Dear eBay Queen:
I like to think I’m a power buyer on eBay. I receive 5-10 packages a week containing stuff I buy there. Today I received a 40 piece set of silverware that I am giving my daughter for her wedding. The problem? I had to pay the post office 12.85 to get it, because the seller did not put enough postage on it… She put 5 FOREVER stamps! What the heck?!?!
In the seller’s defense, they appear to have only been selling since January. I’m not sure what to do. I’ve never had this happen in my 7 years of primarily buying on eBay. My neighbor, (who’s a big seller on eBay) says I should report them and leave them a negative. I don’t really want to cause any problems for this person, they are just starting out! The other option my neighbor said is to open a case through eBay. Could you tell me what you think the best thing to do is?
JBB
Dear JBB:
I think you are taking the right approach. There is no reason to think this person did this on purpose. I would message them through eBay’s messages, and perhaps add a photo of the package or note you received said the amount you owe. I’m sure the seller will reimburse you for the postage. If they do not, you could open a case for the extra shipping you had to pay.
Dear eBay Queen:
At the beginning of March, I stopped using Best Offer on my store items, mostly because of the LOW BALL requests. They are so aggravating. Sometimes I just want to yell at the buyer for doing it! Today I received a message from a buyer requesting that I sell her 4 of my best selling items that would normally go for around 139.99 all together, but she wants me to sell them all to her for 50.00 with FREE SHIPPING! What is this person on? The 139.99 is 100.00 less than retail! When I politely told her that the price listed is the lowest price I would accept, she got mad at me, and sent me this message.
“I guess you aren’t serious about getting rid of your crap. What’s with sellers like you? You think you’re holdin onto gold or something. The lowest price listed? I can get this at Marshalls, or TJ Maxx – I just didn’t want to drive around town putting the set together! So are you going to sell this to me or make me a good offer?”
I looked at your store and saw that every one of your items is utilizing Best offer. I hope you don’t get mad at me, but I even sent you a low ball offer on some fancy swimsuit you have listed. How is it that you can be so nice? I noticed that you didn’t decline my offer, but counter offered and sent a nice note! Tell me your thinking behind this. Maybe I should be more patient and learn from you. When I accepted best offers, I had my listings on auto decline for offers lower than a certain amount, because I got tired of all of the low offers. Maybe I should just be patient?
Kirk
Dear Kirk:
I really like using best offer. I do get a few low offers, but I don’t let it bother me. I just counter offer with something that I am willing to accept. Most of the time I add a response with the counter offer: “Thank you so much for your offer. Unfortunately, with free shipping this as low as I can go.” I have never used auto decline, and it’s not one of the things I like to see from a seller when I am making an offer. Auto decline would not make it so I didn’t buy from that seller, it just seems less personal.
I would advise you to evaluate your business and see if Best offer is something that will fit in your business model.
Strange eBay item of the week: Item #191469065502. Looking for a unique Easter serving piece? Look on eBay! Handpainted Deruta Grazia Williams Sonoma 21 Oval Wild Hare Platter Majolica SOLD: $349.99.
