Good advice for Ebay sellers (LONG)

I wanted to post this even though people are probably aware of this. I sold an item through Ebay and the cheapest way to ship was USPS flat rate priority box. Even though the P.O. asks if you want to spend 75 cents for tracking you do NOT need to do this.

So weeks go by and I never hear from the buyer until he opens a case with Ebay. He tells Ebay, not me, that he never got the package and wants a refund. He never asks ME did I ship. He then goes on to tell Ebay how he checked his mail box EVERY DAY and the package never arrived. I'm steaming mad as this was only a $30.00 sale so did I really have to pay to insure it? I know darn well the P.O. shipped it to him.

So I ask the buyer to confirm his shipping address. He writes back with it (it matches mine) and expresses his hope that I got insurance as the package is LOST. While waiting to hear back from the buyer I called the post office and they told me "Just look at your receipt. There is a tracking number on your receipt that you can enter at the USPS.gov website" I tell them that there is no tracking label on the box as I did not pay for that service. She assures me that this is NOT necessary.

So I check online and the USPS employee is right! There is my proof of delivery. So I immediately call Ebay and tell them over the phone the tracking number. Ebay confirms it. I ask can they PLEASE leave the buyer negative feedback for being a THIEF as I am not allowed to do so. Ebay refuses and only says "If the buyer continues with this practice their account will be suspended" I tell Ebay their site is protecting the corrupt. Ebay does not care. Ebay either sides with the buyer or if PROVEN wrong, they just ignore the buyer's infraction.

So I write back to the buyer and tell him he is a thief as I have proof (that he was not aware of). Never heard back from him.

And everybody goes to heaven when they die. Yea right!!

 

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I guess my response, as a buyer on Ebay, is you do not KNOW they don't do anything to bad buyers. Yo don't know how much they track such activities, how many buyers every year they ban, etc.

I do know from personal experience there were a lot of bad sellers on Ebay before. The way Ebay probably looks at it, (the way I would), is:

1. Customers are critical. Without customers ALL sellers will be upset and leave. Please do not give me the line about "if there are no sellers then yada yada". Sellers will sell if customers are there willing to buy.

2. Now that they have Paypal bad sellers are even worst, since they can create credit card disputes, etc.

Bottom line, you have to play the game. Always prove your shipment arrived, deal with jerk customers, etc. Maybe Ebay has swung too far to favor customers, but I know there was a time I didn't like to buy on Ebay for fear of some buying experiences. That time it gone, and today I feel confident about buying on Ebay. That is as intended. Too much stuff can happen online, and they have done a good job in comforting buyers.

Now my only concern is that Ebay's fees have driven away most good deals that I used to be able to find. That is a different concern. If Ebay had lower fees, which would attract more sellers as well, and possibly even more buyers, then I think their growth would pick up. As it is, while I am comfortable buying there, I would say everything for sale at a fixed price there is available cheaper with just a few seconds search elsewhere. THe only thing I ever buy is auctions, and even then I find half or more with a start price higher than I wish to pay.

I do believe Ebay is painting themselves in a corner and will pay for their high fee policies, but I do not thing their policies to protect consumers are bad.

 

Sure I do, Ebay told me flat out they would nothing against this buyer.

FWIW I have pretty much given up buying coins on Ebay as the sellers misrepresent what they have. Like cracked open proof sets, etc. etc. I want to SEE the coin, in my hand, before I buy anything.

 

I don't even *offer* insurance unless I'm trying to sell the item for more than $20 or so(meaning the starting bid is at least $20), and even then it isn't free. I give buyers the option of buying insurance and if they don't, oh well. When I mail stuff I keep the receipts until after I think the package has gotten there. If there is ever a dispute I can scan the receipt and show I mailed it.

 

Doesn't matter if you MAILED it, you're responsible until it is DELIVERED. If you have proof you mailed it, and have no proof of delivery eBay will normally side with the buyer.

 

And that was the point of my post. With Priority flat rate boxes, you don't have to pay for proof of delivery, it is part of the flat rate cost. So I did have proof. Thanks

 

Interesting. How do you do that?

 

Yeah, good luck with that Kip. You know why Ebay has to side with the buyers? Because the credit card companies will. If Ebay/Paypal sides with the seller, fine, i am disputing the charge and Ebay will eat that expense. This is why sellers shouldn't get all mad at Ebay, they have no choice with Paypal accepting cc.

As a seller, either self insure or buy insurance, and know if it doesn't get there or is damaged, its YOUR issue, not the buyers. This is why all my online purchases go on a credit card, i do not pay until i have received the item in good condition.

 

Fee's and items like the OP issue is just two reasons I closed my e bay store.... alot of work, stress, and a loose /loose situation for the seller......at one time I loved buying and selling on e bay no mas! They have made it just so hard to make any money {Fee's} and then you get a buyer like listed above and loose your item and money plus some scab leaves you a neg. No Longer worth the trouble and I for see e bay on a slippers slope going down hill very fast.

 

I wouldn't have called the person a thief, even though he might have been. Unless you have a signed delivery confirmation, it is only "Delivered" in your mailbox or on the doorstep. Depending on the neighborhood, it may never reach your hands. He may have never had it in hand.He might be a victim also.

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i hate the ebay and paypal fees

 

I can't lose if my purchase is never delivered. Insurance protects you (the seller), not me (the buyer), so you pay for the insurance.

 

Say what you will about eBay (I'll probably agree), but the Amazon Marketplace is WAY worse for the seller cost wise. I will say this though, the one time I had a buyer on Amazon say they never received their product I presented the delivery confirmation to Amazon and they ate the cost to refund the buyer's money.

 

I think this was meant for some other thread?

 

I think he was agreeing with Paddy's post #9, which sort of opened the door for more eBay bashing. It seems to be the thing to do nowadays... just mention the 'Bay and the watch the negativity flow freely.

 

Yes, you can prove you mailed it. But as I understand eBay policy: you own it until the customer is satisfied.

If paid by PayPal, the customer has 45 days to request a refund and again, I understand that is a no-questions-asked, guaranteed refund; PayPal reaches into your account (or your back-up credit card or bank account) and gives money bact to your customer without quibble! They leave it up to the two folks involved in the transaction to square accounts between themselves.

I buy and sell on eBay, and have not had any substantial problem. What issues there were got taken care of between the two parties involved without rancor and without either eBay or PayPal becoming involved. I'm a Happy Camper!

 

How much are the fees?

 

A Failure To Communicate!!

I believe you'll find that this is a typical case of "failure to communicate", as both the buyer and seller have unrealistic understandings and expectations.

Just because you shipped in a flat rate box without purchasing "signature confirmation", doesn't mean that the buyer received their shipment. USPS "delivery confirmation", if scanned at the final postal site, which I've been informed by a postmaster as optional, only indicates that the package reached that postal site. It doesn't indicate that the package ever left that site. I've had numerous recorded occasions of the package never leaving the postal site until repeated inquiries, and even nasty letters to the postal headquarters, which initiates a letter delivery to the postmaster, and an inquiry for resolution. I've had packages sit idle for weeks until an inquiry was initiated.

Your accusation of the buyer being a "Thief" was probably grounds for action, and possible removal from eBay, as I recall a similar past accusation, and subsequent legal action which appreciably cost eBay, was the reason for limiting seller statements. Many past sellers like-wise were quite obnoxious/unreasonable/vindictive. I always purchase "signature confirmation", which would have provided assurance as to whether the package was properly delivered. If you economized and didn't purchase same, a wise buyer can really justifiably initiate severe action if you documented stated accusations.

The buyer has every right to expect whatever delivery you promised in your auction, realistically expecting penalization to a hostile seller, who alone has the means to implement proper delivery after receiving payment for product/services.

Many Buyers also don't realize that a "delivery confirmation" tracking number doesn't necessarily dictate prompt delivery to them.

JMHO :thumb:

 

PayPal is 2.9% unless you're a power seller and eBay fees are usually around 10%. So I as a seller lose about 12.9% of the final selling price and shipping cost to fees.

 

so I would lose 2.9%? not to bad.