Category Archives: eBay

Dear eBay Queen: I Gave a Good Seller a Defect! Help!

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Dear eBay Queen:

I am a buyer, and I thought a pretty good one at that. I’ve never left negative feedback, and I really have never had any problems with any of the items I purchased until now.

I bought a new case for my phone, and when it arrived it did not fit my phone. I tried to contact the seller, but it gave me a list of options, and since it didn’t fit, I wanted to return it. I opened what I believe is called a return request. The seller while being very nice, I can tell she is miffed at me. She told me in a message that I could send it back, BUT that I have hurt her eBay account. After much back and forth as it turns out I selected DEFECTIVE and I should have selected did not fit. It truly is my fault because I did not order the right size model for my phone. What should I do?

Eating Humble Pie

Dear Humble:

I think if I were you I would message the seller and apologize. Let them know this is the first time you’ve returned something and you were confused by the options. Let her know that you will make it right by calling eBay and telling them what you did. I don’t know that eBay can correct the situation right then, but I know they can do it after the return is done.

To contact eBay go to the top of any eBay page and click on “Help and Contact” then go to the bottom of the page and click on the blue “contact us” button. You will be taken to another page where you click on “buying”, “after the purchase” and then “leaving/receiving feedback.” Then a “CALL” option will appear. Tell the representative everything you told me. Then let the seller know what you did, and return your item.

eBay returns system isn’t perfect, and it really can be confusing for someone that has never used it before.

 

Dear eBay Queen:

I’m a little frustrated. I accepted and offer on an item that I really just wanted gone. I should have known by looking at this chick’s PRIVATE feedback that there was a problem. She has left me SHIPPING instructions on how to ship her Starbucks mug. Here’s what she wrote:

“READ***READ***SHIPPING INSTRUCTIONS*** 1. You must PRINT all the letters of my street address. It cannot say APT it must say APARTMENT. This means you are going to need to HAND print the label and take it into the post office. If you print the label online, you’ll get the abbreviation for apartment. 2. Since the Starbucks Mug comes in its original retail packaging, wrap all of that in bubble wrap 2 times. 3. Place bubble wrapped mug and packaging inside a #4 Priority Mail box with packing peanuts all around the item. 4. Place the #4 inside a Priority Mail #7 box with packing peanuts all around the #4 shipping box. Make sure both boxes are safe and secure with no rattling. 5. Seal the box and place the handmade label on the package. 6. Take the package to the post office and purchase postage and add a delivery confirmation. Any deviation from this can and will result in negative feedback.”

I woke up the next day with the following message: “I sent you a message last night attached to the PayPal payment. You have not replied. Please advise why you are not handling my issue promptly.”

What should I do about this? Your prompt help handling my issue is appreciated. 🙂

Stella A.

Dear Stella:

The first thing that strikes me about this, (other than she has lost her mind) is that the buyer is asking you to send an item to an address that is not authorized with eBay. DO NOT change the address. I would respond to her and let her know that you can’t change her address, but she can go into eBay and spell out APARTMENT on her address form, so that it will print that way on ALL sellers labels. I would tell her that by you changing the label you will be breaking eBay’s policy for you as a seller.

Your other option would be to offer to cancel the transaction because there is something wrong with her posted eBay address.

I would then immediately call eBay, ask them how to handle this, and ask them if you hand write the label if you will be protected under the selling policy. I would also point out that this buyer had threatened feedback extortion.

 halloween2015high3

Strange eBay Item of the Week: Item #: 310781360852. Halloween will be here soon. A search on eBay for “Halloween Costumes” yields some pretty interesting results. Basset Hound Dog Mascot Costume Suit Halloween Animals New and Ready to Ship SOLD: $750.00.

Top Selling Adult Halloween Costumes on eBay 2015

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halloween2015high1

Batman Leather Costume Motorcycle Suit Comic Con Cosplay Halloween Sold 2200.00 by eBay Seller herodoubleforhire Check it out HERE

halloween2015high2How tall do you have to be for this costume?

Hollywood handmade Groot Costume for CosPlay or Halloween SOLD 3000,00 by eBay Seller affyadams Check it out HERE

halloween2015high3

Basset Hound Dog Mascot Costume Suit Halloween Animals – NEW and READY TO SHIP Sold $750.00 by eBay Seller pamela_reed Check it out HERE

halloween2015high4

Ursula Inspired Halloween Costume Mermaid Cosplay Reanactment Sold 390.00 by eBay Seller noaheverlast Check it out HERE

halloween2015high5

Corpse Bride Emily Halloween Costume Wedding Dress Veil OOAK Cosplay Sz 14 Sold 237.99 by eBay Seller drcupcake Check it out HERE

Dear eBay Queen: Should I Buy My Way Out of a Negative Feedback?

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Dear eBay Queen:

I’ve talked to my husband about this and my neighbor. They both said I should ask your opinion. My neighbor said it’s just a newbie mistake, my husband says I’m giving stuff away and being passive with people I should not be passive with. I’m not sure if it’s a newbie mistake when I’ve been selling for 4 years!

My brother purchased a house and 100 acres in Nebraska 5 years ago. The house and 2 barns were FULL. Once a month he brings me stuff from his barns/house and to sell on eBay. We split the profit and he pays the listing fees. Some of this product he brings me is old store stock from a general store that the previous owner of the property had.

I had listed a Bakelite necklace, earring and bracelet set. I tested it to make sure it was Bakelite before I sent it, and packaged it in bubble wrap and double packaged it when I sent it. The buyer contacted me with this message:

Hello, thank you for sending the jewelry set so quickly. I don’t think this is new, and I’m not really happy with it. This looks like something my grandmother wore in the 1950’s, not the cute necklace set I thought I was buying from this century!

I paid $145.00 for the set, and I think I should receive half of it back. Perhaps if you used Buy It Now I would not have to negotiate with you for the price of the item afterwads. You know if you give me good customer service I will buy more from you.

I messaged the buyer back, and told her to send them back and I’d refund her money. She responded, and told me “it was not worth it” and if I didn’t refund in full and allow her to keep them, she’d give negative feedback. I was going to refund the buyer’s money, because I don’t want a negative, and just let my brother know what happened. I talked to my brother and he told me to NOT refund the money. So I am coming to you for help.

The buyer sent me another message today.

“Well, 5 hours have gone by, and I have not heard from you. What are you going to do? My negative feedback is not going to be nice. You will never be able to sell that crap you call inventory if you don’t give me what I want. I better receive a refund before tomorrow, or your 100% positive feedback rating will no longer be 100%.

So should I just give them their money back and save my account the negative?

 

  1. Jenkins

 

Dear M. Jenkins:

I’ve been in similar situations, and I think I would message your buyer and tell her that based upon eBay’s new rules for sellers, you can’t give a refund without her opening a request. Give her these instructions:

  • To start a return, find the item in the Purchase history section of My eBay. …
  • Select the reason for the return. …

Let her know that once that is done, you can proceed.

Once you message her, contact eBay. I’m pretty sure that eBay will side with you and this is why:

  • The item was never described as new, but as vintage in excellent, used condition.
  • By her own admission, it looks like something from the era it is from.
  • The buyer refuses to return the item.
  • The buyer wants to KEEP the item and receive half of the money back.
  • The buyer threatened negative feedback if you do not give her what she wants.

Make sure that you do not say in your message you will give her the item or a refund. Just wait for the case to be opened by the buyer.

I hope that you get a fantastic understanding eBay CS representative that handles this swiftly. I don’t think it would hurt to report this buyer either.

 ebaybakelite

Strange eBay Item of the Week: Item #121684686777. Bakelite jewelry is highly collectible. If you are ever lucky enough to come across a bakelite “gumdrop” bangle, you might be able to sell it for quite a bit on eBay! Rare Red and Cream Vintage Bakelite Bow-Tie Gumdrop Bangle Bracelet Late 1950’s SOLD: $3000.00.

 

A Tale of Two Purses; Do Pictures, Price & Shipping Matter

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I’ve talked about my love for Cole Haan totes on here before.  As  reward for a 1000 new feedback I will buy myself a new tote.

I found 2 purses on eBay that I wanted.  One of them was listed as metallic, and the other as black, but had a picture of a tan purse.  I did not think that I would win either of them, because this style of  used Cole Haan usually NEVER sells for under 75-100.00.

chpurse1

I won them both; one for $55.00 and the other for $18.00.  I paid for both, believing that I was receiving a metallic copper colored tote and a tan tote (both in the same style).  Which I love.

wpid-20150915_102132.jpgI received the “metallic” purse yesterday and the “tan” purse today.  Unfortunately they are the same color and style.  Which got me thinking – Why did one sell for $18 and the other for $55?

chpurse3Here’s the listing for the $55.00 metallic purse.

The seller of this purse has a couple of sentences for the description, and 5 photographs.  The measurements are close, but not quite accurate.  Her photos are clear and show the color of the purse on a white and black background for contrast.  She states this purse is from the late 90’s, (its not) and that’s ok. Shipping was $11.95. Seller has 24 feedback @ 100%.  Item ended September 8th at 8:00pm

chpurse2Here’s the listing for the $18.00 purse.

This has 6 photographs of a purse that looks like a light tan but the item specifics says black. Measurements are off, and there is only ONE sentence about the purse in the description.  The photographs are taken on what looks like an aqua background and  white background.  The seller calls this purse vintage, but it’s not.  Shipping was $12.20.  The seller has 271 feedback and is at 100%.  The item ended on September 9th at 8:24am.

Here are a couple of things I wonder:

  1. Do you think the $1.25 shipping cost difference between the 2 purses made  a difference in people bidding?
  2. Was the lack of description a factor?
  3. Do you think the poor photos of the $18.00 purse, combined with the inaccurate item specifics made it so no one bid on that one?
  4. Do you think ending time was a factor?

You might be wondering what I am going to do with my twin purses… Some would return one.  I hate returns. I think it puts fear in the heart of  seller.. because it does me…  I am going to re-sell mine on eBay.