Will a minimal description help reduce SNAD?

[atikovi]

If there is a minimal description or no description, how can a buy claim it's significantly not as described? Plan to list a bunch of used hubcaps which all can have some imperfections, so I don't want to say, "good condition with just a few scratches", and have a buyer claim it has a lot of scratches or a ding. Of course I'll have plenty of pictures.

[atikovi]

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@ittybitnot wrote:

Maybe eBay should change the "Not as described" options to "Not as imagined"?????

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I'm gonna have to write that down.

[mr_lincoln]

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@earlyant-77 wrote:

@mr_lincoln 

You would love the Griswold Loaf Pan I just bought last night at the auction .........

But I'll put that in a B&M.

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YES I WOULD!  Those are rare, if you need pointers on restoring it let me know.  I will be listing a Griswold 20" this evening LOL!.  Would LOVE some pics of the Loaf Pan if your schedule permits ...

[the*dog*ate*my*tablecloth]

You should provide a full description of your vintage item because that’s the right thing to do.

When you have scanty descriptions you can lose the good buyers because it shows a lack of caring. Instead you will keep the buyers who don’t care. Either because they don’t read the description so 5hey don’t notice it is missing OR because they know they can file SNAD regardless.

This used to be a site where sellers took pride in their work, instead now we have a site where sellers try to game the system. That goes a long way in explaining why buyers are going elsewhere.

[buyselljack2016]

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@mr_lincoln wrote:

@atikovi   I sell things that are 65 to 100 years old at times, they are rarely perfect but some are actually in pristine condition.  I don't embellish the description but try to state the facts.  For example, a 95 year old cast iron skillet the Conditions (and then copy and paste the same in Description) would include: "No chips and no cracks, there is some minor pitting on the cooking surface and some knife marks from previous owners.  There is some residual build up on the outside walls."

I am not about to count the "minor" pits nor the Knife marks".  I will try to angle the skillet when photographed so the items I am describing will show up better.  If there is a chip I call it out, if there is a crack it does NOT get sold on eBay.  If a crack occurs in shipping then I can file an insurance claim because of damage in shipping.

As to SNAD claims, it does not matter what you write or show in pictures, if a Buyer decides they don't want the item they will use the SNAD claim and force you to pay return shipping and hopefully return the actual item they purchased in the same condition it was sold in and not a brick or empty box.

Consider using Free Returns, it will give you some financial protection in a bogus return both financially and against less then positive Feedback.

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The October "seller protections" do not require "Free Returns" to have those protections against false returns and less than positive feedback.  TRS, and "offer returns" will is supposed to give some relief with those new protections.

[mr_lincoln]

@atikovi wrote:

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@mr_lincoln wrote:

For example, a 95 year old cast iron skillet the Conditions (and then copy and paste the same in Description) would include: "No chips and no cracks, there is some minor pitting on the cooking surface and some knife marks from previous owners.  There is some residual build up on the outside walls."

I am not about to count the "minor" pits nor the Knife marks".  

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Chips and pitting don't affect the function of a skillet (as far as I know) and mentioning them just opens a door for complaints of DEEP chips or HEAVY pitting that wouldn't be possible if not described. Not to mention complaints of scratches, burn marks, etc. Pictures with no words along with a sympathetic CSR would go a long way towards avoiding a SNAD case here. Those imperfections are expected by normal buyers on something like that.

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I have sold well over 100 cast iron pieces in the last few years and NEVER had anyone complain about "DEEP" chips or "HEAVY" pitting angling for an INAD ... and unfortunately, I disagree with the opinion of "not to mention ... scratches, burn mark, etc. ..." I disclose what I see to the best of my ability ... and I can also tell if a pit is from use or the sand or molding process ... because I have done sand castings.

My listing descriptions state "Questions welcome" ... and I do get quite a few on cast iron compared to other items I sell.  I occasionally take additional pics to satisfy their curiosity about a particular feature or declared issue on the piece.  However, I steer clear of certain questions when I specify a piece has a slight wobble ... when I get the "how many index cards" worth of wobble does it have?  Sorry, I don't measure that way, too subjective.

[ittybitnot]

When you have scanty descriptions you can lose the good buyers because ....

That is indeed correct.   As a buyer now I see many have gone to no description (even my longtime favorite sellers), see pics, or nice stuff in the description area with no other information.  

While searching the other day, I stumbled upon a seller that had LOTS and LOTS of the items I usually buy. 

One blurry picture.  No size, condition, or other information at all.  Had lots of "negs" for SNAD with regard to size and condition, etc.   Though the prices appeared to be good, I passed.  I spent my couple of hundred in "mad money" with someone else. 

Though I know I can send anything back I just didn't want to be bothered with a seller like this.  I could have asked qustions, but why bother sending 30 questions for thirty listings  asking for a picture of the back of the item and the size?  ????? 

[inhawaii]

"Used hubcap. Totally unusable. Severely dented and rusted. Worse than you expect it. You would be a fool to buy this item."

... and you would STILL get returns.

[buyselljack2016]

Just had a buyer grouse a bit about a description.

Item did not fit their application.

Listing did not say that it did fit their application.

Problem for this buyer was that it did not list everything that it was not a replacement for.

Sort of like the online review I read recently complaining how the telephone they purchased did not have an answering machine. There logic was that if it did not have an answering machine it should have been stated in the ad.

[atikovi]

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@the*dog*ate*my*tablecloth wrote:

You should provide a full description of your vintage item because that’s the right thing to do.

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Yet dishonest buyers take advantage if that. You say an item is light blue, they say it's aqua to return it free because they see it cheaper elsewhere. Buyers are welcome to ask questions before buying if there is anything in the description they want more details on.

[southern*sweet*tea]

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@the*dog*ate*my*tablecloth wrote:

You should provide a full description of your vintage item because that’s the right thing to do.

When you have scanty descriptions you can lose the good buyers because it shows a lack of caring. Instead you will keep the buyers who don’t care. Either because they don’t read the description so 5hey don’t notice it is missing OR because they know they can file SNAD regardless.

This used to be a site where sellers took pride in their work, instead now we have a site where sellers try to game the system. That goes a long way in explaining why buyers are going elsewhere.

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^^^THIS^^^

[the*dog*ate*my*tablecloth]

First, dishonest people will take advantage of anything. Plus they’re a small percentage of people. I personally sell to the good people. Scammers can take care of themselves.

im also a firm believer in the fact that if buyers have to ask questions (with the exception of weird ones) that the seller did not do their job. Buyers should not have to ask questions and many won’t bother. Especially if it looks like the seller doesn’t care.

[mr_lincoln]

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@atikovi wrote:

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@the*dog*ate*my*tablecloth wrote:

You should provide a full description of your vintage item because that’s the right thing to do.

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Yet dishonest buyers take advantage if that. You say an item is light blue, they say it's aqua to return it free because they see it cheaper elsewhere. Buyers are welcome to ask questions before buying if there is anything in the description they want more details on.

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This is a key point ... I have "Questions welcome" in my Description and I get them ... some Buyers are afraid to ask for fear of a Seller blocking them from Buying.  I think the other area Sellers get in to trouble is when they "embellish" something ... "This piece is absolutely beautiful and would look great in your ...", "you will look stunning with these diamond studded earrings!" (until your best friend tells you they don't look right, then they are ugly and not as described and coming back to you).  Anyway, I just try to keep it simple and accurate and wait to see what if any questions arise.  When you get regular FB stating better then expected, better then pictured, better then described, etc. you know you are on the right track.

[pargran3]

I read these boards. The dishonest will get by with dishonesty. The dingbat buyers that do not read descriptions OR look at more than one picture will get by with it. Clue here would be to not list badly damaged junk. There is a lot of that.  Things listed as excellent except for gigantic chips and so on.

Note: These are a very small percentage of buyers. Sure, I have had a problem buyer or two in the last 15 years. Do I skew my listings to try to take care of that? No. It would not help. Do I continue to list because these jokers are a teensy tiny group of people. Yes. yes I do.

Radine

[ittybitnot]

... and you would STILL get returns.

LOL@inhawaii

[monster-deals]

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@atikovi wrote:

If there is a minimal description or no description, how can a buy claim it's significantly not as described? Plan to list a bunch of used hubcaps which all can have some imperfections, so I don't want to say, "good condition with just a few scratches", and have a buyer claim it has a lot of scratches or a ding. Of course I'll have plenty of pictures.

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There is nothing that will save you. Extensive descriptions and 12 pictures or the opposite.