eBay

steve_stuff · ‎02-18-2023

OK, I have worked here at real store since 73 but still, I only work here - but as the in-store joke goes boss talks to me and I 'let' him decide I'm right .... This time he was mad and left the below as a reply to first neg in years, and told me not to post about this on that account. So this is an end around.

Guy we know - he's bought and swaps stuff before, we made tons here on the 'E' with his hobbit/lotr crap with no complains - and this time he swaps us all of his 'highlander' stuff for a copy of Dune. And we tried to confirm everything was 'as told' but this one item - nobody selling it dated it or said 'it has this here' or answering our questions, so maybe our guy didn't know that this poster was a reissue/reprint. We found out by saying 'no' when it should have been 'yes' to the same question from three members. And since we're made tons on the stuff he swaps us for a book or two, I'm not gonna bug him about this.

Everything the boss said below is true, only thing he left out was that all our listings have "Any question, ask before bidding" in them.

buyer left this - "They listed a poster I purchased as an “Original” and when I received the poster it was clearly a fake, and not an original."

Boss replied with this -

DUDE! You bid 1st then asked if original-WE told you it's consigned & owner said original & we took his word & we really had no idea-We told you other ebay message asked does it say this 'there'-We told him AND you NO. We told you worried then cancel -YOU DIDN'T- So you had every chance to back out- YOU DIDN'T- We think you're mad B/C we wouldn't sell you all the highlander crap as a lot AND you got sniped on the other piece you bid on -- Should have cancel/blocked U after 6th message.

If I had replied it would have been more like -also true.

Before we saw your bid we found out from questions and our answers it was most likely a reprint - but you bid before asking and even after being told likely reprint you still, with days left before it ended, bought instead of cancelling your bid. And now this.

Which if any would you have left.

Did the boss make us look bad or petty or in the wrong?

Thanks

mtgraves7984 · ‎02-18-2023

Would you have left this.

@steve_stuff

I would not have. Sometimes less really is more.

maxine*j · ‎02-18-2023

I would not leave either one. Both sound unprofessional. It's up to you to know what you're selling. "Any questions, ask before bidding" does not cover you if you misidentify or misrepresent items you're selling.

And if you sold something as an original, or implied that it was an original, and it was not, then the neg is justified, along with a full refund. If you were able to revise the listing after buyer's bid, you'll still have to refund if buyer files an INAD because the process is pretty much automated.

I say, take your lumps, learn, and move on.

-

stainlessenginecovers · ‎02-18-2023

Don't call me Dude.

bamorris · ‎02-18-2023

I think replies to negative feedback are always suspect. Your pasted reply is no different.

As a buyer, if I see someone reply defensively and make accusations that cannot be backed by facts, I tend to avoid.

Get some more positives to bury the negative. Move on. Would have been better to deal with the customer than respond poorly to a negative like the way you pasted.

wastingtime101 · ‎02-18-2023

I'll put it this way: that FB reply is not ideal. As a potential buyer I'd think twice about making a purchase.

Your proposed reply, while tamer, also has room for improvement. You're asking so I'm being honest.

I would have proactively sent a message to any bidders that it's a reprint and let them know you would be cancelling their bids and relisting the item with corrected info which they are welcome to bid on.

Since that didn't happen I would have left a reply similar to:

Sorry to hear you're disappointed with this purchase. We believed the item to be original at the time of listing. When we later discovered it was a reprint we sent a message advising you of the corrected info and suggested cancelling the bid if you didn't want a reprint. We offer a 30 day returns policy. Please contact us if you need further assistance.

Don't forget to add them to your best buddy list.

GLORIOUS!

pcobra93 · ‎02-18-2023

I would have responded back.... " I am not your DUDE; PAL"...

Actually, I would have responded back with A simple message that we are sorry you are not happy with it, please file an INAD case and we will send you a return label. Once back he is refunded and added to the blocked buyers list. Believe me, in my early days I may have responded the same way as your boss. Over time you mellow out and understand you have to play withing the lines.....

wastingtime101 · ‎02-18-2023

@wastingtime101 wrote:
Since that didn't happen I would have left a reply similar to:

Sorry to hear you're disappointed with this purchase. We believed the item to be original at the time of listing. When we later discovered it was a reprint we sent a message advising you of the corrected info and suggested cancelling the bid if you didn't want a reprint. We offer a 30 day returns policy. Please contact us if you need further assistance.

Oops - no returns policy. So I'd amend that to:

We are happy to accept a return for this item. Please contact us if you need further assistance.

The point of a reply to FB is to show potential future buyers how you handle difficult situations. Make them feel confident that while most transactions go off without a hitch, in the event an error occurs you will handle it in a professional manner.

GLORIOUS!

hartungcards · ‎02-18-2023

I have some questions about your boss if he sells stuff as "original" based on "we took his word & we really had no idea."

pickermall · ‎02-18-2023

It was pretty easy to find the account and look at the feedback...

Looks really unprofessional. As a potential buyer, I would stay away from the seller. Whether the neg is justified or not, I would have accepted a return or just REFUNDED the buyer. It wasn't all that much money in cost and shipping.

But that's my opinion

maxine*j · ‎02-18-2023

@wastingtime101 wrote:

... The point of a reply to FB is to show potential future buyers how you handle difficult situations. Make them feel confident that while most transactions go off without a hitch, in the event an error occurs you will handle it in a professional manner.

BINGO!

The point is not for a seller to get his own back, or show up the buyer, or explain away his own responsibility and actions, or complain or cry or whine, or anything other than to show potential future buyers what do expect if a problem arises.

If the seller did nothing wrong, maybe especially if the seller did nothing wrong, can he handle with calm professionalism the occasional transaction that goes south? That's what a buyer wants to know, not who was right or wrong in any given, previous transaction.

-

hartungcards · ‎02-18-2023

If you've been working at this place for 50 years, and this guy is your boss.....just retire.

albertabrightalberta · ‎02-18-2023

@steve_stuff wrote:

buyer left this - "They listed a poster I purchased as an “Original” and when I received the poster it was clearly a fake, and not an original."

Boss replied with this -

DUDE! You bid 1st then asked if original-WE told you it's consigned & owner said original & we took his word & we really had no idea-We told you other ebay message asked does it say this 'there'-We told him AND you NO. We told you worried then cancel -YOU DIDN'T- So you had every chance to back out- YOU DIDN'T- We think you're mad B/C we wouldn't sell you all the highlander crap as a lot AND you got sniped on the other piece you bid on -- Should have cancel/blocked U after 6th message.

I found the listing and saw the boss's immature reply to the feedback. Wow, it makes the "boss" look way worse than the buyer!

Title states "Original!"

Description states "CONTACT us BEFORE bidding/buying on anything."

Buyer DID contact you to verify that it's original and there appears to be no dispute about that.

Disclaiming knowledge as "it's consigned & owner said original & we took his word & we really have no idea" isn't going to fly with ebay and not with the buyer.

As a seller, you (or the "boss") can't disclaim knowledge of the accuracy of your listing.

This is on you.

@steve_stuff wrote:
Did the boss make us look bad or petty or in the wrong?

Without a doubt.

I think your OP says that this is a good repeat customer. If this were my buyer, I'd apologize for the error, issue a full refund and let the guy keep the poster.

And next time, KNOW what you're selling.

albertabrightalberta
Volunteer Community Mentor