eBay

dipmicro · ‎02-21-2010

From time to time I have people making requests that are very time consuming. I would like to be a nice guy to everyone but there should be limit what can I allow. I will be opening a retail outlet in few months and will make sure to hire a skilled staff, that worked in retail before, because I can train them on technical questions, but not on "assertiveness" 🙂

Anyway, an example: there is this guy who asks 2 questions about the datecode of some of my part, that require me to walk to warehouse, look at the reel and respond. No problem. Then he makes a purchase ($3.58) and requests that I provide a datecode with the parts - either send them on a original reel (he bought 200pcs out of 5000 from that reel) or provide a picture of the reel.

I feel like telling him that we do not provide such service, but on the other hand taking the picture takes just several minutes. However, from experience I realize if I allow requests like this, next time he will waste even more time.

My question to the board is hot to politely refuse a customer request, how to politely "deflect" high maintenance customers without generating a "negative vibe" (some time ago I had guy talking to me on the phone for 30 minutes asking all kinds of technical details to place $20 order).

According to research (?), a badly treated customer will tell 11 other people, well treated customer will tell 0.05 other people in average. One needs to make 220 "good" sales to justify one going awry.

pjcdn2005 · ‎10-29-2012

i opened an unpaid item case, he cancelled the case and marked the item as payment sent even tho he did not make payment in an attempt to cheat me and get me to send the item then claimed it was mine ebays the banks and paypals fault.

It shouldn't be possible for an unpaid item case to be closed by the buyer unless they have paid. A mutual cancellation request can be denied by the buyer, perhaps that is what you filed.

Unless it was a repeat customer, it's unlikely that i would agree to wait a month for payment.

femmefan1946 · ‎10-30-2012

Usually, he buys enough to make all the snapped pencils worthwhile.

This has to be the basic criterion.

Recently I had a customer who asked me to provide a COA (certificate of authenticity) for a 7 dollars map

Yep. A few fancy fonts and some official looking paper from Staples and COAs are a snap to produce.

My experience is that if you carefully mention additional cost, buyers does not need that service anymore.

Can we get an Amen!

A mapseller here in Ottawa has a running problem with amateur geneaologists who ask him to photocopy his rare old maps for their researches. The generous ones offer to pay for the photocopy. He has no problem being rude, since he really does not need either them or their eleven cheapskate friends.

montrealmaps- should I look for you at the Ottawa Antiquarian Book Sale ths weekend?