posted on July 7, 2001 02:59:36 PM
Hello
For several months now I have been reading the various message boards and have come to the conclusion that by and large Internet sellers are a paranoid lot, at least the ones that use message boards. After thinking about it I attribute it to our hours upon hours of isolation while listing lots, chatting on message boards, scanning and all the like. We set out little rules in our auctions and panic when someone dares to pay little attention to it. We worry about sales, correct descriptions, costs, electronic communication wording, and on and on. We must remember that we chose this “independent work” world and in most cases we are all alone in our efforts. I think we all need to take a break once in a while and relies that outside our window is the real world. Think I will go to the beach tomorrow. Comments? Dave
posted on July 7, 2001 03:12:30 PM
I am addicted to the da*n counts. I tell myself I'm walking away this afternoon and going to the beach. 1/2 an hour later I have to check on bids. A friend in Canada told me- "you are spending 3 times the time it takes. Watching your listings is like watching a pot boil. It 'ain't gonna do it'!" You are right in some of what you say, my friend. I am taking tomorrow off. All of tomorrow. aw will do my listing for me. I'll be back Monday, honest. Dave.
posted on July 7, 2001 03:24:38 PM
I agree 100%. I've seen endless posts worrying about chargebacks, scamming buyers, etc.. I believe if buyers were as paranoid as some sellers then online auctions would be only a theory.
The ease with which I've seen some buyers suspected as fraudulent really had me wondering. One infamous incident was like an online Nancy Drew story, "The Case of the Frayed Button Hole." I find it real hard to imagine an elaborate plan contrived to get a refund on a $15.00 item but that possibility was so readily accepted by so many it had me wondering if I was naive instead of wondering if others were paranoid.
Recently a broken shard of glass was examined as thoroughly as if it was an aerial photo of Cuba missile bases with the theory that the buyer had found a similar item to the one he claimed was broken so he could photograph it and get a refund on a supposedly non damaged item.
Some sellers are shipping off high dollar items to Indonesia to buyers with no feedback and other sellers are in a panic about accepting a payment from a unconfirmed billing address from a buyer with over 100 positive feedbacks on a $10.00 item. I think reality checks should be performed every morning ( remember to hold up the reality check to the light and check for the watermark on the back.)
posted on July 7, 2001 03:29:48 PM
Hi Dave, sorry that you feel that posters to this board are a paronoid lot. Me--don't think so. We are committed to selling on line, we take our bumps and bruises from buyers and sellers and sorta kinda--shriek from the high peak when things just sorta kinda go South, be it, eBay, AW, deadbeat bidders, the friggin introcsacies of on line selling in general.
Me Paranoid??? Ssheesh--just back from several months banned from this board.
Hi KRS!
posted on July 7, 2001 03:45:58 PM
The problem is, the paranoia starts from bad transactions. I would never have even thought about chargebacks, buyer's remorse, 'don't refund until the item is in your hand' and using a black light & invisible inkpen until the bad things happen. After having a few questionable transactions, it does raise one's suspicion level.
I don't like to think of myself as paraniod, I think of myself as cautious. Just as the department stores have tightened their security and return policies in the past few years, due to frauds, we too, must learn from our experiences to be more cautious.
For me, the button hole and the shard of glass were fun things to analyze predict and then see the end results. I also like to hear that I'm not the only seller out there who has questionable situations.
The only thing I'm really paranoid about anymore is posting on the AW boards. Some people have been really attacked for posting their opinions, and I don't think that is fair. For the most part, I am a lurker
posted on July 7, 2001 04:11:21 PM
I recently started shipping out items upon receiving check instead of waiting for the check to clear. Not so much of a trust as it is a home issue: My apartment is a MESS! I literally have to shove boxes and ebay stuff out of the way just to go to bed at night!
I agree with cin131 that a bad transaction can cause the paranoia but I also prefer to think of myself as cautious.
I deal with customers year round in our shop and most of them are good and I always like to think that most people are.
On the internet it is a bit different. I like to look at people's eyes when I talk to them and I can't do that over my computer. It is a whole different way to do business.
Edited to add that when I do business on the internet I still like to believe most people are honest and that is how I approach it. Even if I can't see their eyes.
posted on July 7, 2001 04:28:20 PM
I am a refugee from an eBay board where seller paranoia reigns....every one with less than 100 feedback is suspect...those with over 100 feedback have just been "bulding a reputation" in a diabolical plan to scam good-hearted sellers. Every buyer complaint about high handling charges or poorly-described items or rude sellers is deemed ignorant because no buyer knows how hard it is to be an on-line auctioneer. Not to mention that a lot of them seem to be a little right of Adolph Hitler.
I deal in what I consider "quality junque" with almost everything going for under $25.00. Maybe that's why I can afford to believe the best of my buyers. I love newbies because they are naive and bid early and often. I love international buyers because they bid early and HIGH. I've only had 3 NPBs and all I really lost was the 30-cent eBay listing fee...a small price to pay for not anguishing over the motivation of everyone who places a bid on my items. I don't hold items for checks to clear (ditto on the no room to store packed boxes for 10 days) and have never had one bounce.
It IS a lot of work, and I spend more time alone with my PC than I used to, but this extra little gig is paying my son's private school tuition and I don't think a buyer owes me anything besides his money (for my item) and a positive feedback!
posted on July 7, 2001 04:31:16 PM
shanni--of course can not look into my high biddders eyes-but far and away--great success!! The internet works!! Jean
posted on July 7, 2001 04:37:57 PM
I find some of the threads started on this board a little strange, but I respect the right of every buyer and seller to post what they want.
What really is odd is if you take the time to read and comment on a post you think is a waste of time, who is the fool there?
It is true that when you sell over the internet you can not see that person face to face to judge their honesty. And I have found many a helpful hint on these boards, in both what sellers experience and what buyers experience.
My selling TOS and EOA is always being tweeked from reading this board, and communicating with people from all over has been a learning experience too.
Many long term readers of this board forget that there are new posters every day and topics that the new posters have not seen covered.
I do wish that more time was spent defending or arguing topics though and not slamming the posters.
posted on July 7, 2001 05:03:36 PM
Hello,
I read all your feedback and most of you "get it". Yes, I am a seller too. I was an ebay seller before most of you could spell "internet sales" and by and large you all do a great job. I have found stuff that no other way would of allowed. I have sold items to one of the sons of the Sultanate (no Comments please) of Omen, Greece, Covers (envelopes) to Italy and strange stuff all over the world. (Did I tell you about changing 30,000 liras that came in the mail)? Internet selling is fun but a beach day is important! Love you all even the one who took issue with me. After all is a "board" right? Dave
posted on July 7, 2001 05:51:57 PM
Wow, I didn't realize eBay was up & running in the 1950's?
Uaru
Seeing as I was referred to in your post, if you don't mind, I think I'll respond.
I believe that by & large the vast majority of buyers are honest, but I've also been around long enough to know there are plenty of buyers that are crooked shiesters as well.
A friend & business associate of mine was recently stocking his shelves at one of the local antique malls & I was blown away at how many items of his had disappeared in the past 30 days. The owner of the mall went on to explain how much merchandise in total walked out of the store unpaid for each & every month. The most recent items were 2 pictures that were hanging in the Ladies washroom. I was shocked to say the least.
This mall is in a larger city, but would certainly be considered a low crime area compared to most US cities of the same size.
Now most of the vendors keep the more expensive items under lock & key.
Locking items up is a hasssle for the consumer, because each time a potential buyer wants a hands on look, they have to go get someone to unlock the cabinet.
My friend hates to locks things up, and he knows *most* people are honest, but the losses he was taking were starting to add up to some serious coin. Due to the number of dishonest people [thieves] he was now forced into treating every customer with due caution.
I think most people don't worry too much about theft, charge backs, etc, until it happens to them. Of course then they start singing a different tune altogether.
I don't walk around looking over my shoulder, or worry that the sky could fall at any moment, but I do like to be careful when dealing with customers.
Too bad we don't live in a perfect world, eh?
BTW - I did like your line about the Cuba missile bases.
posted on July 7, 2001 06:35:00 PMreddeerI don't walk around looking over my shoulder, or worry that the sky could fall at any moment, but I do like to be careful when dealing with customers.
I agree with that thinking. I think there is a balance people have to maintain. I know there are honest people, and there are some thieves.
I won't ship a Leica M6 to Indonesia that is being purchased via a credit card unless I've had a lobotomy. I'm not going to give 2 seconds of concern about shipping a UV filter to someone that has used a credit card (it's rare you find credit card thieves that operate on a low price/high volume principle.)
Don't get me wrong reddeer I enjoyed your post and I looked at the Cuban missile bases also, it does break the monotony on a dreary day. But I also thought the odds were against the buyer being fraudulent (I felt you had reservations also) but it was entertaining.
posted on July 7, 2001 06:56:21 PM
If people replaced worrying with planning, there would be a lot less paranoia because most predictaments are avoidable. But change ain't gonna happen. Our world uses emotions to make decisions and it is very sick to see adults use enough foresight as a twelve year old.
posted on July 7, 2001 07:14:20 PM
If you put any group of sellers in an environment together like this you would find similar discussions taking place there.
We naturally talk about the negative like the saying goes,if you do someone a favor they may tell a few others about it but kivk them where it hurts and the whole world gets to no about it.
I think some sellers do worry too much about there buyers.Putting too many restrictions etc on their listings.
I did find this statement somewhat annoying making use sound like a bunch of kids "I was an ebay seller before most of you could spell "internet sales" .
A good number of us here have been selling on ebaY just when it started or close too it.
This seller does not have a TOS,other than asking for payment and pay Florida sales tax thats it.
You can send a credit card,check,cash as long as its legal tender.We never hold checks and I get checks in the thousands of dollars from sellers.
If a guy has a 500 feedback the chance of his bouncing a 2000.00 check is very slim.
I will ship anywhere in the known universe,give me an address thats all I need.
If you pay me within 30 days thats fine,etc etc.
But there are in any business paranoid sellers.
Thing I hate the most is not bidders or other sellers but software not working correctly,ebay outages,aw not working correctly.
Mu computer deciding at this momment that it does not like me scanning.
posted on July 7, 2001 07:43:53 PM
Well, let's see cin
The closest "mountains" would be the Ozarks, but I sure ain't going down there. Too hot right now.
I would like to see the Black Hills, but that part of So. Dakota is a fer piece from here (Missouri). I could do some gold panning there though!
The Rockies would be even further.
Who am I kidding. A vacation would always turn into a "working" vacation. I'd be stopping at every shop and flea market I saw, trying to pick up a few deals.
posted on July 7, 2001 08:10:37 PM
Alot of what gets posted here are about problem deals. I don't come here and talk about the 100 smooth as silk deals that I had just prior to the one problem deal.
But I think there are more paranoid buyers. And it's natural, because they have to turn loose of hard earned money before they get the merchandise. I've had $12.00 payments come registered return receit requested. I've also had $150 cash payments come with a 34 cent stamp. I know which buyer was paranoid.
Edited to add:
I was selling on FIDO NET way before eBay existed, and way before anyone except Universities had internet access. I know how to spell "Internet Sales"
Who Need's a stink'n Sig. File?
[ edited by Microbes on Jul 7, 2001 08:17 PM ]
posted on July 7, 2001 10:19:16 PM
I was a lot more paranoid when I first started selling a couple of years ago. I would only take money orders, for heaven's sake! Then I started visiting here and getting an education, and what it did was actually loosen me up a bit. Also, my sales experiences have been about 98% excellent. I've never had a bounced check and only about half a dozen deadbeats.
A lot has to do with the niche you sell in. Some are populated by a lot more deadbeats and check-bouncers than others. I've been lucky in my choices about what I sell, and have had wonderful luck with nearly every buyer.
In general, it seems that the most "paranoid-sounding" sellers are newbies who are still learning the ropes, or more experienced sellers who actually HAVE had a few terrible experiences. I take what I can use and leave the rest; reading about others' experiences has made me both more comfortable (i.e., taking small personal checks) and more cautious (I'm going to buy one of those invisible-ink markers). I'm not paranoid, just reasonably cautious. This is supposed to be fun, as well as a money-making venture, and for me, it has been both.
posted on July 7, 2001 10:33:41 PM
Does anybody else find it odd that, in addition to a thread titled Internet sellers are a paranoid lot, there is also currently a thread being posted to which is titled What's your average ebay bill per month?, or is it just me?
posted on July 7, 2001 10:36:04 PMby and large Internet sellers are a paranoid lot, at least the ones that use message boards. After thinking about it I attribute it to our hours upon hours of isolation while listing lots, chatting on message boards, scanning and all the like. We set out little rules in our auctions and panic when someone dares to pay little attention to it.
" paranoid " Who? me? 
