eBay

Anonymous · ‎07-20-2021

I have a buyer who refuses to speak English to me though I live in the United States and English is the only language I'm willing to speak. The issue is over a package that the incompetent US post office has temporarily lost. Ebay's policy obviously is that this is my fault, as I didn't go to the post office and supervise the job they were doing the entire way from my house to the customers. It is also my fault because I don't speak the customers language.

There is a tracking # is 9400108205497395142210 and it shows that it stopped moving about 3 - 4 days ago because the post office can never do their job properly. It also shows I mailed it well within my 1 business day handling time.

The problem now is the self entitled buyer who thinks I should learn 16 languages to sell $8 items on Ebay is demanding to know where their package is. I keep telling them I can't answer that question because I'm not the post office, and that it appears the package is stuck and it might move again, give it a few days and if it doesn't move I'll refund you. The buyer doesn't understand that, because they don't speak english.

Do I have to go learn 16 new languages to avoid negative feedback though I only sell to people in my country which should speak my language if they are trying to buy items off me? I know that's where this is going, it's going to be another unwarranted negative feedback received on ebay which will probably result in my taking my inventory to amazon. People say negative feedback doesn't effect you, it certainly does, when I get -'s my impressions drop drastically until my feedback % comes back up, i am absolutely tired of getting unwarranted negative feedback for issues that aren't my fault. I've also compared similar sellers and I can definitely see how people with higher feedback get more sales.

What on earth should I do, I refuse to learn a 2nd language to sell on Ebay!

dogchow747 · ‎07-20-2021

I used to work for a company that sold LOTS of stuff internationally.

It is a great way to make more money.

You will never be successful in business if you refuse to expand your horizons.

You can choose to ship to US only, It gets more complex for small items.

But.....

ed8108 · ‎07-20-2021

EBay should have staff available to

function as translators between eBay. com members, where the english language presents a barrier.

donsdetour · ‎07-20-2021

@ed8108 wrote:
EBay should have staff available to
function as translators between eBay. com members, where the english language presents a barrier.

Hmm a person that knows multiple languages and you what to pay them how much for translation per hour????

fashunu4eeuh · ‎07-20-2021

I think your customer service skills could use a little fine tuning. Your buyer, who gave you their business, has a concern. Instead of addressing it, you are complaining that it isn’t your fault, that you don’t speak the language and cannot answer for the post office. Well, whose responsibility is it to assist the customer, if not yours?

If this were my buyer, i would find a way to communicate with them, contact the post office and find out what’s up with their package, and relay that info to them. That would be helpful and might calm down their concerns so you don’t end up having to pre-maturely refund them.

emerald1830 · ‎07-20-2021

So what? I came to this country knowing only Afrikaans, Dutch, and very little English. After living in the US, I picked up and speak it fluently, Spanish, Italian and English..

Maybe learning a second or third language is something I suggest for many to do...it sure as heck helped my income!

wrong66 · ‎07-20-2021

That's worked for me just about every time, for whatever reason(s).

wrong66 · ‎07-20-2021

Heck of a lot of people born and raised in this country that can barely speak English. I learned that when I first started looking at listings on eBay.

wrong66 · ‎07-20-2021

Yes, Memphis Processing is the epicenter of grief right now in this country.

7606dennis · ‎07-20-2021

@wrong66 wrote:
Heck of a lot of people born and raised in this country that can barely speak English. I learned that when I first started looking at listings on eBay.

Frankly, a lot of my UK friends don't think I speak English. 😉

"It is an intelligent man that is aware of his own ignorance."

lepke1979 · ‎07-20-2021

@wrong66 wrote:
Heck of a lot of people born and raised in this country that can barely speak English. I learned that when I first started looking at listings on eBay.

"Whoa, lady, I only speak two languages, English and bad English." -Korben Dallas (The Fifth Element)

What's really crazy is I used to have to interact with a lot of teachers some years back via email. The way they write, you would think they just learned English yesterday.

titipeo · ‎07-20-2021

El paquete parece ser perdido por el correo. No se en donde esta, favor de reclamar por eBay y asi poder recibir su dinero.

Your package is lost by the postal service, I have no idea where is at. Please submit a claim through eBay in order to get a refund.

sounds pretty simple, there is no need to go back and forth when language is an issue. You already now there is a problem with the delivery, submit a where's my mail claim with the USPS, and if you shipped via priority mail, submit a claim as well.

mtgraves7984 · ‎07-20-2021

@fashunu4eeuh wrote:
I think your customer service skills could use a little fine tuning. Your buyer, who gave you their business, has a concern. Instead of addressing it, you are complaining that it isn’t your fault, that you don’t speak the language and cannot answer for the post office. Well, whose responsibility is it to assist the customer, if not yours?

If this were my buyer, i would find a way to communicate with them, contact the post office and find out what’s up with their package, and relay that info to them. That would be helpful and might calm down their concerns so you don’t end up having to pre-maturely refund them.

@Anonymous

The advice @fashunu4eeuh has given is good advice. Although I suspect that the problem is as described back in post #11, you might want to check status with USPS... I checked last Thursday, 7/15. Maybe the 6-7 weeks has changed.

Also note that I suggested the buyer open an INR, so that I could get my FVFs back. Can you do that in their language?

Edit: @titipeo just did it for you. "l paquete parece ser perdido por el correo. No se en donde esta, favor de reclamar por eBay y asi poder recibir su dinero."

sin-n-dex · ‎07-20-2021

@rebell45 wrote:
Heck of a lot of people in this country that don't speak English these days, and more coming all the time.

It's a problem in Canada. Around 1/3 of callers into my phone queue speak in broken English (many have children acting as translators).

For the record I speak 4 languages (well I speak 2 fluently, and I have decent writing skills in two others). I do use google translate to assist in communicating when necessary.

C.

eleanor*rigby · ‎07-20-2021

@wrong66 wrote:
Heck of a lot of people born and raised in this country that can barely speak English. I learned that when I first started looking at listings on eBay.

Same! I learned it when I signed up for these discussion boards.

titipeo · ‎07-20-2021

eBay does not filter out non-English buyers. Everyone is a potential customer, but when language becomes an issue, google translate to the rescue. Once a package is delayed, the buyer is already upset, and with the language barrier, it adds more to their concerns. This is where customer service skills come into play, check with the USPS, submit claim through them.

Is best to try to cool them off with an explanation of what is going and politely ask for some extra time. The last thing you want is for the buyer file a INR, get the refund, and then a day later the item is delivered and you are out your money and package, and will come here looking for advise on how to get buyer to pay. Address the issue at hand. After all, you accepted the money.