eBay

Anonymous · ‎05-20-2021

After some very long thought, we have decided to stop selling on ebay after 17 years of doing so. The managed payment system is a hassle, and they have at times withheld payments longer than usual due to an "unknown problem". When we call customer service? They say they do not know what the problem is, only that there is one. We do not ship until payment goes through, and this greatly has held up some shipments and resulted in buyer's being unhappy. Secondly, we always use tracking and signature confirmation. But if that buyer lies and says the package was not gotten? In the last year Ebay has let 2 buyers get away with this. Each time they sided with the buyer, though we showed proof that the package was in fact delivered. The first time it cost us $2000.00 . This last time it cost us over $4000.00. Ebay sided with both buyers and refunded them both, directly debiting our bank account. The tracking and signature confirmation *should* protect seller's. But we have learned over the years that ebay ALWAYS sides with the buyer. And as of lately their selling policies have been completely unsupportive of seller's and the managed payments have also become a head ache. Tired of losing money! Good riddens ebay!

dddmt29 · ‎05-22-2021

I have used PayPal since it first was used as a payment option on eBay. When I began selling on eBay the buyer had the option of cash, check or money order. Then you had to wait for the check to clear if they used that method. Needless to say he cash option didn't last very long. One time a I got a check with a SASE (self addressed stamped envelope), The check was no good so I just sent it back to the buyer in the SASE. Then PayPal came along and once they got their act together things went much smoother. In my opinion, the old adage "If it isn't broke, don't fix it" comes to mind. Just sayin' it wasn't broke for me.

ymstamps · ‎05-22-2021

"The tracking and signature confirmation * should * protect the seller's is just bull**bleep** by Ebay, the only thing that matters is to prove that the buyer has actually received the item and that you will never receive any compensation as a seller of Ebay. So the bottom line: Ebay is usually a co-fraudster along with buyers.

Anonymous · ‎05-22-2021

I have not even read the other replies to this, but when you get into the $2000. and $4000. items you are talking about, and you have signed confirmations, it is my opinion that you should get the courts involved. I know there are all kinds of problems with the cost of hiring lawyers, their lawyers trying to require some impossible change of venue, etc., but when you get up in the 6 grand range, I'd say something has to be pursued. Solely up to you, though.

jonathankirkland · ‎05-22-2021

@chapeau-noir wrote:
I do believe that for someone who just wants to clear out a few things from the house and that's it, getting set up on eBay is a lot now. I'll get blue-slapped for this but I've actually warned people of this when they ask me, though I'm perfectly willing to help them get set up here because it has the biggest market, no doubt. But for someone who wants to just clear some stuff out in a one or two time thing, it's a lot. For someone who wants an ongoing hobby/small business/gig, eBay works fine - I mean, if a financial slacker like myself can manage it, just about anyone can. Whether they want to, is another matter, but that's up to the individual. Thing is, a couple of times I've had people ask if they have to have a Paypal account to sell on eBay, as they don't have one and don't really want one.

As for the spelling around here - I worked as an editor and hack writer for 30 years, but I'd be the last person to hassle someone about their typos considering how many I make when I post. 🤤

The problem is ebay does not properly prepare first time/new sellers at all.

They make it sound sooooo easy to just "list, ship, get paid!" or whatever. And sure, it is that easy on the surface. But we all know the reality of things. The things you need to be informed about and that you shouldn't list an expensive items with low or no feedback.

And I think anyone who visits the forums regularly has seen A LOT of people who have been selling here for YEARS even who are absolutely clueless about how ebay really works.

katzrul15 · ‎05-22-2021

The problem is ebay does not properly prepare first time/new sellers at all.

They make it sound sooooo easy to just "list, ship, get paid!" or whatever. And sure, it is that easy on the surface. But we all know the reality of things. The things you need to be informed about and that you shouldn't list an expensive items with low or no feedback.

And I think anyone who visits the forums regularly has seen A LOT of people who have been selling here for YEARS even who are absolutely clueless about how ebay really works.

@jonathankirkland

Sums it up really well! (or folks who "used" to sell here, came back and are "shocked" things have changed"

....... "The Ranger isn't gonna like it Yogi"......... Boo-Boo knew what he was talking about!

Posting ID Only.......
Yes, I have no Bananas, only Flamethrowers.......

mobley120 · ‎05-22-2021

"They make it sound sooooo easy to just "list, ship, get paid!" or whatever. And sure, it is that easy on the surface. But we all know the reality of things. The things you need to be informed about and that you shouldn't list an expensive items with low or no feedback."

I understand exactly what you are saying, but I'd seriously doubt the idea in what you're implying would fit into eBay's marketing strategy. And it's most likely if you were in eBay's marketing think tank, that idea would never arise from you: that's reality.

"And I think anyone who visits the forums regularly has seen A LOT of people who have been selling here for YEARS even who are absolutely clueless about how ebay really works."

Maybe, but I'd be inclined to think eBay is the clueless one, or at least they do a good job at pretending to be clueless: sarcasm

jonathankirkland · ‎05-22-2021

@mobley120 wrote:
"They make it sound sooooo easy to just "list, ship, get paid!" or whatever. And sure, it is that easy on the surface. But we all know the reality of things. The things you need to be informed about and that you shouldn't list an expensive items with low or no feedback."

I understand exactly what you are saying, but I'd seriously doubt the idea in what you're implying would fit into eBay's marketing strategy. And it's most likely if you were in eBay's marketing think tank, that idea would never arise from you: that's reality.

Well they want to get money any way they can make it, and as I've said before, they make a heck of a lot more money from the FVF of a completed sale than just from actual listing fees and stores and such. So why not try to get everyone and their mother and aunt and uncle and grand grandma listing everything around the house on ebay? Hahaha

@mobley120 wrote:
"And I think anyone who visits the forums regularly has seen A LOT of people who have been selling here for YEARS even who are absolutely clueless about how ebay really works."

Maybe, but I'd be inclined to think eBay is the clueless one, or at least they do a good job at pretending to be clueless: sarcasm

Well, yeah, that goes without saying though. 😄

my-cottage-books-and-antiques · ‎05-22-2021

It's 2021. There are more online selling options than ever. No site is going to be a perfect fit for everyone. Find the site---or sites---that work for you. Online sellers range from people just trying to sell a few things they probably would otherwise take to Goodwill, to people who've built serious businesses, with employees, warehouses, sometimes even manufacturing components. Goals, abilities, available capital.... vary radically from seller to seller. ebay actually does work for many sellers. That doesn't mean it suits every seller. That's true of every site. Some sellers do very well on Amazon, others have given up on it. Doesn't mean Amazon is bad or good....just means it isn't for everyone.