how used is used?

pinkgem

i think i'm going to block her. i'd rather not sell it than risk my feedback as it is an account i don't use that much. i have listed it honestly but i think she is expecting too much from a used item. i know i'm being paranoid, some people might even describe it as excellent condition, and she might be perfectly happy with it (i would and i'm fussy) but in my experience if someone is showing themselves to be fussy before a transaction they are likely to be even worse after it.

pixelchick10

It is tricky - if something's in perfect condition, ie no marks or other signs of wear, but has lost that 'as new' quality, I tend to describe it as 'decent condition' ... or 'decent used condition' ... tend to under describe things just because don't want buyers to be disappointed. I'm probably under-selling myself sometimes but got caught out when I first started selling, so always err on the side of caution. That said, I've bought things that have been described as 'excellent used condition' and I would only have described them as 'decent used condition' --although they have been OK for the money I paid for them and I've been generally happy with the purchase. But say I'd spent much more, then I wouldn't have been satisfied.

Brooker_Dave

rdp1980 wrote: »

Tempting to stick this person on the blocked bidders list... sounds like she could be hassle.

If you block all the clown bidders, you'd end up blocking 90% of bidders...

rdp1980

Brooker_Dave wrote: »

If you block all the clown bidders, you'd end up blocking 90% of bidders...

Now, now... :rolleyes:

To be fair I have rarely had problems with buyers when I have sold on eBay, perhaps the type of stuff I sold hasn't attracted idiots, or maybe I have been lucky, I don't know.

I have had a couple of close shaves though with people bidding from abroad, and then asking me later if I will ship to their country (and at what cost), and always breathed a sigh of relief when they were outbid.

Brooker_Dave

rdp1980 wrote: »

Now, now... :rolleyes:

To be fair I have rarely had problems with buyers when I have sold on eBay, perhaps the type of stuff I sold hasn't attracted idiots, or maybe I have been lucky, I don't know.

I have had a couple of close shaves though with people bidding from abroad, and then asking me later if I will ship to their country (and at what cost), and always breathed a sigh of relief when they were outbid.

I get less hassle from the foreigners, for some reason cheap items seem to attract the most looney bidders...

lab-dab

Might be they want it to be worn.. there are some funny people on there and i remember the thread on here that linked to the WELL worn shoes that were going for lots of money!!

pepsi_max2k

>> its not like new because its a used top

does it look like it was just purchased? if so, let them know that, otherwise just tell them it looks obviously worn but in excellent condition. it could just be a gift for someone, wanna know if they can get away with it looking new.

which brings me to a problem i always face... how new is new? Obviously half the clothes in stores have already been "worn a few times" by people trying them on, but they're still sold as "new". and oh my you should see the state of some video games / CDs I've bought "new" from stores reccently... :rotfl:

pinkgem

pepsi_max2k wrote: »

>> its not like new because its a used top

does it look like it was just purchased? if so, let them know that, otherwise just tell them it looks obviously worn but in excellent condition. it could just be a gift for someone, wanna know if they can get away with it looking new.

which brings me to a problem i always face... how new is new? Obviously half the clothes in stores have already been "worn a few times" by people trying them on, but they're still sold as "new". and oh my you should see the state of some video games / CDs I've bought "new" from stores reccently... :rotfl:

oh don't get me started on new cds, dvds and games

i have bought some items cheap from high street and online retailers which i have sold on amazon. firstly there was the cd in cellophane wrapping which i listed as used - like new but stated it was actually brand new there was just no option to list as new. someone complained that it wasn't even like new, apparently there was a scratch on the cd case inside the cellophane wrapping, so i didn't describe it correctly and should have described it as used - good/average. firstly i didn't even notice a scratch on the case, and secondly how could it have been used if it was still sealed in the cellophane? i told them to return for a refund and they did. scratch on case was barely visible. i refunded in full anyway, yet to receive feedback on that.

also sold a new cd which was not in cellophane. i got 2/5 on amazon because they didn't think it was new. i was mortified as it was my only feedback in the last month and meant i had 100% negative in the last 30 days and something like 66% negative in last 90 days and 97% overall. I emailed the buyer and said how disappointed i was with the feedback, that it was new and not all new items do come in cellophane - for example high street retailer who put the disc in the case at the checkout. i did apologise (not sure what for though!) and said if they had contacted me they could have returned for a full refund or kept it and had a part refund and would appreciate it if they would consider removing the feedback. no response to message but a couple of days later they did remove the feedback :T

i am now considering listing all new but without cellophane items as used - like new to prevent this from happening again! or maybe i should state new but not in cellophane wrapping? i'm not sure yet.

soolin

What about books! Just looking at some on the shelves in WH Smith's this morning it looks like they have been read and put back on sale, yet dare to sell one like that on marketplace and see your stars disappear.

I bought a lot of books from a major publisher all of which were brand new yet at least10% of them arrived with dints and rubbing which meant I felt I oculdn't list them as new. Still, they were a bargain so I wasn't going to return them as even nearly new I could quadruple my money easily.

liam8282

Wouldn't it be much easier and quicker just to tell the bidder what they want to know, you are being a bit vague in your answers to their questions saying it is used.

You could possibly just tell them how long you have had it, and roughly how many times it has been worn / washed. That what give them an idea of its condition.