posted on December 10, 2001 09:22:48 PM
My husband was ill and then put into intensive care. For almost 2 months I had not idea what my home was like..I literally lived at the hospital. I used a friends laptop to keep in touch with my ebay custonmers. I had almost 60 items that needed to be shipped and kept my customers updated constantly. I kept asking for their support and patience. I did the best I could with the severe situation. Only now that my husband is finally home and I have shipped everything out. Now everyone is posting negatives and filing fraud complaints on me. This really sucks. I had a great rating (over 400) until the tragedy struck my life. I did everything I could do to deal with my customers. I am beginning to think that people just don't care about their fellow human beings. Didn't the September 11th tragedy change anyone? Sellers have things happen in their lives that they cannot control and if they do everything they can while they deal with things..it just doesn't seem fair that people are so cruel! Anyone got any incite on this or perhaps some support or information to help others who may have to deal with similar things?
While I believe you (after all, why else would you post here) I think most just would not. Not much you can do about the negs, as far as the fraud, if you have shipped out, then no worries, but if you have not, you need to refund ASAP. How many negs do you have? If I got a lot because of a crisis, I would probably consider starting over on Ebay.
posted on December 10, 2001 10:07:30 PM
Hi Peg,
I'm glad he is home and better. Hang in there. With a high feedback rating your customers will see past negs. You might consider putting info on your "me" page about what happened and then when you start selling again you can direct people to your page to help give you a chance to explain what happened. I know that it probably feels like people don't understand, but really most of them do.
Hang in there. With everything you've been going through you have perspective that most people don't have. You know what is really important.
posted on December 11, 2001 12:47:46 AM
I looked and it truly isn't that bad yet, unless you expect the negatives to get worse? You can some out of this quite easily. If you can afford to, buy a bunch of cheap $2-3 items and get the negatives buried. I did that once when I get negged by a total whacko. Put a small paragraph in your auctions stating what happened and people will forgive. You have to remember that there are sellers on ebay who have horrendous %5 negative feedback, people still buy.
I can understand your situation. It's hell to be sick, or watch someone you care about be sick.
I agree with hcross. I would put a small briefly worded paragrhph at the end of my auction description indicating the situation. If it were me, I would use something like this.
"Recently my husband of XX years was hospitalized for a period of 2 months with xxxxxxx. He's now been discharged form the hospital and is doing fine. During this time, I fell behind in some of my ebay responibilites. This may have caused alarm to some of my valued customers. It's important to note that all of my buyers have received their items as promised. I really enjoy my positive reputation as a seller on ebay and will strive to continually bring my buyers the very best in products and service, and welcome new and old customers to my auctions. Thanks for your understanding in this matter!"
This is longer than some may wish to use. However, it covers all areas of the situation. I would use this method for a month of so, until the negative feedback is buried in the past, then take it out. There is no real need to keep asking for forgiveness after a period of time.
I think that people are generally forgiving when they know the situation. Also try the ides of buying the cheap items. This gives other ebays the idea that you are repsponible and pay when required. Good Luck!
posted on December 11, 2001 06:21:02 AM
Hi Peg,
Glad your husband is home,I'm sure we all wish him well.Just a few of my thoughts:
First, I wouldn't put anything in my auctions about this problem. many people buy without looking at feedback, that might cause them to look at yours.
I would reply to all negs with the same reply..something like ..family illness,item shipped,thanks for your understanding.
Last..this is just ebay...your efforts need to be your family, and getting yourself and husband over this illness.Count your blessings,enjoy the holidays,and best of luck to you.
posted on December 11, 2001 09:52:21 AM
I join with the others in wishing you and your family the best.
I agree with radioguy4. I would only respond to the FB and not mention anything in my auctions. However, I wouldn't be too quick to bury the FB because if others do look at your FB you want them to see your explaination.
I would probably say something like:
serious family illness-shipped late-sorry for the delay
This would allow anyone looking at your FB to see there was a reason for the delay, you did indeed ship and you apologized! What more could anyone expect?
If a potential buyer passes on your auctions after reading the FB left and your explaination, you'd probably be better off without them anyway.
posted on December 11, 2001 06:19:47 PM
When my father became very ill then died I fell behind with my major supplier. This was the company I bought almost everything from for my B&M. They cut off my credit line and make me pay cash cod now ... after 20 years!
I found a new supplier ... and am sending them a link to my thread.
The moral of this story is ... bad things happen sometimes. Sometimes others don't care. It really is their loss. Be grateful you still have him ... give him a hug for me!
I agree ... respond very calmly to the feedback with something like ....
Items shipped late after family medical crisis. Sorry. Check my other feedback.
posted on December 11, 2001 08:15:28 PM
I have often wonder why we as sellers don't use ebay's about Me page to inform buyers and friends what is happening. I know that probably the buyers never think to check it but maybe in our description we can put a sentence in there stating what is happening. I know I write in there when I am on vacation. I also give another email address that will give them any information that they need. In mine I have my Guarantee. I don't know if anyone reads it but it is there.
posted on December 12, 2001 08:18:49 AM
While I sympathize with your situation, your bidders have probably had too many people lie to them to trust what you say. They are far away and can't see what is happening to you. I have never had so many sick people and sick computers as when I try to get a payment from someone. These are people who always manage to see the complaints I file and manage to bid on other auctions but otherwise ignore me. Tammy
posted on December 12, 2001 10:11:38 AMI am beginning to think that people just don't care about their fellow human beings.
It appears from your post that you have no firiends or family that offered assistance to you in your time of need, sad. Usually so many people come out of the woodwork wanting to help in some way and I'm sorry you didn't have that support.
Just a reminder to all of us that bad things happen to good people and we need to have a back up plan. If we are to run our auctions like a business, then we must act like a business.
I stop for a latte at a small privately owned coffee shop, nearby. One of the owners was in a serious accident and the other owner was by his side for about 3 weeks. Guess what? The coffee shop did not close down. They had a back up plan for others to cover in their absence.
Printing invoices, laying products out with them and then letting someone ship is not a bad thing. If we need to write a step by step hard copy of how to do the end of auction stuff from beginning to end, then we should, don't you think?
I'm so glad your husband is okay, that's what's really important. Now go write up a business plan that includes coverage for emergencies
Let's all be responsible adults. If I sent you money and didn't have the product 60 days later, no excuse in the world would stop me from being upset.
posted on December 12, 2001 10:34:19 AM
I want to thank everyone for their advice given here. It is much appreciated!
I had a backup plan but it just wasn't feasable due to all the other things that also took place at the same time. (Trust me..you don't want to know) It would make a great mini-series movie of the week. LOL
I have moved on now and am preparing to relaunch in January again. In the mean time I am rethinking my goals, etc. for ebay and all that is involved. I can say that in the year since I've begun ebay...you never stop learning.
Thanks for the support! I am very glad auctionwatch added these forums to their site. It really does help for people to get help and/or information they need to carry on.
posted on December 12, 2001 07:48:29 PM
Hi Peg, you poor kid, i understand & this added a lot of stress to you when you needed to take care of other things.
<br />Any caring person will understand,just respond professionally to the comments with info of what happened..for more info click on your me page..
<br />Yes i too wonder why more people don't use it more. you could even get a one paragraph letter on the doctors stationary take a pic & put it on the me page if you feel that strongly.send a copy to ebay,& email it to all of the negs.
<br />some day those people will understand when something like this happens to them.
<br />one thing, you could have made a quick plea for help at ebay message boards great people would have helped with emails,ending auctions for you,of course easy to think of that now.
<br />Some people are basically uncaring, one of my bidders years ago had emergency surgery,went into a coma...she also was a seller. her sis emailed me(could hardly turn on a computer or email much less anything else) i helped her many hours closing auctions,etc.she was young & took over the house 3 kids(one a baby)etc.before going in the coma her sis was so worried about her 500 perfect feedback.well she wrote & i wrote ebay repeatedly neither of us even got a canned response..nothing..nothing..she got mean emails from bidders and tons of bad scathing comments like LIar,sure she's in a coma..etc....i finally told her not to care,she had sent everything out & did her best.
<br />the good news is 8 months later her sis came out of the coma..learning to talk again..
<br />good luck to you! i would buy from you in a heartbeat..ever notice people that have been through a lot are the nicest & most caring? good luck & happy holidays<br />
[ edited by timetravelers on Dec 12, 2001 07:50 PM ]
posted on December 12, 2001 08:07:26 PM
Hello
We all need a motto. here is mine.
"It is not life or death unless it IS life or death" Please note eBay was not included.
Shut down your computer and go spend some time with your (husband) treasure.
Merry Christmas
(and enjoy the best present you have got for years)
posted on December 14, 2001 09:38:15 AM
I say, It is written right in the Bible (some where) Do unto others as you'd have them do unto you. And then slam them right back in the face with a BIG red NEGATIVE! Then your response. Hot triggered idiots. I say it right on every e mail I send in my winning bidder notice. ********Feed Back, I give what I get. ****** 715 positives and ten negs. 3000 sales. Nail e'm. Tip: never as a seller give feed back first! Happy Holidays.
posted on December 14, 2001 11:45:26 AM
Just had to add my motto since I am procrastinating listing auctions this morning.
"Very few things in life really matter, but those few things matter greatly." I repeat this to myself as needed. It keeps everything in persective (even ugly negs).
:0)
