posted on September 25, 2004 04:55:25 PM
I guess the all time favorite was for an item whose title indicated it was NEW IN SEALED BOX: Is it new or used?
I auctioned off some old laptop batteries where the auction included the following text (verbatim): "These batteries appear to be clean and without cracked cases. However, we have not tested them and make no representations as to their ability to hold a charge. They are being sold as-is with no warranties and no returns." This was even underlined in the listing.
Phone call (not even an email): "So, if I get these batteries and they don't hold a charge, I can return them, right?"
posted on September 26, 2004 05:10:29 AM
cashinyourcloset
LOL! Actually,in all fairness, most people think diameter (measuring inside the round object across) is the same as the circumference (measuring around the object). Seventh grade math was LONG ago.
I keep the following numbers handy for reference and note both measurements in the auction:
circumference = diameter x 3.1416
diameter = circumference x .31831
I have the word "condition" bolded in my auctions and that's where I note if the item is new or used. I get a lot of questions regarding the "newness" of an object. Bidders just don't read the auctions. The ones that irk me the most are those asking for shipping costs. If it's not stated in the auction because it's a heavy object, a calculator is included in the auction so they can see what the shipping cost it. Most would rather I do it for them.
Cheryl
. . .if you still try to defend the infamies and horrors perpetrated by that Antichrist- I really believe he is Antichrist- I will have nothing more to do with you and you are no longer my friend.. . - War and Peace, Tolstoy
posted on September 26, 2004 11:50:20 AM
"Hi, I saw your widget on ebay, and my son would love it for his birthday, however, I simply cannot afford to buy this for him. I was wondering if you would just send it to me for free?"
posted on September 26, 2004 12:01:11 PM
I guess we all get them, I listed some china as NEW, never been used!!. So I get an email asking "What condition is this china in?" Oh Yea!!
Life Is Too Short To Drink Bad Wine
posted on September 26, 2004 12:25:20 PM
Cheryl, I take your point. Sometimes I don't remember things from grade school (I'm 53 years old). However, I'd be mortified to ask the question... meaning that I can picture myself forgetting whether it's diameter, radius, or circumference, and I can picture myself having to Google to find out, but I'd rather go to bed hungry than email the question to a seller.
I guess, though, giving them the benefit of the doubt, maybe they weren't sure I knew the difference
[ edited by cashinyourcloset on Sep 26, 2004 12:25 PM ]
[ edited by cashinyourcloset on Sep 26, 2004 12:30 PM ]
posted on September 26, 2004 12:29:20 PM
This thread reminds me of the general discussions we partners have about how counter-intuitive it is that someone won't read but will type. I understand laziness (my wife would say I understand it only too well), but it seems that both in terms of effort and intelligence required, reading is easier than writing.
posted on September 26, 2004 01:45:03 PM
sanmar- you know, i actually think that isn't really a dumb question. many people on ebay have bought "new" items on ebay only to find they were items that were returned because they were damaged or defective. i've bought items as new only to find one piece missing or cracked, etc. i wouldn't put it past a dishonest seller to list something as "new" and then ship it with insurance only to file a claim that something was stolen or broken. in today's world, anything can happen.
posted on September 26, 2004 05:08:10 PM
I have bought a number of widgets that were described as "perfect", "excellent", "mint", or "life new" only to find them dirty, broken, or incomplete. I wrote one seller and said this "excellent" widget is torn and dirty. The answer was "If you cared about the condition you should have written to ask about it." What was I supposed to ask. "Is it really excellent or do you lie?"
-----o----o----o----o----o----o----o----o
“The illiterate of the future will be the person ignorant of the use of the camera as well as of the pen.”
Maholy-Nagy, Vision in Motion, 1947
posted on September 26, 2004 05:48:27 PM
Re: "What was I supposed to ask. 'Is it really excellent or do you lie?'" Well, that is what people keep asking us. If we say "Guaranteed authentic Louis Vuitton." Full refund, etc. we'll get at least one email asking us "Is it really authentic?"
I'm always tempted to answer that no, it's not authentic, and we lied to everyone else who looked at our auction, but since you asked so nicely, we are going to let you in on the secret -- it's not authentic, and we don't really offer a full refund, etc.
Either I'm a liar or I'm not. Either believe my feedback or don't. But why waste time (for both of us) asking me about what I've already stated.
Having said all that, it would be wrong to describe something as excellent and then claim that someone should have asked if they really cared. Maybe all of the dumb emails I get are from customers who previously bought from that guy, and are trying to cover their bases
I guess sometimes it's a close call, and then I don't mind the questions. Once we listed a mesh bag as in "excellent condition for a 1929 bag." We included probably 10 photos which showed any imperfections. Buyer wanted to return it, and we decided it wasn't worth the hassle to argue over precisely what excellent condition for a 75 year old handbag means. As so often happens, we relisted it and got much more for it the second time Good karma!
posted on September 26, 2004 09:12:54 PM
I have a few items that are too large to ship so I have them listed as must be picked up locally only, in very big and bold letters.
So I get a dummy ask, how much to crate it and ship it to Los Angeles. Stupid Californians.
posted on September 27, 2004 08:38:11 AM
I've been overwhelmed with emails lately that ask me if their items have been shipped. I normally ship twice a week, and for some strange reason, that hasn't been good enough for people. I have one guy who I shipped an item to on 9/11 and he hasn't received it. It was shipped via Media Mail, as noted in the auction, and is just now being processed at his hometown processing center according to USPS. He has demanded a refund because, "There is no excuse for it to take 3 weeks". I emailed him back with an explanation that I don't control USPS's delivery times, and he can verify the post date on the package. I'm sure he'll complain all the way to the end, and probably neg me because he has done nothing but whine. He thought he was purchasing a DVD box set, that doesn't even exist, when he was simply buying a collectors box to put the entire DVD collection inside. It was sold seperately and never had dvds, which is completely and clearly noted in the auction description. I had to explain that to him as well after he paid and the item was shipped. Too many bidders need too much coddling lately. They want to read only what they want to believe, and don't read my entire description.
Well, I just threw it onto the floor and it's now in 22 pieces. The largest piece is 2" x 3" and is shaped like a piece of pie... The cord, which was 3-feet long, is now in 36 one-inch pieces.
It still won't qualify as Media Mail when I ship it to you, but the good news is that you don't have to spend money on the insurance...
Wayne
Never explain -- Your friends do not need it and your enemies will not believe you anyway.
~ Elbert Hubbard
posted on September 28, 2004 02:39:01 PM
This topic is a great one...even though we also list all S/H info, etc. in our ad descriptions, AND have a scrolling "marquee" that rolls across the screen that indicates..."PLEASE READ TERMS BEFORE BIDDING..."..we STILL get people asking questions that are answered in the ad description. (and I hate to say so, but it's usually American bidders). We practice the "KISS" policy of marketing to our customers (Keep It Simple Stupid)...and even then we still get the impatient rude ones...but whaddya gonna do?
The Vendio email sorting program is a great one where you can prepare your "reply" to folks like this (in advance), and simply CLICK the "response" (which is inserted into the body of your email reply to the customer)...we don't take them to task, but respond back in a polite professional tone, and kindly remind them of the TOS, which they "might have missed" in the ad description. Even though it's an annoying practice (when people ask stupid questions), it's all part of doing business on the net (remember, there's still newbies signing on every day...and if they got $$$, you want them to spend it on your auctions/or at your store...it pays to be nice and help...we were all newbies once, right?)...
posted on September 30, 2004 06:04:33 PM
Cashin closet, I get it all the time. I have tried to cover every base, but still I get asked Is it used? Is it dirty?
My auctions state--THIS GOWN IS ***NEW*** NOT A -SAMPLE, NEVER TRIED ON STILL IN THE FACTORY PACKAGING THEREFORE, IT DOES NOT HAVE ANY HOLES, STAINS, RIPS, TEARS, ODORS, OR MAKEUP SPOTS
posted on September 30, 2004 07:54:36 PM
Question: Is the xxxx genuine fur or is it faux?
Listing title: "Genuine Fur. . ."
In listing: "Rabbit Fur"
Question: How old is this item?
In listing: Condition: Brand new in box.
Sometimes I wonder why I bother writing a description at all. If they're asking a question and the answer is in the listing title, I'm at an even bigger loss.
Cheryl
. . .if you still try to defend the infamies and horrors perpetrated by that Antichrist- I really believe he is Antichrist- I will have nothing more to do with you and you are no longer my friend.. . - War and Peace, Tolstoy
posted on September 30, 2004 08:13:28 PM
Some of these emails may not be from dumb bidders. The "ask seller a question" function is a great way to harvest seller email addresses for spammers. I recall a thread about a year ago in which someone in Australia was doing this on a grand scale. Might be worth checking the headers on some of these really off the wall questions before you answer.
A $75.00 solid state device will always blow first to protect a 25 cent fuse ~ Murphy's Law
posted on September 30, 2004 08:40:11 PM
Here are some questions I got just from this month.
I listed a flat shipping charge within the U.S.A. of $5.00 in the auction description. It is in large, bright yellow very hard to miss. So the question I get is, "How much is shipping to Ohio?"
Another auction started at a $250.00 bid price. So the question I get is, "Just how much do you expect to get for this?"
Another auction was at $35.00 with $8.00 shipping charge plainly displayed. So the question I get is, "I'll buy this from you for $20.00 if you include the shipping for free".
My favorite for the month of September was from a guy in England who wanted to know if he could have items that he wins in the USA shipped to me. Then if I would repackage these items into one box and ship it all to him. He figured he would be able to save a bunch of money on shipping charges that way. The items he was looking at buying from other people are the same that I sell, but he can get them cheaper from them. However my overseas shipping charges are cheaper, so if I wouldn't mind.....
posted on October 1, 2004 08:22:59 AM
My SO is looking to replace his recumbent bike and found this in an auction this morning... I LOVE the seller's reply.
...one of those "How dumb are you?" kind of e-mails?
The question was to a guy selling a 1600 dollar bike.
Questions from other buyers for this listing
Q: Hello,I am interested in the immediate purchase of your item .I am a registered seller purchasing and sales agent based in Africa.One of my clients has placed an order for this particular brand and hence the need to negotiate with you on the sales. Please get back to me with your asking price so that i could forward it to my client for onward assessment.Immediately a response is recieved ,reviewed and terms accepted,I will need your physical mailing,Telephone numbers and the name with you want the payment addressed.A United States Bank check will be shipped to your address.This check is a united states bank certified cashiers check that is cashable the same day you make the deposit in your bank.This payment will be for the sales price of the item,my commission as the purchasing agent the shipping fee for the item, All you will need do is deduct the sales price for the item and send the excess fees meant for my commission.Feel free to ask question through email I await your reponse. Answered on Sep-26-04
A: You can follow the terms of the auction. Have a interesting day.
***
Now, I'm wondering,
Do they have turnip trucks in Africa??
