Another EBay disaster!
- Thread starter norgeway
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norgeway
Well-known member
You got it!
She is getting it back just as it arrived!
She is getting it back just as it arrived!
58limited
Well-known member
After this I may never buy anything on ebay again
It's not ebay's fault, just the seller's. I've done a lot of business on ebay, upwards of 1000 transactions, and have had only 5-6 bad experiences.
It's not ebay's fault, just the seller's. I've done a lot of business on ebay, upwards of 1000 transactions, and have had only 5-6 bad experiences.
danemodsandy
Well-known member
How NOT....
....To have trouble on eBay.
Here are some guidelines that have served me well over the sixteen years I've been using the site:
1) On rare and/or high-value items, look for a 100% feedback rating - and then actually look at the feedback. First, you want to see a score of several hundred transactions at least - anyone can have a 100% rating if they've only had ten transactions. Second, look for positive comments that answer your possible concerns. Is the seller getting raves for great packing? Or are they getting comments that say items were better than described? Comments like those are real pluses.
2) Never, but never communicate with a seller outside the eBay email system. eBay furnishes you with the seller's email address when you win the auction, and it's easy to forget and use it. Sorry - if something is promised to you outside the eBay email system, then as far as eBay is concerned, it did not happen. Don't respond outside their system, and don't let anyone communicate to you outside their system. I've had to get tough about this one a couple of times. Contact eBay about it if you have to - tell them someone is trying to transact eBay business with you outside their email system and you want it stopped.
3) Separate sob stories from business. If someone tells you they haven't shipped because the snow slid off of Kilimanjaro, boll weevils ate their granpappy's cotton crop and the dog ate their homework, be polite but firm: How are you going to resolve this matter? Unless someone is at death's door, they can refund you with a few mouse clicks, which is not too much effort to expend when it comes to keeping your eBay account active.
4) Start nice if you can. Contact the seller, let them know exactly what's wrong and than ask, "How can we resolve this?" Most things are honest mistakes, like the lady who recently sold me a perfectly beautiful set of West Bend canisters - in the copper color I could not use in my collection of silver canisters. Her mistake? Grey-scaling her photograph - which made the copper canisters look silver. She refunded, and said "Don't bother sending them back." Most problems end up like this, or at worst, with the seller wanting the item back.
5) If something is really outrageous, like Hans's mixer, I personally take the following approach: I open a case with eBay, and then let the seller know I've done it. Resolution follows like the night unto the day. If someone is such an idiot that they think three paper towels are sufficient packing for a Ming vase, they usually need some extra convincing that a purchaser's displeasure is a serious matter. If they promised a mint, unchipped piece of Roseville Raymor and deliver something that looks like it was used for the dog's dish since 1957, same thing. Business is business. Someone took good, hard-earned American cash from you - they need to deliver. But use this tactic only for bad problems that are the obvious result of deceit, bad carelessness or willful non-performance.
Do these things always work? No. I had one transaction in 2000 that I will always remember. It was a small pewter item that looked great in the photo. I paid instantly via PayPal as I always do, and waited. And waited. And waited. Finally, I opened a case with eBay, which I should have done sooner, and got an abusive response from the seller asking just what in the Hell I was doing "siccing" (his word) eBay on him after only five weeks? He then took another four weeks to ship; this was before eBay's purchase protection got so sophisticated, and it was also during the time when sellers could leave bad feedback on buyers as retaliation. When I got the item, there was a huge dent in it that hadn't been disclosed. Well, I know when I'm licked, so I closed the matter by emailing him through the eBay system, listing everything he'd done, and closing by saying, "At least there's one thing you don't have to worry about - I'm not leaving bad feedback. That is because there is NO WAY I could express my displeasure with you in only eighty characters - it would take a book the size of "War and Peace."
Still waiting to hear back, LOL.
....To have trouble on eBay.
Here are some guidelines that have served me well over the sixteen years I've been using the site:
1) On rare and/or high-value items, look for a 100% feedback rating - and then actually look at the feedback. First, you want to see a score of several hundred transactions at least - anyone can have a 100% rating if they've only had ten transactions. Second, look for positive comments that answer your possible concerns. Is the seller getting raves for great packing? Or are they getting comments that say items were better than described? Comments like those are real pluses.
2) Never, but never communicate with a seller outside the eBay email system. eBay furnishes you with the seller's email address when you win the auction, and it's easy to forget and use it. Sorry - if something is promised to you outside the eBay email system, then as far as eBay is concerned, it did not happen. Don't respond outside their system, and don't let anyone communicate to you outside their system. I've had to get tough about this one a couple of times. Contact eBay about it if you have to - tell them someone is trying to transact eBay business with you outside their email system and you want it stopped.
3) Separate sob stories from business. If someone tells you they haven't shipped because the snow slid off of Kilimanjaro, boll weevils ate their granpappy's cotton crop and the dog ate their homework, be polite but firm: How are you going to resolve this matter? Unless someone is at death's door, they can refund you with a few mouse clicks, which is not too much effort to expend when it comes to keeping your eBay account active.
4) Start nice if you can. Contact the seller, let them know exactly what's wrong and than ask, "How can we resolve this?" Most things are honest mistakes, like the lady who recently sold me a perfectly beautiful set of West Bend canisters - in the copper color I could not use in my collection of silver canisters. Her mistake? Grey-scaling her photograph - which made the copper canisters look silver. She refunded, and said "Don't bother sending them back." Most problems end up like this, or at worst, with the seller wanting the item back.
5) If something is really outrageous, like Hans's mixer, I personally take the following approach: I open a case with eBay, and then let the seller know I've done it. Resolution follows like the night unto the day. If someone is such an idiot that they think three paper towels are sufficient packing for a Ming vase, they usually need some extra convincing that a purchaser's displeasure is a serious matter. If they promised a mint, unchipped piece of Roseville Raymor and deliver something that looks like it was used for the dog's dish since 1957, same thing. Business is business. Someone took good, hard-earned American cash from you - they need to deliver. But use this tactic only for bad problems that are the obvious result of deceit, bad carelessness or willful non-performance.
Do these things always work? No. I had one transaction in 2000 that I will always remember. It was a small pewter item that looked great in the photo. I paid instantly via PayPal as I always do, and waited. And waited. And waited. Finally, I opened a case with eBay, which I should have done sooner, and got an abusive response from the seller asking just what in the Hell I was doing "siccing" (his word) eBay on him after only five weeks? He then took another four weeks to ship; this was before eBay's purchase protection got so sophisticated, and it was also during the time when sellers could leave bad feedback on buyers as retaliation. When I got the item, there was a huge dent in it that hadn't been disclosed. Well, I know when I'm licked, so I closed the matter by emailing him through the eBay system, listing everything he'd done, and closing by saying, "At least there's one thing you don't have to worry about - I'm not leaving bad feedback. That is because there is NO WAY I could express my displeasure with you in only eighty characters - it would take a book the size of "War and Peace."
Still waiting to hear back, LOL.
danemodsandy
Well-known member
P.S.:
I've only had one item arrive broken as a seller.
It was a Raymor lamp, very rare, very expensive, and the buyer was a midcentury antiques dealer I already knew in New York City.
The lamp arrived in smithereens.
The dealer and I are still friends. Why? Because I knew what I was up against - USPS in Manhattan is notorious for beating the crap out of everything - and the lamp had been double-boxed in double-strength boxes, both brand-new, not repurposed. Eight inches of foam peanuts were in between the two boxes, and the lamp itself in umpteen layers of bubble wrap.
When I got word from the buyer about the tragedy, I filed a claim, which USPS first tried to deny. UNTIL I sent them copies of all my receipts for the packing material - including the peanuts and bubble wrap - and photos of the lamp being packed. And sent a copy to USPS in D.C.
They paid up. Not even the USPS could explain that one away.
I've only had one item arrive broken as a seller.
It was a Raymor lamp, very rare, very expensive, and the buyer was a midcentury antiques dealer I already knew in New York City.
The lamp arrived in smithereens.
The dealer and I are still friends. Why? Because I knew what I was up against - USPS in Manhattan is notorious for beating the crap out of everything - and the lamp had been double-boxed in double-strength boxes, both brand-new, not repurposed. Eight inches of foam peanuts were in between the two boxes, and the lamp itself in umpteen layers of bubble wrap.
When I got word from the buyer about the tragedy, I filed a claim, which USPS first tried to deny. UNTIL I sent them copies of all my receipts for the packing material - including the peanuts and bubble wrap - and photos of the lamp being packed. And sent a copy to USPS in D.C.
They paid up. Not even the USPS could explain that one away.
perc-o-prince
Well-known member
"It's not ebay's fault, just the seller's. I've done a lot of business on ebay, upwards of 1000 transactions, and have had only 5-6 bad experiences."
Similar situation here. Not everyone has the same idea of what "good" packing is.
I'm very surprised in the amount of trouble being reported with UPS. I've been using them for many years and they've proven to be more reliable than USPS, cheaper than USPS, and infinitely more responsive when there's a problem. I've probably had about a dozen claims with them (mostly as a buyer) and every one was paid without hassle, and quickly- maybe 2-3 weeks tops from filing to payment. Any time there's been trouble with a USPS package, it was 4-6 weeks and usually required follow-up. However, they've streamlined a bit and you can now file online which has sped things up a bit.
"Above a certain amount everyone that touches that box from the time UPS accepts until delivery must sign off. "
That's a "High Value" or Hi-Val package. $1000 of insurance or more. Trouble is the person signing your receipt for it is supposed to open it and inspect the packing. That can be a big cost when it comes to your time. Luckily, I've always known the driver I'm handing off to and they just sign it for me and take it.
"then actually look at the feedback"
Absolutely a must! I was selling to someone with 100% FB (user ID shahla4500). They didn't pay in a couple of days so I went to read their feedback. Turned out they had left 6 negatives in 3-4 month's time frame for sellers selling them improperly described or counterfeit items! Did a little further digging, and they have a page written about him on badbuyerlist.org (link below). I didn't want to sell to them fearing they'd try the same thing to get a PayPal refund like they had done before (return a similar broken item if any at all). I called eBay and explained the situation. After taking a look they said if he paid, I should call them back and they would take care of it after I issued a refund. They did exactly as they were supposed to, but I got lucky. Had I not checked the feedback we could have been out the item and the $$!
Caveat Emptor, and we all need to practice due diligence in buying or selling on eBay.
Chuck
Similar situation here. Not everyone has the same idea of what "good" packing is.
I'm very surprised in the amount of trouble being reported with UPS. I've been using them for many years and they've proven to be more reliable than USPS, cheaper than USPS, and infinitely more responsive when there's a problem. I've probably had about a dozen claims with them (mostly as a buyer) and every one was paid without hassle, and quickly- maybe 2-3 weeks tops from filing to payment. Any time there's been trouble with a USPS package, it was 4-6 weeks and usually required follow-up. However, they've streamlined a bit and you can now file online which has sped things up a bit.
"Above a certain amount everyone that touches that box from the time UPS accepts until delivery must sign off. "
That's a "High Value" or Hi-Val package. $1000 of insurance or more. Trouble is the person signing your receipt for it is supposed to open it and inspect the packing. That can be a big cost when it comes to your time. Luckily, I've always known the driver I'm handing off to and they just sign it for me and take it.
"then actually look at the feedback"
Absolutely a must! I was selling to someone with 100% FB (user ID shahla4500). They didn't pay in a couple of days so I went to read their feedback. Turned out they had left 6 negatives in 3-4 month's time frame for sellers selling them improperly described or counterfeit items! Did a little further digging, and they have a page written about him on badbuyerlist.org (link below). I didn't want to sell to them fearing they'd try the same thing to get a PayPal refund like they had done before (return a similar broken item if any at all). I called eBay and explained the situation. After taking a look they said if he paid, I should call them back and they would take care of it after I issued a refund. They did exactly as they were supposed to, but I got lucky. Had I not checked the feedback we could have been out the item and the $$!
Caveat Emptor, and we all need to practice due diligence in buying or selling on eBay.
Chuck
