have I been harsh?

soolin

ohblimey wrote: »

So what happens if the seller had a job lot of inks all the same make, are you saying they should have photographed each and every one of them and then listed them individually so they could attach the "correct" photo to each one?

Me thinks not, me thinks a multiple listing would be the better option, but then again someone is bound to get the scruffy one, but at least for 99p they would still be happy...oh no I forgot it's ebay

Actually yes I would expect to see a photo of the one I was getting, that's what selling as a business is all about.

One of my lines is antiques and collectables and I often get identical pieces (all rare of course ) It would not occur to me to put up a generic photo of say a (can't think of anything here....) Wedgwood plate and say mine is like that but obviously older.

Valli

ohblimey wrote: »

So what happens if the seller had a job lot of inks all the same make, are you saying they should have photographed each and every one of them and then listed them individually so they could attach the "correct" photo to each one?

Me thinks not, me thinks a multiple listing would be the better option, but then again someone is bound to get the scruffy one, but at least for 99p they would still be happy...oh no I forgot it's ebay

as it happens I sold some inks which were OOD and I have photographed them. And there were lots (they came from work and all proceeds have been paid back to work).
The stock photo used was of the current ink package being retailed- this was a way different package...yet the seller was happy to use this photoand list the item as new. Fair enough it was unopened...

ohblimey

soolin wrote: »

Actually yes I would expect to see a photo of the one I was getting, that's what selling as a business is all about.

One of my lines is antiques and collectables and I often get identical pieces (all rare of course ) It would not occur to me to put up a generic photo of say a (can't think of anything here....) Wedgwood plate and say mine is like that but obviously older.

But we are chatting about the outer packaging, the bit that gets thrown away, surely if you had, lets say 100 light bulbs all the same make you would not photograph all 100 individual boxes

pendulum

Before leaving a neg, it asks you - Have you contacted the seller to try and resolve the problem first? If I'm not mistaken, you have to tick a box to say you have. So why did you lie?

You're supposed to judge a transaction by how a seller deals with a problem, not just whether they get it right or not first time. You couldn't be bothered to give them a chance, but you lied and said you had to eBay. A feedback revision will go some way to fixing your mistake but as a seller I'd still be a little miffed that a) you did this in the first place and b) you've used up a feedback revision request, as these are limited.

Barneysmom

pendulum wrote: »

Before leaving a neg, it asks you - Have you contacted the seller to try and resolve the problem first? If I'm not mistaken, you have to tick a box to say you have. So why did you lie?

You're supposed to judge a transaction by how a seller deals with a problem, not just whether they get it right or not first time. You couldn't be bothered to give them a chance, but you lied and said you had to eBay. A feedback revision will go some way to fixing your mistake but as a seller I'd still be a little miffed that a) you did this in the first place and b) you've used up a feedback revision request, as these are limited.

I agree completely.
A neg should be a very last resort.

soolin

ohblimey wrote: »

But we are chatting about the outer packaging, the bit that gets thrown away, surely if you had, lets say 100 light bulbs all the same make you would not photograph all 100 individual boxes

I don't use stock photos and I don't tend to buy from people that do. However if the packaging was important, ie it gave a clue as to the age of an item then yes I think it is important.

Did you see the thread just before Christmas on the community boards from someone selling Avon (I think it was Avon) products who had been suspended due to poor stars and feedback? Most of the thread is irrelevant here, but what was important was that it transpired that seller was selling off products that had been re packaged and rebranded ready for a 2011 relaunch and was using current stock photos. So buyers saw a photo of product X and got product X but in completely different packaging that had ceased to be used almost a year previously.

So many people left poor stars (and there were a few neutrals and negs but only because seller refused to refund return postage) that seller hit suspension in a matter of weeks.

Going back to this thread No I would not have left any feedback at all pending contact with the seller, but I think OP has accepted that the neg was not appropriate and is taking steps to sort it out.

vicx

ohblimey wrote: »

So what happens if the seller had a job lot of inks all the same make, are you saying they should have photographed each and every one of them and then listed them individually so they could attach the "correct" photo to each one?

Me thinks not, me thinks a multiple listing would be the better option, but then again someone is bound to get the scruffy one, but at least for 99p they would still be happy...oh no I forgot it's ebay

If the seller had a lot of inks, all the same make they could still create a multiple listing with multiple photo's and state in the listing: packaging may differ from the one shown in the photo.

I do not use stock photo's nor do I purchase from anyone who does because I like to see the item I am purchasing.

bris

I don't think the OP was to harsh, the seller used Ebay to get rid of junk to an unsuspectng buyer. Feed back should show how the seller performed, in this case he got what he deserved and will think twice before he lists his rubbish again. 5 years out of date is no small mistake, the ink could very well clog up the printheads and knacker the printer, could have been an expensive cartridge if the OP didn't spot it.

techspec

bris wrote: »

I don't think the OP was to harsh, the seller used Ebay to get rid of junk to an unsuspectng buyer. Feed back should show how the seller performed, in this case he got what he deserved and will think twice before he lists his rubbish again. 5 years out of date is no small mistake, the ink could very well clog up the printheads and knacker the printer, could have been an expensive cartridge if the OP didn't spot it.

Last year, i had two boxes of items i knew were of no real value ( by searching completed items). But i couldn't bring myself to throw them out and they were of little or no use to charity shops - despite being in the original packaging and unopened.

I decided to list them all at 99p with FREE delivery. They all sold at 99p, or slighty above - and postage on each was about £1.30+. Then there was ebay and paypal fees. The whole excercise left me about £60 or more out of pocket - but i felt good doing it. Someone, somewhere, was making use of my items.

Fortunately - none of them sold to someone like you - who thinks i would have deserved my feedback trashing, if someone was not doing cartwheels over the items they received. One guy sent me extra postage money - as he didn't want to see me out of pocket. I just sent him an extra item.

Not everyone on ebay is big business or out to rip people off. It was originally for everyday decent folk to trade and swap their unwanted goods for something they want.

Thanks to people like you, and ebays lack of interest when things go wrong - i have finally started binning such items. Its not worth risking my stars on some idiot with an axe to grind, and a lack of common sense.

techspec

Valli wrote: »

I sell too - and I have had three negs, all for low cost items and none of those buyers contacted me prior to leaving negative feedback.

Doesn't mean its right. I keep thinking it would be easier to join all the scammers on ebay - out to get freebies - no matter who they hurt on the way. But we have to rise above it.

I think the fact you started this thread "have i been harsh" shows you were having 2nd thoughts, and wanted to do the right thing. You may or may not have a genuine gripe with the seller - and the seller may or may not have known what he/she was doing. But a polite email first - followed by whatever you deem necessary, based on their reponse - is the best way to do it. I wish Ebay would block negs, where their computers detect no attempt to resolve the issue first. Maybe one day.