posted on August 28, 2001 05:29:13 AM
Ugh. Can't please everyone, I guess. I admit, this was partially my fault, but STILL not justified, I don't think.
I auctioned a widget that was supposed to have two buckles for adjustment. They sent me the widgets with ONE buckle. This was the end of June.
Auction ends. So, I mailed my bidders, advising of the error, and offered a comparable substitution (the one widget with one buckle). To some people, one or two buckles makes no difference. To some, it does.
This person said she'd wait, no problem. She wanted the two buckle widget. She paid via credit card, which I NEVER processed.
Well, it DID drag on, so I found an alternate supplier, and got the two buckle widget from them (at a higher cost).
She finally got it last week. Yes, there was a delay, yes it was my fault for listing the auction before the widgets got here, BUT:
I offered a comparable substitute;
I did not charge her card until the item was shipped;
I kept in constant contact advising her of what was going on;
I enclosed a card giving her free shipping on her next purchase.
I would have preferred no feedback to this neutral, because it looks as if I took her money, and did nothing else to ship until August.
posted on August 28, 2001 05:44:52 AM
what did the FB say????
from what you say you never offered to let her out of the auction which should have been an option since the original item was not available anymore. to some the difference between the buckles may make a difference. she may have been one of those and never thought to ask to cancel the deal since you could not deliver the original in a timely manner.
a neutral is not a neg and frankly you can't decide what type FB you get, PERIOD. neg, pos. neutral whichever, because the buyer gets to leave what they want and say what they want. feedback is supposed to reflect each persons experience in the transaction, sounds like hers did. there is not enough room to write a full explanation of each transaction beyond a short statement. a neutral is no big deal as is a neg or three,its part of the business.....i am sure you have more important things to spend your time worrying about don't you??? its just a neutral and if folks do look at FB before bidding i am sure they will weigh the neutral against all you other FB.....
i am guessing you have no negatives as of yet, if you get one of those your loved ones better hide the rope.
[ edited by buggery on Aug 28, 2001 05:50 AM ]
posted on August 28, 2001 06:01:21 AM
Actually, I told her she could have canceled, and that it would not be a problem. She opted to wait.
I got a neg over a year ago, for delay in shipping a custom item which takes 4 weeks, which she was aware of. It was shipped within that time period. BUT, she e-mailed me as to the status on a Friday night, and left a neg after she did not receive a response by Saturday.
That was the first weekend I went on vacation in a year , and two weeks after my e-mail address had changed.
Yup, and I was annoyed at that one, too.
And, neutrals oftentimes are just as bad as negatives in many people's eyes. Especially these days, when there is quite a bit of fraud on the 'net.
I know you can't pick and choose what feedback you get, but I can pick and choose who to deal with, and I've blocked her from future auctions.
posted on August 28, 2001 06:14:25 AM
Well, considering you listed an item before you actually had it in hand, I think you perhaps got of easy with just a Neutral. Had you not done that, there would have been no trouble at all. Take your lumps, learn from it, and move on.
Normally, I don't. The point is, I ordered it from my supplier, they said it was in stock, and was on the way. I DID receive the order, right after they auction ended.
They just sent the wrong thing.
I don't list, unless 1) I have it in hand OR 2) They tell me it is in stock, and on the way.
I am not a drop shipper. I don't order my items AFTER the auction ends, and hope they are in stock like many Ebay sellers do. My supplier does not normally mess up (this is the first time in over 2000 transactions).
You just can't please everyone. I could see her being upset if I took her money and ceased communications. I did neither.
posted on August 28, 2001 06:40:30 AM
If you don't have the item, put that in your TOS. "This item is not presently in stock, but we expect it in approximately one week." If they bid and then complain, refer them to the text in the auction. if that is in your auction text they don't have a leg to stand on.
, and two weeks after my e-mail address had changed.