posted on February 15, 2006 07:57:17 AM
I had a horrible experience (we all have one eventually) with a seller. Item got lost in the mail, and he had an attitude. He also overcharge me for shipping to the tune of $5. more than the listing states.
I personally, don't want to exchange feedbacks on this seller but I looked at his feedback history and apparently he leaves them left and right. I don't want to leave a neg for him because he will undoubtedly leave one for me and, in my opinion, no matter what the explanation, negs are not good.
My question: If he leaves me a negative just as the 90 day period ends, will ebay extend extra time to me to give him a neg.... I can't help but wonder if when the 90 days are up, they're up! just like if you don't bid on an auction within the time frame, you're out of luck.
posted on February 15, 2006 09:26:12 AM
Whether the shipping charge is over what the Seller represented is largely dependent on many things: 1) Is the sale international? 2) What is the cost of the item and was it paid using PayPal? (they can have very large handling fees for eBay Sellers) 3) Is deivery confirmation and/or insurance included in Shipping and Handling? 4) Why not re-contact the Seller and ask them in a non-inflammatory tone why there is such a difference in actual postal costs and what you paid. I ALMOST ALWAYS check Buyer or Seller feedback immediately after end-of-auctin and base how I handle any possibility of misunderstanding before I ship thereby avoiding negatives.
I was a stockbroker for over 20 years and knew that it is important to be clear (very clear) on all communications and details.
Whatever the difference in Shipping costs, resolve it in a business-like way, then let it go and get on with your life. It's not worth it to fret for 90 days. Chris
posted on February 15, 2006 09:31:03 AM
hi oracle. I was in touch with the seller several times; he was downright nasty to me. he told me that he has to employ someone to package his items and they take them to the post office and this costs extra. Of course, it would be fine but he didn't state it in the listing; the listing said $9. for postage and insurance and he charged me $15!
he also accused me of being a 'scam artist' suggesting that I actually did receive the package even though there was tracking on the package and the post office does not show it being delivered.
I am an honest person and was insulted at the things he said to me but, in retrospect, I realize he just didn't care. At one point, when I called and asked him why he never wrote with an update he told me that he is very busy and I am no longer a 'priority'.
posted on February 15, 2006 09:40:56 AM
You know, the lobby, some people are downright rude and even looking for someone to fight with. I check feedback before I bid and as stated before before I ship and handle the individual very carefully. If some Seller's have bad feedback, I will payup with another Seller even if it costs me a wee bit more. I have been burned, like you, by someone changing the shipping terms from what listing says to double the stated cost. I was even promised Insurance but Seller didn't buy insurance. I paid at least twice what the listing said for fewer services (including the insurance) that Seller never delivered, BUT, the product I received was priced much lower than what it was worth so I let it go. Well, I did email the ask the Seller why he didn't make it clear about increasing the price and also that he ommited the insurance but told him I would let it go this time since he had grossly underpriced his product. He was selling Native American item that was out of his area of expertise which was comic books.
posted on February 15, 2006 01:14:00 PM
thelobby confided, he also accused me of being a 'scam artist' suggesting that I actually did receive the package even though there was tracking on the package and the post office does not show it being delivered.
Sorry for your experience but it sounds like you got a "bad" seller. From experience eBay feedback can be left while the item is still in the "active" database - usually between 90 to 120+ days. There is no telling when an item will be archived into the "historic" database, so be careful when leaving negative feedback to make it factual, concise and not inflammatory. Anyone reading it will quickly see you were the aggrieved party, especially if the seller retaliates with a litany of lies or emotives.
Tell your buyer you expect a full refund since you paid for insurance and the package is lost as shown by the Post Office tracking info. Since your seller wants to play hardball - tell them you be forced to file a mail fraud complaint with the USPS Postal Inspectors if a refund is not promptly forthcoming.
posted on February 15, 2006 02:15:43 PM
Greetings,
This transaction went bad, but for future transactions:
1) If the shipping charges are clearly stated and they try to charge you more, refuse! As far as I am concerned, the stated shipping terms in the listing are a contract. I've eaten extra costs a few times as a seller because of an error in quoting on my part.
2) Always pay with paypal if possible, that way if the item really does not show, you have good recourse
3) Always file a claim for non receipt of item. As a buyer, I give sellers 20 days, then I just put it in dispute. I figure that is long enough (unless it is on a slow boat from overseas, but I pretty much don't buy that way)
4) Open up a different ebay buying account. Negs are not good as a seller, as a buyer they are really irrelevant.
posted on February 15, 2006 02:45:48 PM
I eat my mistakes on shipping too. Once, I mentioned to a buyer that the quoted shipping was woefully low through an error of mine. I of course admitted it was my mistake and accepted the insufficient payment, but asked him that, if when he received the item, he felt that it was packed well enough to justify making up the shortfall, he would please send it to me... and he did. Sometimes, people are good and it restores my will to live for another day.
posted on February 15, 2006 02:51:21 PM
eBayvet is correct about Feedback being essential to a Seller. However, I do care about Buyer feedback as well but it is not nearly as relevant as the Seller's reputation. That is why I am very very slow to ever leave negative Feedback. I believe in giving everyone the benefit of a doubt. I have two cases right now where I am negotiating with buyers. One is a newbie with 4 positive feedback and another has 200+ 100% feedback so I want to give them lenience. I know when I feel it is approriate to cut them off. Chris
posted on February 15, 2006 03:16:34 PMeBayvet is correct about Feedback being essential to a Seller
I disagree.
In fact, I disagree STRONGLY.
Run your business any way you like, Chris, and act like a feedback wuss if you want, but my experience is that buyers just don't care about seller feedback when shopping on eBay.
Buyers want a bargain on something they lust after. Period! That's it!
I have a glowing 97.9 feedback percentage, which causes gasps of horror and occasional fits of fainting amongst the weak-hearted in auction discussion forums.
As a seller, my job is to give the people what they want. I'm not going to waste five minutes worrying about feedback.
posted on February 15, 2006 03:39:07 PM
I agree with you fluffy; It is my business and I run it the way I want to be treated (within eBay guidelines). I expressed my opinions, viewpoints and practices and after more than 26+ years full-time working with Clients/Customers, I strive to delight them. I never leave Feedback as a retalitory gesture.
I have only 2 negatives with over 2250 Positive Feedback (2500 sales) and 99.9% feedback-rating, so it works for me.
Where do you sell? I see you had at least 10 Negatives and no sales on eBay since November? Did you change your I.D. and/or sell at a new venue?
posted on February 15, 2006 03:57:57 PM
Actually, I never said feedback was essential. I think overall, most buyers don't bother looking at feedback, which is what happened apparently with this buyer. They look when it is too late!! My point was that feedback is actually irrelevant is you are a buyer, and semi relevant if you are a seller.
posted on February 16, 2006 06:46:54 AM
Now, there's a gem of a backhanded compliment.
Much depends on what you sell, Chris. If you're selling antiquarian books, by and large you are dealing with adults. If you sell Xbox 360s, you may be dealing with teenagers and people trying to use stolen credit cards (see toben for details). If you sell jewelry starting at 99 cents, you are dealing with a certain number of bottomfeeders and emotionally unstable people who are, in my experience, often poorly-educated picket-fence-punctuating women. (Think "IM GOING TO REPORT U TO EBAY IF U DONT RESPOND IN THE NEXT 10 MINITS!!!!!!!!!!!" )
I'm not ashamed of my feedback. I give as good as I get.
fLufF
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[ edited by fluffythewondercat on Feb 16, 2006 06:47 AM ]
posted on February 16, 2006 07:29:00 AM
To answer the original question, my understanding is that if the seller leaves you feedback on the 90th day at the very last second, it automatically extends the time frame that the auction is available so you would be able to leave feedback for the seller. What the extension time is, I don't know, I've heard 30 days and I've also heard 90 days.
The auction isn't always no longer available after 90 days, that's just the minimum time it stays available. I've checked some auctions and they're still available to view 100 days after the end.
If the seller negs you at the last minute and you leave him a neg as well, he may decide to do a "feedback mutually withdrawn" but he'd have to pay for it.
posted on February 16, 2006 07:54:17 AMhe may decide to do a "feedback mutually withdrawn" but he'd have to pay for it.
Unless I'm misunderstanding you, I think you're confusing the SquareTrade feedback removal process ($29.95 and you're not guaranteed the fb will be removed) with the Mutually Withdrawn Feedback process, which is free to both parties.
posted on February 16, 2006 08:45:02 AM
Square Trade is a ripoff - they existed before mutal withdrawal became possible. Besides the price difference ($30 to free) the only other difference I know of is that on square trade, the feedback disappears. For mutual withdrawal, the comments stay, but the rating goes away. You also get a mutual withdrawal on your my ebay page count. For undeserved negatives, I've had some success using mutual withdrawal to get rid of them. I won't pay for a removal though!
