HI everyone, Hope you can learn from my mistake.
I learned a valuable lesson, don't trust your neighbor. My neighbor had an item that she had to remove, and I wanted to help. I posted it and got a buyer within two days. I am planning to get it shipped and I asked her for the item. She sold it to another neighbor. So I had to cancel the order and disappoint a customer. Her actions cost me my defect rate which caused my seller performance below standard. I am upset about it. So don't post anything unless you have it in your possession. It sure was a lesson learned, I hope you all have a great rest of your day.
20 comments
dbfolks166mt
·2 years agoOne other option you could have pursued rather than canceling and taking the ding would have been to contact the buyer and explain the situation, see if you could have found the item somewhere, purchased it and sent it to them. Not a good everyday business model but it may have been a better alternative than having you performance level drop below standard and having to pay the extra FVF percentage.
inhawaii
·2 years agoThanks for the heads up, but as many others have said, I would never sell anything not in my possession.
tools*
·2 years agoLesson learned. Neighbors are bad.
keziak
·2 years agoThe selling to someone else aspect made me think about a recent bait & switch experience I had on Facebook Marketplace. Negotiated a purchase, many messages, got the cash, asked for the address for pick-up, only to be sold they forgot, they gave some of it to a friend. But they had this OTHER thing I could get instead. Except that it was more valuable so I'd have to bring more money.
At which point I politely suggested they update their MP listing. Then I deleted them from my messages. Never did see a new listing so maybe they gave it all away. Or, whatever shenanigans they were up to.
fern*wood
·2 years agoYou’re still buying, aren’t you?😛
mtgraves7984
·2 years agoSo far, still only trying to be buying. 😉
evry1nositswindy
·2 years ago@monroe67 I would actually love to read that book!
monroe67
·2 years agoGoogle showed me there is a 2020 version.
There's also an eBay for Seniors for Dummies book.
And a couple other authors/publishers have their own books about using eBay.
That 2020 book might be helpful BUT I know of at least two fee increases since 2020, not to mention full implementation of the Managed Payment Program, eBay International Shipping, and expansion of sales taxation for internet sales through all states.
monroe67
·2 years agoMany many years ago I purchased a popular book: eBay for Dummies.
This was one of many points that were made by the authors: have your listed items in your own possession.
And really, if you think it through, isn't it common sense? Try to imagine the worst thing that could happen (your neighbor sold the Thing out from under you) and figure out how you can avoid that.
I put my copy of that book into the recycling bin long long ago. I don't even know if it is in print anymore.
Certainly some of eBay's policies have now been changed, such as the Final Value Fee (FVF) structure.
I remember reading in that book the authors' advice not to engage in fee manipulation by listing an item for $1.00 but postage at $50.00.
Of course, eBay ultimately cracked down on that type of fee cheat, but there are still people posting gripes about it.
ed8108
·2 years agoToday's valuable lesson, be risk adverse when possible
Trusting someone creates risk & increased vulnerability of betrayal.
rockyroadtradingpost
·2 years agoSorry that happened to you, valuable lesson learned.
evry1nositswindy
·2 years agoWe see a lot of questions here on the community about selling items for others. Yours is a great cautionary tale. Thanks for sharing. I used to sell items for my dad (notice I said used to).
luckythewinner
·2 years agoI learned a valuable lesson, don't trust your neighbor
Your neighbor is not at fault. You are the one familiar with how eBay works, not your neighbor. You failed to make it clear to your neighbor that you needed the item to be in your possession.
I am upset about it
You should be upset that you chose to sell an item that was not in your possession. You are the one familiar with how eBay works, not your neighbor.
Her actions cost me my defect rate which caused my seller performance below standard.
One transaction cannot put you below standard, so you must have had other defects.
That aside ...
It was your actions that caused this, not your neighbor's. You are the one familiar with how eBay works, not your neighbor.
asset_liquidators
·2 years agoA seasoned seller would never sell anything they don't have in their possession. Also, don't sell for friends, family, neighbors, or anyone else. It is bad business.
rockyroadtradingpost
·2 years agoI've done it for close family and close friends for years with never a bad experience. Always have the item in my possession. They're absolutely thrilled to get it out of their houses and make some money.
yuzuha
·2 years agoEh, I disagree with that. I've sold a whole lot of stuff on consignment from friends/family and it's never been a problem (in fact, I'm shipping out something that a friend gave me to sell tomorrow), BUT my number one rule is that if you want me to sell it, you have to physically give it to me first so that it is in fact in my possession.
asset_liquidators
·2 years agoIf I don't own it, I don't sell it. Family, friends, and business don't mix.
yuzuha
·2 years agoI'm sorry that your friends and family suck, honestly.
asset_liquidators
·2 years agoMy family and friends are great. They don't ask me to sell for them because they know it is bad business. I have had acquaintances ask though and I always tell them no but I will be happy to show them how to do it themselves. Sounds like it is your friends and family that suck, after all, they are the ones asking you to sell for them because they are too lazy to learn to do it themselves...
a_c_green
·2 years agoOuch. I guess you couldn't schmooze it back from that other neighbor (or even buy it from them)?
If there is ever a next time for you, I would suggest taking ownership of the item yourself first, then flipping it on eBay. That'll avoid any headaches with splitting profits, having to eat a refund if it comes back, etc.