posted on August 23, 2001 09:31:58 AM
I've been selling online for over 3 years. In this time, I've had very few problems with buyers and transactions, until this week...
Is there a full moon? Is a cruel joke being played on me? Am I on Candid camera? I don't know what's up, but I've encoutered a string of absolute IDIOTS (for lack of a better term that honestly describes these folks) this week. Whiners, cry babies, complainers, mis-informed newbies, hustlers, thieves and downright ignorant people.
Before anyone goes off on me, the first thing I did after receiving this string of problems was look in the mirror. Is it me? Am I doing something different? Has my attitude changed? NO!
I always accomodate our buyers. I offer refunds, exchanges, replace lost packages and hold buyers hands every step of the way through a transaction, if needed.
Below is a list of complaints I've received the last two days that I cannot even beging to figure out how to address:
1. UPS is too slow. Why is it taking so long for delivery? (Order was paid 2 days ago)
2. "There's a small crease in the cardboard box that you shipped my sunglasses in. Why?" Folks, we're talking about the packaging that the item was shipped in, not the item.
3. "Seller never contacted me". Bidder left neutral, yet I have two emails from this newbie with dialoge.
4. Replaced lost pacakge and reshipped via UPS to customer immediately. Calls me a liar and files fraud report, despite the fact that he has been provided the tracking number for the shipment and was advised it was on its way.
I'm about to pull my freaking hair out and throw this damn monitor through the window!
Anyone else getting more than their fair share of idiots this week?
posted on August 23, 2001 09:40:57 AM
Not this week, because all my auctions ended on the 19th and I haven't listed since the 12th. Vacation from eBay.
Take a deep breath, sit in the full lotus position, close eyes, breathe deeply and repeat: Summer will soon be over... Summer will soon be over...
posted on August 23, 2001 09:52:10 AM
LOL...then do it with a paper bag over your head. It may not help, but you'll look so goofy, you might be able to relate to the idiots.
posted on August 23, 2001 09:52:58 AM
Check the almanac...there is probably a full moon!
When I used to work the public service counter at the local tax assessor I could always tell when there was a full moon...that was when all the fruitcakes showed up! Sounds crazy, but it seemed like everytime we had a rash of nuts show up at the counter there was a full moon LOL!
posted on August 23, 2001 09:55:43 AM
Computerboy-
You need to get away for a while. Let me take you into the tropical jungle for a week or two. I promise it will give you a whole new perspective on life. By the way, Chicago is one of my favorite cities. Absolutely the best porterhouse steaks on the planet!
P.S. A lot of what I say comes with a jab, a twist and a smile. Don't take me too seriously.
posted on August 23, 2001 10:05:56 AM
Not an almanac, but my calendar indicates the next full moon is Sept. 2. Might want to stay under that bag since it may get worse after all.
posted on August 23, 2001 10:10:05 AM
It's a version of "Seller Survivor". Anyone who is still standing after a round of dealing with challenged buyers, gets to move up to the next higher group of challenges.
posted on August 23, 2001 10:18:47 AM
I agree that this last week has been like that for me too. 2 neutrals, one the color wasn't decribed right, yet there was a picture and item said "please refer to picture for color/pattern". Another because after taking three months to pay me, the clothing she bought didn't fit, neutral said "sizes wrong", well they were all listed with the tagged sizes and all meaurements were given.
Someone threatening neg feedback if I don't give a partial refund on an item because it doesn't fit, again, all measurements including tagged size given, he agrees that all the measurements are correct, he double checked, but still insists that "there is no way in he-- that it's that size".
Another women emails me two minutes after I send her the EOA email that "Srrry, I don't wnat it" (her spelling not mine). By the way she was the only bidder and bid on it twice.
So yes I agree there must be a full moon coming and all the idiots are out.
posted on August 23, 2001 10:24:18 AM
Posted this in another thread, but it seems to fit in this one.Some recent experiences with some "challenged" bidders- (you can't make this stuff up).
Bidders total comes to $20.99. He sends cash. Insted of sending a $20 and a $1, trying to save a penny, he sends a $20 dollar bill, 3 quarters, 2 dimes, and 4 pennies taped to a paper.(causing him to have to add an additional $.34 in postage due to the weight of the coins).
I email another bidder after not receiving payment for 17 days. The reply(ver batem): "U bidder has bum knee-messed up- ask me to tell U sorry".My reply. "Tell my bidder sorry to hear it.Since they let you read and respond to their email, maybe U can bring payment to the post office for them. Also please let me know how they are continuing to place bids on ebay, or do U do this for them too?"
Another bidder emails me: "sorry, but I cannot pay for these items. Someone stole my password and is bidding without my knowledge". My reply: "Wow, someone stole your password and is bidding on the EXACT same items that you already have feedback for! What a coincidence. You should have no problem convincing ebay about this". (Then filed NPB).
I send another bidder a NPB warning. He then leaves feedback for me for that item, saying what a great item it is and how fast the shipping was. I email him back to ask how he can tell it is a great item, when the item is here sitting on my desk with an envelope with his name on it. (NO reply).
The best one yet: Another bidder emails me. "When I send payment, do you need my address?"
Nope. I'll just call the Psychic Friends Network, and they should be able to tell me where you live.
posted on August 23, 2001 10:24:58 AM
Glad to hear that I'm not alone, while at the same time feel a bit sorry for those experiencing a similar problem. I'll get over it, I just thought it would be better to write then to throw the computer.
Sosoal: Best Porterhouse. Where did you go? My best friend's family owns Gibson's. Ever been? It's awsome.
posted on August 23, 2001 10:47:25 AM
We are receiving a lot of emails asking us to close our auctions early and sell off line. We are also receiving a lot of "I forgot to bid will you sell it to me anyway?" emails.
I've noticed while watching the feedbacks of other sellers that there's a lot of "wrong size....doesn't fit" or "the item doesn't fit like a size 12" complaints (even though the items have size tags and measurements are in the auctions). It seems like people think the seller also manufactures the item.
There must be an epidemic of the stupidity virus going around the ebay community lately.
posted on August 23, 2001 11:12:22 AM
In short, the buyers on eBay are becoming spoiled. They are treating our auctions like they are general merchandise purchases thru a retail store.
Many of us have come accustomed to allowing returns, refunds, exchanges etc. This is not necessarily good and could dangerous, as it goes against the general nature of auctions.
There is supposed to be some inherent risk for the buyers in an auction environment. It's part of the experience and it's a problem if this is erroded. A buyer can simply bid as high as the sky with no risk, if he knows he can return the item for refund. It's a delicate balance of good customer service, while maintaining the integrity of the auction format. There are general implied undestandings that should exist in the auction environment between the buyer and seller and the rules should not be compromised.
posted on August 23, 2001 11:34:17 AM
It's impossible to run a business for the majority if you focus on the demented minority. They will sap your energy and morale only if you let them.
posted on August 23, 2001 11:49:32 AM
I was getting so many dingbats that I finally decided it was time for an Ebay holiday. I'm not listing again until after the Labor Day holiday is over and hopefully things will settle down. Maybe these people have been out in the sun too long??!! Sometimes you just HAVE to get away from it, or YOU become THEM!
posted on August 23, 2001 01:41:15 PM
Well I think I have filed more NPB's and
FV's this month than ever and the bad news
is that I just looked at a late payer and
he has a feedback of -2 so far...yuk.
I Just can't understand what makes people
go through about half a dozen button pushing routines to enter a bid and then they seem to disappear in a puff of smoke. Perhaps this is it, mebbe I've stumbled on it - it could be that the Aliens are secreting them away ???
posted on August 23, 2001 06:43:33 PM
The best one I got this week was from Half.com about a book I sent almost two months ago.
And I quote:
Subject: My item was not of the promised quality.
Comments: It smelled bad - so that we could not read it.
Well, what the hell does that mean? It smelled bad? Smelled of what? If it smelled so bad they couldn't read it, don't ya think I would have noticed something while packing it up? This was a new book in perfect condition!
Whatever-even tho I protested, I'm sure half will debit my account. Someone just got a free book at my expense.
posted on August 24, 2001 08:29:11 PM
my buyer leaves neg for me after I completely refunded the item along with her shipping fees. so unfair, guess what the reason for the return, I sold a half - sleeved shirt with picture, she said the sleeve is not long enough to be half - sleeved, it should be called sleeve-less. Hence, the buyer called me a liar and left me a neg.
posted on August 24, 2001 10:18:38 PM
My most (un)favorite idiot is the person that does a Buy It Now and within minutes I send them an EOA email and then I either never hear from them again or its a week later before they respond, then another 2 weeks before I get their payment. Perhaps they confused Buy It Now with Lay-A-Way, I'm not sure.
posted on August 25, 2001 06:39:22 AM
Just another possibility that came to mind ...
I think I've noticed a bit of bidding fall-off over the last few days. Any chance it's due to Powerball fever? There's both the money going into that "stupid tax" AND time spent standing in line rather than web-surfing.
posted on August 25, 2001 09:05:44 PM
Had someone email me today "I am paying via C2it." About an hour later she emails "So did my item go out or not?" An hour after that "Since I havent heard from you, I am getting this item elsewhere."
I usually try so hard to be polite, even to the crazies, but this one took the cake. I emailed her back,
"1) Do you really expect me to sit at my PC on a Saturday just in case you email? 2) Since you did not send payment, did you expect me to ship without it? 3) Do you think you will find a different site which will ship your item within one hour on a Saturday without receiving payment?"
posted on August 26, 2001 05:40:53 AM
My most (un)favorite idiot is the person that does a Buy It Now and within minutes I send them an EOA email and then I either never hear from them again or its a week later before they respond, then another 2 weeks before I get their payment. Perhaps they confused Buy It Now with Lay-A-Way, I'm not sure.
Bubblewrap, I am in total agreement with you. ALL my buy it nows, and they are bidders with perfect feedbacks, have NOT sent payment and its been 3 week! And yes, they all have hte similar patter, I email them a EOA email within hours after they did a buy it now, I dont here from them in a a week! Then when I do they claim payment was sent the next day,and with all of them, its been 2 weeks! I am ready to file NPB on them! because of this I have stopped using BIN!
posted on August 26, 2001 06:15:14 AM
[QUOTE]In short, the buyers on eBay are becoming spoiled. They are treating our auctions like they are general merchandise purchases thru a retail store. [/QUOTE]
I've wondered if the general TV advertising ebay has been doing isn't bringing in people who don't have a clue (and worse -- don't seem to want to have a clue).
