM new
While viewing a sellers whole list of items I saw a fiesta bowl listed...and took a look. She had added to all her auction descriptions that while she was no expert on Fiesta ware, she wanted all the 'so called experts' to quit emailing her and telling her these were mis-represented. She stated that she was especially upset with the one 'do gooder' who said she could be accused of fraud for representing these to be something they weren't.
I had a good chuckle on that one. Guess some really don't want any help.
posted on July 16, 2001 05:52:54 AM new
What an IRONIC world we have here! I listed some things last night, I had one item that I was pretty sure was a repro. I stated that in the listing, and that I am no expert.
Well, wouldn't ya know it, a nice fellow emailed me to fill me in on the complete history of the item. I immediately changed my description and title. (And I emailed him and thanked him... seemed a nice thing to do.)
Also, I haven't heard back from the seller I emailed about their error, nor have they changed the listing. No biggie though, you are right, they don't know me from Adam. They are probably hoping an unsavvy bidder will win it. It does have bids, but much lower than an actual widget would be.
posted on July 16, 2001 06:26:33 AM new
If I am cruising around and see an error or know the name or age of something, I email the seller. In addition, if I see that their pic isn't coming up, I email them also. People have emailed me and corrected the name/age or type of thing I have listed. I, for one, am appreciative because I do not want to misrepresent my items, even unintentionally. Since I am human and make mistakes (drat) I like to correct them whenever possible.
I think about how I would feel if I ran an auction for days with no action just to find out the picture wasn't coming up. I would be irritated. I consider it my "good deed for the day" to do something nice for someone else. Of course I realize some people wouldn't consider it nice, but that is their personal problem.
posted on July 16, 2001 06:59:25 AM new
Here's maybe a related question. Do you ever send sellers a note when their price is too high? I mean, when you are looking to buy something particular you probably have an idea of what it should sell for (checking past auctions). What if their price is way out of line?
I did this for a few auctions of WDCC figurines, all from low feedback sellers who I assumed didn't know to check past auctions before pricing their items. One lady said she started the bid at what she paid for it. Another said MYOB.
I don't send those messages anymore. What do you think?
posted on July 16, 2001 07:13:29 AM new
A few years ago a seller listed a piece of 925 silver jewelry from the Middle East; she stated that the stone in its center was a "genuine Alexandrite." Her starting bid was $400.
I wrote to her and told her that I collected this type of jewelry and wondered if she were sure it was an Alexandrite, because all my similar pieces bore amethysts. I suggested that she take it to a jeweler to confirm, because if it were a non-lab made Alexandrite it would be worth a fortune and perhaps would draw more money if she took it to an auction house. However, if it were an amethyst, I told her she would have a mighty upset buyer on her hands, because the amethyst pieces went for between $40-$80 (depending on size), but never as high as $400.
She replied that she was positive it was a "real" Alexandrite. No one bid on it. A few months later she relisted it and no one bid on it. I was pleased to see that some portion of the buying public apparently was as skeptical as I was about this.
I don't normally intrude in other people's business, but when it's about something which I know, I will get in touch. I didn't even expect her to take my word for it, but apparently she chose not to take the piece to a jeweler because her second listing again began at $400 and she stated it was a "genuine Alexandrite."
posted on July 16, 2001 07:18:11 AM new
I've always appreciated advice from true experts, but like Amy, I've learned to take some of it with a grain of salt.
posted on July 16, 2001 08:16:09 AM new
Wbbell...would I tell another person their starting price is to high? Absolutely not!!
The person who told you to MYOB was right on the mark.
And prior prices realized as shown in completed auctions don't really mean anything.
About a month ago I listed a figurine for $14.99 because that figurine wasn't getting bids any higher than that. It sold for the $14.99 opening bid. A few days ago I listed another one. When I researched completed auctions the figurine was still only selling for around $15 but this time I listed it for $24.99. It has a bid. Even if it doesn't get any more bids, I still have sold it for 60% more than anyone else recently has.
On the original question of this thread. Several have made comments about giving advise and it not being acted on by the seller and then made statements along the lines that the seller must be dishonest and was hoping an unsavy buyer would not know the difference. IMO, it is bad form to conclude that a person who has decided not to act on unsolicited advise from a stranger is therefore dishonest.
posted on July 16, 2001 09:01:22 AM new
Most of the types of errors I've emailed sellers re: are spelling errors - especially in their titles. Since I regularly scan the Pokemon auction items looking for new things and checking prices, I"ll find an item for a plush toy, for example,and the name of the Pokemon is spelled wrong. I'll drop a quick note that the name should be this, not this, or if they've put up an item and they don't know the name of the Pokemon, I'll provide it - I'm sure it helps on the searches of potential buyers to have the right info in there! And I like helping. 8)
posted on July 16, 2001 09:14:42 AM new
I would advise and have also received advice.
I wouldn't change my entire description, but I do add to it and say ebayer blah blah informed me that this item is whatever. I give them credit as well as inform my bidders that it's this person's opinion. Let the bidder's decide.
posted on July 16, 2001 09:36:37 AM new
I've given and received advice and both ways were appreciated. BUT...............if I see one more sterling child's porringer on ebay advertised as a tastevin (wine taster) I am gonna SCREAM. How did that fad get started?
Probably some hopeless smuck pay beaucoup bucks for an improperly advertised porringer.
posted on July 16, 2001 09:36:50 AM new
I remember seeing an auction once where the seller had added to the end of their auction (before you could revise) additional information "provided by a fellow ebayer who said this item is...". Under that was another addition added about a day later that contradicted the first addition...this information was provided by "another ebayer". Under that was a third addition with different information again...provided by "another ebayer". Then there was a fourth addition that supported the first addition...again provided by yet "another ebayer". Finally, there was a last addition by the seller saying she had no idea anymore WHO or WHAT was correct about the item and advised the bidder to "decide for himself".
Extreme but graphic example that unless you can verify the "advise" your getting is correct it is best to stick to your original description and let the bidders decide.
posted on July 16, 2001 10:15:57 AM new
Sometimes yes, sometimes no. I have e-mailed sellers if I see they've obviously accidently double listed or listed in the wrong category (i.e. infant clothes in a child's category). They've always thanked me for the alert.
I don't e-mail about misrepresentations, I figure they already know and/or who am I to spoil someone else's good deal?
A couple of times I've received information on items I've listed, which has caused me to do a little more research. I've been able to update my listings to be more accurate as a result. I wouldn't take a stranger's word on anything, but if I can confirm the information elsewhere I'm happy to get the tip!
