Posts Tagged ‘Buy it Now’

Dear eBay Queen:

While I was on Thanksgiving Break at my daughter’s house, I received a bizarre email from eBay.  The email is below, and it is telling me I have a Buyer Protection case from March of 2010! What the heck is going on?

Notice: Your buyer tried to open a case. Please contact the buyer.

Dear (removed),

A buyer tried to open an eBay Buyer Protection case because the item hasn’t arrived yet. It was too soon to open a case, so we asked the buyer to contact you. If you haven’t already heard from the buyer, we recommend you get in touch with the buyer. Most issues can be worked out through email or a simple phone call.

BUYER            ID ITEM #                  LISTING TITLE CASE            ATTEMPT DATE

(removed)       270510656244                         Loving Family Doll Set                            2010-03-03

By working directly with the buyer, you’ll be able to provide good customer service, and may be able to avoid a case being opened.
Here are some ways to help avoid a case for an item not received:

• Ship with tracking (and signature confirmation for items $250 and above) and upload the tracking information right away.
• Print your shipping label on eBay or PayPal. Tracking information is automatically uploaded for you and your buyer.
• Ship within your stated handling time.
• If there’s a shipping delay, let the buyer know.

You can view a list of best practices for successful selling.

Thanks,
eBay

Please don’t reply to this email. It was sent from a mailbox that doesn’t accept incoming messages. If you have questions, please contact us.

What does this mean?  At first I thought it was a phishing email, then I checked my archives, I really did have a Loving Family Doll Set with that eBay number.  It sold, and I received positive feedback for it.  What is going on?

Amy T; Wichita, KS

Dear Amy:

I did a little checking, and there seems to have been a technical issue with eBay Resolution emails between November 17^th and November 22^nd.  Based upon the eBay boards and mailing lists I am on, there are quite a few people that have received the same kind of emails.  To be on the safe side, I would go to the eBay Resolution center just to make sure that your case mentioned above falls into eBay latest technical issue they are having.  http://resolutioncenter.ebay.com/

Dear eBay Queen:

I buy a lot of things on eBay, mostly on Buy It Now with Best Offer.  Best Offer makes me feel like I’m getting a deal while I’m spending money.  Today I received this notification from eBay while I was placing an offer.

“This is your third and last chance to make a best offer for this item. Improve your chances by setting a fair price. You have placed the maximum amount of offers allowed for this listing and cannot make another at this time. You may still Buy It Now, or wait 30 days before making another offer.”

Seriously, eBay? This is how you increase sales? Buyers can only make 3 offers and then they are shut out for 30 days unless they pay full price?  These rules have got to be made by people who know nothing about retail or eBay!

I was just about to buy some movie tickets, as I did last year when they were offering double eBay bucks. The price was $127. I offered $90, then $100, then $110. I’m guessing the next one would have done the trick. Oh well, my seller loses, I lose and so does eBay. Brilliant people who went to college, but never worked in a store!

Paige Fry

Dear Paige:

Thanks for sharing that with me!  I would say 75% of my items on eBay are Buy it Now with Best Offers.  I’ve never knew that there a warning given to buyers like that.

I think the best thing to do would be to save that little blurb and email it to the seller on your last or third offer.  If the seller realized that this was the last time in 30 days they would receive an offer from you, they might take it.

 Strange eBay item of the week: eBay item: 190605941442 (enter this number in the eBay search box in the top right corner of the home page. Do you like Christmas? Do you like to decorate your torso in Christmas?  Check out this Christine Foley Size SM Christmas Sweater Ornament! SOLD $287.00 HERE

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? Email: questions@asktheebayqueen.com

Dear eBay Queen:

I received an offer yesterday afternoon around 2:00PM, I accepted the offer at soon as I checked my email at around 4:00PM.  Here’s a little background information on the item I was selling: It was a
pair of designer jeans. Buy it Now was $499 and he offered me $300. I charged $35 shipping from Canada to USA, which I think is reasonable given the value of the item and next day shipping, etc. I had everything listed for my item – detailed measurements of the size, several pictures, etc. I accepted the buyer’s best offer of $300.  I received this message from the buyer on eBay after accepting an offer on the item I was selling:

I’ve done a little checking, and I think these are my options but I’m not 100% sure.  I’ve been selling on eBay for a few months, so if I have this wrong, please let me know.

·         Do as he says – I'm not sure I would get back my eBay fees since I agreed to cancel – so I won't do that.

·         Follow steps of the resolution center of unpaid item – not sure what happens in this case – best case scenario I get my eBay’s fees returned. – Can I leave a bad feedback afterwards in this case?

·         Tell the buyer that didn't pay I will cancel his transaction AFTER he gives me positive feedback. This way, I cancel the transaction and leave him negative feedback. I don't want to leave him negative feedback as he'll give me negative feedback for NO reason.

Have you ever had a situation like this before? What is the best method? I think doing the second idea is probably best, but the third one may be even better.

Thank you for all your help!

Woody, Ottawa, Canada

Dear Woody:

Well, it’s that time of year. Buyers seem to be a bit strange in January.  Your problem is a common one, I can almost guarantee that.  The buyer should have waited for you to accept or deny the offer they placed.  What probably happened is the buyer made several offers, and some other seller accepted the offer before you accepted his.

Here is eBay’s help page on unpaid items. http://pages.ebay.com/help/sell/unpaid-items.html

Here are your options as I see them:

·         You can file an unpaid item dispute requesting the buyer pay for the item. If the buyer didn't pay, you will be credited for the final value fee.  If the buyer does not respond to the case within the allotted time period, he will not be able to leave negative feedback.

·         You can mutually cancel the transaction.  This is where you and the buyer both agree to end the transaction.  The buyer will not have to pay, and you will receive your final value fees back.

Once the case is closed, eBay’s Trust and Safety is automatically alerted. They will note the unpaid items on the buyer's account, which can lead to limits or suspension of their account.

I need to tell you that you can not leave a buyer negative feedback on eBay. It is also against eBay policy to tell the buyer to “leave positive feedback before you will agree to cancel the sale.”  This is considered a form of FEEDBACK EXTORTION and will get you in serious trouble with eBay.  I usually won’t mention feedback at all when dealing with a buyer, unless they mention it first.  I do have selling friends that have no problem talking about feedback.  If your buyer does leave a negative or neutral feedback, you can always leave a "Follow Up" feedback and put in it; "Buyer canceled purchase after making offer."

Strange eBay item of the week: eBay item 230572362929 (enter this number in the eBay search box in the top right corner of the home page): It’s cold outside and you need a blanket!  Check out this 1880’s Antique Lone Star Quilt made in Pennsylvania. SOLD $2400.00  Check it out HERE 

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