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

[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).