posted on February 5, 2001 04:43:47 PM new
Does anyone with a vested interested in eBay succeeding (eBay, the MegHead, buyers and/or sellers) benefit from eBays current "Kid Gloves" treatment of deadbeat bidders? My self I have experienced a HUGE increase in slow-pays and no-pays on eBay. When I review the feedback of many of these clowns I am astounded at how bad eBay allows their feedback to become before suspending them. Wouldn't it make much more sense to eBay actually assist the sellers by actively working to reduce/eliminate the deadbeats? What I would suggest is that eBay make an example of a select number of deadbeats around the country by acting as the seller's agent (with their permission of course) hauling said deadbeats into small claims (or large claims) courts and sue them, perhaps seeking punitive damages as well, since the deadbeat behavior tends to diminish the value and reputation of eBay as a trading system and is in specific violation of the eBay users agreement. I would think that by the time six or a dozen deadbeats get served with papers and hauled into court to find themselves confronted by some high priced legal talent (paid for by eBay) the news stories would start flowing and the word would quickly get out that eBay is not a toy, that there are severe consequences to being a deadbeat and that then hopefully the behavior would tend to rapidly diminish. I would just like to stop spending my time on deadbeats and focus on more pleasant activities.
posted on February 5, 2001 08:05:17 PM new
I'll second most of what you said. Deadbeats are a real drag and take up much more time than they should. A couple of well publicized examples might not hurt.
I'm amazed in reading through this board the folks that say they don't do the NPB routine because they don't want retaliatory neg FB. The only way to get rid of these DBs is to file for NPB credit. I just wish they had a 5 day instead of 10 day waiting period. It works!
I usually give them 8-9 days and then file a NPBA and just 7 days if I haven't heard from them. Most of the time they suddenly get their email fixed.
A root problem though is it's too easy to get a new ID. A suggestion to eBay is to require a valid telephone number on the registration. Upon initial registration eBay sends you a 5 digit code number via email. The new user then must dial an 800 number at eBay and key in the code number. Voila ... EBay matches your phone number (which is automatically forwarded to them on an 800 number call) with the code number and with new user ID.
This would easily validate your contact phone number and email. Also they could easily cross ref against user phone numbers that were associated with NARU'd accounts. This would help immensely to screen out deadbeat users with multiple accounts.
BUT....does eBay really want to reduce multiple accounts even if some are deadbeats??
[ edited by surrrfurtom on Feb 5, 2001 08:07 PM ]
posted on February 5, 2001 09:52:01 PM new
Jinxed Item...
I had an item that was sold 5 different times to five different deadbeat bidders! I finally gave up and figured it was giving me a sign, and it is still here in my own home to this day! LOL
Weird the way some things work out.
I love the idea of the phone number to verify a new userid. I've often been frustrated when I take the time to leave negative feedback, or place a NPB alert with ebay... knowing that that person would only have to re-sign up and have a clean slate.
posted on February 5, 2001 10:50:56 PM new
I think ebay should be forced to give us ALL of our listing fees for auctions that end with deadbeats !!!
As if after you jump threw hoops to get your Final Value Fee back isn't enough, they offer no compensation as to the listing fees outside of relisting it once and getting the fees back.
They should have to reimburse ALL listing fees associated with an auction that ends with a deadbeat. If ebay did that, they would quickly start dealing with these deadbeats because it would be costing them too !
BUT, we all know ebay doesn't give a rats behind about us, so just forget that whole idea.
posted on February 6, 2001 06:46:15 AM new
eBay makes money off of Deadbeats a minimum of TWICE. Listing fees for the initial auction, FVF fees (possibly ~ if the seller doesnt follow up of the NPB or doesn't make it within the time frame), and the fee asssociated with listing the item a second time.
Common sense tells us that it wouldn't be good business for eBay to actively go after DB's. As seller's, it is our responsibility to protect ourselves and each other through filing NPB's. In my experience, retaliatory negs are revenge for negs ~ not so often for filing NPB's.
IMHO, any investment on eBay's part would have to put money in their pocket or why bother? I would happily give a percentage of my "lost auctions" to eBay in exchange for them to go after the DB's. With so many sellers and DB's, it could add up to a big chunk of change for eBay just for taking care of their "community". Good PR, happy sellers, and money in the bank. Are you out there lurking eBay?????
"A bid is a binding contract" ~ there's money to be made.....
chepistar here, there, and everywhere
posted on February 6, 2001 08:56:06 AM new
I've said this before, but eBay won't do much about deadbeat bidders as they are very profitable for eBay! Every time one of us sellers has to file a credit request, it just means more money for eBay. Why, you might ask? First off, we're out our listing fee. Can't do anything about that. Secondly, we usually allow enough time to pass, where even if we approach the second highest bidder, they will usually end up passing on our offer. So what happens next? Of course, we relist the item ! Another listing fee for ebay! Also I have run across a number of sellers who are unaware that they can file for a credit with eBay. Just think how many 1000's of auctions that are charged a final value fee without actually completing the transaction. I just submitted a credit request for 3 BIN auctions that were never paid for. If eBay starts charging for that service, would I also be out that fee as well? I've seen people lose quite a bit of money on a featured auction listing, only to have another deadbeat bidder. The only way for it to be fair to the sellers, would be if eBay refunded the listing fee as well. However, I wouldn't hold my breath on this one as the bottom line is that EBAY GETS RICH OFF OF DEADBEAT BIDDERS!
here, there, and everywhere