posted on February 27, 2001 06:05:35 AM new
"You won _______ , on eBay. Please visit the URL (website address) below for payment and shipping information. If the link below doesn't appear to be clickable, please copy and paste the entire URL into the address box of your browser window. Keep your eye out for more of my auctions in the future.For you convinience, and fast shipping We do except Pay Pal, how ever you will need to add .25 cent to items $15.00 or less, and add 2% of total for items OVER $15.00. This is a charge from Pay Pal NOT ANY ADDITION ON OUR PART. THANKS "
Not only do they expect me to turn my personal information over to a third party website that has crappy privacy policies, they want to pass on any PayPal fees.
NONE of this was mentioned in the auction itself ...
So I sent the $50/hour billing notice for online data entry services AND forwarded the email to eBay for the reminder about not passing on payment services fees.
posted on February 27, 2001 06:13:35 AM new
Complaints about sellers - remedy - take the time to ask a seller their TOS before you bid.
YES, The seller is very wrong, in my opinion. If the seller chooses to use PayPal, (which we do), it is the seller's responsibility to handle the charge, not the buyer.
BUT,It is a buyer's responsibility to ask all relative questions BEFORE BIDDING. If you haven't taken the time to ask, don't complain after the fact.
posted on February 27, 2001 06:16:53 AM new
Insightwatcher,
How could a buyer possibly know all the questions to ask before bidding. It is impossible! It is up to the seller to put every relevant charge, and all relevant information a buyer may need to make a final decision, IN THE AD!
I say it is time to STOP BLAMING THE BIDDERS!
Geez what a buyer-unfriendly place eBay has become. I think it is time for ethical sellers to start to try to make some impact in reversing this trend.
posted on February 27, 2001 06:31:25 AM new
I've been buying on Ebay for about a year now, and I thought that a seller has to put ALL his shipping terms in with the item description. For this exact reason. If a buyer does not like his TOS he won't bid on it. Am I all wet here?
I never heard about a buyer paying service fees. But then again I don't use paypal.
posted on February 27, 2001 06:59:48 AM new
Hi Cyanide,
No, you are in fact, quite dry! Although many sellers still like to turn the ol' finger on the buyer for "not asking" (geesh), as triplesnack said, the only things a buyer is agreeing to is what is IN the ad, and we should not have to guess what has been left out so we can ask the right questions!
(does that make sense, I hope? not enough sleep last night might be making my posts somewhat "cryptic"...)
posted on February 27, 2001 07:36:52 AM new
On my TOS, I clearly state everything as clearly as I can. I haven't had any problems. The only problem I have is when a buyer lives out of U.S. and doesn't let me know until after I receive payment. I add in my TOS that all shipping is for U.S. and buyer should inquire for costs outside. I have no problem shipping Internationally, just which buyers would let me know.
I at one time had in my TOS requesting that the buyer add "X" amount if using Paypal. Never required it, just asked. As soon as I found out that was a no no, I edited all my auctions to remove that part of the TOS.
I try to be as buyer friendly as possible. I'm sure a lot of the folks who post rude comments about buyers never actually talk this way to the buyers. I see it as more of a way for them to vent on these boards without affecting business. Also some folks just like to stir up trouble.
posted on February 27, 2001 11:07:46 AM new
I, too, am getting sick and tired of hearing, "ASK" every time a buyer complains about some new trick a seller has pulled. It's virtually impossible to think of each and every possible problem that might come up, and to grill each seller about them, before the auction ends (or you grow old and gray).
I buy AND sell. My auctions include every detail that I would want to know if I were bidding on the item, including complete shipping information, types of payment accepted, full details and photos of the item, etc.
When I buy, I'd like the same consideration. Anybody who is a regular eBay buyer knows that some great deals come up with very little time left before they close. Even the most diligent seller cannot be at the computer 24/7 to answer last-minute questions! Sometimes I will take a chance and bid anyway...but most of the time, I'll just pass the auction over if vital information is missing.
I used to take the time to write and request that the seller include a photo(unbelievable, but some still do not...even on extremely expensive items), or ask about shipping details, but I just can't afford to do that very often.
Sellers miss sales, and buyers get pissed off, when the important stuff is missing. And buyers are doubly pissed when they do bid and win, and find that there is a huge gap between expectations and reality regarding shipping price, item condition, etc.
If you can't take the time to describe your items fully, and include shipping details and your complete TOS (which should be as simple and clear as possible)...maybe you shouldn't be selling. IMO the buyer should not have to be responsible for thinking of every conceivable question to ask beforehand, then bookmarking the auction to come back to later, if and when the seller manages to respond to the email.
posted on February 27, 2001 11:30:18 AM new
I have no TOS. All I give is a short discription of the item, a picture as good as I can get, what type payment I accept & how much the postage is. It to seems to work well for me, I hardley ever have a NPB.
It turns me off when I have to keep scrolling through TOS & then find a threat of Negative FB at the end, if I don't pay. I'm not saying this is wrong, it's just how I feel.
posted on February 27, 2001 12:31:57 PM new
abacaxi
bravo to you for not taking any crap and not freting over a neg......i admire your backbone, i wish all were like you.......
posted on February 27, 2001 12:56:14 PM new
if the seller did not reveal the charge until after the sale, then the seller is completely wrong. that is a hidden fee revealed only after the sale and is very unethical.
posted on February 27, 2001 01:21:46 PM new
I'm thinking that you shouldn't have to email the seller and ask if he (or she) is a two-bit grifter or flim-flam artist.
--------------
Don't take life so serious, it ain't nohow permanent.
posted on February 28, 2001 06:44:28 AM new
I HAVE BEEN READING ALL THE COMMENTS ABOUT AWFUL BUYERS AND DOUBLY BONE-HEADED SELLERS.
SINCE I BOTH BUY/SELL I HAVE BEEN ON BOTH SIDES OF THE FENCE.
I TRY TO LEARN FROM MY MISTAKES AND CORRECT,ESPECIALLY ON THE SELLING SIDE.
LISTED (ONLY RECENTLY)IN MY ADS ARE THE S/H HANDLING CHARGES. I HAVE ARRIVED AT THE PRICES FOR EACH MOSTLY BY EXPERIENCE. MINE ARE A FLAT RATE AND I OFFER 3 METHODS OF SHIPPING. ALL THROUGH USPS. I HAVE ONLY HAD ONE COMPLAINT ABOUT THE AMOUNT I HAVE CHARGED. I DO LISTEN TO THE BUYER AND I TRY TO PATTERN MY ADS FROM THE MORE SUCCESSFUL SELLERS I HAVE BOUGHT FROM WHO HAVE BEEN VERY HONEST WITH ME.
I MUST SAY THAT 99% OF THE BUYERS AND 99% OF THE SELLERS ARE 100% HONEST AND DO TRY TO COMPLY WITH THE CUSTOMER/SELLER.
WE NEED TO QUIT BASHING EACH OTHER. SELLERS POST WHAT YOU WILL AND WONT DO, EVEN IF IT MAKES THE AD LENGTHY.
BUYERS READ,AND ASK QUESTIONS WHEN POSSIBLE.
posted on February 28, 2001 06:53:00 AM new
WHY yell?
Anyway, as far as the boneheaded seller, not only does he/she seem to wrongly feel justified in trying to nail the buyer with his paypal fees, what's so damn difficult about knowing the difference between the word EXCEPT and ACCEPT??? Geez!
English 101!
(I accept PayPal, I don't except PayPal)
Sorry, I just couldn't let that one go.....
[ edited by sharkbaby on Feb 28, 2001 06:54 AM ]
posted on February 28, 2001 06:54:53 AM new
huniedue2,
Please check to see if your Caps Lock button is on. All caps are very difficult to read and many on the Internet consider All Caps as a form of yelling... thanks
posted on February 28, 2001 07:01:13 AM new
Cyanide
There is no "rule" about what a seller puts in their ad (except those things which eBay doesn't allow in an ad).
There are many items which one can't possibly put a shipping cost in because the item is too large, or too heavy, and to quote shipping the seller has to know the zip to which they are shipping. We do items like antique stain glass windows, tea carts, etc., and these pieces are heavy, bulky, and shipping can't possibly be calculated to post in an ad till I know where they are being shipped I can't check UPS for costs.
BUT, IF a potential buyer e-mails and asks shipping on these type of items, and includes their zip, then I can tell them, prior to their bidding their exact shipping costs.
BUYERS, if you e-mail a seller for a shipping rate, PLEASE include your zip, as on many items it is impossible to quote a shipping cost if the Seller doesn't know where you are.
Normally, any item we ship over 6 pounds we ship UPS, as we INSURE all items shipped, and UPS is less costly for our Buyers, than USPS, when the item is over 6 pounds, particularly when you add in insurance costs.
posted on February 28, 2001 07:08:07 AM new
abacaxi
Personally, as a Seller I deplore the practice some sellers have of trying to stick the buyer with the Seller’s PayPal fee. I don’t believe this is acceptable behavior, to PayPal either, and I personally, would report the Seller, along with their e-mail to PayPal.
On the other hand, if I were a seller who “thinks” they can’t afford the PayPal fee, and are trying to stick my buyer with it, which makes most buyers mad, I think I’d have the foresight to just include the approximate fee in my initial costs, and put it in my sales price, and that takes care of your problem; you are happy and so is your buyer.
Actually, I think if a Seller can’t afford the fee they shouldn’t be using the service, they are running to close a profit margin.
posted on February 28, 2001 07:20:12 AM new
abacaxi
I apologize. Being a rational, professional, I never considered the fact that a seller would ship anything in a used Pizza box, or ship anything that was odorous, etc. This type of unprofessional behavior is beyond my concept, and something I never, ever would have imagined or considered.
I must say, I agree with JWPC about turning the offender Seller and their e-mail to PayPal.
ON THE OTHER HAND, we put all information in our TOS, but we are ALWAYS being e-mailed questions which are clearly answered in our ad or TOS, so obviously many buyers don’t take the time to read the information in an ad.
posted on February 28, 2001 07:48:53 AM new
If that seller thinks their terms are on the up & up ---- seller better think again.
Anyone spouting off the ask ?'s before you bid is playing right into the incompetent Seller who fails to put accurate-thorough-and concise TOS information in their auctions.
If I see an item I want to bid on --but find that I have to stop and e-mail any seller any question about their TOS, this tells me they #1-Intentionally do this-so they can perhaps jam add'l charges not anticipated by the buyer-or #2-Are just brain-dead.
Either case -- Seen thru my eyes only it's a strike against them, and I just consider them all Brain-dead and maybe even to incompetent to carefully package the fragile item of theirs that I "HAD" interest in bidding on to begin with! My time is just as precious as the next guys-So please don't expect me to waste my time dancing to your incompetency, and if any sellers reading my post find they receive alot of inquiries in regards to their TOS--then I'd say it's time to revise your TOS - You'll know when you've devised solid verbage stating your TOS by the decline of questions you'll receive.
Mama always said
Common Sense Rules
[ edited by getkicksonrte66 on Feb 28, 2001 08:03 AM ]
