posted on April 28, 2002 05:52:18 PM new
How do you know the seller was dishonest? Did he say it was clean?
The low price he sets it at can be an honest indicator, he didn't set the price high did he? Did he say it looks brand new? You're just making way too many insinuations, you should have asked the seller questions before the auction end, the you would HAVE known the correct amount to bid.
If a seller wipes oil on a jacket I may bid on, I would first read the description, and ask any questions about the condition before I bid. If the description is vague, I don't bid until I get my questions answered. Pictures don't always capture all the problems, so ask questions.
posted on April 28, 2002 06:15:47 PM new
Yeah! What's the matter with you, guerita, expecting to get something nice with your hard-earned money. Dontcha know that you should be happy with any old piece of crap that the seller decides to send you JUST BECAUSE you SHOULD have paid more if it was ACTUALLY as nice as the seller promised. Sheesh! You must have rocks in your head. LOL!
posted on April 28, 2002 06:32:21 PM new
Nice sarcasm, unfortunately it makes you look like a fool.
I went to a police car auction where the cars are as-is. May not even work; may have bullet holes in it. They don't tell you anything about the car. You buy it, it's yours. That's how auctions work. If you're putting hard earned money towards something you had better know what you're buying and don't act like a fool.
Target sells piece of crap VCRs made by Magnavox that break after a few months, past when Target will take it back. (I bought a few so I know). My hard earned money went to garbage. That's how life is, I should have asked around with other buyers, or looked at consumer reports. My error, I paid a hard lesson.
Act like an adult and live up to your responsibility.
posted on April 28, 2002 07:42:51 PM new
Quickdraw, if you don't know the difference between a live auction where the buyer can touch and see in person what he/she is buying, and an online auction where the buyer must rely on the seller's so-called honest description of the goods, then you are beyond pathetic and their is just no helping your ignorance. If you conduct your business the same way as guerita's seller, then you're a pathetic ignorant crook as well.
KatyD
[ edited by KatyD on Apr 28, 2002 07:43 PM ]
posted on April 28, 2002 07:59:32 PM new
Let's see, a live auction you look at the item, ask questions, read the description if any. An online auction you look at the picture, ask questions and read the description if any. No, there isn't really any difference except how close you can inspect the item at a live auction. However, you can ask the seller to send you more upclose pics, and ask for more details about condition, in an online auction.
You can also inspect the ebay sellers record to see if any problems have occurred, something more difficult at a live auction.
If you ever went to a Police car auction, as a nonexpert, you will realize it s much harder to know what condition the engine is in. I wouldn't know if a new part was put in place, if a hidden part was taped. Usually, the auctioneer knows less than you do.
How well I conduct my business is open to judgement varying upon people's opinion.
It is very common for sellers not to have a lot of pictures, and not have much description. Often the description includes the seller opinion. So how well a seller conducts business does not necessarily reflect honesty or dishonesty.
Assuming you are an adult, and assuming you have been on ebay for a while, you should know all this already. Claiming ignorance is not an excuse.
posted on April 29, 2002 10:59:08 AM new
After 1000+ possitive feedback, I also got my first negative. Didn't bother me one bit. Apparently nothing was wrong with the item she purchased. She was mad about the little card I included in it. I figure her feedback, is a little more advertising for me. She said she also notified eBay, I have'nt heard anything from them. Username knitsalot2.
posted on April 29, 2002 11:53:02 AM new
I, too, refuse to leave the first feedback as a seller. When I send buyer emails, I state "I will leave good feedback for you as soon as I hear from you (via email or good feedback) that your item has been safely received and is satisfactory."
I also offer satisfaction guaranteed in my listings - and stick to that! I think there is a way to deal with complaints from those who want to scam you out of a partial refund, or even a total one.
I had one person claim the item was damaged when he received it. I knew it was fine when I packed it, and it was NOT fragile. I offered him a full refund, but noted that I would leave "appropriate feedback". He ended up offering to return the item and only get half of a refund. He knew he broke it. I agreed, and we pos feedbacked each other.
I had another who wanted a refund AND the item. Said it (a print) was a fake and returning it wasn't worth the bother. I was adamant about her returning the item. I refunded, with apology for selling a fake - though I did not know it was fake - and again we had mutual pos.
Finally, I sold a very expensive item to someone who claimed it was not a "brand X" and not worth what he paid. It was an antique about which I knew little (and so stated in the description), and I had started the bidding very low with no reserve. I sent the doo-doo head a copy of my item description, told him to reread the auction. Said I did not misrepresent, and he assumed whatever he thought. I offered to refund his money upon receipt of the item. I never heard from him again - and never left him feedback.
I try to post LOTS of pix, write good descriptions, and am as honest as I can be. Sometimes, nevertheless, somebody is unhappy. I know I will get a bad feedback eventually - the new eBayers are a new breed. But you gotta do the best you can, and deal with it!
posted on April 29, 2002 12:03:43 PM new
just dont leave feedback there is a large downturn in people leaving feedback lately no one will go first it seems.
posted on April 29, 2002 12:06:57 PM new
PS...my eBay ID is blackdog-mercantile. I am not hiding anything from anyone!
Visit my auctions. Visit my store. I am also opening a bricks-and-mortar store, which you can also visit soon!
I think as sellers, it is very important to HONESTLY represent the items we sell. If it's dirty, say so. If it has a flea bite, say so!
I personally collect cats (live and figural!!), and will buy a damaged but unique piece if I like it. But don't forget to tell me it's damaged! I don't want to pay for a mint piece only to find it chipped!
Sometimes in a dispute, the seller is at fault. Sometimes it's the buyer. Have to consider case by case. Not all sellers are crooks, Katy, and not all buyers are honest, either.
posted on April 29, 2002 01:05:38 PM new
knitsalot...just HAD to check your feedback! You got up my curiosity... ;0)
I have to agree, I think putting religious tracts in with the item is "inappropriate", but I sure wouldn't leave a bad feedback! I've received several items with tracts enclosed, and I email the sender with my feelings, but feedback should be limited to the product and service - not to someone's religious opinions!
No offense, but the person receiving may be just as devout in their own religion as you are in yours, and you would probably not appreciate it if they tried to proselytize you!
At any rate, you certainly didn't deserve the bad FB!!! And if you get any crochet patterns (filet) for cats, let me know, so I can bid on them!
posted on April 29, 2002 03:46:54 PM new
Well I have to be the only one that leaves feedback first as a seller. I send an 'Item shipped' email (its built into the auction program) and once its out of here, I leave feedback.
jsmyers, no you should not have received neg feedback for putting a religious tract in, thats absurd.
KatyD and quickdraw29, I've been to plenty of live auctions. Yes you have a preview, and get to look at the items up for auction.
They still can be dishonest. You know those stickers they put on things, some are big, some small, with the auction item number? well we have bought a few things that underneath that sticker was a chip or a crack. Sometimes the auctioneer doesn't have a clue what the thing is, and makes up his own little didley about it.
And there are definite shills in the audience, we quit going to one auction house, as we soon learned about the regular shillers in attendance.
posted on April 29, 2002 04:08:11 PM new
Yes, NTS, there are shillers at live auction houses, but they're on ebay too. The point I was trying to make is that at a live auction, the buyer has the ability to determine the condition of the item for him/herself, by sight and touch. And yes, I've gotten stuck with a flawed item covered by a sticker, but I've learned now to look UNDER the stickers for damage. And I've made some great purchases BECAUSE the auctioneer didn't know what he had. I'm all for asking questions if I'm unsure about something in an online auction, but if the seller says it is "mint", no damage, I shouldn't be expected to write umpteen questions like "Are you sure? Did you check under the...." The seller should stand behind his/her product. I do but then I offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee on ALL my items on both my website and auctions. Since 1996, I've only had two returns, one was for missed flaws in an auction item (positive feedback left both parties) and an item from my website purchased by an unknowlegeable collector who thought it was something else. To me, my client base is the most important. I want them to buy from me again. I want them to bid on future auctions of mine knowing that I stand behind my merchandise, and they do. I also leave feedback when payment is received. When I ship the item, I let the buyer know once again that I stand behind it 100% and to let me know if there are any problems. As a buyer, I generally don't leave feedback first. If I have fulfilled my part of the sale by sending payment promptly, I expect the seller to leave me feedback when he ships. If he/she doesn't, then I don't either.
posted on April 29, 2002 05:13:22 PM new
Don't you just hate it when they cover flaws with stickers I DO!
I went to a Senior Rummage sale, and nice older ladies running it, in the Church basement. I saw a Fitz and Floyd thing I wanted, and they weren't selling it cheap either, their price sticker was on, I bought it, thinking this was a mint F&F... got home, took the sticker off, and a big old chip in it...
I see a lot of sellers guaruntee their products/items in their auction ad. And that is great that you do that. I too, have given returns. I have never advertised this. I've had far too many whacko, new or whatever bidders lately to do that. I could see a rash of returns or chargebacks. But I will certainly refund if I made a mistake.
Customer satisfaction is number 1, your right.
I never say mint, unless its something shrinkwapped, and new, as it would be in a retail store. I put in very fine condition, or something simiiar.
You must have been here when it was Auction Web too? Now those were the good days!
posted on April 29, 2002 05:21:46 PM new
Yeah, AuctionWeb. And when I joined there were MAYBE 13 items in the "Antiques" category (on a good day!) And all the user feedback was listed on the "Feedback Page" alphabetically. But it was a heck of alot easier to find stuff you were looking for back then. That was when it was a REAL "community".
no one will go first it seems.
Now those were the good days!