Blocked Buyer List / Nefarious Buyers

[pistachio.enterprises]

Our blocked buyer list seems to grow by the day. It is simply incredible how many buyers try to get things for free, or claim something nonsensical to get refunds, and one (so far) even trying to extort us by threatening to leave negative feedback if was didn't give him a partial refund! Is this happening to other sellers? 

[fashunu4eeuh]

Hi @pistachio.enterprises 

No, in 15 years of selling, i never had a problem with a buyer beyond a couple of non-payers. I have five or six IDs on my block list for those rare egregious members. Wish you much smoother sailing ahead.

Below are practices i instituted to safeguard my account and bolster customer service:

Many years ago i began offering Free Returns specifically to protect my account from a possible bogus NAD claim. FR are not for everyone, but my return rate has always been very low. It did not increase after i added the FR.

If a buyer raises an issue, i take them at their word.

I avoid listing in high-fraud categories like gaming, tech ( PCs, smartphones, and tablets, etc.), electrics, some designer luxury goods.

Free shipping. Using a postal scale and tape measure, i pack up every item before listing to be able to more accurately calculate estimated shipping costs and exact package dimensions. This helps in my overall pricing and how much an item needs to be sold at to turn a decent profit. (Extra storage is needed for pre-packaged items.)

Learned the terms of the eBay User Agreement, the policies and procedures that govern the site, paying particular attention to the Money Back Guarantee, before listing my first item. It is imperative to know as much or more than a fraudster about how eBay works.

Was a long-time buyer and had built up my feedback score long before deciding to sell.

Evaluate my risk tolerance before listing an item.

To create a rainy day fund, i add a few cents to every listing to cover unexpected losses, and always keep enough funds in my account to cover a refund.

I spend extra time on my listings to be as thorough as possible. I stopped selling broken goods, or items with serious cosmetic issues, because some buyers fail to read the Description field. Don’t want there to be surprises when the buyer receives their item.

[mam98031]

It is likely a closer look at the details of this would be in order.  While certainly problematic buyers do happen, but from what you describe, your issues are way out of the normal amount.  So something is causing that.  

I am NOT trying to say you are doing anything wrong.  I'm only saying it appears you are getting far too many for the size of seller you are with the number of items sold and the number listed.  So something is happening.

Can you give us more info.  How often is this happening?  And details in what these buyers are doing.

How many Return requests are you getting in a months time?

The BBL hold 5,000 names.  

[pistachio.enterprises]

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@mam98031 wrote:

It is likely a closer look at the details of this would be in order.  While certainly problematic buyers do happen, but from what you describe, your issues are way out of the normal amount.  So something is causing that.  

It might be the brand (Dyson); we had a lot of problems on Amazon too, but it was less noticeable because FBA takes care of most of it. On one hand Dyson has failed to combat the counterfeit market, which now reigns and buyers expect to get the genuine stuff for the same price. On the other hand, because Dyson is so expensive, we suspect there is a lot of buyer's remorse.

[ckimodog]

@pistachio.enterprises 

If these people are threatening you with leaving negative feedback, report them.  That's buyer abuse and NO one should should have to tolerate that type of behavior from a buyer or a seller.  Here's the link:

https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/rules-policies-buyers/abusive-buyer-policy?id=4374&st=3&pos=1&que...

[ed8108]

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@pistachio.enterprises wrote:

Our blocked buyer list seems to grow by the day. It is simply incredible how many buyers try to get things for free, 

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I suspect manny people are lacking or deficient in a proper sense of shame

In selling , expect to encounter some people that are self centered, greedy, & dishonest

[mam98031]

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@pistachio.enterprises wrote:

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@mam98031 wrote:

It is likely a closer look at the details of this would be in order.  While certainly problematic buyers do happen, but from what you describe, your issues are way out of the normal amount.  So something is causing that.  

It might be the brand (Dyson); we had a lot of problems on Amazon too, but it was less noticeable because FBA takes care of most of it. On one hand Dyson has failed to combat the counterfeit market, which now reigns and buyers expect to get the genuine stuff for the same price. On the other hand, because Dyson is so expensive, we suspect there is a lot of buyer's remorse.

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You still didn't answer an important question.  How many buyer returns are you getting each month on an average?  How many emails from buyers are you getting weekly or monthly with questions?  How many are from someone that purchased something and have issues?

[pistachio.enterprises]

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@mam98031 wrote:

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You still didn't answer an important question.  How many buyer returns are you getting each month on an average?  How many emails from buyers are you getting weekly or monthly with questions?  How many are from someone that purchased something and have issues?

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According to eBay's system, our return rate is currently eight percent (8%). We receive several emails each day with questions; however, rarely are those emails from buyers after purchasing.

[mam98031]

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@pistachio.enterprises wrote:

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@mam98031 wrote:

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You still didn't answer an important question.  How many buyer returns are you getting each month on an average?  How many emails from buyers are you getting weekly or monthly with questions?  How many are from someone that purchased something and have issues?

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According to eBay's system, our return rate is currently eight percent (8%). We receive several emails each day with questions; however, rarely are those emails from buyers after purchasing.

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Both those rates are pretty high considering the number of listings you have as well as sold items.

If you get some repeat questions, you can always set up a FAQ for your listings and you can even block potential buyers from emailing you if you want.  I don't recommend that, but some sellers use it.

8% return rate is high.  If that is for 10 or more returns, then your Service Metrics might kick in and put you below standard w/ the penalty rate of 6% on your sales.

Check your Seller Dashboard and see if there is any area that says trouble is brewing.

https://sellerstandards.ebay.com/dashboard?region=US

[safan80]

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There's bad buyers and sellers. This is an example of a bad seller.

@ed8108 wroteI suspect manny people are lacking or deficient in a proper sense of shame

In selling , expect to encounter some people that are self centered, greedy, & dishonest

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[mam98031]

@safan80 

You are preaching to the choir.  We are all very much aware of the problems on both sides of a transaction.  We help members on the threads all the time or we experience it ourselves or both.  Usually Both.

You are correct.

[safan80]

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I buy and sell myself. I just wish ebay would go back to allowing paypal on my personal account (for selling).

@mam98031 wrote:

@safan80 

You are preaching to the choir.  We are all very much aware of the problems on both sides of a transaction.  We help members on the threads all the time or we experience it ourselves or both.  Usually Both.

You are correct.

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[mam98031]

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@safan80 wrote:

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I buy and sell myself. I just wish ebay would go back to allowing paypal on my personal account (for selling).

@mam98031 wrote:

@safan80 

You are preaching to the choir.  We are all very much aware of the problems on both sides of a transaction.  We help members on the threads all the time or we experience it ourselves or both.  Usually Both.

You are correct.

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Ebay is not going to do that.  They are now our Money Processor.  You either have to accept that or move on.  There is no in between.