Dear eBay Queen:
March 29th I purchased a Nintendo DS XL for my granddaughter. I figured out about 10 minutes after I bought it that it was not the newest model. I messaged the seller to let them know that I wanted to cancel the transaction, and I received this message from them:
“Geez lady! I’m not selling this stuff for my health! Shouldn’t you know what you’re purchasing before you purchase it! I don’t really want to cancel the transaction. Why don’t you purchase it and sell it yourself? I see you are a seller! That’s probably what you are going to do anyway since you got this one so cheap!”
I didn’t respond, I just paid for the item, and went and bought my granddaughter the one she wanted on Target.com. Later in the day the seller sent me this message:
“Way to go! You’ve paid for the item. I’ll ship it out in the next couple of days.”
I received the Nintendo DS that I purchased from the eBay Seller, and I immediately put it on eBay, and sold it for $20.00 more than I paid!
This last week a buyer purchased a Fiesta sugar, creamer and coffee pot from me on eBay. They messaged me this before she paid:
“Hi, I have been wanting to complete my set for years. I just found out my daughter in law purchased a set for me for Mother’s Day. Would there be any way that I could cancel this transaction? If not, I completely understand. I had no idea that my daughter in law would do something this wonderful for me. I guess she does listen to me when I talk!”
I messaged the buyer back telling them no problem, and then I cancelled their transaction. The buyer sent the following message to me:
“Thank you so much! I was so afraid to write you. I buy a few things a month on eBay, and I’ve never asked to cancel a transaction. I have heard some nightmare stories from other people about how sellers are not nice to buyers. You have changed my mind. Thank you so much for doing this for me. I really appreciate your kindness, and I will be looking at your other Fiesta Ware items.”
I’m a seller, and I understand it is disappointing to lose a sale, but why are other sellers so rude?
Jill
Dear Jill:
It is disappointing to lose a sale, but it is more disappointing to lose a customer. I think you did the right thing on both issues. What kind of feedback did you leave the seller that was rude? I think I would have said. “Tried to cancel purchase. Seller refused. I sold for more money.”
Thanks for being a good example of what a buyer and seller should be on eBay.
Dear eBay Queen:
I sell mostly children’s clothing, and I ship them in either Tyvek or plastic bags. A buyer sent me a message saying they cut the shirt when the opened the package, and asked I would replace it. I told her I was sorry, but I could not replace the item. She responded with this:
“What kind of seller are you? The envelopes you use need a scissor to open the package, so it is your fault that I cut the package! You need to use different envelopes or fold your products better. I think you should give me a full refund, or at least split the costs with me. I will NEVER buy anything from you. I will tell all my friends not to buy anything either! You can guess what kind of feedback comment you will be giving me.”
What should I do? Do you think I should actually give this woman back her money? I called eBay, and I was told that what she said was feedback extortion and if she leaves the feedback they will remove it. They did not give me any advice about the refund.
CP
Dear CP:
I would not give her back her money. She admitted she cut the item when she opened the package. If she had not admitted to it, and just said there was a cut in the item when she received it that would be a different story. You would be forced to refund her money.
In a situation like this I would block her, and watch for her negative. Once she leaves it call eBay and they will remove it.
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