posted on December 30, 2004 07:46:23 AM
I always heard ..there really are no dumb question. I beg to differ.
I would like to hear some of your REAL questions asked by bidders or potential bidders.
This one came this morning, I nearly choked on my coffee. This is a REAL question, truth is stranger than fiction.
I sell on this ID fashions. The question was about one of the swimsuits.-here goes-
Does this swimsuit have to be dry cleaned or can I wash it? You did not state the care instructions.
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posted on December 30, 2004 08:19:57 AM
In bright red letters in the auction:
Shipping is as follows:
[b]If you are in the USA, S&H is $3.00
If you are in Canada, S&H is $4.50[/b]
Naturally leads to the question:
"I am in Canada. How much is shipping?"
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Replay Media - The best source for board games, card games and miniatures on the web!
posted on December 30, 2004 08:45:22 AM
New in the original box, Cinderella and her Shoe salt and pepper set. This was a Disney Theme Park exclusive and has been retired for awhile. There are no chips, cracks or repairs.
I get the question to seller;
"does the box come with the salt and pepper set? If so, are there any chips?"
I want to answer "did you read the item description at all?"
posted on December 30, 2004 08:56:10 AM
When I ship out an order the bidder recieves notice with the date of shipment and a three sentence explination of shipment method and average transit time.
My favorite stupid question was one that was a response to that email....
Have you shipped this yet? When do you think it will arrive?
~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~
If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
[ edited by fenix03 on Dec 30, 2004 08:56 AM ]
posted on December 30, 2004 10:09:04 AM
I'm sure a lot of you sellers get this too. I state the shipping price in the item description as well in the Payments section, so it's listed twice.
Inevitably I get someone requesting an invoice or asking how much shipping is. Or while the auction is running, they email me to ask how much to send to their zip code.
I feel like replying "if you'd read my auction description you'd know." But I don't. Plus, my descriptions are always short, no more than about 10 sentences divided over two or three paragraphs to make it easy to read. I figure if there's too much to read, people won't read it. Seems some people just read the title and ask questions that are answered in the auction desription.
posted on December 30, 2004 10:18:09 AM
My favorite so far, in reply to my WBN which had my name and address in it - Could you send me your address, so I can send a check?
Favorite non-Ebay dumb question (from an adult woman) - What relation is Aunt Mary to us? Reply from her twin sister - Think about it. There's a clue in your question!
posted on December 30, 2004 11:13:21 AM
My TOS plainly states the shipping charges. I use flat rates to Zone 8 so it is never less than $5.00 including packing & insurance. The bidder emails me "what are the total charges including shipping?" Duh, Read the dazn Terms of Sale.
Life Is Too Short To Drink Bad Wine
posted on December 30, 2004 12:13:33 PM
Like all other sellers, I have had my share of the obvious questions but the one from yesterday, though the end of the year takes it to the top of "classic" questions.
"How can you tell if a record is an LP or not if it does not say on the cover "This is an LP"? The reason I ask is that I just bought a bunch at an estate sale and have no idea how to sell or describe them, also is it necessary to mention condition, they all look fine to me, any help or ideas would be appreciated."
Mean old me did not respond.(I feel that I would have to give a mini history lesson on vinyl that they should be learning on their own to sell their own stuff) But I did make a note to make sure that I do not buy from them, as I am extremely selective and precise when buying vinyl.
My most common question is: are there any light surface scratches or scuffs or any pops or clicks when playing it. It is mentioned 3 times in the auction listing and once in the auction title "Original Factory Sealed, Never Opened, Never Played"
Can you image how much more we would get done and problems that would be eliminated if people would read and comprehend.
posted on December 30, 2004 12:15:11 PM
My all time favorite is: "Can you just send me this so that I can look at it and decide if I want it?" It was a $50 carved stone Lion. Oh brother!
I felt like responding with "Sure, and why don't I send my entire inventory along with it and you just pick and choose. Just pay for what you want and keep the rest."
Kevin
posted on December 30, 2004 03:09:46 PM
Last email I read today = Will you ship a Belleek dish to me in Canada air mail in an emvelope?
After we moved from NY to New Mexico in 1965, we would go back to NY at least 1x a year for a visit. People didn't realize NM is a state and would ask, what kind of postage we used, did we need a passport and are there indians? My husband answered yes there are Indians and occassionally they have uprisings and attack, so the drivers circle the school buses until the natives calm down. All she could say was o yeah, o yeah, wow, oh yeah. At that point there was no use trying to straighten her out!!!! New Mexico magazine had a column for years - One of 50 is missing - and it was filled with similar stories.
edited to add the nm story Louise
[ edited by herbscraftsgifts on Dec 30, 2004 03:21 PM ]
posted on December 30, 2004 04:07:48 PM
I loved those questions! Lol! Makes me wonder how many dumb questions I've asked!
Here's one nonebay related: Friend calls telling me she has given birth to twins. A boy and a girl. I ask, "Are they identical twins?"
Hey what about the dumb responses from sellers? (can I say that here?) I win an auction. I email seller asking for the total and their mailing address. Seller's responds: "Thanks! I'm wrapping it now!"
posted on December 30, 2004 04:15:46 PM
Just got one from 0 feedback ebay member. The first thing in my description is the length, width and depth of the item I listed. The question " how large is this xxxx ?" Am I missing something here?
buyhigh
posted on December 30, 2004 05:24:00 PM
Oh, if we're on the topic of dumb questions, how about just dumb emails in general. Last year I listed a car on eBay for a friend of mine. It was a beautiful 1996 Mustang GT convertible. We decided to open the bidding at $3000 with a $9500 reserve if I'm not mistaken. Whatever the reserve was doesn't matter, suffice it say that it was pretty close to the actual retail price of other 1996 Mustang GT Convertibles at the time.
So on the first day of the auction, I get this email from a 16 year old guy, it went something like "hey man, luv ur car. i'd love to have it as my first car, i'm only 16, getting my license soon. could you ship it to (wherever), and can you take payments on it?"
Ummmm, yeah. Ok. First of all, a Mustang GT convertible is NOT the ideal first car for a 16 year old boy. Secondly, the opening bid of $3000 DOES NOT mean that's what the car is selling for, he failed to notice "reserve not met" or maybe he didn't know what that meant. Thirdly, as for taking payments? HAH! What does he he think this is, a finance company, maybe he should try the bank of Mom & Dad. Flipping burgers at McDonalds will not pay for a car like that. And finally, I forget where he lived, but it was at least 2000 miles away, so shipping would have been about $1000 by transport truck.
I forget what I wrote back to him, once I regained control of myself from the uncontrollable laughter. I should have suggested he go find a 1988 Volkswagen Golf Diesel or Dodge Aries. They're slow, cheap to buy and maintain. (I get sarcastic sometimes).
posted on December 30, 2004 06:13:38 PM
Just last night,,,,,When are you sending the widget? It's been way top long,,,If I don't hear a response from you I will HAVE to Post really Ugly feedback,,,,,
Well get off your lazy can an Track the UPS Number ,,,,,,The ONE I already gave you, day one, when shipped! You may want to chat with your receptionist,,Alexis,,,,,She SIGNED for it 15 days ago! Take your NEGATIVE feed back threats and STICK 'em!
posted on December 30, 2004 07:14:43 PM
Just the other night, 8 days after winning auction, "can you send me item, if I like it I'll pay for it".
Instant NPB filed
posted on December 31, 2004 07:26:28 PM
A woman placed a special order for a giraffe through my Vendio store in JUNE. She paid with a money order, I ordered the piece and mailed it to her the first week in August. It was delivered. I sent her a little note. Never heard a word from her.
Today, I get the package back. Not returned to sender, she mailed it back to me in the same box and packing with a little note.
Hi Debbie
I have purchased this item from you from your auction. I have received this item damaged. I have sent you several e-mails but got no reply. I would either like another one or a refund. Please get back to me ASAP.
Sincerely
Theresa
I may be totally wrong about this but I think she gave this to someone as a Christmas gift and they found the legs broken when they opened it. She either didn't open the package when she received it or it was broken later.
She has not e-mailed me about this. And I have no intention of refunding her money almost 6 months after the fact.
Be kind. Everyone is fighting their own secret battles.
...Author Unknown
posted on December 31, 2004 09:41:08 PM
Guy e-mails me tonight, asks about a book I have on auction.
"Can you tell me the ISBN number, I want to see if I can find the book in my local bookstore."
Uh-huh, yep, fer sure, I'll jump right on it buddy, that's the sole reason I work this hard listing items for auction sale on eBay, just to help you find the same thing somewhere else...
posted on December 31, 2004 10:07:14 PM
This has to be the one to top them all! I once had a bidder ask if I could trim the fur on a faux fur coat to reduce the weight and get lower shipping...
