eBay is for sellers

[Diomedes]

eBay.  I love it.  And I hate it.  Today, I'm talking about how I hate it. 

My foremost complaint is that eBay is for sellers.   They don't market it that way, of course.  But that's the nature of the beast.   They make their money from sellers.   Sellers make their money from buyers.  In a tug of war between the two, eBay will always side with the people who butter their bread directly: the sellers.  Natural enough, but not transparant enough for my tastes.

For example, I got taken on eBay once.  I won an auction for a cool yellow-faced watch.  It was advertised as new.  I paid the seller, whose feedback rating was good.  Hundreds of good reviews.  Payment of an internet auction is inherently an act of good faith; you don't have the thing in hand, but you're out whatever money you send away.  I was out something like $90.  The watch arrived, and was obviously not new.  The finish had worn from the sides, the face had scratches, etc.  I complained to the seller, and his email back was like six words "mail it back for full refund."
So let me get this straight:  I'm supposed to send the watch back to the guy who's already tried to trick me, at further expense to me, while he's still got my money.   Riiiight.  I email back, telling him that he would get his used watch back when I got my money back; only the good faith gesture of returning my money first would allow this thing to end well.  He refused.
Within hours I left negative feedback directing people to a website I made in which I explained the story, posted all of our emails and displayed photographs of the watch.  I was not vulgar and did not post personal information like email or address of the seller.  Within 24 hours eBay threatened to ban me if I didn't take it down, on grounds of using an eBay username for purposes other than eBay, or some other legalistic shtein.  I protested and argued my case, but they had no interest in the facts of the story and would not listen to me at all.  I didn't want to get banned because as I've already said, I love eBay.

So fine, lesson learned:  eBay is for sellers. 

That was years ago.

A few days ago, I won an auction for a knife.  I had my pocket knife stolen a while ago, and I miss it terribly.  If you've got a good pocket knife, then it's not really safe anywhere but in your pocket, or your hand, because they tend to get lifted if you put them anywhere else.  So anyway, I bought another one.  Nice Kershaw with the torsion bar assisted easy open feature, straight normal blade.  I'm psyched.

I'm not a heavy eBay user.  I haven't bought more than 40 things from eBay in more than 6 years I've been using it.  I tend a little old fashioned in that I like to both send and recieve an email to verify details.  I send the seller an email in response to his auto-generated "your item will ship" email, reminding him to leave feedback for me.  Afterall, positive feedback actually still matters a bit for the buyers, especially if you ever want to bid for something expensive.  Like a motorcycle for example. 

The seller writes back to me:

We respond to all new feedback left for us every few days.  This is the only way we can keep track of the feedback due to our large volume of orders.  Thank you

That really kinda chaps my ass, because they've got $50 of my fargin' money and I've got nothing.  I've discharged my duty as a buyer by paying promptly, it's his turn to extend the farging olive branch and leave some goddamned feedback.  I respond:

Thanks for the email.  As soon as the knife arrives in the condition advertised--as I expect will happen--I will leave positive feedback.

But I gotta tell you that it really chaps my ass that the sellers on eBay won't leave feedback for a buyer until the buyer leaves feedback.   At the point that the buyer pays the seller, he is due feedback for completing his end of the deal honorably. 

Having paid you promplty, I have fulfilled my obligation.  Positive feedback should be automatic based on that alone, not on whether I leave you feedback. 

If you're too busy to return the good faith gesture of pre-payment with pre-feedback, then you need to take a look at your long term business goals.  Good customer service is always worth the investment required to achieve it.  No good outfit is too busy for fine customer service.

Just mine opinion.  I can't wait to get the knife.  Been missing my last one for a long time.

Peace

fargin' eBay

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

I have to agree with your rant.  Sellers waiting for buyers' feedback to leave theirs' is a fat load of horseshtein.

[PhillyGirl]

Agreed on that.

Here is an example for me too.

Last year, I bought a simple 5.00 book from a seller. She never left me feedback and I never got the book. 3 weeks and about 20 emails go by and nothing, no response. Finally she responds that she is SO sorry, someone had stolen her husband's identity and was using their credit cards and blah blah blah and its been really hectic to get it all figured out. The book was to be sent out the next morning. 2 more weeks and numerous emails sent to no avail, and nothing. I finally got her phone info from ebay and called it...disconnected number. Filed Ebay fraud charges left negative feedback that said

No response to email, bad contact info listed on ebay,no ship. Filed case w/Ebay

The Square Trade mediator wrote me about 5 days later to tell me that they contacted the seller and for me to call her again. Phone worked this time and the chick told me that because of the identity theft, their phones weren't working, but apologized again and said she was sending the book. Again, nothing in 2 weeks but ignored email. I finally get the book AND negative feedback from HER

Terrible communication skills. Wouldn't cooperate

To which I replied with:

Liar. I filed Square trade case. Will have neg feedback removed. Awful ebayer.

and she put as a response to that:

I feel sorry for you! Someday you'll understand the death of a mother

Huh? Your mother was dying? I thought it was identity theft that prevented you from shipping or responding?  No mention of her mother was ever made prior to the negative feedback left for me.

After she left negative feedback for me, I had put this as a follow up to my original neg to her:

7 weeks to send item, then leaves ME negative feedback? BEWARE BUYERS!

Her response? lol

This woman bought from me while my mom was dying ever heard of compassion?

Classic ebay nightmare and total life loser headcase.

[PhillyPhreak54]

I've never used eBay. I get nervous when buying stuff on-line. Even if it is from big businesses. I prefer to call and hear a person on the phone and order that way. I'm worried that someone is going to farg me over if I use eBay so I just don't go there.

[Wingspan]

ebay is not what it used to be. it's completely a sellers market. what looks like a decent price on the bid, the dumbass sellers usually rape you on shipping charges.

i havent bought more than 3 items on ebay in the past year. and those are usually hard to find collectibles, that honestly, i don't mind paying a little extra for.

but almost any mainstream item can be found cheaper elsewhere.

i just bought a new digital camera. and i looked on ebay. the lowest closing price for this model camera was $315. i paid $259 (shipping included) elsewhere.

[Zanshin]

I use it sparingly, and I hardly every bid on anything worth more than $15 or so.  I factor in the head-case quotient up front.

[Zanshin]

I noticed that too, about the higher-priced items.  I almost always find it cheaper elsewhere, and without the headaches.

[Geowhizzer]

I normally only use eBay for shopping for baseball and football cards that I can't find.  There are no good local card dealers, so I have to use eBay to do that.  I've almost completed my 1974 Topps set. 

[Zanshin]

Mostly, I've purchased books and DVDs on there.  Never had an issue.

[Yeti]

Huh? Your mother was dying? I thought it was identity theft that prevented you from shipping or responding?  No mention of her mother was ever made prior to the negative feedback left for me.

My mom died and the dog ate your book.

High school "I didn't do my homework" excuses.

[cj2112]

I've shifted all internet buying and selling of used items to Craig's List so I can meet up with the person and inspect the item before any money is exchanged.  A bumpier and more labor intensive process, and far smaller selection, but less chance of fraud. 

[Father Demon]

Only been burned once in eBay, and that was by a 14 year old Canadian kid when I was buying an "authentic" hockey jersey.  Signed by Lindros, no less.  It was a gift for my bro-in-law.  The jersey I got was a Walmart mesh jersey, with ironed on 88.  And scribbles for a signature.  When I went back to the kid, he told me "I'm 14, and live in Canada.  You can't touch me."  Unfortunately, he was right -- this was before all the protections eBay has built in now.

I also agree with feedback.  I sell on eBay quite a bit, and ALWAYS leave feedback within 24 hours of payment received.  When I buy, I never leave feedback until the seller leaves it for me.  I usually tell them this upfront when I pay, and it has worked about 60 - 70% of the time.

[MURP]

Only been burned once in eBay, and that was by a 14 year old Canadian kid when I was buying an "authentic" hockey jersey. Signed by Lindros, no less.

sorry demon, but you deserved that one.   

[Wingspan]

I normally only use eBay for shopping for baseball and football cards that I can't find.  There are no good local card dealers, so I have to use eBay to do that.  I've almost completed my 1974 Topps set. 

i used to sell a lot of single cards on ebay, mostly football, but some baseball sprinkled in. but ebay kept increasing their listing fees to the point where selling a card for $1 made only $0.20 profit. i was never one to up my shipping (i used to charge $0.75 that covered evnvelope, stamp, and toploader). but i had to increase shipping and handling to $1.10 to cover ebays increases, and my bids went down 50%.

i wasnt trying to make a fortune there, i was just looking to fill my own hobby up, while breaking even on what i bought. it got to the point where i would pay $50 for a box, and make only about $15 from it. (for my own hobby sakes, i wanted to pull in on average $30-40 per $50 spent). and i wanted to do this WITHOUT ripping people off (i started every single card at 99 cents, and listed singles with only book values of $5 and up, everything else i did lots of 15-20 cards of players/teams and started those at 50 cents).

ebay effectivly took the fun out of it for me with their increases. farg ebay

[Diomedes]

I did not get a response to that email, but the knife arrived today.  I left positive feedback, saying "transaction went fine."