Niche Problem: Dealing with Sellers with Illnesses

[hughs_small_shop]

This is a fairly particular problem, but I've recently had to deal with it 3 times with 3 different sellers. Sellers who claim that due to their illness, they: didn't ship, shipped very late, didn't respond to messages about item with issues, etc. etc. etc.

I felt pretty guilty at first. Like "oh shoot this person has this disease it's completely reasonable they didn't respond". And while I want to believe that these are truths being told, I'm a bit unsure. On one hand, life is unpredictable and can screw your **bleep** up. On the other hand, sellers whether professional or amateur, make a commitment when putting up listings on this site (this is purely my opinion). If you are sick, make sure to take listings down, copy&paste a response to buyers regarding your situation, or ask a friend or family to take care and do either of the before. 

I say this because in my recent issue, a seller had sent an item with slightly incorrect parts (not too big of a deal, but wanted replacement parts). I messaged the seller and there was no response for over a week. So I left a negative feedback and moved on, seems fair to me. But this seller responded back yesterday (the transaction was over a month old at this point) and informed me they were sick, would send replacements, and complained about the negative feedback.

I get it. Sickness occurs. But as a buyer, I'm paying money with the expectation to get the item in a timely manner as described. I feel like that's fair. Thoughts on this? Should I be more understanding and wait longer before leaving negative feedback or taking action?

[yuzuha · Accepted solution]

As someone with a chronic health condition (migraines), it is the responsibility of the seller to find ways to work around their illness.  I have a three-day handling time specifically so that if I am unable to ship the next day or the day after that due to a migraine, I can still get things out within my stated handling time.  The excuse of being sick and unable to respond to emails for over a week doesn't hold water... what would they have done if they'd sold something during that time?  Simply not sent it and expected the buyer to be all right with that?

I would not fault you at all for leaving negative feedback after that.  The seller needs to have a plan in place to deal with eBay if and when they are incapacitated, be that putting their store on vacation, having a friend/family member/spouse handle the business for them, etc.

[castlemagicmemories]

It can be hard to believe someone when you have heard it all before but bear in mind, as you said, that things do happen.  As far as taking listings down, if you have a heart attack and wind up in the hospital, or are in an accident and a coma, there really isn't anything that you could do.  Only if they have back up, could things carry on, and that isn't always possible. 

When you get something that is wrong, you can message the seller.  No response, open a case.  Of course you can just leave feedback and move on but that doesn't resolve the situation.

Taking action precedes feedback.  Feedback is only left when the transaction is over.  You have an alternative to leaving bad feedback and that is leaving no feedback.  You have 60 days post delivery to leave feedback.  There is no rush.

[fashunu4eeuh]

Hi, it is not wrong to expect professional behavior from the sellers with whom you do business. That said, there are a number of unprofessional sellers on eBay. Including a few who have no clue about what they are doing or how to do it. It is the nature of the platform.

I’d say there are as many varied levels of professionalism as there are sellers here. Some may feel being sick gives them a pass, others wouldn't dream of leaving their buyers high and dry. I have found the best one can do is vet sellers as thoroughly as one can before purchase.

Checking their feedback, both that “left for others” and their responses to negative or nuetral ratings, can be particularly helpful in weeding out some of the worst offenders. If the feedback responses they left are not professional in tone, i pass them by. 

Carefully note how they approach the info in their listings. If they have long rambling terms of sale and little item info, i pass them by, especially If they include angry or bitter tirades in their descriptions. 

There is nothing wrong with having standards. Just keep in mind the nature of this platform with its wide variations of professionalism. From grandma selling her collectibles to large companies with well trained staff, they are all here. Do your due diligence but don’t be surprised by the occasional lapse in professional demeaner.

[tunicaslot]

You've received valid responses here. Before getting upset I do check the seller's feedback to see if others may have left bad feedback for the same thing. Buyers are too quick to neg and don't put themselves in the seller's shoes. Yes it is a seller's responsibility to cover his bases in the event of an emergency - but I can tell you now even though my family knows how to end the items on all the venues I sell on - that would be the least of their worries should something happen to me. Until you are in that position - it's easy to say what you would do but actually hard to know what would happen.

Also remember that buying with a selling ID could open you up to karma from this seller is they chose to do so. There are a lot of nasty people out there today.

[*madison]

 Buyers are too quick to neg and don't put themselves in the seller's shoes.

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Why would a buyer want to put themselves in the seller's shoes?

Buyers just want the item.

Speaking as a buyer, I don't care about the seller (who is complete stranger on the internet) or the sellers health problems, (if the health problems exist) I just want the item.

[turquoisetulips]

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@hughs_small_shop wrote:

This is a fairly particular problem, but I've recently had to deal with it 3 times with 3 different sellers. Sellers who claim that due to their illness, they: didn't ship, shipped very late, didn't respond to messages about item with issues, etc. etc. etc.

I felt pretty guilty at first. Like "oh shoot this person has this disease it's completely reasonable they didn't respond". And while I want to believe that these are truths being told, I'm a bit unsure. On one hand, life is unpredictable and can screw your **bleep** up. On the other hand, sellers whether professional or amateur, make a commitment when putting up listings on this site (this is purely my opinion). If you are sick, make sure to take listings down, copy&paste a response to buyers regarding your situation, or ask a friend or family to take care and do either of the before. 

I say this because in my recent issue, a seller had sent an item with slightly incorrect parts (not too big of a deal, but wanted replacement parts). I messaged the seller and there was no response for over a week. So I left a negative feedback and moved on, seems fair to me. But this seller responded back yesterday (the transaction was over a month old at this point) and informed me they were sick, would send replacements, and complained about the negative feedback.

I get it. Sickness occurs. But as a buyer, I'm paying money with the expectation to get the item in a timely manner as described. I feel like that's fair. Thoughts on this? Should I be more understanding and wait longer before leaving negative feedback or taking action?

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It only takes a minute for a seller to put their site on vacation mode  if they start to feel sick . Like my favorite comic George Carlin said one time  there's always that middle area  where  '' I'm not sick  but I feel I could get sick'' . Anyway  I'd presume that would cover about 90 % of the cases.  Tulips

[castlemagicmemories]

Buyers just want the item.

Like sellers just want to be paid.

[creekcoyote]

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@turquoisetulips wrote:

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@hughs_small_shop wrote:

This is a fairly particular problem, but I've recently had to deal with it 3 times with 3 different sellers. Sellers who claim that due to their illness, they: didn't ship, shipped very late, didn't respond to messages about item with issues, etc. etc. etc.

I felt pretty guilty at first. Like "oh shoot this person has this disease it's completely reasonable they didn't respond". And while I want to believe that these are truths being told, I'm a bit unsure. On one hand, life is unpredictable and can screw your **bleep** up. On the other hand, sellers whether professional or amateur, make a commitment when putting up listings on this site (this is purely my opinion). If you are sick, make sure to take listings down, copy&paste a response to buyers regarding your situation, or ask a friend or family to take care and do either of the before. 

I say this because in my recent issue, a seller had sent an item with slightly incorrect parts (not too big of a deal, but wanted replacement parts). I messaged the seller and there was no response for over a week. So I left a negative feedback and moved on, seems fair to me. But this seller responded back yesterday (the transaction was over a month old at this point) and informed me they were sick, would send replacements, and complained about the negative feedback.

I get it. Sickness occurs. But as a buyer, I'm paying money with the expectation to get the item in a timely manner as described. I feel like that's fair. Thoughts on this? Should I be more understanding and wait longer before leaving negative feedback or taking action?

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It only takes a minute for a seller to put their site on vacation mode  if they start to feel sick . Like my favorite comic George Carlin said one time  there's always that middle area  where  '' I'm not sick  but I feel I could get sick'' . Anyway  I'd presume that would cover about 90 % of the cases.  Tulips

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Since many sellers do not sit at their computers constantly, I am not sure if your theory would work for some.

If a seller is outside working in their garden or at the grocery store, etc., and starts to feel ill, I would guess that the farthest thing from their mind at that time would be the items listed on E-bay.  

Life happens and many times it does not happen when one is sitting in front of their computer.

My response to the OP would be, have a little patience.  E-bay, in 99% of the cases, has your back and you will get your money back if you do not eventually get your item.

IMHO, most of us are way too impatient.   We want it now.  Well, if we want something now, we really need to shop in a B&M store so that we can take the item with us when we leave.

On-line shopping is super convenient but that convenience brings a different set of problems. And one of them is that a buyer is at the mercy of the individual that owns the item they want to purchase.

Unless one is buying from an more formal business like Wal-mart, Macy's or any other business that has a staff, we are all usually dealing with only one person.   A person that is subject to all the same issues we all are.

[nc-daydreamer]

I hope you never get sick.  I just spent 51 days in the hospital - and I can prove it. Emergency surgery. and now dealing with my brother. Think I'm lying?

[*madison]

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@castlemagicmemories wrote:

Buyers just want the item.

Like sellers just want to be paid.

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The op paid though, non payment doesn't fit on this thread.

[castlemagicmemories]

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@*madison wrote:

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@castlemagicmemories wrote:

Buyers just want the item.

Like sellers just want to be paid.

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The op paid though, non payment doesn't fit on this thread.

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I know.  Just a general observation and a point.  Understanding is usually only desired when it comes from the other direction.

[tunicaslot]

Sorry Madison but I would hope that a buyer would be me some common courtesy  - the same as I extend to them. I don't straight away report them or file UID before contacting a buyer to make sure that they don't intend on completing the transaction.

Everyone is different and has a different opinion - but hopefully what goes around comes around and my consideration of buyers will come back around if indeed something like this should happen to me.

People complain about the divide between sellers and buyers on this venue and lack of consideration is part of the reason why.

[tunicaslot]

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@castlemagicmemories wrote:

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@*madison wrote:

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@castlemagicmemories wrote:

Buyers just want the item.

Like sellers just want to be paid.

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The op paid though, non payment doesn't fit on this thread.

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I know.  Just a general observation and a point.  Understanding is usually only desired when it comes from the other direction.

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I disagree - there are more good people out there than bad - we only hear about the bad - especially here.

[*madison]

When buyers pay, they just want the item, they are not interested in excuses, they didn't buy an excuse.

Buyers have their own health and family issues to think about, they don't need sellers telling them about their own tales of woe.  No-one cares, just ship the item please.