Negative feedback

[ceeg_69]

I received a negative feedback from a buyer on a book sold.  The buyer had a question about defects, I replied the book had the "normal wear and tear".  I did submit a photo with my returned reply showing the lower pages were bent.    In the feedback, the buyer wrote "normal wear and tear does not include lower-right corner bent-up pages".

Now I have a negative feedback and "my selling privileges are limited to one item until my overall feedback is greater than 0".    This is only the second item I have sold.  

[emerald40]

I agree with your buyer.  You should have responded that the bottom pages are bent forward.  Tha is not normal wear and tear, imo.

It should have been noted in your listing.

[fern*wood · Accepted solution]

Use this as a learning experience.  In the future, list with more photos (12 are available) and describe what you are selling.  You had basically no description in your listing and only one photo.  Had this been a more expensive item, they probably would have filed a case and you would have had to refund.

[plantaddict]

As the other poster pointed out, there are 12 slots for images and you want to use as many of those or all of those and take photographs of every single angle of your item. Granted sometimes you may not use all 12, depending upon the item and size however you want to show as much as you can. In the description you will always want to be very detailed especially with any defects. Also make sure you list any defects in the 'item specifics' place as a precaution as well.

I'm sorry this happened, maybe if you send a polite message to your buyer explaining it was your mistake and that you just started selling and are sorry he was displeased. Offer a partial refund and ask politely if he would consider revising his feedback as this has placed limitations on your account and you would like to correct the problem and work out a solution.

[fashunu4eeuh]

It is absolutely imperitive to call attention to every flaw in an item you are selling. In online sales, the customer must rely on the seller’s description because they are buying blind. As they say: Describe it as if there were no pictures, photograph it as if there were no description. 

Use all the spots eBay allows for photographs and always include close ups of the flaws. 

This was not your best effort. Ebay has a learning curve like anything worthwhile doing. Take this as a knowledge-gained experience. Spend some time studying successful seller’s listings to learn how to improve your own. You’ll get there. Best of luck to you.

[femmefan1946]

Now I have a negative feedback and "my selling privileges are limited to one item until my overall feedback is greater than 0". 

Interesting.

It has been my understanding that eBay no longer looks to feedback as a measure of seller accounts.

Look at your Seller Dashboard.

Did you get a Defect for your handling of the Dispute?

Those definitely  count against your seller account.

Frankly, with a -1 FB, you won't find many customers.

You may want to abandon this poisoned account and open a new one. Or use it for buying. Packaging materials like poly envelopes are useful.

You will need a different credit card, but you can use the same Paypal account.

This will not help with the number of listings, but you can ask for a lifting of the restriction every 30 days.

[femmefan1946]

BTW- flat things like books and CDs can be scanned and look better in images.

[time4david5d28]

Just my opinion, and not to make fun of buyers on ebay . .  . but many buyers want perfect items for paying nothing for them.  Buyer's expectations are that Normal Wear and Tear means the item is in more or less great condition, unless pictures or otherwise indicated in the listing.   So this goes under the heading of what you consider "normal wear and tear" is not what someone else considers "normal wear and tear".    I happen to agree with the Seller that normal wear and tear should include a few bent pages here and there .  .  . especially since the Seller is not a Reseller of Books, doesn't own a book store, and therefore probably has no clue about Grading a Book.   This means to me that since Grading a Book is a Professional Courtesy, But Individuals (not resellers) listing on EBay don't offer such service . . . doesn't eliminate the fact that many buyers believe that ALL Sellers on EBay are operating as a store/business.   As such, unless something is listed as having a defect, or used with specific 'issues' . . . it's assumed by the buyer as if there are none.

Part of the problem with selling Books is that if it's absent a "Grade" for the book, it should have a complete description as to any possible flaw that a person flipping the pages would notice.   That means that the Seller has a great responsibility to list every possible defect, whether real or imagined, just because the nature of a book is to be read, used, and handled.    And, that's what I put in my llstings when I sell a book .  .  . that it has been read, used, and handled for item's intended purpose.  It may include . . . .

[robot-hands]

That was a terrible picture...but even so you can easily tell that this book was VG at best.

You had a squirrel as a buyer....and were unlucky enough that they were the first to leave feedback.

All that for $2.

[mr_lincoln]

@ceeg_69  You got some good feedback from other members here and if you take their advice things will improve for you.  You can also purchase some items whicch will raise your FB count

[bklynbernie]

I do not think you deserve a negative. Picture is ok and gives inpression of ok shape. Item was only 2 dollars what do buyers expect. I wouldn't of expected a perfect book. 

I do agree with other comments, use up all 12 pictures and write a better description. Try again, sell some small brand new items to get your feedback up higher.  When I started I resold all brand new gifts I was never going to use. 

B 

[everything-from-trinkets-to-treasures]

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@ceeg_69 wrote:

I received a negative feedback from a buyer on a book sold.  The buyer had a question about defects, I replied the book had the "normal wear and tear".  I did submit a photo with my returned reply showing the lower pages were bent.    In the feedback, the buyer wrote "normal wear and tear does not include lower-right corner bent-up pages".

Now I have a negative feedback and "my selling privileges are limited to one item until my overall feedback is greater than 0".    This is only the second item I have sold.  

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Your buyer asked about specific things..defects... and you gave them a very generic response detailing nothing.
The damage should have been included in the listing, with pictures as well as part of an accurate description. I can see where they would be upset.

You cannot take short cuts....it is not like buyers have the ability to pick items up and inspect them...you have to show and tell everything about your items.
Write descriptions like you have no pictures and take pictures like you have no description.

Also take some time to read up ebay, policies, how to's etc before listing anything else. At this stage you cannot afford any other mistakes as your selling privileges can be suspended.

[robot-hands]

Take the advice of using a scanner.

You absolutely do not need 12 pictures of a $2 book.

One will suffice but next time use the book category, and select the proper condition from the drop down.

No one should be working this hard for $2

[everything-from-trinkets-to-treasures]

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@robot-hands wrote:

Take the advice of using a scanner.

You absolutely do not need 12 pictures of a $2 book.

One will suffice but next time use the book category, and select the proper condition from the drop down.

No one should be working this hard for $2

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The value of the item is irrelevant. And not doing what is needed or required is opening OP up for constant disputes and bad FB and as a new seller with one bad FB already they cannot afford to ignore what is required/needed and risk unnecessary suspension.
They are already at risk because they did not have everything they needed in the listing...and they have the FB and an additional restriction to prove it. They do not need more bad FB or disputes.

[hillbillymedia]

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@robot-hands wrote:

That was a terrible picture...but even so you can easily tell that this book was VG at best.

You had a squirrel as a buyer....and were unlucky enough that they were the first to leave feedback.

All that for $2.

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I agree robot. I can see that the corner is turned up as well. How much work is someone willing to do for a couple bucks? 12 pictures and a lengthy description? This IS a 35 year old item....geee whiz.