Wishing I could kick the ebay habit

[okdoak]

Just had an ebay transaction go so bad that (once again) if I could find the gloves I'm looking for elsewhere I'd quit ebay and never look back. Actually this time the item is a glove related display item, but I've had eerily similar crap happen with a few sellers involving gloves. Hope I can keep my gripe fest short: I paid the seller (Paypal) right after I won the item, way back in early Jan. Waited a good 3 weeks then ebay messaged, emailed him etc. He got back to me 5 days later "Oops, sorry will send some bonus stuff, yada,yada..." Wait 10 more days. File claim thru Resolution Center. His reply? "Hey, I was just about to mail it with your bonus items..." Since about 99.9% of my gloves come from ebay these days, unfortunately I'm not ready to up and quit just yet. But from now on: I don't bid on an item if there is even a hint that the seller is a slow shipper and don't bid on books, cardboard "flat" item unless the seller ships them priority (media mail sucks esp. when most sellers charge more than enough to send it priority to pocket a couple extra bucks. I swear that every media mail item I get looks like the driver used it for a seat cushion during the month it took to arrive) and (depending on how the resolution ordeal turns out) probably will only deal with sellers who do Paypal. Sorry about all the moaning guys. Guess I just don't have the tempermant to deal much with ebay anymore. The bright side is that every forum member I've bought or traded with has been super. Believe me, it's much appreciated!

[ScottWNJ]

Geez I wish I had seen this post sooner. I'm waiting on some Media Mail stuff right now. Sounds like it will be a while before they arrive.

[okdoak]

I think my problem turned out to be a few sellers who waited 3 weeks before they felt like sending it out. I recently bought software from an Amazon seller who sent it Media Mail and it arrived in 3 days! Maybe you'll luck out!

[vintagebrett]

My problem lately has been getting people to pay - sometimes it takes up to 3 weeks for them to send payment. There is no reason if you are using Paypal (which eBay wants you to anyway) not to pay within a couple days.

I get frustrated with slow shipping as well. I would much rather pay the Priority rate and get it within a couple days then have to wait with first class or media mail - when you buy an item, you want to be able to enjoy it, not have to wait for it. Plus, if I'm paying shipping costs it shouldn't be an issue.

[czog32]

I find the lack of communication the worst part of ebay. I always try and be prompt with the payment and a simple "Hey I got the money and it will ship whenever" would be nice. I recently bought several lots of Hall of Fame Plaque cards so I can recreate the First Class Section took 2 weeks to hear back. There is no excuse for that from any angle.

Good luck on the complaint.

Chris

[okdoak]

He sent the item right after I filed a complaint thru the Resolution Center. It is frustrating if you're a prompt payer (or shipper as Brett pointed out-believe me nobody ships faster than Brett) to be treated like that. And I don't expect the seller to drop everything and run to the Post Office right away. Most of us have lives outside of ebay. I just keep a list of the ones I've had problems with now and don't bid on their auctions. Works for me!

[Rickybulldog]

Okdoak, I totally understand and feel your pain. It's so hard to kick the Ebay habit since there is so much good stuff out there rather than trying to find it yourself.

I absolutely hate (Tell them how you really feel RBD ) UPS Ground and USPS parcel post. That is so much like horse and buggy/ pony express mail. I understand the little savings, but if you're a seller and want to be paid timely you should mail out timely as well.

One rant though, Just like Brett, I had someone buy something and not pay. I sent email after email with no response. My final email I said if you do not reply I will file a claim. I then get an email from the buyer saying "Oh, I don't need the glove now you can give it to the second bidder. Sorry to keep you hanging. Then, seeing my claim he pays through paypal and I send out the glove. He then puts a hold on his payment and files a complaint through paypal saying he hasn't received the glove. I escalate the claim because I already sent out the glove. Unfortunately when you make a claim you need to have proof of a tracking number to verify you sent it, which of course I didn't have. So, I email the guy and I tell him I'm dropping the claim (because I can't win) and if he can refund the money. He says sure and I think all is done. Wrong. 3-4 days go by and no refund, I email him and ask are you going to follow through on your promise with refunding? His response: The checks in the mail! Right then, I totally knew that this guy was playing games with me. So, I angrily wait for the check and it arrives. The check comes and on it is a small post it that says deposit ASAP. Which I did because who knows what else could go wrong! All that crap for 29 bucks!

[ScottWNJ]

Well I heard from my Media Mail seller today. He had a work related issue that prevented him from shipping right away. Sound reasonable to me. As OKdoak said, we all have lives outside Ebay. At least he let me know. I haven't had any real problems yet, but I guess it's always a possibility.

[Studboy]

I've had the same problems as Brett lately, buyer doesn't pay(new glove), blames Paypal as not working, says it must be on my end? Come to find out 3 emails & 2 weeks later, fool bought different glove a couple hours after my lot ended & just didn't want 2 new gloves. Filed a claim but the seller(me) cannot leave negative feedback to non-paying buyer, that's just wrong.

RBD, you can't compaire USPS parcel post with UPS ground. UPS ground is actually faster that USPS priority. I'm in the center of the USA but 50% of the UPS ground I ship gets to most zones next day & nothing takes more than 3 days. For my shipping money, I'm a UPS ground guy, tracking & $100 insurance included in price.

[Rickybulldog]

Yes, I'd agree that it probably works out well for you depending where you live. I made the statement based on packages sent to me from the east that took a good week, maybe a little more. So, from coast to coast, I'd say it's a pretty good wait. Maybe it seems longer because I'm anxious to get my packages.

[Old_Gloves_New]

My problem lately has been getting people to pay - sometimes it takes up to 3 weeks for them to send payment. There is no reason if you are using Paypal (which eBay wants you to anyway) not to pay within a couple days.

I get frustrated with slow shipping as well. I would much rather pay the Priority rate and get it within a couple days then have to wait with first class or media mail - when you buy an item, you want to be able to enjoy it, not have to wait for it. Plus, if I'm paying shipping costs it shouldn't be an issue.

Brett,
As much as I hate it when sellers include a ton of restrictions in each of their listings, I finally understand why they do it. It's because they've been burned so many times in so many different ways by unscrupulous people. I blame eBay for this ultimately because they simply don't care to get involved in disputes unless there is something in it for them, namely more money. I have now taken to including restrictions of my own in each of my listings. Namely: "Payment is required within 48 hours from the close of the auction or the item will be re-listed!" So far, I have only had to do this once, and when the buyer finally decided to get back to me, she flipped out and nailed me with negative feedback. So be it, I returned the favor in response, with more negative feedback of my own. 48 hours is more than enough time to pay for an item that in most cases buyers have been keeping tabs on for a week, possibly longer. I have no intention of waiting two weeks for a buyer's payment, that's baloney. When I win an item on eBay, I usually pay within the first 30 minutes, I give my buyers 48 hours. If they haven't paid up by then, they're out of luck. They can take their chances bidding on the re-listed item. One other thing about eBay that does bug me, although it can be a small thing: If the buyer is happy with their purchase, why the hell is it so difficult for them to leave positive feedback? I had one moron who tried to tell me that it was up to me leave feedback first? Huh? This woman was a total idiot. I sell her an item for which she acknowledges (via email), her complete and total satisfaction, and then she flat out refuses to leave positive feedback for me unless I leave feedback for her first. Just ridiculous. It is getting increasingly frustrating dealing with people on eBay. It's no wonder why people in this world just snap for no apparent reason. At least when you're dealing with people face to face, you can tell them what you really think of them, or in extreme cases, either kick them in the shins or punch them right square in the mouth. There, now I feel better after venting, lol. As much as I count on my buyers on eBay for the stuff I sell, I have to be honest with myself and concede to the fact that a whole bunch of these people on eBay are simply a bunch of manure eaters, plain and simple. What else can I say??

VBR, O_G_N

[ScottWNJ]

Kick in the shins? Punch in the mouth? Maybe I should send Old Gloves New some money now...just in case I buy something from him in the future. LOL!

[AkBandit]

Why do sellers on Ebay not leave feedback for a buyer first, if they pay them quickly? Why must the buyer leave feedback first before the seller acknowledges a fast payment?

As a seller myself, if a buyer pays fast, I will leave feedback as soon as payment is received, acknowledging the positive transaction.

I've had sellers email me when they are shipping an item asking me to leave feedback if I'm satisfied and then they will do the same. Hey, I paid you fast.....don't hold my positive feedback ransom until you get yours.

In other words, feedback is a two way street on Ebay.

I do agree that it's bogus that you can no longer leave negative feedback for a deadbeat buyer.

[vintagebrett]

I leave feedback right after I've been paid for an item - I see no sense in waiting if the buyer has paid in a timely manner. I would say that most of the feedback is unreciprocated but that is the way it goes.

[doubleplay64]

I too am fed up with ebay. As a seller the somewhat new feedback rule that a seller can only leave positive feedback stinks !!! If you take 2 weeks to pay me I can only give you praise ? BS !!! Not even neutral feedback is allowed anymore. Now I have a disclaimer in all of my listings. If you have low or negative feedback etc, e mail me first or your bid will be cancelled( and I have !!). Seems to have cut down on the person with a feedback rating of "2' for example. Those seem to be the ones who get off on leaving you unjust negative feedback as well.
I have been on ebay since 1997. Luckily I have not been seriously burned.