posted on February 18, 2004 10:51:47 AM
How commom is it to list items you do not have? I bought three costume jewelry pieces from an Ebay Sellers store. Each item had a plenty of stock (according to the listing).
Weeks later, and out $50, I ask the seller where my items are. No tracking number provided, slow to answer my emails.....
Yes, I checked the feedback for this seller. They had some negs but none recently. So I go back and check today. Negs all over the place. For the same reasons. Items not shipped, not in stock, slow emails...
The seller asks me what I want to do. She offers my money back. Says she doesn't have the items i won in stock.
What a shame, the items are really cool and hard to fine.
posted on February 18, 2004 10:59:05 AM
I think it happens often with sellers that sell the same thing over and over again. I know my inventory in Vendio is always off compared to what I actually have in stock (I can't figure out how it happens). I have had to end items that I thought I had plenty of but couldn't find. Thankfully it's only happened once where something had a bid and I had to email the bidder and explain what happened. Of course that's always the item that the supplier has back-ordered.
posted on February 18, 2004 11:12:03 AM
Recently had the same happen to me when I bought a drum for my Brother fax. Seller had over 750 FB and only a few negs.
Tracking # said it was never delivered to PO, but we know how much that is worth! He said he would reorder and send a replacement.
29 days passed and no replacement , so I notified him I wanted a PP refund and he complied. We both agreed to mutual withdrawal on the transaction.
It just happens sometime and if I was in his shoes, I would have handled it the same way.
I kept following his auctions and he finally listed a new drum 2 months later. Glad I didn't wait for the replacement!
posted on February 18, 2004 11:13:19 AM
Early on I tried many different auction management schemes: Andale, Zoovy, others I can't remember that have gone out of business.
They all claimed to manage inventory, yet actual physical inventory very quickly was out of sync with the numbers on the screen.
Now, I don't use any auction management software, and I don't list something unless I have it in my hand. Then it's tagged with the auction number.
Percentage of orders that can't be filled is less than one-tenth of one percent.
Sounds like your seller is having problems either with her computer, her auction management company or in her personal life.
posted on February 18, 2004 11:25:02 AM
As a seller, I've had this problem a few times. Here are 3 reasons why I may not have something that was on ebay.
1) I made an error in my inventory (I sell about 120+ items a week).
2) Accidentally relisted an item that I didn't realize I had sold.
3) I had several of the same item, and the last one happened to be damaged.
It happens every now and then. The main thing is to make sure the seller takes care of it immediately and either refunds you right away, or at least gives you the option of a refund or to wait until a replacement comes in. An honest seller will do everything to make it right provided it doesn't hurt themselves financially. I personally wouldn't offer a discount for the error, but some sellers do.
posted on February 18, 2004 12:29:03 PM
ESPECIALLY with drop-shipping, this can become a HUGE problemo
My only NEG came to me while selling from one of the stinky-kaakaa-poopoo-VD-banner-bandits whose concept of "real-time inventory" left much to be desired!
The day they emailed me that the item was out-of-stock it was STILL LISTED AS AVAILABLE on their pathetic-pukey-poo of a web-site.
Although I INSTANTLY refunded the bidders moola, he nailed me -- a real sweetheart
Now, all my auctions that involve drop-shipping include this blurb:
"In order to provide a wide selection of interesting bargains, I contract with a drop-shipping warehouse! In the rare event of an "out-of-stock" situation (any item which cannot be shipped within 10 BUSINESS days of payment receipt; color choices excepted), I will IMMEDIATELY refund to you 100% of your payment PLUS a $5.00 "I'm Sorry!" cash gift. If the VERY SLIM possibility of an "out-of-stock" situation unduly concerns you, PLEASE DO NOT BID!"
After much sad experience, I've found some that ARE reliable -- inventory is truly real-time, &, if something does go OOS, it is back IN STOCK within 2-3 days
posted on February 18, 2004 12:38:02 PM
dont forget if paypal is involved,there is this prompt shipping within 7 days after receving payment.
if your dropshipper does not ship promptly,you could be out of money and merchandise.
and if you are selling electronic goods which are mostly dropshipped,you could be out of a good bundle of moola
-sig file -------the lobster in the boiling pot of water who tries to prevent the others from climbing out.
posted on February 18, 2004 07:07:53 PM
I was selling wholesale case lots on consignment for a customer who contacted me throught trading assistance. He was bring me the cases each week and I do the shipping, well I had sold many cases and the money started coming in .............BUT, he was not coming with the cases. For two weeks I went to see him, call him, but no luck in contacting him, its like he just vanished off the face of the earth.
Under my other selling name I had 100% positive feedback, but that was not even my worry anylonger. My biggest worry was being booted off of Ebay for good. To make a very long story short........I wrote to each one of my buyers telling them my situation, exactly as it was, no lies, just the truth.
I told them I was returning there money and I was also sending them $25.00 extra, for any inconvience that my problem might have caused them. I even sent $25.00 to bidders who I contacted in time so they wouldnt send me any money for the auction that they won.
I was extremly lucky, each buyer gave me glowing feedback and a few called me on the phone with great understanding of what I was going through.
Believe me when I tell you it was the biggest nightmare in all the years of selling on Ebay.
Lesson Learned? You bet. Never sell what I don't see and hold in front of me as I am listing my auctions.
posted on February 18, 2004 07:14:39 PM
oooooooooo, that's a NO NO acording to e bay but,,,Sears runs out ALL the TIME......
1.Bidders NEED to !. BEFORE Buying. Thank you.
2.NPB's have No rights,, Posting. After the fact lies. BLOCKED by e bay. Upon final filing of NPB.
3.Naru's . Soooo, LONG! after 3,,,, DIFFERENT, sellers file NPB's. Negs do Nothing to NARU them. filing DOES.
4.A current bidders Geographical location i.e. STATE/ZIP/CITY needs to be known California cool Shades.
5. E bays feedback system is Insanely . A cooling period of F/B like the 20 days of filing for fees back. Soon many give up. Works for E bay. They keep X's 1000's of dollars.
posted on February 19, 2004 06:22:21 AM
when you sell for others,you better know the background of these people,the goods they bring you could be stolen from warehouses.
you may end up with FBI knocking on your door.
-sig file -------the lobster in the boiling pot of water who tries to prevent the others from climbing out.
posted on February 19, 2004 12:12:04 PM
The Seller is going to send me items I paid for except for one because she "out of stock". She promised to send me the tracking number this time. Hopefully everything will work out this time. Thanks for listening.
!. BEFORE Buying. Thank you.
. After the fact lies. BLOCKED by e bay. Upon final filing of NPB.
. Soooo, LONG! after 3,,,, DIFFERENT, sellers file NPB's. Negs do Nothing to NARU them. filing DOES.
California cool Shades. 
. A cooling period of F/B like the 20 days of filing for fees back. Soon many give up. Works for E bay. They keep X's 1000's of dollars.