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Date: 30 Aug 2006 16:06:06
From: Robert Harmon
Subject: Q: for eBay sellers
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This is a problem that's not unique to people buying or selling coffee
equipment on eBay. It is a problem that has impacted people here trying to
buy things from me, so I'd like an opportunity to explain my position.
I've been getting a LOT of bids from eBay users with 0 - 3 transactions.
Since the items I sell usually go for $300+ I'm hesitant to allow bids from
these folks, figuring the better the track record for buyers the less likely
I am to having post sales problems.
eBay & PayPal offer very minimal protection for sellers, so little that I
won't take any more chances with buyers with less than stellar ratings. I've
had buyers try & return broken machines (with the broken parts not even what
I shipped - yes I do mark some parts!). I've had some threaten a bad
feedback if I don't renegotiate price or shipping & handling AFTER the
biddings ends. I've had buyers initiate items not received when USPS or UPS
show item as delivered (I track all shipments.). I've also had buyers do a
charge back on their credit cards when item was exactly as described in ad.
So, as I said since eBay & PayPal offer so little protection I'm forced to
deny access to bidders with low ratings. If this unfairly affects potential
buyers too bad; I cover my butt first!
--
Robert (CYA at all times!) Harmon
http://tinyurl.com/pou2y
http://tinyurl.com/fkd6r
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Date: 30 Aug 2006 12:24:13
From: notbob
Subject: Re: Q: for eBay sellers
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On 2006-08-30, Robert Harmon <r_h_harmon@Zhotmail.com > wrote:
As someone who will soon be selling on ebay, including a few coffee
related items, I hope you don't mind a few questions
> I've been getting a LOT of bids from eBay users with 0 - 3 transactions.
> Since the items I sell usually go for $300+ I'm hesitant to allow bids from
> these folks.....
I wasn't aware you had any choice. How does a seller prevent less
than stellar buyer participating?
> I've had some threaten a bad
> feedback if I don't renegotiate price or shipping & handling....
How do you typically deal with these people?
> I've had buyers initiate items not received.....
"Initiate"? Is that like "dispute" items?
> charge back on their credit cards when item was exactly as described in ad.
I've heard way too much about this unsavory practice. What advice can
you offer on dealing with it when it occurs?
> So, as I said since eBay & PayPal offer so little protection I'm forced to
> deny access to bidders with low ratings.
Again, how. Is there some sort of filter I can set to meet a minimum
criteria?
> If this unfairly affects potential
> buyers too bad; I cover my butt first!
Understandable. With all the horror stories I've heard about scams
and burns on ebay, I sometimes wonder if ebay's days are numbered.
Thanks in advance for any advice you can offer.
nb
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Date: 30 Aug 2006 18:42:13
From: Robert Harmon
Subject: Re: Q: for eBay sellers
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Some things are presets in your seller preferences. Some things you have to
put in the black & white of the description. For instance, "Any bidder with
less than 'x' transactions must clear their bid amount with me BEFORE
bidding or I will cancel the bid & place their userid on my blocked bidders
list."
There's no good way to deal with people who'd cheat you. If you make a stink
with eBay they'll leave negative feedback. eBay will never remove negative
feedback short of being presented with a court order to do so. If you don't
make a stink of it you're just passing the problem along to the next seller.
I go ahead & bite the bullet, hoping potential buyers understand the reason
for some bad feedback.
PayPal & eBay put the onus on the seller to make the customer happy. There's
always be more sellers than buyers & people willing to lay down cold hard
cash is what eBay wants more of. Be prepared to lose money on some
transactions; it's inevitable! Insure ALL shipments (insurance protects the
seller more than the buyer) & track everything (UPS does it for free while
USPS charges a nominal fee). I only accept PayPal; no cash, checks, or money
orders (you'll get the ol' Nigerian scam artists with their cashiers checks
for more than the bid amount & Oh, would you please send them the excess
amount immediately?). Some items you sell are not worth the cost of
recovering so always require the buyer to pay for return shipping & never
refund shipping & insurance fees.
That's about it. eBay is fun & I've generally had a good time with it. But,
it is a hobby for me - if I had to work this hard for a living I'd retire.
Oops, I am retired, aren't I?
--
Robert (duck & cover) Harmon
http://tinyurl.com/pou2y
http://tinyurl.com/fkd6r
"notbob" <notbob@nothome.com > wrote in message
news:2_ednQKgfYsgVGjZnZ2dnUVZ_qGdnZ2d@comcast.com...
> On 2006-08-30, Robert Harmon <r_h_harmon@Zhotmail.com> wrote:
>
> As someone who will soon be selling on ebay, including a few coffee
> related items, I hope you don't mind a few questions
>
>> I've been getting a LOT of bids from eBay users with 0 - 3 transactions.
>> Since the items I sell usually go for $300+ I'm hesitant to allow bids
>> from
>> these folks.....
>
> I wasn't aware you had any choice. How does a seller prevent less
> than stellar buyer participating?
>
>> I've had some threaten a bad
>> feedback if I don't renegotiate price or shipping & handling....
>
> How do you typically deal with these people?
>
>> I've had buyers initiate items not received.....
>
> "Initiate"? Is that like "dispute" items?
>
>> charge back on their credit cards when item was exactly as described in
>> ad.
>
> I've heard way too much about this unsavory practice. What advice can
> you offer on dealing with it when it occurs?
>
>> So, as I said since eBay & PayPal offer so little protection I'm forced
>> to
>> deny access to bidders with low ratings.
>
> Again, how. Is there some sort of filter I can set to meet a minimum
> criteria?
>
>> If this unfairly affects potential
>> buyers too bad; I cover my butt first!
>
> Understandable. With all the horror stories I've heard about scams
> and burns on ebay, I sometimes wonder if ebay's days are numbered.
>
> Thanks in advance for any advice you can offer.
>
> nb
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Date: 30 Aug 2006 14:00:33
From: notbob
Subject: Re: Q: for eBay sellers
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On 2006-08-30, Robert Harmon <r_h_harmon@Zhotmail.com > wrote:
> USPS charges a nominal fee). I only accept PayPal; no cash, checks, or money
> orders.....
As you sell items $300+, this confounds me. I am under the impression
paypal will only refund up to $175 for a bad transaction, even if they
do find in your favor. How is this safer than cash or MOs on big buck
items? Is it bad practice to not ship till the MO, or even check, is
cash in your account?
nb
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Date: 30 Aug 2006 19:22:59
From: Robert Harmon
Subject: Re: Q: for eBay sellers
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Until they have passed the national clearing house & been presented to the
parent institution for payment they are a liability against your account.
They can tie up your resources for weeks or even more if they're drawn on
some non-FDSI bank in North Podunk. PayPal gives you instant access to your
money so you can put it to work more quickly.
For info on PayPal's seller protection plan:
https://www.paypal.com/us/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=xpt/ua/PolicySpp
"notbob" <notbob@nothome.com > wrote in message
news:l6ednVHPkI7MfWjZnZ2dnUVZ_vWdnZ2d@comcast.com...
> On 2006-08-30, Robert Harmon <r_h_harmon@Zhotmail.com> wrote:
>
>> USPS charges a nominal fee). I only accept PayPal; no cash, checks, or
>> money
>> orders.....
>
> As you sell items $300+, this confounds me. I am under the impression
> paypal will only refund up to $175 for a bad transaction, even if they
> do find in your favor. How is this safer than cash or MOs on big buck
> items? Is it bad practice to not ship till the MO, or even check, is
> cash in your account?
>
> nb
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Date: 30 Aug 2006 16:37:47
From: I->Ian
Subject: Re: Q: for eBay sellers
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On Wed, 30 Aug 2006 16:06:06 GMT, "Robert Harmon"
<r_h_harmon@Zhotmail.com > wrote:
>This is a problem that's not unique to people buying or selling coffee
>equipment on eBay. It is a problem that has impacted people here trying to
>buy things from me, so I'd like an opportunity to explain my position.
>
>I've been getting a LOT of bids from eBay users with 0 - 3 transactions.
>Since the items I sell usually go for $300+ I'm hesitant to allow bids from
>these folks, figuring the better the track record for buyers the less likely
>I am to having post sales problems.
>
>eBay & PayPal offer very minimal protection for sellers, so little that I
>won't take any more chances with buyers with less than stellar ratings. I've
>had buyers try & return broken machines (with the broken parts not even what
>I shipped - yes I do mark some parts!). I've had some threaten a bad
>feedback if I don't renegotiate price or shipping & handling AFTER the
>biddings ends. I've had buyers initiate items not received when USPS or UPS
>show item as delivered (I track all shipments.). I've also had buyers do a
>charge back on their credit cards when item was exactly as described in ad.
>
>So, as I said since eBay & PayPal offer so little protection I'm forced to
>deny access to bidders with low ratings. If this unfairly affects potential
>buyers too bad; I cover my butt first!
Ya lie down with dogs, you're gonna get fleas.
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Date: 30 Aug 2006 13:39:22
From: Omniryx@gmail.com
Subject: Re: Q: for eBay sellers
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Robert Harmon wrote:at some length regarding his concerns with ebay.
Robert, I agree with the reality of the problems that you describe.
I've been both a buyer and a seller in that venue and I can assure you
that the coin you are tossing has a second side.
It does not take a buyer long to encounter a seller who deliberately
misrepresents his offerings, describes their condition inaccurately,
neglects to mention the lack of vital parts ("Oh, you wanted a pump
with that espresso machine."), packs items poorly and then refuses to
assume responsibility for breakage even when there is no evidence of
shipper mishandling, takes your money and waits a month before
shipping, or never ships at all....on and on and on.
For those reasons, I rarely buy from a seller with little feedback,
though I realize that everyone has to start somewhere; that you can't
get a job in the theatre without experience and the only place you can
get experience is in the theatre.
When I am purchasing a costly or delicate item, I will only purchase on
a COD basis. Period. If the seller won't agree to that, then no deal.
Interestingly, I've gotten haughty refusals from more than one seller
who later crept back with a grudging "OK." Doesn't matter to me;
another item of equal or greater value will turn up eventually.
I do not believe that buyers, as a collective, are any better or worse
in this regard than sellers. Most of us doing business on ebay try
hard to be reasonable, honest, ethical, and fair. The bums just come
with the territory.
Will
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Date: 31 Aug 2006 08:45:04
From: daveb
Subject: Re: Problem = eBay? NOT.
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Cool.
I don't know who has been doing CODs, but they must be hungry.
I haven't been asked to do a COD, (maybe beacuse I have over 1000
positives) so I have not needed to give a "haughty" response.
and I'm not trying to sell you a thing.
d
Omniryx@gmail.com wrote:
> daveb wrote:
> - and I will NEVER do a COD
>
> Suit yourself, Dave. I already have a PID.
>
> This is an example, though, of what I meant by "haughty responses" from
> sellers. And yet you'd be surprised how many will write back, after I
> have touched base with them as to my experiences and my reasons, and
> say "Sure, OK."
>
> But you do just as you see fit, Dave, and so will I.
>
> The rest of your post, however, was right on target.
>
> Will
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Date: 31 Aug 2006 07:42:56
From: Omniryx@gmail.com
Subject: Re: Problem is eBay? NOT.
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daveb wrote:
- and I will NEVER do a COD
Suit yourself, Dave. I already have a PID.
This is an example, though, of what I meant by "haughty responses" from
sellers. And yet you'd be surprised how many will write back, after I
have touched base with them as to my experiences and my reasons, and
say "Sure, OK."
But you do just as you see fit, Dave, and so will I.
The rest of your post, however, was right on target.
Will
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Date: 31 Aug 2006 04:53:54
From: daveb
Subject: Q: complaints
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so how's all these policies workin for ya?
If they were, why complain here?????
Robert Harmon wrote:
>
> There's no good way to deal with people who'd cheat you. If you make a stink
> with eBay they'll leave negative feedback. eBay will never remove negative
> feedback short of being presented with a court order to do so.
That's BS!
If you don't
> make a stink of it you're just passing the problem along to the next seller.
> I go ahead & bite the bullet, hoping potential buyers understand the reason
> for some bad feedback.
and your UGLY responses -- to quote " . . .dummy"
>
> PayPal & eBay put the onus on the seller to make the customer happy.
that is the way it should be.
dave
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Date: 31 Aug 2006 04:48:49
From: daveb
Subject: it isn't ebay
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harmon is a new seller, and has much to learn -- about listing,
product, packing, shipping, warranties, selling in general and dealing
with feedback.
note that ebay has systems in place for controlling bids and feedback
from new or unwanted bidders. they are there. and you can ask bidders
to contact you first and on and on.
The customer is always right, period. The issue is NOT with eBay.
ask the hundreds of thousands of powersellers like me who are doing
just great, thank you!
Dave
107 PID silvias
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Date: 31 Aug 2006 04:42:05
From: daveb
Subject: Problem is eBay? NOT.
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harmon, stop whining about ebay and look inward!
I have sold many THOUSANDS of dollars of expensive "coffee related"
equipment [ and thousands each and every month] to hundreds of ebay
users, some who are new to ebay, world-wide, without a problem.
I bend over double to make certain each is HAPPY, whether they are new
or 'old'. They ALL have my PHONE number.
Out of thousands of buy / sell transactions, in the last 6.5 years, I
have maybe had 2 small problems. -- that is called "BUSINESS"!
Harmon, you need to look at YOUR auctions, and how they are written!
What is with the phony "consignment" sales handle?
AND look at the NEGATIVES you have received AND your nasty,
antagonistic responses to them! To emotionally respond to a neg. with
defiance hurts YOU, no one else, Harmon.
My sales keep accelerating -- and I will NEVER do a COD -- and I have
NEVER been asked.
Dave
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