Forgot to change color of item in title, buyer says I mislead them

[clarabellas_closet]

Hi there,

I recently started selling, I’ve been a buyer for years. I received my first neutral review and feel a bit disheartened because I made a rookie mistake. I’ve reached out to the buyer twice in hopes to negotiate how I can turn their neutral experience into a positive one and I haven’t heard back yet. I’d just like to hear what some of you guys think about this, I just want to be a reputable seller and learn. 

I had listed a Coach wallet and selected a preset description of a similar item for sale, the same style just different color, and thought I thoroughly went through the description to change every little detail to match mine. There was just one issue, I had forgot to change the title... The wallet was listed with the title “Coach Signature Accordion Zip Around Wallet - Khaki/Crimson Red” The colors of the wallet in my photos are the exact colors of how the wallet looks in real life, a bunch of orange, pink, beige, and white. No crimson red though.. It wasn’t until after I received the review that I had completely overlooked the title and realized I forgot to change the “crimson red” portion of it.

The buyer had made an offer, which I accepted and they purchased the wallet, leaving me with a neutral review stating the wallet has no crimson red despite the title saying it had crimson red. To the buyer’s defense, it is a completely fair review.. the title said red and the wallet doesn’t have red, however, I just sit here scratching my head... despite my rookie mistake.. you’d think the photos would have been enough of an indicator to be able to see that there is no crimson red present on the wallet, that could have potentially deterred the buyer from making the decision to place an offer on it. The wallet is clearly pink, orange, beige, and white.. the inside photos are a completely neutral tone. I can’t help but think, why buy an item if you can see the wallet in the photos, it’s colors in its entirety, then leave a review stating the title was misleading. My intentions were to never mislead my buyer, it was an honest mistake and I have reached out to them and tried fixing this.

I left the gentleman a kind message asking if he’d be willing to negotiate, I want to make his experience a positive  rather than a “neutral” one.. I’ve offered to accept a return or even discount a similar item, but alas I have received no reply and the “1” neutral is haunting my rookie profile.

Id love to hear some of your thoughts on this, is there anything else I can do to reconcile here or possibly change the neutral review?

 

 

[tdrake]

I don't have an answer to your question except as other's have said, a "neutral" is not an eBay seller career ender.

However, I will say that "selling something similar" a long time ago *almost" got me into the same trouble. If I hadn't noticed and hour or so later the mistake, it would have. Since then I NEVER use other peoples listings to shortcut my own. By the time you proofread everything right down to the item specifics (if you do, it appears looking at listings some don't) you've spent darn near as much time as launching one from scratch.

Again, I'd move on. Good luck with your new foray into selling 🙂

[farmalljr]

It's about accepting RESPONSIBILTY. As a buyer the ONLY responsibility I have is paying like I am supposed to. 

As a seller YOU are responsible to accurately describe your item, properly package and deliver the item safely, to the buyer. Like it or not, it's ALL on the seller. 

While USPS may be our sub contractor for delivery, WE are willingly choosing to use them. We COULD only send things through another carrier, eating that cost or raising our prices. The decision is totally OURS as sellers. In the end, the responsibility for delivery, lays on the SELLER'S shoulders. The seller is free to choose to buy insurance and file claims, when their "subcontractor" fails at their delivery duties. 

If you are a seller and don't see it that way, you deserve every headache and problem you run into. Because when you are a buyer, YOU expect those protections. You EXPECT your item to be delivered as advertised, in the manner described, in a REASONABLE time. It's not 1940 anymore, it's 2021. It doesn't take 6-8 weeks to get something to a buyer. Yes, slow downs happened, but INSURANCE was available, as well as alternative carriers. If your business didn't pivot, it's your own fault. 

[*smedley*]

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@farmalljr wrote:

It's about accepting RESPONSIBILTY. As a buyer the ONLY responsibility I have is paying like I am supposed to. 

As a seller YOU are responsible to accurately describe your item, properly package and deliver the item safely, to the buyer. Like it or not, it's ALL on the seller. 

While USPS may be our sub contractor for delivery, WE are willingly choosing to use them. We COULD only send things through another carrier, eating that cost or raising our prices. The decision is totally OURS as sellers. In the end, the responsibility for delivery, lays on the SELLER'S shoulders. The seller is free to choose to buy insurance and file claims, when their "subcontractor" fails at their delivery duties. 

If you are a seller and don't see it that way, you deserve every headache and problem you run into. Because when you are a buyer, YOU expect those protections. You EXPECT your item to be delivered as advertised, in the manner described, in a REASONABLE time. It's not 1940 anymore, it's 2021. It doesn't take 6-8 weeks to get something to a buyer. Yes, slow downs happened, but INSURANCE was available, as well as alternative carriers. If your business didn't pivot, it's your own fault. 

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apparently he's not the only one... it's a shame you people don't understand the difference between responsibility and accountability...

[sextons-sweet-deals]

there are more colors involved in photos

Nothing but a scam buyer!

the O.P. stated the following:

I had listed a Coach wallet and selected a preset description of a similar item for sale, the same style just different color, and thought I thoroughly went through the description to change every little detail to match mine. There was just one issue, I had forgot to change the title... The wallet was listed with the title “Coach Signature Accordion Zip Around Wallet - Khaki/Crimson Red” The colors of the wallet in my photos are the exact colors of how the wallet looks in real life, a bunch of orange, pink, beige, and white. No crimson red though.. It wasn’t until after I received the review that I had completely overlooked the title and realized I forgot to change the “crimson red” portion of it.

[sextons-sweet-deals]

Only if you try to open a case after reading the details, viewing the photos and don't ask questions before purchase. 

I think your comment of "No wonder honest shoppers are afraid to buy stuff here"  need to be "No wonder honest sellers are afraid to sell stuff here".

It's all good! Open discussions works for everyone. You get to see opinions / views from others. 

[*smedley*]

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@farmalljr wrote:

Because when you are a buyer, YOU expect those protections. 

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i also don't lay every fault at the feet of the seller... sellers are not responsible for the postal worker that decides it's too much trouble to deliver everything and fills up a dumpster... or the nor'easter that floods out roads... or the hurricane that demolishes the distribution center... or the drunk who slams into the interstate delivery truck at 2am... etc etc ad nauseam...

[soh.maryl]

The buyer WAS misled.  He thought he was buying one color plan and received a different one.

The description and the picture are supposed to match each other, not require the buyer to have to guess which was correct.  

[stepmitc9766]

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@sextons-sweet-deals wrote:

there are more colors involved in photos

Nothing but a scam buyer!

the O.P. stated the following:

I had listed a Coach wallet and selected a preset description of a similar item for sale, the same style just different color, and thought I thoroughly went through the description to change every little detail to match mine. There was just one issue, I had forgot to change the title... The wallet was listed with the title “Coach Signature Accordion Zip Around Wallet - Khaki/Crimson Red” The colors of the wallet in my photos are the exact colors of how the wallet looks in real life, a bunch of orange, pink, beige, and white. No crimson red though.. It wasn’t until after I received the review that I had completely overlooked the title and realized I forgot to change the “crimson red” portion of it.

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The buyer didn't ask for a refund or anything else, NOT A SCAM BUYER.

Good grief, not everyone wants to screw the seller.

This is definitely a case of a seller messing up

[southern*sweet*tea]

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@sextons-sweet-deals wrote:

Only if you try to open a case after reading the details, viewing the photos and don't ask questions before purchase. 

I think your comment of "No wonder honest shoppers are afraid to buy stuff here"  need to be "No wonder honest sellers are afraid to sell stuff here".

It's all good! Open discussions works for everyone. You get to see opinions / views from others. 

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The OP made a mistake - we ALL make them. No bad reflection on the OP because the OP is HUMAN, just like the rest of us are.  She took responsibility and tried to make it right. Far too many sellers deflect the blame for their mistakes to the buyer. Kudos to the OP for being HONEST.  The buyer left a neutral. That is their right as a buyer - the colors did not match the title and possibly what they saw. That does NOT make them a scammer.

The OP's title says Crimson and khaki. The OP's description is as follows:

Coach Signature Accordion Zip Around Wallet - Silky multicolor fabric, with creme colored leather interior. Condition is "Pre-owned". Minor wear on fabric. Shipped with USPS Priority Mail.

As a buyer, I can only go by what I SEE and what I READ. I see dark red or crimson in the photo. I see crimson in the title. To keep from being labeled a scammer , what question should I ask before purchasing?

[doc-holmes]

To the people who believe the buyer should have asked questions first, I'll present a hypothetical. Let's say you're selling a blue blanket that IS actually blue. The title says blue, the description says blue, and the picture is blue. If a buyer messaged you asking, "Is this blanket actually blue," many would automatically block that buyer with the excuse that he or she is setting you up for a "scam" somehow, or they're asking stupid questions because the answer is all over the listing. Darned if you do, darned if you don't. And for the record, I think the OP handled this well. 

[mtgraves7984]

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@dhbookds wrote:

One thing, as a newbie or even as an older seller, is to learn NOT to shift the blame.........  The fault was yours.....accept it and learn from it....

I would have answered that feedback......."Entirely my mistake....my apologies.....full refund if you want to return"...........

Wouldn't that "help" your feedback much more than a neutral hurts it? 

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@clarabellas_closet 

I think @dhbookds has figured out what 'the next right thing' is. I know that I've personally chosen  one seller over another due to the feedback response the seller left. Good luck with your future sales.

[inhawaii]

I would...

A) Respond to that feedback. 

"Sorry for the error. My mistake. Please send it back for a full refund."

B) Or don't respond to the feedback. Many sellers feel that responding to a neutral feedback only brings attention to it.

C) Learn from your mistake and move on.

Good luck and stay safe!

[sextons-sweet-deals]

the seller would respond with the their question to confirm color. The communication will be saved / recorded in eBay.  

Funny how some who stick up for the buyer that have no current listings or never have.

[sextons-sweet-deals]

you just confirmed what you viewed in listing - As a buyer, I can only go by what I SEE and what I READ. I see dark red or crimson in the photo. I see crimson in the title.

The buyer made an offer after reading the listing, viewing photos, and did not ask questions. I would have asked the seller to confirm colors if that was a certain item I was looking for. Lets be honest. This is an item that I would consider a specific item search for buyers.

The buyer had made an offer, which I accepted and they purchased the wallet, leaving me with a neutral review stating the wallet has no crimson red despite the title saying it had crimson red. 

[southern*sweet*tea]

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@sextons-sweet-deals wrote:

The buyer made an offer after reading the listing, viewing photos, and did not ask questions. I would have asked the seller to confirm colors if that was a certain item I was looking for. Lets be honest. This is an item that I would consider a specific item search for buyers.

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So if you're selling an item that's listed as blue in the title, and has a photo of an item that's blue, I'm supposed to contact you to verify that it is actually blue before I buy?

You cannot be serious.