problem with an aggressive buyer
Hello, I sold a lot of jewelry a few days ago and received this message:
I received a message from a buyer that I didn't like at all.
The message was this:
This jewelry was a major rip off! I purchased this in hopes of being able to resell some of it. There is one item in the whole lot that is any good and that is a thin necklace marked 925 that’s worth maybe $10 if that! There was a bunch of broken crap in the bottom and a key chain ring! Really? I paid $87 for trash! I am requesting a return.
I called eBay customer service and
I told them I didn't like the lady's language and how I should respond.
They told me I have to be professional and tell her to return the item.
I asked if I could report her and they said yes.
If I report her, am I doing the right thing?
thank you
luckythewinner
·6 months agoAnyone who receives a message from another user can report that user to eBay if they feel the message was inappropriate.
As for whether it is "the right thing", that is subjective question whose answer is rooted in your on your personal principles.
gurlcat
·6 months ago@cristian3_6 LOL I just had a mixed lot auction close a few minutes ago -one that went WAY off the rails. Now I'm nervous, sure hope my buyer isn't like the one you had, because I think these bidders went too far. There must be something in the water, or I don't know what!
wastingtime101
·6 months agoThat condition scale is new @gurlcat . I don't have that view yet.
Not surprising as eBay continues to test small changes to the item page as they have the past few years.
gurlcat
·6 months ago@wastingtime101 Yeah they slapped it on most of my listings yesterday. I didn't start a post about it because I think it's stupid but not enough to care. 🙄 They all say "good". So there's another word they put in our mouths if we don't say something else, or even change it AFTER we do. I am soooo done cleaning up robot poop, I swear.
Oh and my Hub listing page choices went back to having Ended and Unsold to; they took away the new Inactive one. Something I actually appreciated, or at least it made sense to me.
I wonder if I'd feel better if I had me a big ole rant post. I dunno, that sounds exhausting. Maybe I'm getting sick.
wastingtime101
·6 months agoNo point ranting. It'll come back. They are working out a bug. There are already posts about it.
https://community.ebay.com/t5/Selling/Inactive-Listings-What/m-p/35488571#M2666173
Edit to add: I don't mind the condition scale. Harder for buyers to miss. 🤷
gurlcat
·6 months ago@wastingtime101 But only helpful if they have the same definition of those words as the seller does. And I guarantee you many of them do not. Yeah ebay provides their definitions, but you have to click to see them, as if any buyer is going to do that. And it wouldn't protect from an INAD anyway, as this very thread proves: even calling something JUNK is not enough to curb expectations. A buyer can return something "not working, for parts only" because it doesn't work.
So really what is the point of tiered condition labels? It might make sense somewhere else but here it's utterly, laughably, stupid.
wastingtime101
·6 months agoBetter visibility for buyers that typically gloss over it. Stands out more.
Can't control buyer's definition and if buyer has their own definition then it won't matter if they read the description in advance or not. But for buyers that do care, it gives better visibility.
In short: It can help, I don't think it will hurt, so it doesn't bother me.
cristian3_6
OP6 months agoThat's a problem. Because if he bought it, it's to see if there's gold, and if there isn't, he can open a case and you'll have to return the money. What I'm thinking of doing is, if I sell something like that for more than $100, before shipping the items, send the buyer a message telling him there's no gold and asking if he still wants it. That way you don't waste time on cases and all that.
pickapaper
·6 months ago@cristian3_6
If she returns the box of jewelry, please come back here and let us know if everything gets returned, etc.
Always curious how these things end up.
wastingtime101
·6 months agoWas it item 206023747010 ? You said $87 so I assume it's the lot that sold for $77 + $10 ship (not the one @gurlcat posted a screen of?).
While many of the photos are incredibly blurry, there are plenty of clear photos to see it truly is a costume lot. Title even says 'junk drawer'.
If the buyer filed a 'not as described' claim, I agree with reporting the buyer for abuse of the eMBG. (No reason to report them for a rude message.) Your listing did not claim anything of value in the lot and just because she hoped to win the lottery on this and didn't, doesn't mean your listing wasn't as described.
evelyb30
·6 months agoDevil's advocate here.
I spent eighteen years selling jewelry. I still buy it, but not on line. First, I'd have hit the Back button hard and fast on this lot. From what I can see, $81 is way too much to spend for what's shown. If the buyer was inexperienced and feels like she was taken for four times what the jewelry was worth, it's no wonder she's angry. She thinks she was scammed. I'd let her return it and hope the few pieces worth buying are still there.
gurlcat
·6 months ago@evelyb30 I sell jewelry too (AND coins, which are often included in the OP's lots), and the auction bid amounts that she has fetched have often made my jaw drop, because I can't see what the bidders got so frenzied over either. That said, it is absolutely not her fault -she starts the bids at a low $18.99, gives plenty of closeup photos, doesn't "hype" the items at all, not even use suggestive phrases like "Treasure Hunting" or anything like that.
So I have no idea why this buyer (or any of her high bidders) go so crazy, but if any are disappointed that's entirely ON THEM. And even if they have a right to return the item, they have no right to berate the OP as if she was deceptive and ripped them off. They're a scamming partal refund-seeking devil who deserves no advocacy.
cristian3_6
OP6 months agoHi, thanks for replying, but I started the lot at $18.99. I didn't set the buy now price at that. The description clearly states it's a junk drawer. I don't know anything about jewelry, but thankfully, 97% of what I sell is well-received. Selling jewelry is like a lottery because I know nothing about it, yet I might list something of very high value. The woman who bought it also sells jewelry, so she must know something. I've sold boxes for over $100, and people leave very positive and satisfied feedback. But unfortunately, there's always someone who argues.
evelyb30
·6 months agoIt happens. If this was an auction bid then it's her own darned fault. I know people who buy lots and do well, but sometimes you get a clunker. I did once pay $100 for a "jar" at the Ill Will. Got taken, but I did it to myself.
gurlcat
·6 months agoYou mean Goodwill? Yeah they fetch BIG winning bids because there are a bunch of Youtube videos of people sorting their jars and finding gold, silver, highly collectible costume brands, etc. But the thing is, those videos were made years ago but keep getting views (cuz who doesn't love to watch a treasure hunt, and then Youtube's algorithm keeps offering more). And in the meantime, Goodwill learned how much money they were accidentally throwing away by not trying harder to identify valuable pieces -probably learned it from those videos! 😆
So now they pool all their jewelry donations in a few nationwhide sorting locations, where they have XRF guns, gemstone testers, reference books, and more experienced employees doing the sorting. And their junk jars really are junk now. But people keep seeing those videos and bidding on GW listings when really they should be bidding on 'nobody' sellers who are less likely recognize treasure if they have it.
evelyb30
·6 months agoHoodwill , Nogoodwill, them. Once upon a time, the in-store jewelery lots could be counted on to contain at least break-even stuff. I hit it big a few times, but most weren't fantastic. Any jar with their pricetags visible was a guaranteed loser. The big one that got me was in a 'boutique' store pre-Covid . The "boutique" jar was big, and I paid $50 more than it was worth as it turned out. I thought at that price and in that location, that it had to be decent. It wasn't. I think I've been in that store two or three times since, if only for the clean bathroom.
Other jars bought after most local stores shipped jewelry on line were break-even on a good day. They lost my business and my goodwill. Then they went to sending anything good on line, except for mistakes. I've all but quit walking in.
gurlcat
·6 months agoI don't buy any lots in a jar or bag, and I don't understand why anybody does, unless there is at least one clearly identifiable piece that would make it worthwhile. To me the seller showing the lot that way is just a step above those 'mystery' lot sellers whose photos are years-old and supposedly "representative" what you'd receive. I at least want to see the lot laid out flat, even if some pieces are upside-down or partially covered by others.
cristian3_6
OP6 months agoSpeaking politely costs nothing.
I don't know why the lady attacked me, but it's fine. The return case was opened, and I'll refund her when the box arrives.
I don't understand why she complains if the title says "junk drawer."
Anyway
gurlcat
·6 months agocristian3_6
OP6 months agoHi, you're right, I don't think eBay benefits from buyers who harass the seller and open return cases like that.. I'm sure she does it to other people, not just me. So the more she does it, the worse her buyer history will look, and eBay might suspend her account?
That's why I said I should report her.
gurlcat
·6 months agoYes, do it if you haven't already. It would take a lot of reports (and/or more severe abuse of returns, like doing sneaky stuff with return labels and what-not) for her to have her account suspended, but that's not the only punishment eBay can give buyers. The lesser one is simply taking away their Money Back Guarantee privileges.
adamcartwright
·6 months ago@cristian3_6
BOO HOO, I bought the "junk" you advertised as "junk" and found out it's actual "junk."
gone.c-33
·6 months agoThat’s nothing.
Maybe you should try working in person retail for a few weeks to toughen up. You don’t have to like it but it comes with working with the public.
tinsoldierunderground
·6 months agoSo true.. In my younger years I was dealing with the public on a daily basis, when I got out of that situation, I found that I didin't drink near as much.
gone.c-33
·6 months agoWait a minute. I never made the connection but that could explain my early 20s 😂
fern*wood
·6 months agoTry working in collections with the public. As a shy person it was quite a learning experience to tolerate a big dude in my face (I'm 5'2") screaming obscenities because I asked about his payment.
deltilogical
·6 months agoPeople are not rational if they think they are going to repeatedly make money reselling scrap metal they buy off ebay. I love how the buyer made it the sellers fault that the buyer gambled and lost. There are a lot of thumb brokers out there.
cristian3_6
OP6 months agoHello
Yes, that's very strange. She probably wanted there to be gold in the lot. Sometimes it happens that someone accidentally puts gold inside without realizing it. Besides, the lady is also a seller. These people buy thinking there are valuable items, and if there isn't anything of value, they get angry and return it. I've sold more than 500 boxes approximately, and very few people complained. Only problematic people. I called customer service because I didn't like the lady's language. With each sale, I include a message like this:
Hi
Thanks for your purchase
Please contact me with any concerns before leaving feedback. Otherwise, positive feedback is greatly appreciated.
I look forward to your next purchase.
From
Another Time Round
Have a great day
That's why I complained about how the lady spoke to me in a terrible tone.
gurlcat
·6 months agoFor the life of me I don't understand why this never happens to me with jewelry lots. Seems like the kind of thing to expect at least once in a while. Maybe I shouldn't talk about it, probably cursing myself, LOL! I've had maybe 2 or 3 returns but they didn't come with ugly private message grief about the quality or anything, and then the entire lots came back with no pieces missing (which also surprises me).
Jewelry buyers are really the most darling overall, among the various categories I've sold in. You got one very rare rotten one, so I'd say you should be 'safe' for the next 5 years or so. 😆
Your photos are ample and clear, as are your descriptions. Anyone accusing you of deception is full of it.
inhawaii
·6 months agoWhy would you call ebay?
Accept the return.
Refund the buyer when you get the item back.
SImple.
le-5262
·6 months agoI don't feel that is a reportable offense...
but I am sorry they were meanies.
ed8108
·6 months agoI think the ack of good manners in business should not be tolerated
slati_2013
·6 months agoIf this is remorse why should the buyer be allowed to return? Yes, I agree that "just return for a refund" is the best way to go, but the buyer's own words suggest remorse. The seller can refuse a return and should expect eBay to back them up. Unfortunately as I have said again and again, I do not believe eBay stands behind sellers in remorse cases.
cristian3_6
OP6 months agoHi
There's no option to say "I don't accept returns" in the open case. It only says "partial refund."
But if the buyer doesn't want it, you have to return everything.
There are ways and ways of speaking. She attacked me very rudely, in my opinion. What was so hard about speaking politely?
All I told her was that I accept the return and that next time, before bidding or paying, she should send a message with her questions.
I'm still going to block her.
If I start the auction at $18, it's not my fault it reaches that price. What am I supposed to do?
simply-the-best-for-you
·6 months ago@slati_2013 I have to say that they have always had my back as a No Returns seller. Of course if the case is opened as a SNAD like this one was, you have to accept the return, but I have been No Returns for 29 years except for a few tests, where I accepted returns. I always keep going back to it & even the rare times that I've rec'd a NEG for implementing my policy, eBay has always removed it.
Of course I liked your post anyway b/c to me they would have our backs when the buyer lies & opens it as a SNAD, when it's not. Oftentimes inadvertently admitting it 😲
iamalwaysright
·6 months agoTell the buyer to return for refund. You can also always tell them that you’re rubber and they are glue, works every time.
stainlessenginecovers
·6 months ago@cristian3_6
1.) reporting does NOTHING as well as there is really NOTHING to report about. Buyer wasn't happy, although buyer was trying to 'make money' on your 'junk' (as you named it) and is only unhappy because they cannot.
2.) Therefore, I would respond "if it had anything of real value, I would have pulled it and sold it separately. The entire point of the 'junk drawer' was MORE than obvious in the title "J U N K" and was sold for 'parts and or items to repair etc. as STATED in the description!"
2b.) This 'buyer' was trying to take advantage, 'buy your stuff and make $$ on it. It is NOT your fault as you called it a 'junk drawer'. But, note #3 below:
3.) You will not have to refund unless the buyer opens an official 'not as described' return. Then you can decide if you want to 'just refund' or pay the return shipping and resell again.
cristian3_6
OP6 months agoShe also sells the truth; those I've always had problems with are the ones who sell.
grann-4629
·6 months ago3.) You will not have to refund unless the buyer opens an official 'not as described' return.
If the item was described in the listing as 'junk', a not as described report would have to say it isn't junk, in which case the buyer should be happy. Such a report would probably cause eBay's AI to blow a gasket and cease functioning ... yay!
😎
jdbelt1960
·6 months agoI tried to add jewelry to my lineup once and quit because there are too many scrappers looking for meltdown value. I had them return my items and just refunded. They wanted to keep the solid gold pendants and return only the gold-filled chain at a heavy discount. I refused and asked them to return my total items. I gave the pendant necklaces to family members.
dirk12955
·6 months agoFor the OP:
"I'm sorry that you are not happy with the items. Please go to the selling page and
start a return thru ebay and we'll see that you are refunded"
No back and forth
No apologies
No explanations
No hurt feelings. The buyer can call you names and question
your sanity and make remarks about your honesty and integrity
and you'll still end up refunding him.