posted on November 9, 2001 04:00:58 AM new
I won't put the seller's name or item number on this, but you just have to read these rules I found on an auction!! WOW . . . and he's a Power Seller. . . I just couldn't get over this:
OK, auctions are not rocket science, and my auctions are designed to be as simple and no-nonsense as possible -- you read the listing, you bid, you win, you pay, I ship
HOWEVER, if you think it unimportant to READ THIS LISTING CAREFULLY and to follow the simple instructions contained in it if you win, then please don't bid
Now that the 2% of bidders who cause virtually all problems by looking only at pictures or ignoring details are gone.....
In the interest of conducting pleasant, easy and efficient transactions and minimizing unnecessary e-mail, this listing contains all of the information you need to pay if you win and are in the USA (all international bidders are also welcome, but one e-mail is required)
The shipping charge, which must be ADDED to the winning bid amount, for USA destinations is $4.50 for Priority OR $1.60 1st class padded envelope
Despite what the eBay win confirm suggests A WINNER IN THE USA DOES NOT NEED TO E-MAIL ME -- you know you won, I know you won -- what's important is that you pay for your win so I can ship your merchandise
Payment methods and information for any USA winner --
Money order (see payment name and address below)
Cash (send at your own risk)
PayPal (send to [email protected] - payments from unverified ship-to addresses will be refused)
Yahoo! PayDirect (to [email protected])
BidPay (to [email protected])
Any service or means not listed such as Billpoint or any type of check is NOT available
If shipping to a FLORIDA address ADD 6.5% Florida sales tax on winning bid amount only unless you provide your Florida sales tax number on a signed exemption certificate
You bear all risk of loss or damage in shipping -- if you want INSURANCE add $1.10 per $50.00 (or fraction thereof) of winning bid amount and indicate it with your payment
Payment methods and information for any NON-USA winner --
You can use any of the above USA payment methods, but you MUST e-mail me for exact shipping costs
I routinely ship to customers in dozens of countries, BUT, I don't play ANY games with customs forms -- no price fudging, "gifts", "samples", or exceptions -- if you don't agree, don't bid
Payment name and address for any winner using regular mail --
xxxxxxxx
Other important information for all winners --
Regardless of how you pay, you MUST include the AUCTION NUMBER and TITLE and your SHIPPING ADDRESS with your payment. An unidentified payment means your merchandise won't ship until you inquire
After I've received your payment, your merchandise will ship as soon as possible -- I SHIP EVERY BUSINESS DAY
Please e-mail if you win MULTIPLE auctions and want a combined shipping cost
Merchandise in original shipped condition is returnable for any reason (or no reason) within 30 days of auction end for refund or credit, shipping charges excluded
Grading is on a condition scale of Poor-Fair-Good-Very good-Excellent-Near mint-Mint, usage of those words is in the relative context of the scale and NOT common usage, and reflects my subjective good-faith assessment of overall condition
"Paint rub" in a description refers to areas no longer painted due to wear, chipping or other reason. "Minor marks" means 1/8" or smaller marks, whether ink, dirt or something else. All defects are reflected in my overall assessment of condition
Accessories, clothing, shoes, stands, weapons, instructions, papers, boxes, batteries, etc. are included ONLY if pictured
I leave feedback only after you've received your merchandise and you leave any feedback you think appropriate, HOWEVER, IF YOU WIN AND DON'T PAY PROMPTLY YOU'LL RECEIVE NEGATIVE FEEDBACK
Terms and rates aren't negotiable -- please don't ask
posted on November 9, 2001 06:20:23 AM new
very few sellers have merchandise rare and good and reasonably priced that one MUST HAVE,so most buyers are just going to skip his item.
no one wants to read so much,in a flea market,sellers come today and gone tomorrow,same with buyers.
a flea market is a flea market-free and easy.
he is better off having his own website where he can display his terms of sale ,but obviously he cant find the traffic.
posted on November 9, 2001 06:47:13 AM new
RB
Please do not put all power sellers in the same boat.
I am one I do not advertise it and I have virtually no TOS.All I ask for is the correct shipping quoted,sales tax on Florida residents.Thats it.
You do not get to be a power seller by having no sales.I think the guyis fed up with all the deadbeats and other things and is just trying to avoid the same problems.
He may scare off some bidders though.If a seller sells thousands of items a month.Then the bidder problems he is trying to avoid could really be a major headache for such a
seller.
posted on November 9, 2001 07:02:20 AM new
some seller have more deadbeats than others,if the bidders realise you sell the same items over and over again,they figure they can always pick up the same item later -it could be for less $$,it could be that they have reached the max in thier cc monthly billing cycle,it could be they have other expenses or they find something else they like better.
ebay is a flea market,not a department store.
posted on November 9, 2001 07:55:30 AM new
That seller needs to start thinking like a buyer, he also needs to stop under estimating a buyer's intelligence.
posted on November 9, 2001 08:46:13 AM new
I am sure the seller got a great deal of satisfaction writing up those terms and the punishement to be meted out if not strictly adhered to.
I also understand the frustration this seller feels and can commiserate with her.
However, this self-destructive diatribe will lower her sales as surely as if she simply posted "I am a controlling person, do as I say, and shut up."
Some bad bidders will not read, many good ones will hit the back button. New bidders may well flee ebay completely figuring this is how we all do it.
Stupid, stupid, stupid. It might save some aggravation and work by having to deal with fewer annoying customers, but this will surely cost her in the end.
posted on November 9, 2001 09:35:50 AM new
Yeah, and the funny thing is. . . one of them she said she couldn't read the number for the address. . . and she scanned it in to show everyone. . . looks like a 3 to me!
http://www.d-g.com/clueless/clueless.htm
Anyway, sorry. . .this just rubbed me the wrong way. I don't like mean people.
posted on November 9, 2001 10:47:21 AM new
Could you please e-mail me the ebay name of this person, I would LOVE to check out their auctions. Thanks for the post and for the laugh!!
posted on November 9, 2001 11:49:20 AM new
there is nothing he said/or she said which is not sound business practice or derogatory.
i have seen worse terms than this,like if you send us a personal check ,we will return them and ask you to send a money order plus the return postage you owe us.
will bidders read?
depends on what she is selling-if she is selling cartier watch,hermes scarf,coco chanel jewelry at a very attractive starting bid,you bet we all want to read her terms.
if she is just selling occupied japan salt and pepper shakers,crazed and cracked,well hit the back button.
posted on November 9, 2001 12:23:42 PM new
Margie, I don't know your email address. . . post it and I'll show you. And yes, this was good for a laugh at least!
posted on November 9, 2001 02:53:25 PM new
Adrian ...
I have explained my problems with the so-called power sellers in another post here on AW. Don't know how to link to that. If you're interested, you'll just have to look around.
Suffice it to say tho that your analogy about Arabs could not be further from the truth.
posted on November 9, 2001 03:10:21 PM new
RB
I will take a look but please do not assume we are all the same as we are not.
Sorry about the Arab thing but it did kind of bother me.
I never mention being a Power seller.But I do give a service that is second to none.
I will refund an item in full if not happy.We will ship world wide and we do not hold checks and the like.
We are very careful about making sure people get what they expect.
posted on November 9, 2001 03:10:25 PM new
RB WOW you are one nasty person. To put all power sellers in one category is bad enough but you wish them all dead too.
posted on November 9, 2001 03:50:30 PM new
Yes, it looks like a 3 to me as well. I guess the Seller does not have time in her exceedingly busy life to email the Buyer and ask for address verification. BUT GOLLY, she does have time to put up bullsh*t like the webpage. DONNA DEFINITELY FALLS UNDER THE CATEGORY OF 'GET A LIFE' or maybe better suited - 'get some' as it may have a calming effect.
[ edited by nanntique on Nov 9, 2001 03:56 PM ]
My son is a Marine, and yes he is 'over there', and he is a d*mn good shot; Marksman & Sniper qualified at 200, 350, 500, and 1000 yards. So be careful, as you never know when that little red laser dot may appear...
posted on November 9, 2001 04:32:46 PM new
I looked at her auctions and I think you would run more people off than ward off deatbeats. Deadbeats don't care what your threats are.I would also never put my name and address on the auction page.
posted on November 9, 2001 05:45:31 PM new
Adrian, you should lighten up a bit... I seriously doubt anyone wants to hurt you or your family... give me a break!
posted on November 9, 2001 11:52:12 PM new
I'm a PowerSeller and my TOS are below. I don't understand sellers that have a page and a half terms and 1-2 sentences worth of description.
Shipping: Buyer pays $8.00 U.S. shipping.
Fine Print: Payment must be received within 7 days or item maybe re-listed and Negative Feedback left. PayPal and Bid Pay accepted. Personal checks held 7 business days to clear. Item is AUTHENTIC.
posted on November 10, 2001 12:18:18 AM new
Well, the fact that the wording of a listing can cause any comment whatsoever, nevermind provoking the sort of vitriol seen on threads like this one, is amazing.
In any case, I must profusely thank all of the busybodies who have done such an excellent job of publicizing this thread.
First, because it again puts the general issue of terms of sale out there for all to see, and raises the remote possibility that some who have previously ignored them might actually pay more attention.
Second, because it obviously drives traffic to my listings -- over 700 hits on a Polly Pocket listing that normally might get 50?? Wow, must be some sort of record, and, as they say, there's no such thing as bad publicity.
Third, because it is always amusing, if nothing else.
Since threads like this have unintended benefits, perhaps I'll be accused of having a shill start this discussion, however, the conspiracy buffs will be disappointed to learn that I'm only aware of it from the flurry of e-mail about it.
What the people who have derogatory things to say don't realize is that for each one of them, I get a half-dozen e-mails from others who also want nothing to do with the various flavors of nitwits and nincompoops who seem unable to read and follow simple directions -- that one or two percent who account for virtually no revenue and virtually all aggravation.
The simple fact is that I and many other sellers choose to try to avoid dealing with dolts and deadbeats who can't be bothered to read, or who feel put-upon by simple rules, and will continue to do so regardless of the volume of carping and other meaningless drivel posted on threads like this one.
You see, unlike the nightmare-like vision held dear by the self-appointed posting police, the freedom to form contracts to carry out transactions involved in a business in any legal way one desires is still the law of the land, and they will have to pry my listing verbiage out of my cold, dead keyboard.
Finally, anyone who sells should feel free to use or modify any portion of my terms they wish -- the more people who get used to seeing a potential transaction presented in a straightforward and professional way, the better.
OK, busybodies, that is all, carry-on -- I will have no need to make any further comments, the above is crystal clear -- please flame and blather away and dig your rhetorical hole as deep as you wish.