refused to refund

eBay Raising Fees, Buyer Files PayPal Complaint

January 19th, 2007 |

Author: admin

Dear eBay Queen

I just found out that eBay is raising their fees sometime soon. I really think this is going to impact my business in a negative way. What do you think about it? Is this fee increase going to change the way you sell things?

Mad about Fees

Dear Mad;

Yes, it is true; eBay is raising their fees. It seems every year there is some kind of price increase. The increase goes into effect on January 30, 2007. Last year the store fees took a hit, and this year it affects the “Core” or auction listings. They have raised the price of the following listings:

Fee Type Item Price New Fee Current Fee

Insertion Fee Starting price

1.00- 9.99 0.40 0.35

Final Value Fee Selling Price

25.01- 1000.000 3.25% 3%

Motorcycle & Powersports 40.00 30.00

Cars & Trucks 50.00 40.00

http://pages.ebay.com/sell/sellercentral/announce200701/faq.html?ov=001BU

I am not very happy about the fee increase. I really wish they had done something different. I have already started to weed out my questionable merchandise, buy giving more thought to how well something will or will not sell. I also think I will start grouping or loyting things together more, instead of selling them by themselves. Market research says that more than 90% of people on eBay will find your auction through normal keyword search. I am really going to make sure that my titles and descriptions have all the keywords to draw buyers to my auctions.

Dear eBay Queen;

A few weeks ago, I sold a 14K gold and diamond watch. I sold it, as is, all sales final. The buyer received the watch, and did not like the sizing of the watch. I reminded her of my policy but she shipped it back anyway. When it arrived back it was not in the padded box that I shipped it to her in. Needless to say, because of her poor packing, the hands came off of the watch.

I took it to a jewelry store to see if he could repair the watch. He fixed the watch as best as he could, but the hands are still obviously bent, and he said he couldn’t guarantee that they would stay on. I emailed the buyer and let her know what happen.

The buyer is asking for a full refund, and filed a complaint with Paypal. I refused to refund her, and I escalated the Paypal complaint up to a claim. She did purchase insurance on the watch, but it will not cover the damage because of how she packaged it. She ended the claim with Paypal, and now wants me to file an insurance claim. What would you do? How do I end this? I have a 100% positive feedback record, and would like to keep it that way.

Vickey; Ottawa

Dear Vickey;

Since she ended the claim with Paypal, she will not be able to open it again or open a new dispute. She could leave negative feedback for the transaction. If she does, you have the opportunity to respond to the negative. Make sure your response includes something like: “Buyer poorly packaged a return. Item damaged beyond repair, still wanted refund”. Your response is your opportunity to let other buyers and sellers know what happened.

If this were my transaction, I would email her back, through eBay’s email message system. Let her know (again) the watch arrived back to you damaged, because of her packaging. Tell her you will be sending the item back to her. If she would like to file for an insurance claim, she will have the item in her hand to file the claim herself. I would send the watch back, priority mail, with insurance and a delivery confirmation. Make sure the watch is in the original packing she sent it to you in, then in a priority box (small video box).

Strange eBay item of the week: eBay item 200063250258 (enter this number in the eBay search box in the top right corner of the home page). With all this snow and ice, a spring vase might be just what we need to melt the cold. I sure do wish I had one of these lying around. Daum Nancy Scenic Cameo and Enameled Spring Scene Vase. SOLD $9100.00 http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200063250258

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 .