Archive for January, 2010

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Do I have to Send the item Back to Get a refund? and Japanese Transfer Company’s are they REAL?

January 27th, 2010 | Author: admin
Dear eBay Queen,
 
I recently purchased a cell phone for my daughter on eBay.  She typed in "T-Mobile" phone for her search. Shortly after receiving my payment, the seller e-mailed me and asked what carrier I used so he could program the phone for that carrier. Instead of waiting for my reply the next day, he had already shipped the phone.  He was argumentative and said it clearly states, (in his personal message way at the bottom, below 6 huge pictures) which carriers are compatible with this phone.  He is correct in stating that but I'm also correct, in pointing out, that the description right underneath the main picture clearly states T-mobile. 
 
 It took him over 2 weeks to reply to my multiple messages. He finally replied, and insists that this is eBay’s fault, and will not give me a refund unless I ship the phone back first. Is this normal? I am afraid to send the phone back before I get the refund. 
 
His feedback is (10) 100% however, all 10 feedbacks are for items he has purchased, not sold. I'm not quite sure how to handle this. 
 
Mary  
 
Dear Mary;
 
I know that I am telling you something you have just found out first hand, but you should ALWAYS read the entire eBay listing before bidding or buying. Many sellers do not use the actual photo, so it’s always important to read all the way through to see if they are selling something different than the picture.
 
I know where you are coming from, and can completely understand your feelings of distrust regarding sending the item back before getting your refund. As a general rule, the buyer sends the item back before receiving a refund.  If this had happened to me, I would package the item up in the same manner it was sent in. If it was wrapped in bubble wrap, and double boxed, make sure you do the same thing. After it was re-packaged, I would take it to the post office and add insurance along with a delivery confirmation. 
 
Give the package 3-4 days to arrive at its destination, and then check the delivery confirmation to see if it’s been delivered. Once it has arrived, give your seller 24 hours and send him an email. If he doesn’t respond within another 24 hours, go to eBay and file a “not as described” claim against him.
 
I am really sorry this happened to you. I hope your seller is prompt with your refund.
 
 
Dear eBay Queen;
 
Here's a question for your column that I don't think I've read. I currently have a sleeping bag listed on eBay. I received the following email from a potential buyer, what do you think it means?
 
“Dear Sir,
I am an eBay user from Japan, but I have a contract with network transferring company in US. Can I bid on your item?”
My first instinct is not to even answer this guy. Can you address this issue in your column? Is it OK to do what this potential bidder suggests, or is it a big scam or, at the very least, a big hassle?? Thanks!
 
LR; Rantoul
 
Dear LR;
 
I believe what they are doing is buying items, having them shipped to a transferring company in the US, which then ships the item to Japan. I looked the buyer up by their eBay name that you gave. They only have fifteen feedback, and currently are only bidding on one item. 
 
Most of these transfer companies are buying items for their Japanese clients and shipping them to Japan. I think there is an eBay rule (although I couldn’t find it) that says they must tell you that they are buying it to be shipped somewhere else. Here’s a little blurb I found out about it on the eBay boards.
 
Just to be safe, make sure you use a delivery confirmation when sending the item, and keep documentation of all conversations.
 
 
Strange eBay item of the week: eBay item 270513432484 (enter this number in the eBay search box in the top right corner of the home page): Do you have any old knitting patterns? Take a look at this! Vintage 50’s Dresses Blouses Knitting Crochet Patterns. SOLD $103.51 http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270513432484     
     
Suzie Eads is a nationally known eBay marketer and eBay trained Education Specialist. She lives in Rantoul. Do you have a question for the eBay Queen? E-mail: questions@asktheebayqueen.com.
Posted in feedback, General eBay Help, Product Help, unhappy buyer | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment »

Buyers that Don’t Pay & Feedback that is never left.. All eBay Problems

January 20th, 2010 | Author: admin
Dear eBay Queen;
 
I had a Nintendo Wii, and 28 games for sale on eBay.  After the action closed the buyer tells me he doesn't want it, and I should not even bother contacting eBay about this “as you can get out of buying an item as long as you don't do it more than once in period of time”.  He also sent this in the email:
 
“eBay unpaid Item Policy
Buyers automatically enter into a legally binding contract to purchase the item from the seller if they win.  eBay's UPI requires buyers to pay the seller for the items that they commit to purchase.
Sellers can file an Unpaid Item dispute with eBay for each of their items that are purchased but not paid for. eBay will issue a strike on the account of the buyer who does not honor their obligation to pay.  If a buyer gets too many strikes in too short a time period, their account will be suspended indefinitely. In some cases, limits may be placed on the buyer’s account in advance of suspension”.
 
I tried to file a dispute, and I can’t yet.  (I have to wait 7 days.)  My question is, do I have to pay the listing fees? I think it’s kind of funny how it's “legally binding”, when really there's nothing you can do in terms of law.  What will eBay do to this time waster of a buyer?
Joe B.
 
Dear Joe;
 
That buyer  is pretty bold, suggesting this to you.  Did he send the email via eBay’s messaging system or directly to your email address?  If he sent it to your email address, you can report him, but they don’t take direct emails as seriously as they do if they came through the messaging system.  Whichever way he sent it, go ahead and report it.
 
If this were my transaction, I would wait the seven days and report him as a non paying bidder, regardless what he says will happen to him.  When it comes to paying for the final value fees, eBay bills you once a month for your fees.  If you are in the middle of your billing cycle you probably won’t have to pay for it, but if you are at the end, you’ll have to pay, then your next months bill will reflect the credit once the dispute has been closed.  
 
If this is his first time not paying for something, then he's probably right. But you don't know how many times he's been hit before – and the fact he knows about this rule suggests he does have experience in this. Keep in mind, the only way eBay can take action with penalties is if they know about it, so even if you are the first, you are still doing what needs to be done.
 
 
Dear eBay Queen;
 
How do you get your buyers to leave you feedback on your completed transactions?  I've recently sold about 16 items on eBay, and it's like pulling teeth to get feedback out of my buyers….yet eBay only allows me to either leave positive or no feedback as a seller.

In this case, I have left positive feedback for all my buyers…and I'm still waiting.  Is there a tactful reminder that I can send through email without sounding pushy?

Sheila (1eeyore2)

 
Dear Sheila;
 
Not everyone leaves feedback, and some don’t understand how important it is to sellers.  Here are a few ideas to get buyers to leave feedback.
 
1.     Remind them before they pay.  When your invoice put a short, sweet blurb in about you appreciate feedback.
2.     Tape a little note to the item or packaging, thanking them for their purchase and reminding them to leave feedback for you.
3.     Once the sale is over and a few weeks have gone by, send them a reminder email about feedback and offer them a coupon for 10% off of their next purchase.
 
I wouldn’t do all of these at one time, but it doesn’t hurt do choose a couple and see how it well it works.  Some buyers might be put-off by you even asking them to leave it. For that reason, I’ve always been a bit afraid to ask for feedback.
 
Strange eBay item of the week: eBay item 220539055419 (enter this number in the eBay search box in the top right corner of the home page): It you saw this would you think to sell it? Red Wing Hamms Bear Bank SOLD $345.00 http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220539055419  
       
Suzie Eads is a nationally known eBay marketer and eBay trained Education Specialist. She lives in Rantoul. Do you have a question for the eBay Queen? E-mail: questions@asktheebayqueen.com.
Posted in feedback, General eBay Help, Non-Paying Buyer | Tags: , , , , | 1 Comment »

Craiglist & eBay Car Scam.. How it works

January 14th, 2010 | Author: admin


Dear eBay Queen;

 

I am trying to buy a used car.  After searching, I found the car I wanted on Craig’s List.  I contacted the seller, and he sent me this email.

“The 2007 Toyota Camry LE is in a perfect working condition. My experienced tech has fully checked out the car, and gives it a special high rating.  It has a CLEAR and CLEAN TITLE, a great it’s never had any mechanical problems, safety check and pre-delivery inspection along with a fresh servicing before I ship or deliver the car.  It has 9,747 miles and the VIN# is  4T1BE46K57U621002. I have the pictures of the car hosted at the following address:
http://s679.photobucket.com/albums/vv154/camry07arg/

As I know that my current situation is pretty special, I want the deal closed only through eBay's Buyer Protection Program in order for you to be 100% protected. You will make the payment to eBay and they will hold the money until you receive the car. ONLY AFTER you receive the car and you inspect it, (for 10 days) eBay will release the payment to me; in this way we are both protected. Anyway, I am sure that if you will be satisfied with the car.  If not, I will surely find another buyer in your area, and there will be no need for you to ship the car back.

I am located in London, and I was sent here to improve the military relationships between USA and United Kingdom. One month ago, my wife moved here with me and brought the car with her, but now we have to sell it back in the United States because we can't register it here. Iit has US specs and everything, and registering it here in Europe will take forever. My final price on it is US $2,970. If you will take it for this price, I am willing to handle the shipping. It will be shipped from here by plane with US Air Military Cargo, so it will not cost me anything. It will be flown to the nearest airport in your area and then it will be trucked forward to your place. You will receive the car in about 3 days. Please get back to me as soon as possible if you decide to buy, and include in your e-mail your full name and address where you want it shipped, so I can start the deal with eBay. You will receive all the transaction payment and shipping details from them.”



Does this sound right? I am worried it might be a scam.  I don’t understand how it works if it is one though.  I really want this car, and it’s a great price! 

LL, Ottawa; KS

 

Dear LL;

You know when something sounds too good to be true?  This is one of those times. This is a classic Craigslist/eBay scam.  Deals on eBay are between the seller and the buyer. Payments are not made to eBay, and no one at eBay Motors will be contacting you about this.  It is a scam, and needs to be reported. For more information about scams like this go here: http://cgi3.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewUserPage&userid=red-flags

 

This type of scam usually has a member of the armed services needing to sell his or her car, at an extremely low price.  Your seller has said he is willing to ship this car for free using, the United States Military Cargo plane. I’ve never heard of the US Military shipping cargo for free.

The seller will then lull the buyer into thinking it’s all on the up and up by saying “the only way they will sell this is if they use eBay’s Buyer Protection Plan”, but eBay’s Buyer protection plan is for PayPal payments, NOT Western Union.

For more information about this type of scam from eBay go here http://answercenter.ebay.com/forum.jspa?forumID=6  

 darwin1

Strange eBay item of the week: eBay item 140261061746 (enter this number in the eBay search box in the top right corner of the home page) Charles Darwin was controversial scientist and world traveler. Check out his First Edition Book that Sold for: $19,1000.00 http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170415041340         

Suzie Eads is a nationally known eBay marketer and eBay trained Education Specialist. She lives in Rantoul. Do you have a question for the eBay Queen? E-mail: questions@asktheebayqueen.com.

Posted in General eBay Help | Tags: , , , , , , | 4 Comments »
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