eBay buyers - idiots?

[a-dev]

I had something like that happen to me one time. I sold a Dutch HT figure to someone living in Australia or the UK... can't remember.. I sold it through ebay and shipped it on time. I gave him the customs number, and after a few weeks he said it didn't arrive. He opened a dispute, I gave ebay the information I had... the customs number and the date of the mailing.

Ebay ended up ruling on his side... I had to refund him the full cost of $180... AND I lost out on a figure I didn't want to sell in the first place. The worst part was that it was a moment of great financial need, and by the end of this whole ordeal I was in the hole 200 bucks.

What a disgusting story. This is my big fear about selling which I only do out of financial need, not as an actual wage-earner. Not only to get ****ed on it, but for it to be on a figure you would rather have kept. Thankfully it hasn't happened to me..yet.

 

[bonzaitree]

I had buyer(international)try and get me to undervalue the worth and price of a statue(gave me some bs about how there are alot of thieves in the post office stealing high value postage items) - I wouldn't do it and explained why. He finally agreed and acknowledged to having the item declared at the exact and full amount.

Lo and Behold as soon as the statue touched down he complained and went ape**** about how he had to pay customs(so much for his story on postage theft). He blatantly refused to pay the fees leaving my statue stuck in his country.

I gave him the option of sending the statue back but he demanded that I pay his custom AND shipping fees first before he did anything.

Thank god for insurance

 

[Ktjn]

That whole "old address" sounds fishy? So many horror stories lately.

 

[thenammagazine]

I had buyer(international)try and get me to undervalue the worth and price of a statue(gave me some bs about how there are alot of thieves in the post office stealing high value postage items) - I wouldn't do it and explained why. He finally agreed and acknowledged to having the item declared at the exact and full amount.

Lo and Behold as soon as the statue touched down he complained and went ape**** about how he had to pay customs(so much for his story on postage theft). He blatantly refused to pay the fees leaving my statue stuck in his country.

I gave him the option of sending the statue back but he demanded that I pay his custom AND shipping fees first before he did anything.

Thank god for insurance

Leave it. Hopefully he'll fine a claim. If the tracking shows it's stuck in customs waiting for him to pick it up and he's refusing because he doesn't want to pay the fees, ebay will side with you. It's a violation of your ebay user agreement to undervalue items anyway. Just make sure you save all the back-and-forth in case they question you.

 

[Maglor]

Sadly true. Even if Mags does as I suggest, I suspect the buyer will act like it is Maglor's fault somehow, demanding to pay nothing extra and/or to get a full refund including shipping cost. Then, if he doesn't get it, will probably threaten negative feedback (which probably couldn't be removed) or a dispute (which he would probably somehow win).

In truth, I usually coddle buyers as much as necessary to avoid all that crap. I've even given ridiculous refunds well beyond what buyers warrant to avoid all the stupidity that the system has in place against sellers.


Well, the alternative is that you're gonna be out shipping cost twice because of a buyer's ineptitude. Sometimes that's the easier solution.

Yeah, I'm just gonna pay and be done with it

That whole "old address" sounds fishy? So many horror stories lately.

I thought so too.

 

[MPCanes]

#1 solution I've had in avoiding problems has been no international sellers, ESPECIALLY those who want it declared at lesser value. And, guess what? They always seem to want it declared at a lower value.

Protip - if you can't afford custom fees, you can't afford the item and need to re-prioritize your spending. I've imported plenty of crap before, and guess what? I EXPECT to have to pay extra for that privilege.

 

[thenammagazine]

#1 solution I've had in avoiding problems has been no international sellers, ESPECIALLY those who want it declared at lesser value. And, guess what? They always seem to want it declared at a lower value.

Protip - if you can't afford custom fees, you can't afford the item and need to re-prioritize your spending. I've imported plenty of crap before, and guess what? I EXPECT to have to pay extra for that privilege.

 

[a-dev]

I'm an 'international' and you guys are making hate internationals.

 

[TheFiend]

Swear to god every time I give even a moments consideration to selling on ebay theres a thread like this which puts me off. Yes this sounds very annoying...mind you the same stuff happens here. Maybe my FS thread is just too long but with the messages I've gotten at times it really seems like they haven't read a word of it.

I feel the same on both accounts. I don't know how any of these guys even feel comfortable selling on eBay. I'd be terrified. A couple boardies were urging me to put my loose HT Two Face up on eBay because of what they are selling for and I just couldn't do it. But it was sooo tempting.

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[ali032373]

No international shipping. That's the new policy. No exceptions

And i was clear about it. But this guy from Italy still bid and he won. But he refused to cancel the transaction. So despite being as clear as day, and despite the ebay option of canceling because i dont ship outside the usa, he still has to approve the cancel. Since he didnt i didt get a credit.

 

[TheFiend]

See I don't understand how eBay can side with certain buyers. Like you sending a figure out and the buyer claims nothing was in the box but it was and eBay sides with the buyer. Is there any way around that?? Or are you rolling the dice every time you sell? Man, I don't think I could ever sell on eBay. Ever.


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[a-dev]

I feel the same on both accounts. I don't know how any of these guys even feel comfortable selling on eBay. I'd be terrified. A couple boardies were urging me to put my loose HT Two Face up on eBay because of what they are selling for and I just couldn't do it. But it was sooo tempting.

I just feel so put off the idea by what I keep hearing about the buyers power over sellers, how they can be as unreasonable and douchey as they want and a seller can't do jack$h!t about it because in all too many circumstances ebay will side with the **nt. And I loathe the idea that my funds will be kept from me as a first time seller, giving the buyer time to decide whether or not to be a **nt and to screw me over. Add to that the fees and what looks to me like a pain in the arse listing process....

 

[Kai]

Most of my bad luck seems to come from sellers rather than buyers. If I buy something off of you, why do you mark down that you'll only need 1 day for the handling time yet take over a week to ship it and then completely ignore any message that the buyer sends you? -_- This has happened more often than not.

 

[Maglor]

I've experienced that as well. Relatively minor compared to these seller issues. I mean, having to wait a little longer for an item really isn't that big of a deal is it?

 

[Predator1221]

Most of my bad luck seems to come from sellers rather than buyers. If I buy something off of you, why do you mark down that you'll only need 1 day for the handling time yet take over a week to ship it and then completely ignore any message that the buyer sends you? -_- This has happened more often than not.

I must confess that I have been guilty of taking a little longer than I should to ship things every now and again. Usually b/c I have overextended myself with the # of items I have sold. I always maintain good communication though. I have seen so many auctions go south on ebay simply b/c of a failure to communicate.

 

[Predator1221]

I just feel so put off the idea by what I keep hearing about the buyers power over sellers, how they can be as unreasonable and douchey as they want and a seller can't do jack$h!t about it because in all too many circumstances ebay will side with the **nt. And I loathe the idea that my funds will be kept from me as a first time seller, giving the buyer time to decide whether or not to be a **nt and to screw me over. Add to that the fees and what looks to me like a pain in the arse listing process....

You really realy have to protect your self when you sell on ebay. I have already refused to sell to two different guys who won an auction from me. I won't go into all the details but in both cases they just rubbed me the wrong way so I cancelled the auctions and refused their invoices. One of them actually left me a negative feedback and accused me of being a scammer despite the fact that I didn't even send him an invoice. Luckily for me this guy had been causing problems with other sellers and ebay was kind enough to remove the negative feedback from my account

 

[Kiva]

I've been lucky and in all my years on ebay never got a negative feedback (about 1,300 positive)

But i have had 2 neutrals. For stupid reasons. (on their behalf)

But i do worry as a seller because these days 2/10 transactions i end up having to cancel because the items are not paid for and they do not respond. Ive also dealt with buyers who dont seem to be of the same species as i am when i send the messages. I will ask a question, or make a request and they will reply with something not what i said or what i asked. And i end up having a string of messages with them where im having to accommodate what they are doing or want because they are clearly inexperienced or not understanding of the English language. Despite being english.

 

[WolfPredatorAVPR]

Basically any dumb questions I get the person immediately is added to my blocked bidders list. It does not stop all the stupidity on there but I am sure it has cut down on a lot of head ache. I have had some of the dumbest questions imaginable. The ones you stated are probably some of the smarter ones I get.

Lately...the main issue I have on ebay is Non-paying bidders. Even from people who are established members. Its really frustrating when they will not reply to messages for payment or even agree not to complete the transaction. I have started riding out the dispute to make certain they get unpaid strikes against them. Not sure it does anything but it does give me some sort of satisfaction for screwing me over.

Ebay is a crap shot...eventually I will get so fed up with it that I will throw in the towel. I can say without a doubt, the end is nay.

 

[Sweet Rabbit]

Basically any dumb questions I get the person immediately is added to my blocked bidders list. It does not stop all the stupidity on there but I am sure it has cut down on a lot of head ache. I have had some of the dumbest questions imaginable. The ones you stated are probably some of the smarter ones I get.

Lately...the main issue I have on ebay is Non-paying bidders. Even from people who are established members. Its really frustrating when they will not reply to messages for payment or even agree not to complete the transaction. I have started riding out the dispute to make certain they get unpaid strikes against them. Not sure it does anything but it does give me some sort of satisfaction for screwing me over.

Ebay is a crap shot...eventually I will get so fed up with it that I will throw in the towel. I can say without a doubt, the end is nay.

I don't think eBay does anything about that these days

 

[TheFiend]

I just feel so put off the idea by what I keep hearing about the buyers power over sellers, how they can be as unreasonable and douchey as they want and a seller can't do jack$h!t about it because in all too many circumstances ebay will side with the **nt. And I loathe the idea that my funds will be kept from me as a first time seller, giving the buyer time to decide whether or not to be a **nt and to screw me over. Add to that the fees and what looks to me like a pain in the arse listing process....

My sentiments exactly! **** selling on eBay.


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