posted on February 1, 2005 11:33:51 AM
I have to vent somewhere. I don't buy a lot on eBay because I mostly sell. When I have, 99% of the sellers have been great. I bought something last Monday (the 24th), paid for it promptly (right when the auction closed) and paid for Priority Mail. Unlike a lot of bidders, I read the description and terms. Auction states item is shipped within three days. Great. Now, this seller lives about 3 hours from me so even if it was mailed Priority on Friday (which is 4 days), I should have had it by Monday.
Anyway, I emailed the seller (using Ask the Seller a Question) on Wedsnesday asking for a ship date estimate. If I have an idea of when it will arrive, I can arrange to go home on my lunch hours so its not left sitting on the porch. No reply. I again emailed (this time through my email) on Sunday. Still, no reply. In the meantime, I've noticed people whose auctions ended after mine have gotten their items and have left feedback.
Now, I realize the seller probably didn't get what he or she wanted for the item - I did get a deal. Not my problem. It's happened to me. That's neither here nor there. What really irks me to no end is their not answering my emails. I've been more than polite explaining why I'd like to know if it's been shipped and I think I waited long enough between emails. And here it is, 8 days since the auction closed and still no response and no item. It's not like the package is coming cross country. It's also not like I paid for Parcel Post. I paid decent money for it to arrive in a timely manner.
Perhaps it's sellers like this that are ruining it for the rest of us. Or, maybe I'm overreacting. Feel free to tell me so.
Cheryl
"No drug, not even alcohol, causes the fundamental ills of society. If we're looking for the source of our troubles, we shouldn't test people for drugs, we should test them for stupidity, ignorance, greed and love of power." ~ P.J. O'Rourke
posted on February 1, 2005 11:47:08 AM
File a PayPal dispute - bet they will answer you then
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If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
posted on February 1, 2005 12:50:35 PM
I agree with you Cheryl. There is no good excuse for not answering an email, let alone not fulfilling the sales contract. We have all been shortchange on a sale, which is our own fault, not the buyers. I have kicked myself several times, but always ship in a timely manner.
posted on February 1, 2005 12:57:27 PM
Have you contacted them through ebay's ask a question? If not, try that. I know there are some pretty agressive spam blockers that block legitimate email. If you paid with paypal, I think no contact is enough to file a dispute, it will make them take notice in case they are not getting their email. I do a little buying too, and am amazed at how indifferent some sellers are. I try to ship the next business day, two at the most. My auctions end Sunday night, and I try to get them all shipped on Monday, making for a very busy Sunday and Monday. Get lots of compliments on that, and I guess compared to others it shows. I believe it definitely helps in getting repeat business, because I have 7600 unique positives, but over 14,000 total - Soon my total will be more than double my unique.
posted on February 1, 2005 01:04:52 PM
You have to wait 10 days to file the Item Not Received Dispute. I will try it if I don't hear from him by then. If he couldn't ship right away, that's fine. What pizzez me off is his not replying to let me know.
Cheryl
"No drug, not even alcohol, causes the fundamental ills of society. If we're looking for the source of our troubles, we shouldn't test people for drugs, we should test them for stupidity, ignorance, greed and love of power." ~ P.J. O'Rourke
posted on February 1, 2005 05:09:52 PM
If they were a decent seller,they would have thanked you for your payment right after you sent the payment and told you then when it would be shipped. Makes you wonder if its one of these sellers who sells stuff they haven't even ordered yet.
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Two men sit behind bars,one sees mud the other sees stars.
It was a vintage item. But, you are right. I let my buyers know when I've received their payment and when I've shipped it. Some sellers don't practice good customer service. It's a shame, but it makes the rest of us look bad.
Cheryl
"No drug, not even alcohol, causes the fundamental ills of society. If we're looking for the source of our troubles, we shouldn't test people for drugs, we should test them for stupidity, ignorance, greed and love of power." ~ P.J. O'Rourke
posted on February 1, 2005 07:27:17 PM
As an eBay buyer, I’m almost to the point of hanging it up. Mind you, I’ve been on eBay since 1997 and I’ve purchased (and sold) many things. I now predominately purchase inventory for my store. But in the last year or so, it seems more and more of my purchases have been problems. Here are a few of my experiences that occurred just last month:
Received a new coat that was advertised as a "Charter Club" brand but wasn’t. When I angrily emailed the seller telling him I didn’t want it, he told me to send it back and he would reimburse me, including all shipping. I immediately sent it back (with DC) and waited for my PayPal credit. When that didn’t happen (and after numerous emails to this lousy seller), I filed a chargeback, which of course was denied by PayPal (because I had received something). I even called PayPal and told them that I could PROVE I mailed it back (had a copy of the priority shipping label off the USPS web site and the DC tracking number which tied into the shipping label). Even told them I had our emails showing the seller agreed to the refund. They didn’t give a rat’s a$$. As such, I mailed everything to DiscoverCard and a week later, Voila! - Received an email from PayPal stating I had money waiting to be claimed. Of course, I wasn’t refunded my shipping back to the seller. PayPal is equal opportunity when it comes to screwing people.
Received 1 quilt and 1 sham even though it was advertised as a set having two shams. Seller did not respond to my emails and yes, I even sent one through eBay’s Ask The Seller. Since I received something, I already know that PayPal will disallow my dispute. And it’s too heavy to send back and not get reimbursed for the shipping.
Received a printer without the power cord even though it was advertised as having all the cords (and it was in the picture). Without offering any explanation, seller requested I call around my area to find one and she would reimburse me. I called everyone within a 30-mile radius, and no one had one (apparently Canon cords are hard to come by). I was lucky in that the seller did eventually mail one. However no apology or even a thank you was offered.
Seller waited TWO WEEKS to ship out a printer cartridge. It was actually sent out on the day I emailed him asking where it was. And again, no apology offered.
That's awful! I always respond to problems and always work to resolve them. Sorry to hear you've had so many problems.
I've learned there are some thing you don't buy on eBay.
Cheryl
"No drug, not even alcohol, causes the fundamental ills of society. If we're looking for the source of our troubles, we shouldn't test people for drugs, we should test them for stupidity, ignorance, greed and love of power." ~ P.J. O'Rourke
posted on February 2, 2005 09:31:13 AM
Well, just heard from the seller. It took a threat to file an Item Not Rec'd dispute. He thanked me for being so rude and said he's been out of town visiting a sick relative. Funny, auctions that ended after mine and on the same day have been rec'd by their winners. Feedback tells the story. That'll teach me to be rude.
He'll probably leave me lousy feedback even though I paid right away. I'm not leaving any until he does.
Cheryl
"No drug, not even alcohol, causes the fundamental ills of society. If we're looking for the source of our troubles, we shouldn't test people for drugs, we should test them for stupidity, ignorance, greed and love of power." ~ P.J. O'Rourke
posted on February 2, 2005 03:11:35 PM
Glad your situation turned out OK.
I hear from people a couple of times a week asking for an invoice or when was something shipped. I send a WBN from Vendio automatically at close of auction and follow up within 24 hours with an ebay invoice. Send immediate thank you for payment and a vendio message when shipped. Then also send a ENDICIA email. AND YET...they somehow get NONE of this. I think it is the spam filters. Drives me nuts. The only way to reach them is through the ebay a customer deal at ebay.
Beth
www.vintageads4u.com
