Aggravated with buyers

[Guest]

[kbmum]

I've been noticing a very aggravating trend over the past few months.  A buyer with perfect feedback will win my auction, then not pay for many days or even make any attempt to contact me.  They don't respond until I've sent a reminder email (in addition to the invoice sent when the auction ended).  But, the buyer's feedback comments say things like, "Lightning fast payment."

Now, maybe it's just me, but I think "lightning fast payment" means PayPal payment received within a few hours of the auction's end or a money order received within a few days.  I just don't understand how these buyers could get comments like that, but not pay me as quickly as anyone else.  Has anyone else noticed this?

Sorry, I guess I just need to rant.

[blackcat20]

Feel free to rant. Ive noticed similar things...Ive got a buyer at the moment who hasnt paid for an auction that ended a month ago...i sent them an email to request payment, got one back saying they would pay that day, and that was three weeks ago...

[Sharon]

Do you think this is just because people have got lazy with their feedback?  I know I tend to give the same feedback to lots of people, you know where you can just put the first letter in and the rest of the sentence drops down.  I do take into account what was sent, how quickly and how well packaged it was and adjust accordingly.  But with more 'professional' sellers on Ebay it is probably really tempting to use a bog standard wording.  I am now having real doubts about how valid feedback is.  I still read it but don't particularly trust it anymore.

And remember - Ranting is good and healthly 

[kbmum]

I joined eBay in 1997.  Back then, the feedback system seemed to work well.  Now, though, I think people are so afraid of retaliatory feedback that they either leave a positive that isn't deserved or they don't leave feedback at all.  I've submitted only a handful of negatives and been scared to do it every time. 

The system doesn't work well anymore, and for that I blame eBay.  Only in rare circumstances will they remove feedback, even if it is obviously retaliatory.  They need better policies in place so that users are protected.

[Sharon]

I agree.  Ebay is to blame.  Fortunately I have no negatives but my brother does.  It was totally undeserved and was, as you say, purely a retaliatory feedback.  But I am one of those that is scared to leave negative feedback, I am sorry to say.  I really wanted to leave a neutral for that seller that told Bogleg what I had bought but figured I had received the goods so why bother.  Instead I just sent an Email explaining the situation and saying how unhappy I was.  The outcome?  They didn't give me back the refund on the postage they had promised!  So will I give them a negative?  No because I am a coward and will instead just not give them no feedback.  But since they have something like 20,000 feedbacks already they won't care.

As for buyers, I always pay as soon as I can.  The way I look at it is, I bought the stuff because I wanted it and the sooner I pay the sooner I receive it.  I really think now Ebay has gotten so big they should start taking some responsibility for running it, not merely providing the bandwidth, which is how it now seems.

[kbmum]

I really think now Ebay has gotten so big they should start taking some responsibility for running it, not merely providing the bandwidth, which is how it now seems.

Well-stated!

Have you contacted PayPal or eBay about your problem?  If you have email from the seller stating that they will refund part of the price, then you should be able to dispute that amount with PayPal.

[Sharon]

I had thought of that Cindy but to be honest they were only offering a $3 refund.  After Paypal take their pound (or dollar ) of flesh it is not worth it.

I really wish there was another auction site that could rival Ebay, then they might get their finger out and start doing something other than earning billions of dollars.

[kbmum]

There are some sites, but they aren't as popular as eBay.  One in particular, at overstock.com, made a big play about a year ago to lure sellers.  They offered free listings, credits that could be used toward fees, and more.  The fees are lower, too.  I don't think it worked that well.  I searched the listings for items I wanted, and couldn't find them.  For example, there wasn't one HP costume, prop or auto card. 

Even with lower fees, I don't want to sell my items there because I don't think that many people will view the listings.  It doesn't matter if it costs me nothing to list -- it isn't worth it if so few people browse the listings that I make half the amount I would on eBay.

[grecopa]

I just got an email from a buyer.  "I see you mailed my cards on the 16th.  Can you please tell me when I will receive them?"  Oh, suuuure.... let me gaze into my crystal ball.