posted on October 14, 2001 01:32:30 PM
You'd think it wouldn't be too much trouble for someone to start off an email with a Hi, Hello, Greetings, or something polite. And perhaps even end it with a Thank You, Thanks, Regards, or the like.
But that's too much to expect of some, I suppose.
I never ask a seller a question without a salutations and thank you. To do otherwise is curt. I wish others would know enough about basic etiquitte to do the same.
I'll put up with some things, including a rude email or two. Afterall, I want their bid. But I am no longer kissing a**. I've had a few troublesome buyers lately, and they go straight onto my blocked bidder list.
One guy from overseas? He was PO'd that I would not take Paypal on a 9.99 sale (I didn't make a dime on the sale, nor do I advertise taking Paypal). It also happened to cost $36.00 to ship, due to weight (I charged him exactly what the Post Office wanted, not a penny more).
I apologized for the cost of shipping and explained that that's what the Post Office charges, that I wasn't tacking on any handling fees. He informed me that he would be sure to check the price himself to make sure I was not ripping him off (paraphrased, he didn't word it quite that strongly). He also let me know that if I was an honest, good little ebay seller, that he would perhaps bid on my auctions again.
posted on October 14, 2001 01:41:12 PM
I get rude emails all the time. No hello's, thank you's, etc.
In my EOA emails I ask them for their complete name & mailing address.
I get this all the time:
Jane Doe PO Box 123 Mytown, NY 10121
That's it. No hello, thanks for the email, NOTHING! As a buyer I always send a note thanking them for their email, and let them know I'm glad I was the high bidder, etc. I would NEVER think of being so to-the-point.
When I ask questions, I start with Hello and end with Thank you & my name.
I recently asked a buyer how much shipping was on an item, and what method he uses to ship.
His answer: usps
That was his ENTIRE email. From a SELLER!! I asked him again how MUCH and HOW, as in Priority? 1st Class, etc?
posted on October 14, 2001 01:49:35 PM
Somewhat related, what do you all do with the dreaded status checker?
I have had a person who said he mailed his check on monday. He has emailed me daily since Wednesday asking me if I got his check and would I please email him when I send his item. The first and every time I have told him the same thing, yes I will email you the moment I get it and I will email you when I send it.
It's hard to be all smiley and friendly after a few days. I guess I could just keep cutting and pasting the same response day after day......
posted on October 14, 2001 01:58:03 PM
Hmm.. I had one of those kinds of buyers before.....
He was from Florida. He said he mailed his payment on January 31st. EVERY SINGLE DAY he emailed me.. "did you get it yet? Did you ship yet?" and every day I told him I didn't get it yet, but would let him know when I receive it and when it ships. This went on for WEEKS.
Never did receive his payment, and he NEGGED me for "stealing" his money. Funny though, that he refused to give me a tracking # from the money order. I told him to give me the phone # on the receipt and *I'D* even call and find out if it was cashed. He ignored me completely and negged me anyways. He was just a deadbeat who had no intention on paying and decided to make ME look like the bad guy.
So now when I get numerous "did you receive the payment yet?" emails from one buyer I start to get nervous that I'm dealing with another neg-happy deadbeat who just doesn't want to pay....
posted on October 14, 2001 02:57:03 PM
The only reason I agree that one should use "Hello, Goodbye, thanks etc" is because in email it is difficult to determine another's tone. If I sent an email saying, "send me the total," the other may misinterpret to be an angry tone while in fact it was friendly.
posted on October 14, 2001 03:26:30 PM
In the last 2 days have gotten more rude emails than I have ever gotten before. Not from buyers but people who are looking at the auctions and use the Ask Seller A Question button.
One was from a buyer that started out....For your information....and the further I read the got more officious and patronizing it became. She tried to tell me that the object was not green it was blue. She had one and would send me an image so I wouldn't make the same mistake again.
Now I looked at this thing again and it *is* green. I have to assume the thought didn't occur to her that it was made in more than one color. But that is beside the point.... If she thought I had made an error in the color she could have told me in a different manner, and not be so nasty about it. I hit the delete button, blocked her email address, and put her on my bidders blocked list. Not that she would bid, since I am so stupid, but you never know.
The second was from a seller. I listed something in a category I have never listed in before. Apparently this person sells in this category big time and checks out the new listings. The tone of his message was hostile and had a lot of exclamation points. It essentially said that he was sick and tired of people clogging up HIS category with listings where they haven't looked at his closed auctions first to see what the starting bids "should be",(mine was too low), and the proper way to describe and photograph the item, which of course, is his way.
I did reply to this guy. I told him his message was inappropriate and to not send me any more messages. I then blocked his email address and looked at his feedback. No fewer than 9 negs and they all had the words, "hostile, rude, and unreasonable". One had "his way or the highway" which I thought was funny and true.
posted on October 14, 2001 05:58:48 PM
I got one yesterday lecturing/scolding me about my tardiness in leaving FB.
Has anyone been noticing something in the air lately...more than the usual ire, impatience, anger, or frustration expressed on the internet or in real life? Maybe I am just externalizing my own emotions, but I feel like I'm seeing more of this. I personally keep struggling with the blues, and end up snapping at people out of frustration or just grouchiness.
posted on October 14, 2001 06:14:25 PM
Keziak is right, people are on edge and it shows in the way they do business. We have received 27 negative feedbacks this week. We received 22 negative feedbacks last week. We had never received more than 12 in a single week in all our time in business on eBay. We have not changed a single thing in the way we do our business. This feedback total represents over 1% of our feedback received.
Customers are impatient, they are rude, they are demanding and they, frankly, don't give a sh*t about anything but their little problem. I really wish I'd saved some of the emails I've been getting. One I got yesterday I do remember: 'You've always been so fast. Is there anything out of the ordinary that would cause my order to be delayed? I've been waiting over a week?'. I don't even remember what I said but I'm sure it was not very polite.
Most annoying to me is the strong upsurge in 'I am having trouble with my order and if I don't hear from you immediately I am reporting you for fraud, reporting you to safe harbor, reporting you to the Better Business Bureau, telling all my friends to never bid on your stuff again', etc etc. They feel they must threaten to get a response. In fact, at our operation, it works in an opposite way, since my staff has been told they do not have to take ANY guff from anybody, even if it's in an email. Many of these customers never do get an answer or response from me (and probably leave a neg as a result).
I'm just waiting for some bozo to mail us some laundry soap in an envelope so my office will close down completely and my 68 year old helper who opens my mail will have a heart attack over this 'anthrax' scare.
We all do what we must to stay afloat. Good luck to all of us in these trying times.
posted on October 14, 2001 06:38:13 PM
keziak and jereth: I couldn't agree with you more. I have been thinking the same myself. Crabby, short tempered, no patience, grousing, and just plain miserable. I have noticed it in myself too.
I really, really wanted to send a sarcastic scathing reply to the self important know it all woman about the green and blue.
Any other time I just brush the fools off my shoulder like lint and forget it.
I have noticed it in the supermarket, and even at Church. Everyone seems so short of patience and not in any mood to suffer fools.
I hope this passes soon. I dread the thought of going Christmas shopping.
posted on October 14, 2001 07:19:57 PM
well i have to fess up....i am one of those rude buyers and seller....i hesitate putting that i am a rude seller but i think you guys might consider me a rude seller too....i don't use caps, i hate to puntiate(sp) and hate to type more than i have to...(no training you say) i have a masters....but i HATE to follow whatever rules that are customary or 'politically correct'
{don't get me wrong....AND PLEASE DON'T start any type of cross talk belittling(sp again) me....as i am not trying to do anything except to fess up and say that i am the type of person that you are talking about....)
so now my lame excuse for not doing so....i don't want to ....and if you don't like it ....then that is your opinion and i totally understand....but please don't criticize me because YOU perceive it as rude or curt...to me it is just the way i operate and i am not going to change....i won't try to change your behavior...and please don't try to change mine....i know there are many like me out there and they don't want to come forward to admit it....
if you get someone like me with short answers, lack of punctuation etc.. it is not necessarily our intention to be rude, we just have different priorities which do not include your values....which doesn't make your opinion wrong and mine right...it just means that we have different values...
again, i am not trying to be hard to get along with...i am just stating what i am like ....so go easy on me guys (there are lots more of us out there and we are good people with different values)
ps...i only have one neg in my over 2000 feedback...i do whatever i can to please my customers
[ edited by undercovers on Oct 14, 2001 07:22 PM ]
posted on October 14, 2001 07:30:50 PM
It's easy to analyze the cryptically short emailer. They simply can't type.
For the crabby bunch, I prefer to ignore them all. It's just not worth it. That's their problem and I won't play that game.
My goal is to sell and ship merchandise and hopefully have enough happy customers to improve my bottom line. It's not a social club. I stay polite and do what's necessary to solve any so called problems. My job is to provide great service regardless of my bidder's agenda. If my bidder has a bad hair day so what? I'm not going to let him ruin mine or put me down on his level if I can help it. What's the grain of truth in his complaint? Answer it and ignore the rest.
posted on October 14, 2001 08:11:03 PM
Here's one I just got tonight:
Hi. I was just wondering if and when you are going to send me my book...
Bold type mine, at least he said "Hi".
Auction closed 10-09, only 5 days ago, he sends payment quickly (we got it yesterday) but it's a brand-new checking account--check number 106. He has 1 feedback.
But he wants it yesterday. I explained to him that most sellers would hold that check for 10 days anyway, but we would send out the book without waiting for clearance, and that I would leave feedback when the check cleared. I wanted to say "if and when it clears".
[ edited by loosecannon on Oct 14, 2001 08:21 PM ]
posted on October 14, 2001 10:54:29 PM
Oh yes, the Great Gods [sic] of eBay. The ones that twiddle and twaddle their way around the keyboard looking to bestow unsolicited information on undeserving sellers. Over the years I've heard from the Gods of Heisy, Cambridge, Fenton, Fiesta, just to name a few. Well don't waste your time on me [you know who you are!]. Even if you are correct, which is never a given, and there are ulterior motives to consider, your eMail gets the delete key in rapid fashion.
OK, you ask, why such attitude? Because, when information has been presented to me in the past, it was most often done in a condescending manner. I grew weary of the rudeness. In-fact all rude eMails generate a new position on my blocked bidder list.
posted on October 14, 2001 11:07:57 PM
The WTC "feel-good" honeymoon is over... It lasted about two weeks. I noticed toward the end of September that there weren't as many flags flying, "united we stand" sentiments, people caring about each other, etc.
Back to business as usual.
It reminds me of when I was a kid and my brother died.... All the other kids at school (4th grade) were extra special nice to me for about a month. Even the teacher, who normally was a witch, was the sweetest thing and let me turn in late homework, extra credit, etc.
But then... BAM! It was like someone flipped a switch and everything was back to normal. The bullies were after me again, the popular kids ignored me once more, the teacher was screeching at me with the same harsh tone in her voice...
posted on October 15, 2001 02:06:17 AM
a close friend recently mentioned how he was feeling on edge and irritable of late. i've caught myself feeling the same. while we all want things to return to normal, and 'business as usual,' at the same time we know it's not, even though there's a certain surface appearance of it. not surprising this has leaked into ebay as well.
most of my buyers fall in the short and businesslike to very friendly category. i prefer friendly and pleasant, but sometimes i get someone who replies with just their name and address, or a few words. the latter i just assume aren't very verbal, not being rude.
posted on October 15, 2001 06:52:02 AM
This goes on and on and on. Just got this email (edited for clarification) from an eBay user with a feedback of over 3,000. Item was sent 10/1 and has not arrived yet. Sent cross country.
"Do you mean that you sent my CD on Oct.
first? I mean, I just really think it's weird that there are a whole bunch of
other people that left negative feedback for you saying that they didn't get
their merchandise that they bid on, and things of that nature. I do hope my CD
was sent and I am going to trust that you sent it out, just like you put in
your listings that you would "trust" the bidders to send out the payment.
However, If I do not receive my CD in the next seven days, I expect a refund
for the check I wrote, However, I do not accept personal checks from people
with negative feedback. If neither of this happens, I will have to leave
appropriate feedback, contact Ebay, And I will be reporting mail fraud.
I will give you the benefit of the doubt, I trust your word that I will be
recieving my CD. Please respond with any comments you have. thank you.
sincerely,
xxxxxx"
posted on October 15, 2001 07:46:59 AMHowever, I do not accept personal checks from people with negative feedback.
Well, isn't THIS special? As I recall, Marie, you ship items before you get payment so I just love this one's attitude about NOT accepting a check from you.
posted on October 15, 2001 07:59:25 AM
The delay in priority mail is really getting out of hand.
I received seven e-mails this weekend questioning the "if & when".
The polite response to this assault is getting harder & harder!
FWIW, I have no problem with "just the facts" e-mails.
I'd rather get the response with the info than no response at all.
posted on October 15, 2001 08:08:20 AM
Well it is new moon on the 16th. I am seeing the same trend with customers - I had a problem where two labels got mixed on boxes. Both cutomers - FIRST Email (before I could even reply) -- claimed I am ripping them off -- they threaten - mail fraud, safe harbor, etc. And of course this is all over $10 items.
Yes, I am going to rip them off for 10 bucks and mess up my 7500 rating, my ebay account, my business status, my state license, etc, etc.
Is it that people are getting ripped off by more Ebay sellers or is it that these customers just have toooooo much time on there hands and have nothing better to do with their lives.
posted on October 15, 2001 11:55:48 AM
Although I believe that every email, even unpleasant ones, are an opportunity to make a new customer, some do try my patience.
But having been in retail for a number of years, I would rather have a typed insult than one face to face. At least with an email I have time to consider a more thoughtful response.
Some thoughts I have wanted to send but didn't:
"As to if and when I shipped, your check has not yet arrived, and I will ship if and when your check does."
"You saw the same item for less? Goodness, go get it, what are you wasting your precious time e-mailing me for?"
"As to whether your payment arrived, I refer you to the emails I sent yesterday, and the day before to your daily question. Are you sure you actually mailed it and to the correct address?"
"yes, re-read auction description" (to the person who wrote an email that simply asked "TAKE PAYPAL???"
Alright, got that off my chest/ I am feeling much better now. So I can go back to being nice and polite.
[ edited by litlux on Oct 15, 2001 11:58 AM ]
posted on October 15, 2001 12:27:15 PM
think it'd be better for all of us if eBay moved toward a Half.com style payment method where there's no contact between buyer and seller? Would cut out all the rudeness!
posted on October 15, 2001 06:56:31 PM
Marie - why do you ship before getting payment? Just curious. Do you get ripped off very much?
eseller - I use Amazon a lot and there is no contact between buyer and seller there. As you can imagine, seller FB is full of "never got my book!" comments, but as a way of doing business it is SO MUCH easier than ebay. Plus, sellers get paid immediately. Maybe I should take the time to re-think Billpoint, instant payment, and Checkout, considering how tired I am of the "will they ever pay me?" game...
posted on October 15, 2001 07:37:21 PM
Keziak, Jay and I originally began selling CDs through a mailing list we developed at the usenet groups for electronic and avant garde music. That is a tough group of customers (every other music fan is also a dealer in that music), but it was Jay's forte and he enjoyed it. In order to compete we began shipping when the orders were received and before the payment arrived. We had very little problem with non payers, especially as the mailing lists tended to police themselves. A simple note to all listmembers that a member had failed to pay for his purchase was enough to get the money into us most of the time.
We began shipping before payment arrived on eBay because we were accustomed to doing it that way, because we were trying to draw our old customers to this new way of selling music, and because, again, we were entering a cutthroat market and trying to establish a footing here.
Presently well over half our customers pay by Paypal, and most of those payments are almost immediate, so the mailing of the item before the payment arrives is kind of a moot point. However, we still mail 100+ packages daily that have not yet been paid for. Our rate of non-payers is small, definitely less than 5% and probably less than 3%.
The most important reason we continue to do this way now is that it truly saves us time. The customer emails us their name and address at auctions end, we open the email to see what it says and, rather than saving it, at that point we paste over the info to our mailing label program and ship the item within hours. When the payment eventually arrives we mark it paid and we're done in a matter of seconds. If we did NOT do this we would need to add another step to our process where we call up the address on the computer after payment arrives and ship the item then. It truly would slow us down.
posted on October 15, 2001 08:25:47 PM
I dont understand how buyers or sellers can be so impolite on auctions.
If your a seller, the buyer is hoping for a great product while in return bidding your item up and making you money. Grateful you should be.
If your a buyer, you are getting a great deal from a seller that you obviously want, otherwise you wouldnt be bidding. If it wasnt for the auction, you may have to pay full price somewhere else. Once again, grateful you should be.
posted on October 16, 2001 01:19:01 AM
Umm... Well, I was considering sending off an email tomorrow night (Tuesday), but after reading this thread I certainly don't want to be labled a "dreaded status checker".
An auction I won ended on 10/11. On 10/12 I received the EOA. I immediatly paypal'd them the money (yes, they take paypal) and replied to their EOA in a separate email. They replied to my email saying they "would keep an eye out" for my payment and send a notice when it shipped. Now, I am not in a hurry for the item, and don't care if they wait a couple of days before shipping, but I would like to know the my payment made it there and didn't end up in never-never land.
Am I out of line? Or how long should I wait to enquire?
