email from other seller

soolin

This is an email via 'ASQ' received yesterday, it isn't quite word for word as I have had to remove references that I thought were not to be shared- and also I've removed references to stock details:

'Hi, I know this is terribly cheeky and priobably frowned upon but I love your xxx in your shop and notice you are selling them very quickly and easily. Could you please give me details of your stockist, hopefully they are online and can drop ship as I don't drive and rely on others to ferry me into the nearest town.
I need some stock urgently (quite a bit deleted here) as my business is likely to fail due to stupid ebay and buyers being pathetic and I really need the money as I don't drive and so can't work.

None of my xxx is selling now as I had some trouble with one of my drop shippers being out of stock and the other drop shipper won't take orders any more and ebay are threatening me over their frankly appalling outstanding bill despite a number of my sales not going ahead due to no stock.

I'm really hoping for your help here and your Christian charity and I promise I won't undercut your prices.'

This came from a seller who I suspect may already be facing restrictions looking at their selling history. Poor feedback, appalling stars (despatch at 4.4 communication at 4.5) and who is registered as a private seller. Looking at as much past history as I can she has been drop shipping just about anything she can, all categories all sorts and a number of her neutrals (and a couple of negs) say things like out of stock and no refund for weeks.

I have not responded and she is blocked just in case

Del_Astra

Let me get this right, is she asking for your suppliers details about an item you sell that you are selling in high numbers? Is she asking you to tell her where you get your stock from so she can do the same as you?:eek:

I would keep an eye for a very similar listing to yours popping up. Dropshipping is a business so she should be registered as such, still sounds like ebay will punt her for non performance.

soolin

I know it iwas probably foolish of me to do so, but i have just responded.

Basically I have said I do not drop ship and all my stock is 'in hand' so that I avoid issues with no stock and slow despatch- so I am sorry but I cannot assist.

I decided it would not be a good idea to mention her lack of business registration- although I was severely tempted.

porto_bello

The covert dropshippers I've encountered usually have more than one account, buying used items with one ID and selling them as new, for a higher price, on another ID (although this one sounds like a real bungling amateur).

If they are in serious danger of loosing their main account, they are probably sending the same email to many successful sellers, as a last throw of the dice.

soolin

This one is selling multiples all with stock photos. I don't think it fair to identify her on here by giving too much info, but say for instance she is selling table ware, towels, beach umbrellas, golf shoes- a real miss match all brand new and across lots of categories. As far as I can see the widget of mine she has fixated on is not something she has sold before and I agree that she has probably just gone through random categories emailing sellers on the off chance someone will help.

There is an update though, I have been out and have had 2 emails in my absence. One of them is basically her hard luck story, the other wants me to explain what I mean by holding my own stock. She wants to know if a wholesaler lets me keep the stock at my premises and just pay them when I sell anything as she believes that model would suit her, except she isn't sure how to get to Post office to send things and how do I manage that.

I knew I shouldnt have responded

RFW

soolin wrote: »

the other wants me to explain what I mean by holding my own stock.

One of those new fangled ideas, who ever heard of someone selling something they own and sending it themselves, it's madness!

I would have given her my supplier details, which would have been another email address of mine and then offered to sell at a higher price than I was selling on Ebay, but I'm mean like that. I had a lot of fun once with an overseas conman who was trying to sell me one of my own listings outside Ebay, I came very close to actually getting money from them before I reported them.

PasturesNew

soolin wrote: »

...my business is likely to fail due to stupid ebay and buyers being pathetic and I really need the money as I don't drive and so can't work.

None of my xxx is selling now as I had some trouble with one of my drop shippers being out of stock and the other drop shipper won't take orders any more and ebay are threatening me over their frankly appalling outstanding bill despite a number of my sales not going ahead due to no stock.

Oh god, what a total loser. The world needs less of this type of loser running cr4ppy businesses.

Good luck with your ebay business OP... and good call adding this whiner to your block list.

Not your problem you've done your research ... and she's a cr4ppy loser.

porto_bello

It seems her headless chicken performance only got her adverse stars and a run in with eBay and her answer is to further pursue a failed strategy!

... I wonder how this kind of eBay account holder sleeps at night! _pale_

QuackQuackOops

What is the point of your post OP? What advice are you seeking here?

soolin

QuackQuackOops wrote: »

What is the point of your post OP? What advice are you seeking here?

No, like most threads on here it is merely sharing my experiences of ebay.

If I were honest I would say I posted as I felt uncomfortable about ignoring the original email- hence responding.

StaffsSW

Tell her to visit the ebay section of MSE where she will find a wealth of helpful info...