What percentage of ebay buyers are just plain stupid?

[sdkammeyer]

I made an attempt to run an ebay "business" about 10 years ago and gave it up for much the same reasons. Yes, some people are just ignorant.

I recently started selling things on ebay again and sure enough, within a week I had my first "idiot". (I mean that very lightly, as we ALL make mistakes)

I was selling an item as "new open box" and clearly stated in my description that since the box was already open (this was a bathroom exhaust fan) i took everything out of the box, tested the fan, made sure all the parts/pieces were there, put everything back in the box, and sealed it back up. The buyer left me negative feedback saying "it looks like the box has been opened before and i think the fan was used".

Jeez ........ wow.

Luckily I was able to point the buyer to the big bold letters in my item description that he never read and he was able to revise the feedback. I got lucky on that one, but unfortunately I know it I won't always get lucky like that. Some people just don't read, and then get defensive when you point that out to them.

[EvilKing00]

ROFL - a few years back I sold a 1987 topps barry bonds rookie to an "idiot" he left me bad feedback saying i didnt give him a bonds rookie. i just dont get people

[thecatspajamas]

"What percentage of ebay buyers are just plain stupid?"

By my experience, licking one finger and holding in the air, I'd say about 10%. If by "just plain stupid" you mean they don't read past the listing title, don't look at the photos, don't read the description, don't understand the concept of combined shipping, don't read the description, think that low-grade/worn/used items should look brand new, don't read the description, and somehow thought they were bidding on something else. Add in those who win an auction and don't pay, make an accepted offer and don't pay, and Buy It Now and don't pay, all with zero communication, and the percentage goes up. But yeah, 10% in the collectibles world feels about right. May be higher in other categories

[D. Bergin]

With the onset of more people bidding on items through their mobile devices, who don't have experience of knowing how the auctions are set up in a larger viewing format, get ready for lots more "not reading the descriptions", or not clicking on the multiple pictures.