posted on December 30, 2000 12:51:51 PM new
I have a question. Should be simple. Why is it that eBay will send a "reminder" e-mail to a bidder who has not paid up within ten days, but will not send such a reminder to a seller who hasn't sent the item or replied to e-mails within a reasonable length of time? Anyone? Anyone?
posted on December 30, 2000 12:54:01 PM new
Well for one thing, sellers legaly have at LEAST 30 days to ship a product to you. Even more if they put that in their TOS. On the other hand, according to eBay rules, bidders have only 10 days, unless another arrangement is made.
posted on December 30, 2000 12:56:45 PM new
This one is very simple...the reminder notice that you get from ebay is triggered by the seller filing a non paying bidder alert which is the first step to getting the FVF refunded if the buyer does not follow through. In that the buyer has no fees to get refunded, they don't file a form with ebay so no reminder is sent to the seller.
posted on December 30, 2000 12:56:53 PM new
Ok, what if it's been longer than 30 days, or longer than what is stated in their TOS? My point is, why does eBay get involved if the bidder screws up, but not if the seller screws up? By the way, I both buy and sell on eBay, so I'm not leaning either way. Just questioning.
posted on December 30, 2000 01:06:07 PM new
Ebay doesn't want to get involed with fights over the actual sale of the Items they want the only a venue to bring seller and buyer togeather status.
sellers wouldn't have the abilty to send NPB if ebay wasnt concerned about false claims of non payment and loseing listing fees.
Sending the NPB to the buyer is there best way for them to discourage false refund claims.
even when you file for a refund saying buyer and seller agree to cancel the transaction the buyer gets an email asking if this isnt true to email the seller and work it out
posted on December 30, 2000 03:37:21 PM new
So why doesn't ebay send a note to the seller when the buyer files a fraud claim with ebay? Don't they check with the seller if the claim is correct?
Ebay needs to setup a system for fraud claims similar to the system for FVF claims. If either type of claim is false it hurts ebay (money lost if the seller files, seller's reputation is hurt and ebay may lose the seller if the buyer files) and it hurts ebay if either claim is true (sellers get discourged with deadbeats and may leave, and buyers may leave if there are too many ripoffs).
Seems like it is in ebays best intrest to provide a contact system for both sides. In the case of a deadbeat the seller is out his time and the amount of the listing fees, but in the case of seller fraud, the buyer could be out big bucks. Since ebays insurance only covers up to two hundred dollars, you would think ebay would go a little futher then "buyer and seller should work it out on their own".
posted on December 30, 2000 03:48:14 PM new
Rember, Ebay one of the most short-sighted companies in existence. Such a system would cost them a few dollars in the short term.
They would rather buyers get scammed (because they still collect the fees from the "sales". They don't care that they are driving customers away, because they seem to have the very mistaken belief that there is an endless supply of buyers.
posted on December 30, 2000 03:48:16 PM new
The NPB Alert is part of a new process eBay offered to support sellers. Before NPB, there was no penalty at all for non-payment by bidders. As long as the bidder's feedback rating stayed above (-4), bidders could deadbeat as often as they wished. Many sellers complained, and eBay for once did something right.
Deadbeats now receive one reminder (the NPB alert), which is upgraded to a warning if they don't pay. After three warnings, the suspensions begin. The NPB alert is, in part, evidence that the buyer received the seller's notice.
eBay does have mechanisms in place to protect buyers, as well.
posted on December 30, 2000 04:08:09 PM newtwinsoft What exactly are the protections ebay provides for the buyer?
Are you talking about the laughable $25 dollar deductable, max $200 dollar insurance?
Most of what I buy is less then $20 dollars, does this mean I don't deserve ebays support against a seller who doesn't ship? Last time I checked ebay will do little or nothing if a seller doesn't ship what you paid for.
Ebay needs to implement a Non Sending Seller (NSS) policy. If a seller gets three they are suspended for 30 days and the fourth is permanent.
Greg
P.S. I also think the NPB (and if implemented NSS) alert counts should be posted on the feed back page.
a BUYER also can make false claims.
Never said they couldn't or didn't, but a seller can also file a false NBP/FVF.
a BUYER also can use LAWs to help them
Yes, but for less then $20 what law enforcement agency is going to make much effort?
a BUYER also can file comlaints with the postal Inspector, attorney general, BBB, etc.
See number two above.
a BUYER also can charge back a credit card
I usually pay by personal check, so the mail fruad route would be a better option.
a BUYER also can have an online payment reversed
Don't use them, especially after the PayPal scandal.
a BUYER can also file for an insurance claim
Not for an item less then $25 dollars (and if it is over $200, you don't get everything back.
a SELLER can...well, just pay ebay their fees when a buyer is a DEADBEAT
Yes you lose your listing fees, but Not the FVF, if you file for credit. The buyer doesn't even get that, they are out everything and the seller can keep on selling.
posted on December 30, 2000 04:37:58 PM new
When a buyer does not pay up the seller can apply for and receive refund of final value fee. When seller declines to sell but does not request fvf refund ebaY's income is not affected. Guess which case ebaY cares about?
posted on December 30, 2000 04:49:49 PM new
I see a lot of abuse with this idea.
Unless a seller shipped everything insured or with delivery confirmation, a buyer could simply harass a seller by stating to ebay they didn't get their item.
Remember ebay took fees from the seller, because the buyer was supposed to pay for the auction he won. So ebay gives it back if the buyer does not fulfill the obligation.
ebay is not on the seller's side, they just have to give back what they took.
They do not get involved and defend a seller when a buyer uses a stolen credit card, or short changes a seller
posted on December 30, 2000 04:53:36 PM new
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a BUYER also can make false claims.
a BUYER also can use LAWs to help them
a BUYER also can file comlaints with the postal Inspector, attorney general, BBB, etc.
a BUYER also can charge back a credit card
a BUYER also can have an online payment reversed
a BUYER can also file for an insurance claim
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posted on December 30, 2000 05:06:28 PM newbarrelracer and what is to stop a seller from doing the same thing? I.E., telling ebay that the buyer never paid and getting thier FVF fees back, when the buyer acctually paid and got the item. The buyer will object when the get the NPB and FVF notes, and ebay will have to get involved.
It would be no different if the buyers could file a Non-Shipping Seller request.
posted on December 30, 2000 05:13:57 PM new
Pocono and Barrelracer have it right!
Also...if a seller files a false NPB alert and FVF request a buyer is able to show ebay their cancelled check or cashed money order or credit card charge to prove payment.
It is difficult for a seller to target a buyer and get that buyer kicked off ebay since only one complaint from a seller is counted towards the four needed to kick a buyer off. Plus, the buyer is the one determining if they will bid on a seller's auctions so the seller has no wsay to force a buyer to bid.
A buyer could target a seller easily, even if ebay had a clause that only one nonshipping complaint per buyer would count against the seller and it required more than one to get the seller kicked off ebay.
All it would take is one very determined buyer, several email addresses, and access to several computers (home, work, library, kinkos would do).
The buyers already have adequate protection, there is no need to open up pandora's box and allowing the buyers to mess with the livlihood of the sellers.
posted on December 30, 2000 05:20:17 PM new
And you know, I love ebay sending a buyer a "reminder" as much as I would love sticking toothpicks under my nails.
Then you get the emails.
excuse 1
I sent my money and I was just going to write to you to see where my item was.
excuse 2
My kid bet on that, just forget it, would you?
excuse 3
Let me check in to it. ( I have a guy "checking in to it" for a month now. )
excuse 4
Geez, I was going to get around to it.
excuse 5
I sent it to paypal. (No paypal in TOS)
excuse 6
I will send it tomorrow.
(That one never comes either.)
ebay started the NPB Alert to make it tougher for sellers to get their money back, not easier.
. They don't care that they are driving customers away, because they seem to have the very mistaken belief that there is an endless supply of buyers.