posted on March 19, 2002 10:18:51 AM
I sold an item that I had several of. Once I got a buyer, and shipped the next day, I relisted another of the same item. When the buyer got the item, he claimed it was the wrong item, even though it was described correctly.
So he made a claim to Half.com. I was instructed to reply, but the link was broken. I responded to [email protected] and was told a step-by step procedure to get to the page to respond to. Again, the links were broken and I couldn't get there. I told them so again, all with emails.
Then I was sent a message saying since I never replied to the buyer's complaint, they were refunding the price PLUS shipping PLUS a shipping credit for him to return it, and they did so before he returned the item. It's been 10 days and he hasn't returned it yet.
So I explained this on the phone 800-545-9857 and the Half.com lady said to hold the phone and she would call him. His # was no longer in service. So her solution: She was going to email him and tell him to return the item.
I objected strongly and mentioned I had done everything correctly and so far I was out 2 shipping fees and the item. She said things were slow at half.com because of the "merger" and that was all she could do and now she had to answer the next call, goodbye.
posted on March 19, 2002 02:09:23 PM
I emailed the buyer after he found my email address and emailed me (HalfDot tries to keep the buyer and seller seperated and all everything to go through them) and he stated he would not ship my item back until I sent him money for return postage. I called Halfdot with this info and they agreed to pay the buyer the shipping to return it to me and said they would email him with this proposition.
So it looks like after doing my job perfectly and making no mistakes, I will only be out the $4.00 I paid for shipping initially, plus the loss of my inventory for 6 weeks.
That's not very good service for a company that takes 15% of the sales price. At least they don't do chargebacks when the buyer's credit card is bogus (do they?)
posted on March 19, 2002 04:31:01 PM
The links are usually available directly on Half's site. Email links are notoriously problematic if you use a small window or a less than competent email client. I have lots of problems with hotmail links.
My problem ratio on Half has been less than .5% in sales and about 5% with my purchases.
Chalk it up to experience. Most transactions work out fine.
posted on March 19, 2002 04:43:04 PM
Dear mballai:
I know how to click a link.
Your statistic leaves me cold. Half.com runs the show, gives me no control, let's the buyer pick my pocket, and all you can do is say, Don't worry, your pocket doesn't get picked very often.
posted on March 20, 2002 01:13:02 AM
Hey XXYYZZZooo, Half.com is terrible. I just got another problem. I mailed this rare video game on 2/14. Item sells much higher at ebay, but I didn't know it. I should have not send it, but to be a good seller I did. Doesn't pay to be a good seller. ) I send it out with deliverly confirmation on 2/14 (same day). Today, I get another negative rating! The crook said "I did not receive this item which I needed in time for a birthday gift. seller never shipped it. untrustworthy". Well lets see (1) I did ship it and got the deliverly confirmation to prove it. In fact, i shipped it day early. (2) the buyer refused the packed on 2/21! Now, this witch wanted in time for some idiots birthday, so she got cheap and choosed mediamail and didn't get it on time for she refused it. which is like throwing it away for mediamail the package WILL NOT come back to me, it's thrown away. (3) she file claim, which is that I am out of a product, out of the shipping fee, out of the item and money will be returned. So I got screwed for selling a rare game lower than what it's worth? I gave this witch a bargain and she refused (thrown away) my package only to place lies on my feedback and does a charge back. I have no way of telling my future customers (if I will ever get any) for Half.com loves hurting us sellers with this system. They will tell you to feed the customers with your food (product) only to steal the food from your plate later with pay. This happen to me 4 times since October (which got to be a worlds record). I know a friend who works at a return department on Targets, she tells me she get 50% more non-legit on returns this year, so had to get more stern on returns WITHOUT a recipt.. I think people are trying to take advantage of us sellers and half.com is the place. I am out $20 bucks and If this keeps up I can't pay my rent nor get medicine for my sick son. ):
[ edited by ironking on Mar 20, 2002 01:14 AM ]
posted on March 20, 2002 05:59:25 AM
Although I have done very well on Half, I am selling more on eBay lately because Half is experiencing the usual transitionary issues.
FWIW I did not say you didn't know how to click on a link. Read what I said, not what you imagined I said.
Also, you really have to get out of the mindset of making more out of a single transaction than it is worth. Bad transaction happen every day everywhere. Is it really worth having a cow over? Even if you have the misfortune of more bad transactions, you are still letting the jerks ruin your day. Don't let 'em.
I agree that Half is not seller friendly and that their service stinks. If it continues, they will lose the sellers that make their business viable.
posted on March 20, 2002 09:07:35 AM
Undeliverable Media mail should be returned to sender. If you send something BOUND PRINTED MATTER, then it wil get trashed if undeliverable.
BTW, the clerks at my Post office often offer the Media mail customer the choice of Bound Printed Matter if the item is a book. I read the description carefully in the regulations for this and from what i read a book is NOT elegible for this rate. But the IBM computers the cleks have seem to offer this choice, so the error is made. Sometimes the rate is cheaper and sometimes it is more than Media mail. I always choose Media Mail.
posted on March 20, 2002 09:12:32 AM
Add "Return Postage Guaranteed" beneath your return address. BPM will then be returned. I haven't yet had one and I rarely use BPM, but it will save your hide if the Post Office elects to mail something BPM because of the computer's choice.
posted on March 20, 2002 09:16:14 AM
It's not the computer's choice. it's the customer's choice. The computer offers that choice in error in my opinion.
posted on March 20, 2002 09:19:55 AM
half.com is great for problem free transactions. As soon as there is a problem, it can be a nightmare indeed for sellers. The system is way stacked against them, and I am kind of surprised that there is not more fraud. I leave my email info on my invoices so I try to deal with problems directly with my customers instead using half.com - I've avoided any real problems, the biggest problem I had worked in my favor, returned package, and I never could find a way to contact the buyer. I think after the transaction, we should be able to at least know their email address!
posted on March 20, 2002 09:37:36 AM
I have another one now where the buyer claimed a Sega Genesis game didn't work. It took them 2 months to return it and it works perfectly (maybe they mean they got tired of the game). So I've emailed halfDot and reported the game is in mint condition and plays flawlessly. What do you think they will say or do (if anything) since I'm out the sale and the shipping fee?
posted on March 20, 2002 09:39:52 AM
2 months, that is crazy. There should be a shorter time limit for returns. Sounds like they used you as a free rental service.
I send it out with deliverly confirmation on 2/14 (same day). Today, I get another negative rating! The crook said "I did not receive this item which I needed in time for a birthday gift. seller never shipped it. untrustworthy". Well lets see (1) I did ship it and got the deliverly confirmation to prove it. In fact, i shipped it day early. (2) the buyer refused the packed on 2/21! Now, this witch wanted in time for some idiots birthday, so she got cheap and choosed mediamail and didn't get it on time for she refused it. which is like throwing it away for mediamail the package WILL NOT come back to me, it's thrown away. (3) she file claim, which is that I am out of a product, out of the shipping fee, out of the item and money will be returned. So I got screwed for selling a rare game lower than what it's worth? I gave this witch a bargain and she refused (thrown away) my package only to place lies on my feedback and does a charge back. I have no way of telling my future customers (if I will ever get any) for Half.com loves hurting us sellers with this system. They will tell you to feed the customers with your food (product) only to steal the food from your plate later with pay. This happen to me 4 times since October (which got to be a worlds record). I know a friend who works at a return department on Targets, she tells me she get 50% more non-legit on returns this year, so had to get more stern on returns WITHOUT a recipt.. I think people are trying to take advantage of us sellers and half.com is the place. I am out $20 bucks and If this keeps up I can't pay my rent nor get medicine for my sick son. ):