Selling limits

[73rhc]

I have been selling and buying on eBay since 2000 and actual even before this through another user name. I had a run of bad luck last June with some shipping. We had a postal strike and I list 10 day handling. Well, a couple of buyers decided to give me low ratings. And 13 months later ( with no additional low ratings ) I'm still limited! My arguments are a) if you don't like my 10 day handling fee, please don't bid ( eBay allows up to 25 or 30 day handling ) b) I am being rated for the postal and custom system. Once it leaves my possession, I have no control. c) eBay won't disallow buyers leaving low ratings within the 10 days after the buyer has paid.

So here how I was limited, for those who do not know how the all mighty eBay works. I was limited to 20 items or $200 of sales a month. They lose on any commission, btw. Paypal then locks your money away for about 3 weeks or until you hassle to release your money after the buyer has left positive feedback. They say that you can get it quicker by providing a tracking number. This is more expensive in Canada and will push buyer away with higher shipping costs.

So after a year of being limited, I call eBay. After being transferred 3 or 4 times and waiting on the phone for over 2 hours, I finally got to speak with a supervisor. Well he was very understanding and even apologetic. I think he did a great job. But I think he job is to calm people down and then get you on your way without resolving your issue. A great smoke screen. After speaking to him, it cemented my belief that eBay bows and caters to the almighty buyer.

Now 13 months later, the magnanimous eBay as upped my limit to 30 items or $380. Thanks for the loyalty, eBay!

I used to enjoy selling on eBay. It was, and I repeat was fun. I like the fact that I can access a worldwide market, however I am going local. I have access to three free local classified sites. I may not get the prices I was getting on eBay, but I can sell as much as I want.

I could go on but I digress.

[73rhc]

@Lady Stark
It's funny how you defended the same sort of points that I've been defending in a different post ( about buyers leaving neg. feedback to a seller who wouldn't leave pos. feedback) and now you're taking opposition. Hmm, smells like a clique.

[lady.stark]

The 2 situations are totally unrelated in the sense that nobody threatened you when they left you feedback. That is my last message.

Update: it's strange, I just went back to that discussion and don't see any post from you. Does that mean you were the OP of that post?

[73rhc]

Great. But they are similar. The seller is at the mercy of threats and retaliation from certain buyers. Still smells like a clique.

[73rhc]

Why is it strange. I read the post and then commented on it here. The OP, having just looked, is from Oakville, Ont. I'm in Quebec. So, no. Not me.

[73rhc]

P.s. I don't hide behind multiple usernames, as some do here. I have one and only one.

[lady.stark]

I know, I know.... I said message #62 would be my last on this topic, but I wanted to add something really important that I forgot to say to 73rhc:

I never said the feedbacks/ratings you got one year ago were fair or that you deserved them. In fact, I really think they were not, because I know some buyers can be really hard to please, and no matter what you do, they will never be satisfied. I know, because I met a few of them, especially last year, just like you.

With that said, you got really advice here from long time members to help improve your ratings, but you don't want to follow them and don't seem to care.... that is where the problem is. Good luck!

[73rhc]

From the onset, I have been saying that only some buyer are difficult. I never said that what the other poster were saying wasn't good advise. Look at my recent feedback. What I am saying is, why is eBay setting me up for fall. By allowing long handling times. And then allowing buyers to leave low ratings afterwards. They are not doing their do diligence.

[marnotom!]

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@73rhc wrote:
From the onset, I have been saying that only some buyer are difficult. I never said that what the other poster were saying wasn't good advise. Look at my recent feedback. What I am saying is, why is eBay setting me up for fall. By allowing long handling times. And then allowing buyers to leave low ratings afterwards. They are not doing their do diligence.

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There may be some circumstances where a ten day handling time is acceptable to buyers, but for whatever reason your listings are attracting buyers where it isn't so acceptable.

What's likely been happening is that the good buyers that you want are/were seeing eBay's cautionary note about the handling item in your listings and hitting the "back" button.  This would leave you with not so good buyers who either didn't read or understand the note or else they really have no qualms about giving a seller a rough ride.

And whatever else you may want to say about a ten day handling time, it's considered slow for an item that a seller supposedly has on hand already.  That's just how it is in the world of eCommerce right now.  A buyer can't give you five stars for a handling time that's unrealistic in this day and age, even if it is as advertised.

eBay isn't setting you up to fail.  eBay is offering you a choice.  Just because someone offers you a drink that tastes like bitter almonds doesn't mean you have to accept that offer.

[73rhc]

I'm sorry that you don't get it. Some stuff you said made sense. Even though I may not agree. But your last sentence makes no sense. How can you talk about ecommerce and then make a comparison to drinking bitter almond in the same thought pattern.

[marnotom!]

I'm not talking about bitter almonds per se.

What substance associated with a certain criminal act tastes like bitter almonds?

[73rhc]

Are you comparing eBay to poisoning someone. Great example. Very similar? I think not.

[marnotom!]

Usually using metaphors makes things easier for people to understand.  I'm sorry you don't seem to get it.

[bb_cool_stuff]

[73rhc]

Maybe you didn't get the part about making an inane comparison.

[73rhc]

💩

[marnotom!]

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@73rhc wrote:
Maybe you didn't get the part about making an inane comparison.

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As explained earlier, it was a metaphor.

[73rhc]

Got it the first time, but again. INANE= not significant, senseless... Your metaphor made no sense!!!!! I don't know how to explain this any more simple than that.

[marnotom!]

Would you take cyanide if it were offered to you?  Probably not.

So why are you accepting eBay's offer of ten day handling when it's been shown it can hurt you?

As I suggested earlier, there may be circumstances for some sellers selling some items where a ten day "handling" period makes sense and can work, but by all appearances it's not working for you from the perspective of customer service and it's not helping you with your selling limit.

No, it's not fair that eBay offer this and then penalize you as a result of your choice.  But life isn't fair.

If working within a set of expectations that many of your customers have and that most sellers can meet doesn't work for you, you should make good on your plans to sell elsewhere.  eBay isn't perfect and isn't for everybody.  No shame in that.  Different strokes for different folks.

[73rhc]

Ok, so someone finally admits that it's not fair. My point from the beginning. Hello.

The comparison should more likely be that you were offered a drink and found out afterwards that it had cyanide in it. And that's what happened to me. It was after the fact! And I will repeat for the umpteenth time, I have not had a problem since!!!