Not A Buyer's Problem

[lm5280]

I've had a bad experience with my last purchase and been buying on here for years.

I won 4 bottles of Men's Burberry cologne, the seller then messages me days later saying he doesn't want to ship items as the post office told him he'd have to ship them separately.

This isn't my issue, if I bid many times and win an item and get a great deal on it, the seller shouldn't take the purchase back cause he feels like he's not getting his money's worth.

I get it costs more to send seperate, however this person should've sent me the items I really wanted hence the multiple bids.

I did get my money back however the money back doesn't equal the items I won and the seller knew that and took the items back.

[castlemagicmemories]

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em - you've read my posts long enough and have seen me say that I have honored my sales - when I've made mistakes - so I do think that sellers need to honor their listings. On the other hand - I'm sorry but it isn't the end of the world!

There are more important things going on right now then someone getting upset about not receiving their cologne. We know that Ebay does not educate sellers or buyers here. When new - I'd like to give them the benefit of the doubt - they definitely know after receiving a defect and bad feedback that they did wrong and won't do it again.

It sometimes takes a life and death situation for people to realize how unimportant some things are - they're nuances - nothing more when compared to the larger picture. I'm a by the book type of person - but even I will give people some slack - because none of us are perfect. We can't make someone do the right thing - but what goes around does come around eventually - and in this seller's case - sooner rather than later. Being I just found out about the fl oz stipulation after selling here for 20 yrs - yes - I'm cutting this seller some slack.

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Remember, we have newbies reading these threads.

I just find the response we give to this type of question is inconsistent.  Either we tell all sellers to honor their commitment or we let them have excuses for it.

So we give this seller a pass because he has to send the bottles separately.

What about the seller who underestimates shipping?

What about the seller who did not get the price he wants?

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If I may interject here, I think there is perspective to be gained from looking at the big picture.

No one is advocating a free pass or saying that sellers should not honor their commitment.  Many sellers do take responsibility for their mistakes and honor the sale.  

I don't think anyone is saying that a new seller should not follow the rules, or act with integrity.  It is just logical that a new seller is more apt to make mistake and panick and/or not know what to do, and could bail.  They may not be able to absorb the cost of their mistake.  They may not know or feel they should.  Not saying this is right, but it is more understandable when a new seller does this.  

So I believe both your view, Em, and Tuni's are compatible.  We can agree to disagree.

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Yes, but what do we tell new sellers when they mess up.  

We read them the riot act that he  should have read the rules and the boards before jumping in.

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That's true, Em, but that is hindsight.  With all due respect, I don't think anyone is saying they shouldn't have read the Boards, just acknowledging that a new seller is more prone to mistakes and being that this is not a unique, rare item that you may never find again, a little understanding can't hurt, either.

[castlemagicmemories]

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Totally agree grace! But the OP is the buyer not the seller and I don't think it's unreasonable for people to calm down instead of going ballistic when a newer seller makes a mistake like this. 

If this is the worst type of situation you have had to deal with - wait until it is a life and dealth one.

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I do understand what you are saying, believe me.  Right now worrying about husband''s high PSA.

But you have to separate that out when you run a business.  Buyers do not want to hear about your problems as they have their own.

And they are not sympathetic to your mistakes.  They want what they bought and paid for.

I am a bit sympathetic to them because I have encountered more than a few sellers who after I won something weaseled out of the deal.  One had the audacity to cancel saying problem with address - one that I have successfully received over 400 packages to.

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I totally understand; I have had that happen to me more than I care to count~undisclosed breakage they didn't see when listing, shipping cost more than they stated, etc.  No one likes to be disappointed like that.  

Praying all is well for you and yours.

[gracieallen01]

I must admit, it has been a while since I've listed anything here, so I may have missed some of the places where they have other than little icons to indicate something 'special' to view.

However, from what I have seen, there isn't much in the way of an emphasis, past the mention of some resources, on much other than generalities.  'Sides, their approach seems to be rather 'half-hearted' compared to the 'great deals' and 'best pricing' and promo listings and .....

[tunicaslot]

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Totally agree grace! But the OP is the buyer not the seller and I don't think it's unreasonable for people to calm down instead of going ballistic when a newer seller makes a mistake like this. 

If this is the worst type of situation you have had to deal with - wait until it is a life and dealth one.

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I do understand what you are saying, believe me.  Right now worrying about husband''s high PSA.

But you have to separate that out when you run a business.  Buyers do not want to hear about your problems as they have their own.

And they are not sympathetic to your mistakes.  They want what they bought and paid for.

I am a bit sympathetic to them because I have encountered more than a few sellers who after I won something weaseled out of the deal.  One had the audacity to cancel saying problem with address - one that I have successfully received over 400 packages to.

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You obviously don't hear me as I'm not using any situation to forgive a seller's mistakes. I've already said sellers have to own their mistakes - but it would be nice if buyer's didn't get their pants in a tizzy when a transaction is not a life or death situation. They have a right to be upset - they can leave appropriate feedback - but gee golly - I get upset when I travel to a store for that advertised special and they are either sold out or the shipment didn't come in. Is my ranting and raving to the manager suddenly going to make that item appear? Nope - I only embarras myself for carrying on and other people are thinking get a grip.

Ebay should not promote how easy it is to sell. I've said it a million times - both buyers and sellers should have to read an introductory and then take a test so that we know they know the basics - ain't gonna happen.

[goodluckselling]

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I must admit, it has been a while since I've listed anything here, so I may have missed some of the places where they have other than little icons to indicate something 'special' to view.

However, from what I have seen, there isn't much in the way of an emphasis, past the mention of some resources, on much other than generalities.  'Sides, their approach seems to be rather 'half-hearted' compared to the 'great deals' and 'best pricing' and promo listings and .....

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Here is an example.  When you go to list a new listing and start to type in the title.  eBay has suggestions based on each letter you type.  They are trying to steer you to a similar listing so they can help by filling in things like

• item specifics, or
• using certain keywords in certain locations in the title or
• different keywords all together.
• a possible better match for category
• Lots of different possibilities

  This is just an example of how eBay is working with all sellers in every step to help them acheive the best possible listings, but all that seems to go out the window because some users here in the forum call every move eBay makes as stupid or dumb or whatever. 

Some new sellers think they know all so many of them do not take any suggestions as sometimes it might not make sense to them, so they go there own path which is fine, that is how you learn but when they get low to no views or sales, they will forget about what they did not do and now they come here to the forum and spout out how horrible eBay is and then start reciting the conspiracies that float around here like lilies on water.

Good Luck Selling!

[gracieallen01]

I agree that ebay is assisting the new seller to have 'better' listings and they have a lot of hints and suggestions.

I'm afraid I don't necessarily agree with all of their suggestions or even all of their hints, though.  ebay is about, it seems, the only one that makes anything when the seller lists something for $ .99, and it sells for that, at least, here in the US.

And, those don't really tell the new seller that they will get dinged for a number of things, like not shipping.  I've also heard that they don't always mention to the new seller that CSR's aren't always right and that, sometimes, one has to ask for a 3rd or 4th or 5th opinion and, even then, find another source of information.  And, I've heard, that the boards aren't always easy to find, either - just to name a couple of things, you understand.    I'm sure we needn't get off onto suspensions and such.

I suppose, it's just that, sometimes, I think ebay could do a little better to try to ready the new seller for possible problems. 

[city*satins]

Maybe I'm just in a grouchy mood today because I have a bad cold but you know....much as I urge sellers to honor their sales, even if they take a hit (provided it doesn't mean they can't make next month's rent) I can't help sometimes but harken back to the time I told on the boards here how I accidently listed a very valuable ring for $99 BIN instead of $999

I honored the sale.

There were 3 reactions from the posters on these boards:

1% told me that was the right thing to do

50% called me a liar

49% called me a sucker

...just thought I would toss that into the mix. 

There's a pricepoint at which something breaks down in the "just do the right thing" equation that people say they espouse.

Accordingly I take it with a grain of salt when some people (not all) start pronouncing how a seller who messes up by not honoring a sale that's going to put him in the red, should be pilloried in the town square.

[emerald40]

Accordingly I take it with a grain of salt when some people (not all) start pronouncing how a seller who messes up by not honoring a sale that's going to put him in the red, should be pilloried in the town square.

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Just  brought it up so that the advice we give is a bit more consistent.

Another newbie on a different thread messed up, and the advice given was that he should have done a bit more due dilligence.  And it was an expensive lesson learned.

[city*satins]

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Accordingly I take it with a grain of salt when some people (not all) start pronouncing how a seller who messes up by not honoring a sale that's going to put him in the red, should be pilloried in the town square.

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Just  brought it up so that the advice we give is a bit more consistent.

Another newbie on a different thread messed up, and the advice given was that he should have done a bit more due dilligence.  And it was an expensive lesson learned.

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There's advice to the seller.

There's advice to the buyer.

Then there are proclamations of what dire consequences the seller deserves for his failure as a human being masquerading as a business entity.

In any case, did you think my post was directed at you, particularly?

[green-night]

I would call ebay and tell them that seller returned your money for no reason and you feel he should have  strikes for non compliance.

Seriously?   

[emerald40]

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Accordingly I take it with a grain of salt when some people (not all) start pronouncing how a seller who messes up by not honoring a sale that's going to put him in the red, should be pilloried in the town square.

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Just  brought it up so that the advice we give is a bit more consistent.

Another newbie on a different thread messed up, and the advice given was that he should have done a bit more due dilligence.  And it was an expensive lesson learned.

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There's advice to the seller.

There's advice to the buyer.

Then there are proclamations of what dire consequences the seller deserves for his failure as a human being masquerading as a business entity.

In any case, did you think my post was directed at you, particularly?

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I would think it was directed at those posters who feel the seller should have owned up to his mistake and sent out the perfume even if it meant a loss.

So yes I felt is was directed at posters who hold that opinion, of which I am one of them.

[emerald40]

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I would call ebay and tell them that seller returned your money for no reason and you feel he should have  strikes for non compliance.

Seriously?   

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How is this any different than a seller cancelling for out of stock?

[green-night]

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I would call ebay and tell them that seller returned your money for no reason and you feel he should have  strikes for non compliance.

Seriously?   

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How is this any different than a seller cancelling for out of stock?

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How do you know the seller hasn't received defects because of this?  Is it really that important to you? 

I could definitely see the OP negging the seller and it would be deserved, but to suggest the buyer to call ebay to discuss strikes or punishment on a sellers account - well , that just isn't something I would do. 

[emerald40]

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I would call ebay and tell them that seller returned your money for no reason and you feel he should have  strikes for non compliance.

Seriously?   

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How is this any different than a seller cancelling for out of stock?

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How do you know the seller hasn't received defects because of this?  Is it really that important to you? 

I could definitely see the OP negging the seller and it would be deserved, but to suggest the buyer to call ebay to discuss strikes or punishment on a sellers account - well , that just isn't something I would do. 

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As I said, for fairness.

That is why I asked the OP if the seller actually cancelled the listing and for what reason or did he just refund the money.

As I already said I once had a seller who felt they did not get enough money so he cancelled using problem with address?  Should I have just let that fly or corrected the accuracy of it with ebay?

[green-night]

As I said, for fairness.

That is why I asked the OP if the seller actually cancelled the listing and for what reason or did he just refund the money.

Refunding the money through the original transaction on Paypal would also result in a defect.  AND the seller would forfeit their final value fees. 

As I already said I once had a seller who felt they did not get enough money so he cancelled using problem with address?  Should I have just let that fly or corrected the accuracy of it with ebay?

Why not just neg them?