Why I'm just about through with eBay

[kmac32]

Originally Posted by tbob

I put some items on eBay, mostly to clear out some space in the attic, things like DVDs, books, comics, etc. and have done pretty well selling them at decent prices. I've never had any problems with card collectors and my feedback is over 7600 with 100%. Today I receive notice that someone who bought a Murphy Brown DVD for $4.99 opened up a case on eBay because they hadn't received their item yet. Never mind the item sold on 12-10 and I mailed it on 12-11, never mind that I immediately left positive feedback for them. Never mind that the shipping was free. Never mind that it's been a whole week and they haven't received the item yet. Never mind that it's the holidays and mail is always slow. They opened up a frigging case on eBay and whined about it. Ebay sends the usual threat that they might just refund the sale. Ebay has become so buyer-friendly and antagonistic toward sellers (from taking away the seller's ability to leave negative feedback for non-complying buyers to creating a presumption that sellers are worthless POS who are in it only to defraud buyers) that it makes me sick. I've about had it with eBay as I know many here have.
I'm sorry for the rant, but if you can't post your sentiments among friends, to whom can you post. And yes, there is tracking on the package and it shows it is in transit. I'm just bummed at the idiocy of some people in this culture of instant gratification and me-first mentality. Bah-humbug.
To the rest of you, Happy Holidays!

Couldn't agree more. We had an idiot leave negative feedback after they bid on an item when they were told not to bid as we do not ship internationally and no money exchanged hands. Ebay had all the emails and they still allowed the negative even with all the evidence of us telling this person not to bid as we do not ship outside of the United States. EBay clearly sides with buyers and they do not care who they piss off. As a consequence of this transaction, i no longer leave positive feedback unless feedback is left for me or i delay leaving feedback for at least 2 weeks.

[slidekellyslide]

Ebay automatically opens up a case now, the buyer may have just been inquiring as to where the package was, but I feel your pain Bob...yesterday I had a customer ask me where his tracking number was only hours after he paid for his item. Ebay's insistence that sellers get items out in one day or same day is causing buyers to have very little patience. Just wait until Amazon deploys their little flying droids...customers will expect to have their items in hand same day.

[h2oya311]

Originally Posted by slidekellyslide

Ebay automatically opens up a case now, the buyer may have just been inquiring as to where the package was, but I feel your pain Bob...yesterday I had a customer ask me where his tracking number was only hours after he paid for his item. Ebay's insistence that sellers get items out in one day or same day is causing buyers to have very little patience. Just wait until Amazon deploys their little flying droids...customers will expect to have their items in hand same day.

+1

I once accidentally opened a case when trying to simply ask the seller for a refund on a <$50 card. I felt bad but didn't even know that eBay had opened a case. I simply clicked the "contact seller" button (or "ask seller a question" button) and once sent, eBay stated that a case had been opened. It all worked out in the end for both of us.

[slidekellyslide]

Originally Posted by h2oya311

+1

I once accidentally opened a case when trying to simply ask the seller for a refund on a <$50 card. I felt bad but didn't even know that eBay had opened a case. I simply clicked the "contact seller" button (or "ask seller a question" button) and once sent, eBay stated that a case had been opened. It all worked out in the end for both of us.

Yep...buyers are completely unaware that a case is going to be opened by simply asking a question.

[jdeptula]

Really? Asking a question opens a case with the seller? I'll have to be careful to not do that again.

Is it safe to assume that e-bay only does that for closed auctions? ie) if I ask a seller for a picture of the back before bidding, for instance, would that open up a case as well. I doesn't make sense to me that it would, but, then agin, this whole thinkg doesn't make sense to me.

Thanks,
Joe

[Bocabirdman]

Originally Posted by slidekellyslide

Yep...buyers are completely unaware that a case is going to be opened by simply asking a question.

If you click the "other" radio button on the Contact the Seller page, you can communicate without a case being opened.

[rjackson44]

fee bay net 54 rocks

[tonyo]

Originally Posted by h2oya311

+1

I once accidentally opened a case when trying to simply ask the seller for a refund on a <$50 card. I felt bad but didn't even know that eBay had opened a case. I simply clicked the "contact seller" button (or "ask seller a question" button) and once sent, eBay stated that a case had been opened. It all worked out in the end for both of us.

I had this happen to me a couple of times (accidentally open a case). I usually wait a week after the expected delivery date, then ask the seller to check his records. I think both times I hit "I haven't received my item yet" after hitting "contact seller"

I feel like if you hit "other" instead of "I haven't received my item yet" it doesn't automatically open a case.

[Clydewally]

I have accidentally opened a case by asking where an item was. I have not been able to figure out a way to ask about it without opening a case.
The good news is that the matters seems to have been resolved (in one case an item never reached me and ebay refunded my money without charging the buyer as he had done everything right and this was a UPS problem) and, as I understand it, the opening of a case that is resolved does not cause any lasting stain on buyer or seller's feedback.
Is that true? I have only been a buyer on ebay.

[steve B]

I had the same thing happen. Bought an item and after a bit over a week there was a tracking number but no tracking info. And the expected delivery kept changing. (Great way to have 99.9% on tome delivery, just change the expected delivery -Both UPS and USPS do it.)

So I asked if it had actually shipped. I figured it had, but I've had stuff get under something on the desk and get delayed, so I figured I'd ask.

And Ebay didn't tell me it was opening a case until after I sent the message.
I apologized for the case in a follow up message, and the seller was very good about the whole thing anyway.

But Ebay really has to stop assuming what I want. AND stop catering to the terminally impatient.

What would really help would be a simple way of telling a part time seller from a full time seller, and adjusting expectations accordingly. I'd expect a large company - some of them are selling on Ebay- to be able to ship very quickly and have a great return policy. I'm not sure just how places like LL Bean afford to pay shipping on both ends of a return, but if they can make enough to cover it good for them. I wouldn't expect the same from someone selling collectibles that are simply stuff they don't want or need.

Steve B

[packs]

I understand the frustration but I think eBay needs to be on the buyer's side. As a buyer I want to know that I'm getting what I've paid for. Most sellers are great people and I think the same goes for buyers. But I do think as a buyer I should have more control over the transaction than the seller.