Posts Tagged ‘help’

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:

My wife and I are buyers (11 years), not sellers.  Recently, I tried to purchase some automotive parts thru eBay Motors, using “Buy it Now”.  I found 2 clear instances of “bait and switch” by 1 seller and another instance from a 2^nd seller.

They listed merchandise that I wanted to buy.  Each listing gave the number of available items for sale, and each listing had at least 2 more days to run.  When I sent an email, asking them to confirm the fitment, the listings were pulled early and these sellers told me that the merchandise was no longer available.  They most kindly offered me alternatives that were substantially more expensive.   All communications were via eBay’s email links.  The time span for each of these email sequences was 1 or 2 hours – not days.  I saved all my emails thinking that eBay’s customer support would be interested in these cases of possible seller misbehavior.  I had difficulty finding email links to report the incidents.  (I prefer email to the telephone because I am hard of hearing and sometimes telephone conversations are not satisfactory.)  I did find email links to eBay Motors and to eBay Customer Support, but these email  tools were forms, so all they requested were  listing numbers.  There was no way that I could tell them that they needed to review my email history for each listing.  It has been several weeks with no follow-up.   I assume that eBay and eBay Motors have no interest in pursuing buyer complaints against sellers.  I am concerned about how well eBay monitors its sellers and how well it looks after its buyers.

As a footnote, I did find a 4^th seller who had the merchandise that he listed and who performed his end of the bargain very promptly.  He was a true “5 star seller” in all respects.

Dave  Sutherland

Dear Dave:

I’m glad that you found a good seller whose merchandise was exactly what you needed and most importantly exactly as they described.  What you describe is odd. In this particular situation, the best thing to do would be call eBay.  I understand that you are uncomfortable doing that, but it would be your best option and get the quickest results.

Another option would be contact eBay through their messaging system (not email).  To do this, follow these instructions:

1. Go to: http://ocs.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ContactCS
2. Mouse over “Selling” then click on “Turbo Lister”
3. To the right you’ll see “Chat with us.”  This is an online chat form.

Once you “log on” with someone, let them know you are uncomfortable talking on the phone, and you know that you are not in the right area for your question, but you did not know what else to do.  They will get someone that will help you with your problem.  If that doesn’t work, I would email griff@eBay.com .

I’m sorry that two sellers were less than honest with you, but so happy you found the right one.

Dear eBay Queen:

I lost my Top Rated Seller status, and I have no idea why.  I figured out how to call eBay, and I talked to them about it.  The eBay representative told me to look at my “performance standards” to see when the Detailed Seller Ratings with 1’s or 2’s would fall off. I wrote it down, but I can’t figure out for the life of me how to do it.  Could you help me?

S.P.

Dear S.P.

I think it’s a little tricky to find the performance standards page myself!  Here’s how to do it:

1. http://cgi6.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?SellerDashboard
2. Under your DSR ratings, you’ll see “performance standards.” click on it.
3. Choose the tab labeled “daily performance”
4. Scroll down to the bottom and click on “view 12 month trending data”
5. A screen will pop up, and you can either choose “by percentage” or “by count”, this will make it easier to narrow down who, or when your low DSR’s have been left.

Strange eBay item of the week: eBay item: 220870022893 (enter this number in the eBay search box in the top right corner of the home page.  Have you ever wondered how much a President’s signature is worth? Check out this Bush Family Cookbook, Signed George & Barbara Bush SOLD $190.00 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’ve been selling for 7 years on eBay.  For the last few years I have consistently seen the same guy at auctions, estate sales and garage sales.  He is ALWAYS outbidding, me and sometimes I’m sure he’s laughing at me when he does it. Have you ever felt this way? 

Yesterday, I was standing in line at the post office and guess who walks in?  The Guy!  I smiled and he nodded at me.  I wanted SO badly to ask what his eBay name is, but I just don’t have what it takes to do this.   Is there a way to look this guy up without knowing his eBay name?  I do know his first and last name, can I do it that way? 

KKB, Gardner, KS

Dear KKB:

When I first started going to auctions, I felt the same way you do.  I have learned the hard way to decide before I start bidding what I will pay for each item.  I do it this way so that I don’t get caught up in that feeling that I am competing with someone standing across the auction ring.  When you get caught up in that, you will end up spending more than you want to.

There isn’t a good, sure fire way to figure out someone’s eBay ID.  If you were patient and knew what “The Guy” was selling, you could figure it out.  Here’s how to do it:

·         Put an item you know they bought to sell on eBay in the search box

·         Select “Distance: Nearest First”

This also works when you want to buy something close to you.  Good luck finding your nemesis’ eBay ID

Dear eBay Queen:

 I just found out in July that my Power Seller discount will be taken away. I also found out that I am going to be charged more in final value fees in July!  It is almost impossible to get the 20% discount as a Top Rated Seller since the requirements are ridiculous and so hard to achieve.  eBay keeps advertising these as NEW LOWER RATES!  It seems to me that my fees are going way up. Is there even a point to being a Power Seller anymore if you don't get a discount? I guess the only way to do this is to move all of my listings to free shipping, so that I can at least get better search engine rankings. I already have my absolute highest prices on eBay, but I guess this means I'll just have to raise my prices again.

This month as a fluke, I decided to list a few of my items on all of the eBay international sites. I had a buyer on eBay.de purchase a necklace from me. I don’t think she’s received it yet.  I shipped it in the beginning of May. This morning I received and email from her.  With my luck she wants a refund, and it hasn’t arrived yet!  Here’s what she said: Danke soviel für die schöne Halskette. Ich möchte ein anderes gerade wie es für meine Mutter bestellen. Haben Sie ein anderes, das ich kaufen könnte? Informieren Sie mich bitte bald, ich möchte dieses für mein  kaufen; s-Geburtstagfeier.

 Guess what? I can’t read a word of it. Somehow I'm supposed to respond to this on eBay.de what do I do?  

I've really about had it. When are they going to realize that these constant fee changes just mean higher selling prices for the buyers? I'm sure buyers aren’t crazy about it either.

Silver Seller

Dear Silver;

The good news about the up coming changes in July?  Everyone is in the same boat. All sellers are going to be raising their prices, not just you.  If you check your seller dashboard, it will show you how the new fees will effect your wallet.

How are you doing adding your items to other eBay sites?  I have not done that yet, and wondered if it was worth the fees.  I had no idea that eBay did not convert the emails into English.  There is an easy way to translate any email, or website language; go to: http://babelfish.yahoo.com/  I translated your email for you.  The buyer is very happy with the item, and wants another one! Here is what it says:

Thank you so much for the beautiful necklace. I would like to order another one just like it for my mother.  Do you have another one that I could purchase?  Please let me know soon, I would like to buy this for my birthday celebration.

Strange eBay item of the week: eBay item: 230624681772(enter this number in the eBay search box in the top right corner of the home page): Did you watch the Royal Wedding? Check out Princess Beatrice’s Royal Wedding Hat by Philip Treacy SOLD $131,341.47  http://cgi.ebay.com/Princess-Beatrice-Royal-Wedding-Hat-Philip-Treacy-/230624681772

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