Posts Tagged ‘eBay’

Dear eBay Queen:

A YEAR ago ( I know, I know, ) I opened my first eBay account and straight away ordered about 6/7 products. Unfortunately I was in a new neighborhood and confused the house numbers; therefore I did not receive any of the items that I ordered.  About 6 months ago, I asked eBay support for help, and they told me they couldn’t do anything.

I started messaging the sellers. Some of them said they never received the package back and some said they will re-send it if I pay for the shipping again. I called the post office, and they didn’t have any of the return packages.  I was broke at the time so I left it again till now. So my question is – what am I supposed to do now? Is there even ANYTHING I could do to get these things back?

I would really appreciate your help. I’m so confused and keep getting angry and frustrated for leaving it like this.

Kind Regards,

Stef

Dear Stef:

I am really sorry this happened to you.  I know you are not the first person that moved and confused their address!  As sellers, we’ve had this happen a few times a year with our own buyers.  Your sellers should have contacted you via email or phone about the returned packages or refunded your money for the item since it was returned and they couldn’t contact you.

If your sellers are willing to send you the items if you pay for the shipping, I would take them up on that offer.  If the other sellers are not willing to do it, I would ask for a refund.  I don’t think you’ll get it, but it never hurts to ask.

People mess up their addresses more often than you think. If this should happen again, contact the seller immediately to let them know about the mistake, then contact your post office. Sometimes they can intercept the package and get it to you.

Dear eBay Queen:

I’ve been selling for about 6 months.  I had a bricks and mortar store, lost my lease and started selling everything I had on Amazon and eBay.   I’ve been very successful!  So successful that I’ve decided to open up a smaller bricks and mortar store and still sell my goods on those venues.

I sold a new High Sierra Backpack in a hard to find color to a guy over 28 days ago.  He sent me an email, and wanted to return the backpack about 10 days after he received it.  I offered a refund after he returned the item.  I did some checking on this guy, and he sells the same product I sell. He even has a HUGE e-commerce store.  He sent me the tracking for the return on March 5^th ,  but the post office has not received or scanned it in.

I sent the buyer an email last week, to let him know I have not received the item back.  He sent a return email and called me every name under the sun, and threatened me with feedback.  I called eBay immediately and the customer service rep told me to not accept his return.  The eBay guy told me that he was on my side on this and I should refuse the item when and if it is returned.  I emailed the buyer back, and told him of my conversation with eBay and that I was not willing to accept the return after what he had called my mother.

His response to that email was: “I sent it Thursday it was 28.42 to ship it back, I want that money or else.”, and just a few hours later his tracking number was scanned in at his local post office.  I only charged him 8.95 for shipping, were does he get off charging me so much? What advice do you have for me on this one?

Liza

Dear Liza:

Congratulations on creating a successful business on eBay, and in the bricks and mortar world!

If eBay says they will back you up on this guy, I would write “refused!” on the package, but not before I took a photo of the label for proof of date sent, and the cost.   This guy should know better if he’s a seller.

Strange eBay item of the week: eBay item: 140688944359  What’s your favorite pop? Check out this Mountain Dew Red in a Rare Glass Bottle You can see it here:  SOLD $235.00

Suzie Eads is a nationally known eBay marketer and eBay trained Education Specialist. She lives in Rantoul, Kansas.

Dear eBay Queen:

I lost my job in March of 2011.  My mother in law sends me your column each week from The Ottawa Herald.  We live in Savannah Georgia and I always look forward to her envelope every week with your article in it.  I’ve been looking for a job since I lost mine, and haven’t had much luck.  I had this brilliant idea that instead of asking for gifts, I would ask for things to sell on eBay.   I think this was a pretty good idea, as I received several HUGE boxes from people containing new, used and some vintage designer clothing.  Now that I have this stuff, I’m not sure how to sell it!

I have purchased lots of items on eBay in the past 8 or so years I’ve been a member.  I was planning on using that eBay ID as it has 485 feedback on it. I did do a little research, and it amazes me how many sellers do not put measurements on clothing listings. A small in one brand is never the same inseam/waist/chest as the next small.  Do you have any pointers for me?

Laura, Savannah, Georgia

Dear Laura:

That was a great idea to ask for stuff to sell on eBay!  Clothes are pretty easy to list and ship.  Here are some tips to make sure you have good sales.

• Always include the brand name, size, style and color in your title.
• In the listing, make sure you have a photo of the front and back of the clothing.  The more photos the better.  If the item has a snag or some kind of problem, make sure you take a photo of that.
• If you can, model it on a person or maybe a mannequin or sewing form.
• When it comes to measurements, measure each item lying on a flat surface.
• Include the following measurements: underarm front, underarm back, waist, hip, inseam, rise and sleeve length.
• Use every item specific you can.  Item specifics help buyers find your items, by brand name, size, color, style and shape.

Good luck on your sales!

Dear eBay Queen:

I sold a rare game yesterday for over $380.00.  After the auction ended I sent the buyer an invoice.  They sent me an email back today, and it’s just my luck that they want to pay with a money order!  Now, what do I do?  They only have 4 feedback.  I checked out the second highest bidder, and they have over 490 feedback! The 2^nd bidder is the person that I *want* to  win this game.  I bet if he won, I would already have his money in my PayPal account!  How should I handle this?  What do I do it this person decides they can’t pay for it?  It’s just my luck!  DARN DARN DARN!

Burt, Olathe, KS

Dear Burt:

I think this will all work out.  If you don’t want to accept this guy’s money order, you do not have too.   You can let him know that you only accept PayPal.

It is a possibility that this buyer will pay, and send you a money order immediately.  You could be worried about this for nothing.  There are many sellers that have different eBay ID’s.  Your buyer with only 4 feedback may be a selective buyer who rarely buys on eBay, forgot his/her ID/password and it was easier to create a new ID. New buyers do not automatically equal someone who’s out to scam you. We were all new to eBay at one time.

If you decide to accept the money order, and you are worried it is fraudulent, I would take to the bank or Post Office and have them check it out.  No matter what happens, I would insure the package and put a signature confirmation on it.  That way you are protecting yourself in case something happens.  PayPal requires you to do this on an item over $200.00.  I hope this an easy worry free transaction for you.

Strange eBay item of the week: eBay item: 190604019372 (enter this number in the eBay search box in the top right corner of the home page. Looking for a good children’s book?  Maybe you have this one? At the Back of the North Wind 1992 Hardcover  SOLD $5,000.00 http://www.ebay.com/itm/Back-North-Wind-1992-Hardcover-Reprint-/190604019372

Suzie Eads is a nationally known eBay marketer and eBay trained Education Specialist. She lives in Rantoul, Kansas.

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