eBay

theclassof1984 · ‎09-12-2013

This month has been horrible for lousy customers, but good in the volume of sales - I guess that figures. When I sell and follow the tracking and notice that it has arrived in the customers hands, I send them an email to see if everything is satisfactory. It seems like goos business and it also hopefully reminds them to leave feedback. I did this today for one customer, and instead of responding to my email, he opens up a dispute instead, claiming the item didn't match the description. I was dumbfounded. It turned out he was hapy with the overall quality, but I had apparently forgotten a small part that comes with the item. Not a big deal he says. Why the hell would he go straight to a claim then? I have to give him the beneift of the doubt with his ignorance but his feedback score suggests differently.

Also this month, some overseas fool wants to know the shipping to Belgium. I give him the rates and he selects the surface mail, but unfortunately it has no tracking and he doesn't care. My mistake as I am reletively new to the overseas market. I gave him the Canada Post page where it explains clearly that it can take up to 4-6 weeks to deliver. He starts to get nervous exactly one week after I mail it out and 9 days later wants to open a claim. What is up with people? This is my first dispute opened up against me and I have to say it is like hitting a fly with a nuke. Did Ebay really have to take the full amount out of my account plus a 10% mystery fee. All the customer needed to do was ask me to mail the missing piece - he still had me with his feedback power. I guess discretion isn't a thing with Ebay, nor does their mission statement that all people are presumed to be honest have any weight to it.

Just letting some steam out. Any comments are welcome.

pjcdn2005 · ‎09-12-2013

As you now know, no news is good news. If you don't hear from the customer, assume that they are happy. 🙂

Many of us will not ship international surface mail because it can take such a long time. Your buyer was definitely rushing it. When you refund him, ask him to please let you know when the parcel arrives so that payment can be arranged. Some people will actually let you know. Well.....I've only had 1 person do that but others have had better luck.

In some cases a buyer won't have an item and the 45 day claim window is almost up...I can see why they would want to open a claim then. Anyways.....in most cases, international surface is not a good idea and I never offer it.

pjcdn2005 · ‎09-12-2013

Oh..about your buyer that made a claim for the item being different...When a buyer goes to ask a question and clicks on the subject of item not received or item not as described...a case is automatically opened. Most don't realize that it going to happen.

inuk_the_polar_bear · ‎09-12-2013

It is all part of the learning curve.

Contacting anonymous customers because you want a warm and fuzzy moment? Don't do that.

Shipping surface? Don't do that.

A case against you and you can't prove anything? Fight it? Don't do that.

Venting? Don't do that.

Separate business from personal. Right now, they are overlapping. Business should never, ever, affect you, in any way.

cantique1946 · ‎09-12-2013

E-bay will never stand by the seller-E-bay wants us sellers to ship as cheaply as possible, yet provide tracking! The new "Tracking" from Canada is about 3 times what it was, but we the seller are expected to provide free shipping for the $1.00 item and take a loss because it is the right thing to do! Wayne

femmefan1946 · ‎09-14-2013

Well, yes, on the whole.

This is where we learn to use the system.

For example, if Confirmation of Delivery is too expensive, we use Insurance. Not only postal insurance but third party (shipinsurance has a good reputation) and self-insurance (charging a tiny premium on every shipment and paying occasional claims from that Virtual Cookie Jar of pennies).

Shipping Air Mail, even if the buyer only paid for Surface (Virtual Cookie Jar again.)

Giving buyers fewer options.

Assuming that no news is , as mentioned, good news.

femmefan1946 · ‎09-14-2013

There is no profit in selling an item for $1.00. In my opinion, the lowest you should ever sell for is $9.99. This allows you to buy the product, covers the listing fees,pay your wages as 17 cents a minute,and occasionally cover a loss or damage claim. It might even allow for a small profit.

rose-dee · ‎09-15-2013

@pjcdn2005 wrote:
Oh..about your buyer that made a claim for the item being different...When a buyer goes to ask a question and clicks on the subject of item not received or item not as described...a case is automatically opened. Most don't realize that it going to happen.

... And as you probably know by now, one of my pet peeves. I've had buyers send me a message after the fact saying "oh, I'm so sorry, I didn't realize this would open a case, I just wanted to ask a quick question". Sigh...

cjacki · ‎09-15-2013

I agree. You'd like to offer surface as a choice because of the expense however it does leave you wide open. I think Australia was the worst for delivery time.