As usual, eBay woes

[valis2]

Every time I get a message from an eBay member I break out in hives, I tell you.

(This does make me feel doomy about making eBay so important in my life...)

Long story short--this person feels that I didn't include the "book" with the game. I immediately replied, "Did you check the packaging?" and I also asked them which was missing--the book or the map or both.

Listen, I've learned that a lot of people do not completely inspect the box. I know that sounds patronizing and evil to ask that question, but it's true.

I didn't hear anything back for a day and a half, so I emailed again, asking if they had found the book or map.

I received a reply finally (this morning) that the book was missing (but they did not clarify whether the map was missing (I HATE IT WHEN PEOPLE DO NOT PAY ATTENTION TO DETAILS (though I recognize the irony in that statement))) and a bit of not-quite-strong language wanting a refund or at the very least a refund for the book part. (Why does it matter if the map was missing? Well, they were together. So if only one is missing, that's strange. If both were missing, well, then, I might have shipped them to somebody else, though I doubt it highly.)

So I responded by refunding the entire purchase price (but not the shipping) and I said:

Normally I would wait for one more email just to be certain that the book or map is not there before I send out a refund; I've had people overlook things before only to find them later (multiple times, actually).

However, you are clearly upset about this issue, so I've just processed the refund (but not the shipping charges).

Thanks and have a nice day!

What's your opinion, flist? Was I too nasty? patronizing?

Comments

[tudorpot.livejournal.com]

I would have found out about the map before sending the refund- are they going to send the game back?

[valis2.livejournal.com]

No, I did not ask for the game back. They were very grumpy, and it just doesn't pay to be grumpy in return--you see, I've already left positive feedback for them, so in essence, I'm hoping that they don't give me negative feedback at this point. And there's only one way to do that, which is exceed their expectations.

[kitschicat.livejournal.com]

On the contrary I think you were VERY pleasant considering their dumbassery about it all. :P

I'd make them return the game, myself. But that's just me.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

What bothered me was the non-detailed reply--and the immediate refund demand.

From their point of view, I do understand where they're coming from, but at the same time--how difficult is it to describe exactly what was shipped, and then wait to see what the seller offers? CLEARLY I am not a non-communicative seller, as I responded TWICE. It's OBVIOUS that I am on top of it and waiting for their answers.

Grr!! ahahaha!

[hellkat75.livejournal.com]

I think you were too kind - the buyer sounds like a jerk off!

[valis2.livejournal.com]

Heh--better to kill 'em with kindness, honestly. I just really really hope that they find the book/map. It has to be in the box--I can't imagine where else it would be!

[ms-hecubus.livejournal.com]

If I got the email I'd probably think you were a little bit of a bitch but would let it go because I got my money back. At worst I'd not leave feedback for you. Although I do know how to check packaging and read emails so I doubt we'd be in that situation. ;)

[valis2.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I was being a bit passive-aggressive, definitely, and I felt a bit bad about it after I sent it--but honestly, how difficult is it to answer the single question I asked? That makes me crazy.

I mean, clearly I want to communicate, or I wouldn't have sent two emails in response to one.

Thanks--I needed to hear that.

[ms-hecubus.livejournal.com]

I think the guy was being a tool, clearly. I'm just trying to look at it from his perspective. He decided you were trying to screw him before you responded to the first email. There's really nothing you could have done to change his mind. He'll be happy with the refund and it's possible he's too dumb to pick up on the passive-aggressive tones. :) I wouldn't worry too much about it.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I really hope that's the scenario. Because I honestly don't want to talk further.

I just wanted him to know that I was bending my usual rules. Not that he'll care at all. So--an exercise in futility, as always.

The video game sales I've made rarely leave feedback, too, so all in all, it's been useless.

[ms-hecubus.livejournal.com]

That sucks. Ebay used to be such a community type swap meet. It's gotten too big for its britches.

[ook.livejournal.com]

He decided you were trying to screw him before you responded to the first email.

I've been accused (directly and indirectly) of running scams on eBay by 3 different buyers (who knew full well when they bid on my auctions that they could pay with money order only). eBay sure has changed. People now automatically assume they will be ripped off. :P

[ook.livejournal.com]

I forgot to add "In the last MONTH." :P

[valis2.livejournal.com]

When I first started, I received a threatening email from a guy who was convinced that I had another ID and was bidding just to screw over his wife. That was quite eye-opening.

This round of video games was rather nerve-wracking--I ended up with at least three people who begged me to let them send MOs after they won the auction, despite the Paypal Only portion of the listing. *rolls eye*

[ook.livejournal.com]

Well, I see nothing wrong with taking money orders (of course), but it's people who insist on paying with checks that really irk me. I've learned to just accept checks if the check is for a fairly small amount and the Buyer has been on eBay with a few years with a lot of feedback.

I just had someone win an item for $330 and I'm expecting them to renege on paying. It's so weird, they've been on eBay for 4 years and yet only have zero feedback. I guess if they try to renege then they'll end up with a -1 feedback which will keep them from bidding on a number of auctions. :P

[valis2.livejournal.com]

Well, I see nothing wrong with taking money orders (of course), but it's people who insist on paying with checks that really irk me.

MOs are fine with me--but my auctions don't say that. People who contact me before they bid--well, I have no worries. People who contact me after? Well, that means they didn't read the listing, and that's what makes me pull out my hair, because it doubles the chances of someone being put out about what they receive.

I just had someone win an item for $330 and I'm expecting them to renege on paying. It's so weird, they've been on eBay for 4 years and yet only have zero feedback.

!!! Wow, that's crazy! I'd be so worried. I can't imagine that they're going to pay for it! (Sorry to be doomy!)

[ook.livejournal.com]

And this is why I do not leave feedback for Buyers until after they've left ME feedback first.

I understand about cringing every time you check your "My eBay" and find a new message. On my most recent round of auctions, I put "All Sales Final -- No Returns" on each description (I do make up for it by posting a lot of large images and being honest about the item's condition).

Last week, I lied and told a Buyer that I had accidentally broken their item -- I could tell from their email that they had completely unrealistic expectations regarding the item and the transaction and decided that for $4, it was not worth fooling around with them. :P

[valis2.livejournal.com]

Last week, I lied and told a Buyer that I had accidentally broken their item -- I could tell from their email that they had completely unrealistic expectations regarding the item and the transaction and decided that for $4, it was not worth fooling around with them. :P

I was SOOOO tempted to do that with the guy who wanted my bank account number--I mean, seriously, that was how many emails for an obsolete video game that he only paid $6 for?

Even worse, in the listing I mentioned that the battery was dead (it's an NES game) and I KNOW beyond a shadow of a doubt that he didn't notice that. I am expecting a hurt email any day about how it won't save his game.

He can't possibly be savvy enough to know how to replace the battery.

[ook.livejournal.com]

He wanted your bank account number? WTF for? That's insane! :(

[valis2.livejournal.com]

I know!! I nearly died!

Then, I explained that he could pay by Paypal or by MO.

He sent me an email telling me that he was going to get a Paypal account so he could send me a MO. *blinks* I said that you don't need Paypal to send a MO.

Then he sent me an email asking for my FULL NAME and my phone number!! Hells no.

He did actually pay me, but at this point--I just know he will freak out when he sees that the battery doesn't save anything!

[ook.livejournal.com]

He sounds a lot like some crazy woman who wanted to buy an old Burger King promotional poster from me. When I had the item listed, she emailed me, asking me about framing it (what am I? a framing shop?) and advised her how to handle framing the poster. THEN she forgets to bid on the auction and wanted me to relist the item with a BIN (which I didn't want to do, for fear of her not paying for it). THEN after I relist the item again (eBay had a listing fee sale), she does finally win the auction...and then we go into a 6-week-long ordeal over her paying for it. She didn't seem to be able to comprehend what a money order was and I refused to take her check (she had extremely low feedback). I tried for her to arrange a cash Paypal transactions (I don't take credit cards) and she never could figure that out either (despite numerous emails, explaining to her how paypal worked). She FINALLY mails me a cashiers check (and I had to phone the bank to make sure it was real). I shipped off the poster, fully expecting it to be lost or damaged but never heard back from her so I guess she was happy enough.

I was never so happy to finish a transaction -- every time I opened my email, I was cringing. And she never left me feedback either. :P

[ook.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah...and this was for a $5 poster. SHEEESH!!!!

I've also learned it's not worth the hassle to ship overseas.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

I still ship overseas--but I don't advertise it. Every time I think, yeah, I should open it up to overseas buyers, I think, ARE YOU CRAZY?!

I mean, 95% of the transactions are smooth and easy, but those 5% that are left...*shudders*

Though I have thought about opening it to Canadian customers.

More woes

[ook.livejournal.com]

The problem with out-of-country transactions is that you have to figure out the postage and tell them BEFORE they bid on it. Which usually means a trip to the post office. Unless you're shipping something small and light. My items tend to be larger and heavier. I once had to charge some guy $16 to ship a poster to Canada (uninsured -- insured added like $7 to the shipping). I mailed the poster, emailed the guy when he might expect it, and later got a whiney email from him "Where's my poster?" The poster arrived a few days later (at the end of the shipping period I'd told him about in my email) but he forced ME make an unnecessary trip down to the PO to inquire about a tracing form for his stupid poster. Meh.

Ugh. I once charged some lady in Japan $35 to ship an old Evian water bottle. She paid it but I still felt badly about it. :/

Re: More woes

[valis2.livejournal.com]

I have used the shipping calculator, but boy, does it have limitations! I've lost my shirt on a couple packages. But then again, for most of them, I come within a dollar or two.

I've definitely had my share of "Where is it?!" Canadian problems. I think sometimes it gets mired in Customs--it seems to take a long time--weeks, in some cases. :(

[valis2.livejournal.com]

When I had the item listed, she emailed me, asking me about framing it (what am I? a framing shop?) and advised her how to handle framing the poster.

Sometimes people ask me how to design things using the components I sell--which makes me crazy! Go to your local craft store. Hell, even Michaels will work it out for you.

THEN she forgets to bid on the auction and wanted me to relist the item with a BIN

OMG! I had someone do the exact same thing--and she didn't bid on the SECOND auction either!!! It was for something I was planning on transitioning into my store, too, so I was really fuming. Now, of course, I know better--I'd list it in the store--but I was trying to be nice.

I was never so happy to finish a transaction -- every time I opened my email, I was cringing. And she never left me feedback either. :P

You're lucky--she probably would have screwed that up, too! She would be one of those buyers who doesn't understand that her satisfaction with the transaction shouldn't hinge on her feelings about the item itself (within reason).