I hate eBay so much sometimes.
Mar. 3rd, 2009 06:47 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
valis2I 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.
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.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2009-03-04 02:26 am (UTC)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.
(no subject)
Date: 2009-03-04 03:04 am (UTC)Blessed by Ganesh? I love it!
(no subject)
Date: 2009-03-04 03:09 am (UTC)*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!"