Archive for February, 2010

Dear eBay Queen;

At the moment, I am an eBay PowerSeller, Top Rated seller, and a trading assistant.  I don’t know how much longer I will be a PowerSeller or a Top Rated seller though. There have been so many changes to eBay, and they just keep making more!  I have a couple of questions for you;

1. Where can I find my store listings?  Do I have to do an advanced search?

2. What can I do about the 21 day hold on PayPal payments?  This policy could ruin my Trading Assistant business.  Who wants to wait 60 days after the sale of an item to get paid?

3. I also feel the Detailed Seller Ratings are unfair. No one will be able to keep their top rated sellers status with their rules.  How are you going to handle this?

Thank you!

Joyce

www.stores.ebay.com/RetroIndulgences

Dear Joyce;

Congratulations on being a Top Rated Seller and a PowerSeller!  This is quite an accomplishment.  Here are the answers to your questions:

1. Store Listings are located at the bottom of the eBay Search pages.  In order to see them, go to the bottom of any eBay Search Results page and you will see the following: “See additional items from eBay Stores.”  Click on this and it will take you to items in eBay stores.  Starting March 30^th all items (store and auction) will be showing up in search.

2. If you are a Top Rated Seller, they should not be holding your funds.  I would contact PayPal immediately if they have been. This policy is only for the following:

· You have been an eBay member for less than 6 months, and you sell an item for more than $100, or

· You have an eBay feedback score of less than 100, and you sell an item for more than $100, or

· You have a Buyer dissatisfaction percentage^** 5% or greater or

· You have an average Detailed Seller Rating (DSR) of less than 4.5, or

· You have received fewer than 20 Detailed Seller Ratings in the last 12 months, or

· You are listing your item in a high-risk category such as gift certificates, video games, cell phones, computers or consumer electronics.

3. I am not a Top Rated Seller. If I become one, that will be great.  If I don’t that’s ok too.  The DSR system is unfair.  I know this first hand.  I have had FREE SHIPPING on all my items since June of 2008.  My shipping cost DSR is 4.8 (out of 5).  How can free shipping be anything less than 5 stars?

You are doing everything right.  Keep up the good work!

Dear eBay Queen;

On January 12^th I bought a vintage Nintendo Game, “Solomon’s Key” from a guy with 38 feedback.  Shipping was $4; cost of the game was $18.50 not a big deal. First, I received the wrong game.  I sent it back and told him it wasn’t a problem, sometime’s it happens to the best of us!  I asked if he would credit my shipping, and he refused.  What should I do about this? Do you think this is right?

We did receive the right game, and my son started playing it right away. Before buying the item, we asked if the game “saved” meaning you could quit, and it would save where you are.  (He answered back and said it did.) As it turns out it doesn’t save.

I wrote and asked him if I could send it back. He wrote this back:

“It is sold as is. I never tested for save. I am sorry for the inconvenience.”

What do you think I should say to him?

Bill S. Topeka, KS

Dear Bill;

You have been very patient with this new eBay Seller.  I would definitely give him one more chance to do the right thing.  This is what I would email to him:

I see that your terms are no refunds.  I did email you before I bid and ask if the game would save, and you responded back with a “Yes”.  If I had not done this, I would not expect a refund, but since I asked before I bid, I believe a refund is in order.

I would really like to work this out, I feel I am owed a refund on the item (once I ship it back to you,) along with the shipping I paid since you shipped the wrong item to me the first time.

If your seller refuses to work this out, I would open a dispute against him

Strange eBay item of the week: eBay item 320472011658 (enter this number in the eBay search box in the top right corner of the home page) Would you buy a book of Police Mug Shots? Someone would! Sold: $499.99 http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320472011658

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.