I hate eBay so much sometimes.

[valis2]

I am so sick of it. Not only have I had to go through hell for two days changing links and resizing pics and going nuts to try to get everything to work, but I had this email from a person who bid on one of my store items. (For those of you who don't use eBay, a bid on a store item means that you are promising to buy the item and you agree to all terms, etc.)

First she bids. Then she sends me an email asking if she can combine a bunch of items from my store. Sure, I can do this. I send her a quick reply back, with my general terms, which state that my shipping starts at just over $2, and is around $4 for multiple items.

The next email from her was just as impersonal and basically explained to me how Priority Mail flat-rate boxes work! Well, yes, I do understand how they work. However, she was mentioning the new Priority Mail flat rate box, which is smaller and costs $4.95. Okay, fine, that's nice--but I haven't seen it yet, and figuring out the size on a ruler, I realized that it is only 1 5/8" deep (just bigger than a videotape). This is not enough room for the bubble wrap that I use, much less the items.

So anyway, I send her a LENGTHY email (you ALL know how overwordy I am, this thing was nearly to eBay's limit on messages) explaining that:

a) I think things might get broken because of the space
b) I think that it's cheaper to use First Class, and I would charge about $4 for 6-7 low-weight items
c) But if she really wants, I can charge $5.50 for the Flat Rate box multiple items thing (I have to cover things like labels, tape, bubble wrap, ink, paper for the invoice that I put in the box, etc.)
d) If she has any more questions, please ask away
e) Thanks!

So I have just received another impersonal and perhaps even brusque email telling:

Labels can be picked up at the Post Office, along with the boxes free of charge. The invoice is already available through PayPal, but you can e-mail one at no cost.

Printing costs are the responsibility of the seller, not the buyer. This is entirely too much trouble because your shiping information is vague. Please cancel the order.

So. She is telling me exactly how to run my business, what my costs are, and how to ship things. And why is it my responsibility to absorb the cost for printing an invoice for the buyer? I don't understand this. Shipping & handling are two separate charges--shipping covers the cost of the item, and handling covers all of the other stuff, pens, tape, boxes. Do you have any idea how much it costs me to stock boxes, pens, rolls of tape? 6 rolls of packing tape = $24.99. I mean, seriously. YES I KNOW that I can get Priority Mail supplies for free from the post office--BUT I ALMOST NEVER SHIP PRIORITY MAIL. 99% of my business is through First Class. And this invoice nonsense? WTF? Does she really think I should just send items in a box with no invoice, no note, nothing?! WTF?! And I really can't believe that she thinks I'm vague--I'm about the most stupidly detailed person out there.

Can I just mention that the item she bid on stated that it would cost $2.17 to ship to her? And she bid on it, which means she must purchase it. Seriously. She agreed to that before she ever sent me the first email--by bidding on it you accept the terms. I mean, I'm not going to be evil about this and insist she buy it, but this is just insane.

I don't get it. She seems rational, she seems articulate, and yet clearly I pushed some button. She has tons of positive feedback, she's left tons of positive feedback. This is so weird.

Anyway, I have (of course) sent her a slavish email basically telling her to tell me what the fuck she wants. If she wants this retarded extra-expensive box, then I'll go and pick some up. Just for her. Isn't that special? But I better not charge anyone for the time it takes me to get them, or the gas it costs to get me to the post office and back! That's the responsibility of the seller, not the buyer! grah.

ETA: I am totally red in the face and completely upset about this. I have a feeling my period is starting. I mean, seriously, this has gotten me way worked up. I still can't believe she said "vague" when I gave her all of these shipping options. omg.

It is kind of funny when you think about it, though. Two overly wordy women battling.

Comments

[ook.livejournal.com]

You'll have to bow to any Buyer's wishes now since they can easily neg you (without even paying for the item) and you can't retaliate and leave them a neg in return. You might check the feedback on this person and see what sort of comments they leave other Sellers.

And this is just one of the many reasons that I've stopped selling on eBay.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

She's left nothing but positive, which is why this is so crazy. I mean, you know me, you know I have 1500+ pos fb, and people always compliment my shipping, so I'm just completely bwuh about this. Especially because it's CHEAPER to do it my way! I mean, wtf?!

[ook.livejournal.com]

There's a LOT of crazy, bossy people on eBay.

The last feedback (from a over a year ago) I got was a neg from some bint who wanted to pay $5 shipping for a large, heavy box. I am SOOOOO glad that I made her pay with a money order because she would have done a chargeback on me if she'd used Paypal.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

God, what a mess. I totally empathize. I just do not understand what is going on, and why she seems to have a problem with me. I didn't think I was that insane in my email.

[ook.livejournal.com]

When you get a crazy customer, it is best to keep emails as short and terse as possible.

Buyers resent having to help pay for packing costs and most people don't bother even reading packed invoices (so they get mad when you make it sound like you're charging for a printed invoice).

[valis2.livejournal.com]

Ah, that makes sense. Normally I wouldn't have bothered explaining, except that she was quoting a flat rate price, and I was adding .55 to it, so I felt like it needed a little bit extra...clearly I hit a sore spot for her. We'll see if she responds again.

I didn't know she was crazy at first, or I would have been much shorter in my reply--her reply was a bit long, so I just matched it because I thought she really wanted the detail. That's me, optimistic as always...

[tinx_r]

Seriously, there are mental people out there when it comes to this. Because of this, my flatmate who sells a lot on Trademe (NZ's own ebay-type system) publishes flat-rates of shipping prices, which buyers can take or leave. She enforces these even if a parcel costs minimum postage to ship, so for example even if someone's item costs $0.90c to ship, they'll still pay her flat shipping cost which is I think $4.50. It's precisely to cover things like printing of labels, packing etc. She used to get lots of complaints before she published the flat charges, but now that she has done so, she's found a lot less problems.

Unfortunately, there are heaps of people out there who suck, love. *hugs*! and try not to let it get to you.

It's far better not to get into communication with these people - not try and explain why the cost is as it is. Just say: it will cost you X - take it or leave it. Much easier on the blood-pressure.

*huge hugs*

[tinx_r]

I'm online btw - but I cant ping you because windows messenger doesn't allow me to ping anyone who looks offline... I'll be here for next 20 mins if you're around

[valis2.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I have calculated shipping because flat rate would make me mental--I already have enough issues with calc stuff, as you see. ;)

Yeah, I normally don't bother explaining the cost--but that flat-rate package thing almost makes me feel like I have to, y'know? blergh.

*giant hugs* You're the best.

[artystone.livejournal.com]

I actually LOOK for items with flat shipping. If I think it's too much, I don't bid. Generally shipping in the $5.00 range (unles it's a TV or something!) is reasonable and includes enough "extra" to pay for supplies.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that generally covers a lot of different products--but for me, selling such cheap stuff, people expect super cheap shipping, so I have to calculate it accordingly. *pouts*

[cactus-wren.livejournal.com]

It seems like part of the problem with Ebay now is that they have made it so sellers cannot leave negative feedback. Now buyers think they rule the roost and can dictate exactly how things are going to go or they will neg you. I've often thought of selling some things on Ebay, but frankly I just don't think I'm up to dealing with people on there.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

I'm a little weirded out by this entire thing. I mean, I expect that I'll have problems, but seriously--when I offer cheaper shipping that won't damage the merchandise--why is this a problem? lol!

[ms-hecubus.livejournal.com]

Honestly, I'm kind of glad that they did that. I've been hit with retaliatory feedback twice in cases where the seller lied to me. Once I was told my item didn't ship for a month because he was "snowed in" when he lived in southern California. The other time I was overcharged $5 and left a neutral rating. The seller tried to tell me it was handling charges, but the item arrived in an unpadded manilla envelope that was totally shredded and completely inappropriate for a 3 dimensional item. The second seller bitched me out and even refused my offer of mutal feedback withdrawl because she wanted to stick me with a negative so badly.

On the other hand, it scares me away from selling on ebay too because I am honest in my transactions. I think long and hard before giving negative feedback, but I've learned from experience that a lot of people on ebay have a "screw you" attitude.

valis2, I love sellers like you. You remind me of the kind of seller who makes you wish the feedback space were longer so you could say more than "A+++ Transaction! Would buy from again!!!!!" ;)

[valis2.livejournal.com]

Once I was told my item didn't ship for a month because he was "snowed in" when he lived in southern California.

OMG LOLZ. That is awesome! I'm laughing so hard.

On the other hand, it scares me away from selling on ebay too because I am honest in my transactions. I think long and hard before giving negative feedback, but I've learned from experience that a lot of people on ebay have a "screw you" attitude.

Some new buyers are scary--they just go straight for the neg, not realizing that paying the shipping price as it was quoted (and they agreed to) is THEIR problem if it was too high.

[info]valis2, I love sellers like you. You remind me of the kind of seller who makes you wish the feedback space were longer so you could say more than "A+++ Transaction! Would buy from again!!!!!" ;)

Aw, thanks!! You're too sweet. Seriously.

And I've just smoothed things over. Even though I reiterated this in ALL FOUR messages, she somehow thought that I was charging handling charges on EACH and every item. What a mess!

I think my favorite feedback is still the time I got blessed by Ganesh.

[ms-hecubus.livejournal.com]

The shipping gouger wouldn't have gotten even a neutral for me if she hadn't been such a liar pants. Well, plus I was a little miffed to get my stuff in a completely inadequate package. It was so ripped I'm lucky the item didn't fall out.

Blessed by Ganesh? I love it!

[valis2.livejournal.com]

The shipping gouger wouldn't have gotten even a neutral for me if she hadn't been such a liar pants.

*snorts* Yeah, the liar pants thing really does it, y'know? I can't stand that.

Blessed by Ganesh? I love it!

I wonder if this means that my eBay store has a special glow to it now? lol!

My other favorite feedback is, "This item was packaged so well it could have withstood ww3!"

[cactus-wren.livejournal.com]

Honestly, I'm kind of glad that they did that.

Yes, but I've read probably dozens of reports of sellers now being gouged by the buyer with unreasonable demands to be met or else they leave a neg. If you check the LJ communities ebay-blacklist or ebay-drama, you'll see bunches of reports of this sort of thing: 'oh, your shipping is taking too long, I think you should send me some extra items for free or I'll neg you' type of stuff. It's really tied the seller's hands - capitulate or have your ratings dinged.

[fer-de-lance.livejournal.com]

Haha, yes, I've been hit by the "handling" too. Stuffing two patches into an envelope and putting two stamps on it does not cost $5. They didn't even tape the envelope shut or anything! Two stamps = $.82, and the envelope was, what, $2 for a pack of 40? Where exactly was that other $4 going -- medical costs of spraining her wrist while writing the address?

*rolls eyes*

[valis2.livejournal.com]

See, even though I'm all for handling charges, I do not like padded handling charges at all. My handling charge is $1, and (get ready for the complicated explanation) that's because eBay doesn't have a system in place for you to have a starting weight for a package. I have two options: add the weight of the box/packing material to each and every item, which means that multiple items are going to artificially inflate the shipping cost, or use the handling charge to reflect the weight, which is what I do. So only about fifty cents of that dollar is actually a handling charge. And that doesn't quite cover the entire cost of everything, but it comes close enough that it works, y'know?

$5 for an envelope mailing with no protective bubble wrap--that's clearly inflated. :(

[celisnebula.livejournal.com]

*snort*

You're a better person that I. I don't negotiate on shipping.

I do UPS through work, and while yeah, I might get a 10% discount on the price, I still charge a flat fee because 1) I am buying the box, 2) buying the bubble wrap, 3) ensuring that anything I send out is 100% protected, and 4) providing a fast delivery service with real time tracking.

For repeat, nice customers, I might be nice. Like every time I have toner for a machine we no longer use (work tosses it out unopened box and all, and I hate the waste, so before the dumpster is empty {after hours}, I grab it out) a guy in Minn usually buys them. If he does more than one at the same time, I only charge him shipping for one.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

Guess what? It turned out that she was confused and thought that I was charging handling on EVERY ITEM even though I repeatedly said that it was $4 total for 6-7 items. Grah!!

I totally agree with you about your shipping numbers there--my only problem is that I can't charge a flat rate and be competitive with the other sellers in my specialty. Because my items are so low cost, people get a little bent out of shape if they feel that the shipping is too high...

And good for you for rescuing the toner. I abhor waste as well--makes me insane. *nodnod*

[(Anonymous)]

And good for you for rescuing the toner.

Yeah, that was a life saver this Christmas. They got rid of some HP printers, and I had 4 toners for them. All the other sellers had them for $250 a piece plus $20 shipping, I sold them at a buy it now price of $150 - they sold twenty minutes after I listed them. Easiest Ebay sell I've ever done.

Oooh which reminds me, an auction I'm watching is ending in a bit... better go see if I was outbidded.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

heh--good luck with your auction!

[artystone.livejournal.com]

I sometimes specify: A (blah blah amount)handling fee will be added to this order. And I do that because I had a similar situation from a shipping know-it-all. Yeah you can buy padded envelopes or whatever in bulk at Staples--but they're still not FREE.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I mention that there's a handling fee. Which is included. Which is why this is so crazy.

Thank goodness she finally put an order together. whew. Now let's hope she pays...

[squeezystan.livejournal.com]

What a crazy bitch. If it ends up that you can, I'd give her negative feedback.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

heh. Unfortunately, sellers can't leave neg fb anymore! So that won't happen. And now she's ordered more stuff, and I've sent her an invoice, and had no payment or reply. It's only been 24 hrs so I'm not too worried...yet. *crosses fingers*

[squeezystan.livejournal.com]

Well, that's lame. Why would they take away the ability to give someone appropriate feedback?

Well, good luck anyway. :)

[verdenia.livejournal.com]

zOh. mah. gawd.

glad it worked out!!! ;p

[valis2.livejournal.com]

Yeah, same here, though I'm still really nervous about what she's going to say in feedback...