ebayvet
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posted on April 21, 2009 03:52:34 PM
I had a buyer that won two of my lots. I mention so many times (thanks to Fluffy) that I don't combine shipping it is ridiculous. Apparently, this person got angry that I shipped two lots together and wrote me to threaten me with negative feedbacks (she mis-spelled the word negative) unless I refunded one of the shipping costs. She accused me of breaking ebay's rules by doing this (she has all of 2 feedback)
I wrote her back that nowhere in the listing does it state that lots can't be shipped together. I also told her that she was breaking ebay's rules by basically extorting me to refund her money or she would leave negative feedback, and that I've already reported her to ebay (which I did)
The amazing thing is that she made this threat through the ask a seller a question link, so ebay has a copy of the threat. How stupid is that?
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merrie
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posted on April 21, 2009 05:21:39 PM
Hmm, I am confused. If you state you do not combine shipping, why did you combine shipping and send the 2 lots together?
Did she pay in one invoice or separate? If you charged her double shipping but shipped the items together she has a reason to complain (and believe me, I rarely take the side of an irate buyer).
If she paid in 2 invoices, you need to produce 2 DCs to show that you shipped both lots.
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ebayvet
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posted on April 21, 2009 07:04:25 PM
Why would someone have a reason to complain when it is clearly stated upfront that shipping prices are not combined - why not just skip the auction and don't bid? Anyway, the buyer can decide not to do business with me anymore (which is fine, there are plenty of buyers) but they can't threaten to extort me to avoid negative feedback (which I don't care about anyway)
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cblev65252
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posted on April 21, 2009 07:10:19 PM
I have to agree with the buyer here as well. You state you don't combine, yet you did. The items should have been sent separately. JMHO.
I don't understand why people don't combine to save their customers on shipping. It's easier for me to be able to combine. But, that's just me.
Cheryl
http://www.youravon.com/cherylblevins
Now you can buy Avon from me from anywhere in the world.
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ebayvet
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posted on April 21, 2009 07:15:24 PM
I don't allow a shipping discount, I don't state that I don't combine the lots. Perhaps that is part of the confusion. I don't combine the shipping because the business model on this account (which is a small part of my overall business) is to sell stuff cheap but make some money on the shipping. It isn't a unique strategy, and to date has actually been a very successful one.
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fluffythewondercat
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posted on April 21, 2009 08:17:10 PM
Yeah, I had this experience once years ago when I accidentally put two things in one bag. Now for items that have a shipping charge I am careful to ship them separately, even if the buyer wants everything in one box.
Free-shipping items I will combine. I am waiting for the day when a customer complains. It's eBay -- you just *know* it's going to happen.
As for the critics, shipping items separately allows me to (usually) get things out the same day I'm paid, rather than doing the absurd "Are you done shopping yet? Can I send you an invoice?" tango. More importantly, it also means I get paid much, much faster and with fewer UPIs than people who combine.
fLufF
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LtRay
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posted on April 21, 2009 08:22:49 PM
semantics-:
I do not combine shipping- buyer expects to receive separate packages for each lot
I do not offer a shipping discount - Buyer should understand they will be paying the shipping amount for each item. Seller can ship both in one box, no rules against it.
Merrie, even if she paid with 2 invoices, PayPal Multi-order shipping allows the combining of orders even if separate payments were received. Once shipping label has been created, the ebay shipping status of each item is updated with the 1 DC.
I love the buyers who purchase more than one item listed with free shipping and then request a new invoice with a shipping discount. Ain't gonna happen. The item was listed with Free Shipping, what is there to discount?
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merrie
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posted on April 22, 2009 06:15:14 AM
The problem, IMHO is the wording. You can say you do not DISCOUNT shipping for multiple orders, but do not say you do not COMBINE when obviously you do combine and ship lots together.
The concerns about DCs: If you do not use PayPal for shipping labels and a person pays in 2 separate invoices they can require 2 DCS.Buyers can also claim that the 2 lots were not included in the one package.
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pixiamom
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posted on April 22, 2009 07:16:30 AM
IMHO your business model probably isn't working as well as it used to. Ebay considers making the bulk of your profits on shipping as fee circumvention and has introduced a slew of PITA policies to prevent it - including ridiculously low shipping limits in some categories, lowered search and dings by dissatisfied customers on your DSRs which affects both your fees and your search ranking.
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ebayvet
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posted on April 22, 2009 08:30:48 AM
This isn't on my main ebay accounts - I have two accounts with over 40,000 unique positives - one of them even offers free shipping with minimum purchase. This account has less than 100 positives, and has been used to move stuff in bulk (and very successfully so far) - I am not worried about lower DSR (which will happen) or even feedback, because once I move the stuff I am moving over the next several months, I probably will abandon the account.
Oh, and I am also not worried about paypal chargebacks either, I've got an insurance policy that covers everything, including that.
I understand the comments left, they might apply if I were a newbie, but I've been around longer on ebay than most of you. I know what I'm doing.
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alldings
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posted on April 22, 2009 12:09:26 PM
I bet the buyer is smart enough to never buy from you again. Does knowing that make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside.
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ebayvet
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posted on April 22, 2009 12:47:03 PM
I actually blocked that buyer (on all of my accounts), so no, they are never buying from me again. Do you want someone as a repeat customer who tries to extort you? If that make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside, then enjoy the feeling.
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fluffythewondercat
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posted on April 23, 2009 08:59:39 AM
If it's DVDs or other media you're selling you need to be aware that eBay UK has imposed mandatory free shipping in that category. It's expected to land in this country as well later this year.
So blow out the media now while you still can...
fLufF
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ebayvet
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posted on April 23, 2009 09:15:39 AM
I've followed that, and yes, that is really crazy. With the changes ebay has made, I wouldn't be surprised if that happened here. That would be the day I stop selling on ebay (at least media products)
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carolinetyler
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posted on April 24, 2009 08:17:25 AM
She's not extorting a refund - she's right. You overcharged for shipping and she has every reason to complain. I usually side with sellers, we put up with alot of crap. But this time, you scammed her on shipping - if you had shipped separately, it would not have been a problem. Split the cost with her and move on. Reword or change your policy.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 Caroline
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ebayvet
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posted on April 24, 2009 08:29:26 AM
Perhaps you have a different definition of extortion than the rest of us? This isn't a scam, my policy is listed clearly, and my shipping fees aren't outrageous because it is in a category that is regulated by ebay. This isn't a $1 Ipod with a $200 shipping fee.
The responses I've received here show me that the non hobby sellers have mostly long left this forum. Too bad, it is a shadow of what it used to be a decade ago.
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zippy2dah
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posted on April 24, 2009 10:51:40 AM
The only definition that counts is that of eBay and it's not extortion by their standards either.
Had she said "refund my shipping PLUS an extra $1000 or I will neg you" it would qualify. This doesn't.
"Buyers are not allowed to threaten sellers with negative Feedback, neutral Feedback or low Detailed Seller Ratings in order to obtain goods or services not included in the original listing."
http://pages.ebay.com/help/policies/feedback-extortion.html
Had your original listings clearly mentioned that you combine items for shipping without a reduction in shipping fees, she would be in the wrong but unfortunately, "I wrote her back that nowhere in the listing does it state that lots can't be shipped together" and "I don't state that I don't combine the lots" are not a defense.
PayPal would have sided with her had she simply filed a chargeback for an item not received instead of taking it to this level of leaving a trail. This tells me everything I need to know about avoiding this practice. She still might win if she does file, even though you know she received both lots and you have proof of such. It does happen.
Many people take their hobbies just as seriously (if not more so) than those who do this for food and rent.
Not to mention that at least two (that I know of) "non-hobby" sellers posted to this thread.
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neglus
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posted on April 24, 2009 11:16:56 AM
Buyer without much smarts...
True. A savvy buyer would just file a PP claim for one order not received and win.
And you complain? Since you used a disposable id and don't mind negatives and even chargebacks, seems like you are good to go...
-------------------------------------
http://stores.ebay.com/Moody-Mommys-Marvelous-Postcards?refid=store
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max40
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posted on April 24, 2009 12:32:48 PM
The fact that you posted this subject and have continued to try to defend yourself when your error has been pointed out, tells me you know you're not 100% in the right.
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fluffythewondercat
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posted on April 24, 2009 01:45:36 PM
the non hobby sellers have mostly long left this forum.
That's true. Most of them left OTWA long before its demise as well. (Sorry, Crystal!)
Hobby sellers and non-hobby sellers don't mix well as they tend to have *very* different perspectives. I've been saying that for years. I still post here because I feel I have something to offer. Plus, I get a crazy amount of traffic to my website from Vendio. There are a lot of lurkers in the EO.
You really should join PeSA/ECMTA, though I'm not sure you would get different responses on this particular issue. There are some pretty cool membership benefits, though. We get coupon codes for 6 months of Yahoo Stores with no set-up fee. That's nearly $300 of real money you won't have to spend to set up a store and get it going. If at the end of the six months you aren't making any sales, just close the store.
http://www.GoPesa.org
fLufF
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