eBay

dcmerc2012 · ‎04-07-2023

Lately I have been getting customers that are just rude right out of the gate for literally no reason whatsoever and it is getting really annoying.

One customer purchased something from me and the very next day asked why it was not in the mail. I explained to him politely that the item he purchased has a stated 5 business day handling time before shipping (due to how this particular item is supplied). He insisted that ebay requires ALL sellers to send items out within four days no matter what and said that there is never any mention of "business days". I politely directed him to one of my other listings which clearly showed the handling time and mention of "business days".

Regardless, his item arrived to him five days sooner than the eBay stated delivery estimation and yet he continuously is writing to me telling me how cheated he feels and how it should have arrived sooner, but at the same time says that he will get around to opening the package "next week sometime." He now is threatening to leave poor feedback unless I give him positive feedback immediately.

I also had a customer contact me today because he says that the post office charged him postage due on a package that I sent to him, a whopping $4 and change. (No mention of the fact that I accepted his offer that was $20 less than asking price and shipped the item for free.) I explained to him that the post office shouldn't have charged him anything as my postage is purchased through an account and that any discrepancy should be charged to my account, which happens from time to time if I have weighed something wrong. In many, many years I have never had a customer charged for a shipping error. He explained that he had to drive 12 miles to pick up the package because his local post office is closed due to a worker shortage and that he wants his $4 bucks and money for the time it took him to drive to the post office to pick up a package.

Seriously.... **bleep** is going on? Is there something in the water? I got three negatives from one guy not long ago because he says something was broken in shipping (and refused to send pics of said broken items) and then said that he would leave negatives unless I send him additional related items for free that I still had up for sale. I refused and he left the negatives. I reported them for feedback extorsion and never heard a word from eBay about it.

How are there no eBay alternatives yet? It is staggering to think that in the vastness of the internet there hasn't been one serious competitor to step up. I would think all it would take would be to give sellers at least some equal footing and they would flock to them. I am so glad that I no longer rely on eBay for an income, it has gotten so much worse than it was years ago.

chris13 · ‎04-07-2023

The 'general public' is a sea of divided, angry and traumatized people.

Patience, compassion and civility are not 'promoted' by social media algorithms and the anonymization provided by the internet offers mostly opportunities to be a jerk without repercussions.

Being kind and compassionate is a reward in itself, though it can be tiring when you never hear appreciation.

It sounds like you try and be ethical and polite. Thank you for that.

doc-holmes · ‎04-07-2023

I ordered something from Amazon last night and it was at my doorstep this morning. That is what has caused a lot of the impatience we see today.

I see a lot of Americans complaining when their package hasn't arrived after 4 or 5 days. Must be nice. You should try Canada Post on for size. I had a package take 4 weeks to travel about 20 miles.

dhbookds · ‎04-07-2023

Ebay can't control how buyers act........anymore than Walmart can.........every venue of any kind serving the public has it's rude/nutty people......just a fact of dealing with the public............

dcmerc2012 · ‎04-07-2023

I try to be polite but ebay really needs to put in place some protection for sellers, such as requiring ebay approval before leaving a negative feedback or allowing sellers to report blatant harassment from customers and ramifications for same.

There are some seriously unhinged buyers out there and sellers have their hands firmly tied behind their backs. That needs to change.

chapeau-noir · ‎04-07-2023

These people have always been around. Even Jonathan Swift (Gulliver's Travels) complained about them in the early 18th century, saying one obnoxious person takes up the energy of five normal people, which struck me as about right.

These two are classics, though, and I'm sorry you got them. Sometimes it seems like things come in clusters and maybe you're done. Dealing with the public takes strong nerves and a lot of patience.

Hell is empty. And all the devils are here.

spreadlovelikefire · ‎04-07-2023

I think we sellers just need to vent sometimes. And that usually after we do we feel better. I'm a longtime seller on eBay and have seen and heard it all. One thing is for sure, there is never a lack of rude people to show up when sales are slow and returns are high. Seems like it comes in waves. I try to see the ratio in my sales per "crazy" person. And the good/seamless transactions always weigh out the bad. However the bad stick out like a sore thumb. I have 1 day handling time and I still get the person who wants it shipped within an hour of purchasing. It happens more than I'd like to think about. It's a symptom of immediate gratification. I also get the customers who believe that if they see an item at a box store that costs $1 that you should sell your widget to them for the same. They have no insight on shipping, fees, handling, and I am not some ones personal shopper. I always want to ask those people how often they go to work for free. But I don't. I usually just reply "sounds like a great deal, I'd go buy that." Or "awesome!"

carlmarxx · ‎04-07-2023

I been on ebay since 1996 with my other ID and have both selling and buying experience . And I have worked in retail . I have seen rude/Nutty sellers on Ebay as I have with buyers. However Amazon has train buyers that use them to expect next day delivery on all none Amazon sites . the buyers don't understand that eBay and other none Amazon sites don't have the Wearhouse's and need to make it clear to buyers in large print . .

chapeau-noir · ‎04-07-2023

I try to see the ratio in my sales per "crazy" person. And the good/seamless transactions always weigh out the bad.

I think this is wise and can be applied to more events than just selling here. It's important to keep one's perspective. Even though the unpleasant experiences sting, they are no more important than the good experiences, frequently less because they teach less.

Hell is empty. And all the devils are here.

retro_entertainment_collectibles · ‎04-07-2023

@chapeau-noir wrote:
I try to see the ratio in my sales per "crazy" person. And the good/seamless transactions always weigh out the bad.

I think this is wise and can be applied to more events than just selling here. It's important to keep one's perspective. Even though the unpleasant experiences sting, they are no more important than the good experiences, frequently less because they teach less.

In as far as America goes people many many been angry for a good 40/50 years but anytime try speak about why debunking garbage and trying inform complex realities they just get more angry. What's so awful and odd about it is the anger only serves to further undermine the very reasons they believe they are angry. Sort of self-fulfilling prophecy that's causes folks to just tune out of the real realities that need be addressed but so very many are literally scared albeit they play they are not of those actual realities.

Funny but very much not.

coolections · ‎04-07-2023

You will need to do a much better job of weighing your packages. There is no excuse for a buyer to receive something postage due. It sounds like your packaging needs improvement too. Ebay takes lots of effort and hard work. If buyers are giving you all those problems I suggest stopping with the handing time and get your items to the PO faster. Sorry to sound crude but it sounds like you need improvement. Most sellers never have all those problems.

baangell · ‎04-07-2023

I've had my share of horrible 'buyers', one threatened me with physical force and wished death and torture on my children...over a $25 item that I refunded. Ebay took down their negative comments. Its best if you talk directly to an Ebay employee, I prefer the messenger over a phone. Use 'Help & Support' at bottom of page, then 'Contact Us' near bottom of that page to get you started.

sailinship · ‎04-07-2023

Best answer IMO
"

The 'general public' is a sea of divided, angry and traumatized people.

Patience, compassion and civility are not 'promoted' by social media algorithms and the anonymization provided by the internet offers mostly opportunities to be a jerk without repercussions.

Being kind and compassionate is a reward in itself, though it can be tiring when you never hear appreciation.

It sounds like you try and be ethical and polite. Thank you for that."

sailinship · ‎04-07-2023

"I ordered something from Amazon last night and it was at my doorstep this morning. That is what has caused a lot of the impatience we see today."

And so............ I don't buy on Amazon, where the race for the penny price is never ending. I also see ebay heading in that direction and hope that they can pull up out of that nosedive.

sailinship · ‎04-07-2023

I have to agree. I can't remember ever having someone get a package with postage due. Did you ask them for a photo to prove that they were charged by USPS. As far as the rest of their complaints... That's their problem, not yours.

"You will need to do a much better job of weighing your packages. There is no excuse for a buyer to receive something postage due. It sounds like your packaging needs improvement too. Ebay takes lots of effort and hard work. If buyers are giving you all those problems I suggest stopping with the handing time and get your items to the PO faster. Sorry to sound crude but it sounds like you need improvement. Most sellers never have all those problems."

HOWEVER, I will say that your 5 day handling time, is just too long for this platform at the current time. Unless you are doing a truck load of orders, sign up for a USPS account and schedule them to be picked up by your mailman. Then take the money you save going to the USPS station, and give some, or all, to the mailman in the form of a "Tip". With that said, as soon as they started complaining, I would have cancelled and refunded them. They were obviously going to be problematic. Blocked them too.