Selling Free Samples on eBay - not happy with purchase

jasmineswhiskers

frivolous_fay wrote: »

I think in the interests of diplomacy, honesty, and good customer service, the seller should have done things differently. IMO they should have:

- Obscured or removed the 'free sample' label
- Stated it was a sample
- Stated that it was 'worth' £27 (if that's true) not that it 'retails for'

I'd be annoyed. The amount you bids depends on the perceived value, and you perceive something to be worth more if you think someone's paid for it!

This is why when I post items out, I remove price labels that make it obvious the buyer has paid more than I did! I DON'T WANT TO ANNOY THEM!

Firstly regarding the above surely 'removing/ covering the Free Sample label' is being more deceptive than stating what it truly is??
Having sold samples on ebay myself I have had 99% of sales with happy customers. Only one springs to mind where I sold an item (Chanel) which had a clear picture of the item which was obviously NOT full sized. I stated in the ad it was not full size, and the packaging in the pic could be clearly seen with 'Sample not for sale' on it. I think that some people just don't read the descriptions of items or LOOK at the pictures. As for not being allowed then why does ebay have a special section for sample sizes?? I agree that if this particular seller did not state the size/quantity then yes you have a point.

frivolous_fay

jasmineswhiskers wrote: »

Firstly regarding the above surely 'removing/ covering the Free Sample label' is being more deceptive than stating what it truly is??

Deceptive, yes, but no more so than lying about a retail price imo. I erase the pencil prices from charity shop books. Is that deceptive... or tactful?

Is it deceptive selling samples 'not for resale'? Would lacoste agree?

Hintza

frivolous_fay wrote: »

Would lacoste agree?

Do we really care whether lacoste agree or not?

FloFlo

Seller should have either stated promotional samples or removed the label. Buyer should either get over it or return them for a refund.

jasmineswhiskers

frivolous_fay wrote: »

Deceptive, yes, but no more so than lying about a retail price imo. I erase the pencil prices from charity shop books. Is that deceptive... or tactful?

Is it deceptive selling samples 'not for resale'? Would lacoste agree?

Of course erasing the charity shop prices out isn't deceptive - that wasn't the price new and wasn't how the item originally started out. (Just wish they wouldn't write the prices on so heavily;) ). I think maybe the seller worked out the price per ml for these items. So if a 150ml tube sells for £27 then the 3 x 50ml tubes is the same price per ml.

Blacksheep1979

jasmineswhiskers wrote: »

Of course erasing the charity shop prices out isn't deceptive

That is still hiding the price that you paid for the item - something that shouldn't really matter to a potential buyer. You should set your own perceived value of an item and buy it on that - not what society or a label dictates. It is what is inside the tin that matters not what is on the tin itself, you could put a bottle of Krug, Clos du Mesnil 1995 in a normal glass bottle and write free sample on it, and as long as the product is being bought for use rather than collectability its still worth the same.

frivolous_fay

Hintza wrote: »

Do we really care whether lacoste agree or not?

Just making conversation

There was a hint of 'you're being deceptive' and I couldn't let that stand. If we're all so honourable, why is anyone selling non-resellable samples?

frivolous_fay

Blacksheep1979 wrote: »

That is still hiding the price that you paid for the item - something that shouldn't really matter to a potential buyer. You should set your own perceived value of an item and buy it on that - not what society or a label dictates.

Maybe you should, but the person who puts 'RRP £27' on their listing obviously has a vested interest in making you think it's worth that. Either we learn to ignore RRP, or we call the seller a liar.. but why should anyone have to?

Blacksheep1979

why does anyone put anything on their listing other than the title? Its to make the buyer pay more.... It gives an accurate representation of what that quantity of facial scrub, by that manufacturer would cost in a shop.

John_T_5

It is worth noting that the samples say 'not for retail', selling them by auction is legally not selling them by retail, and the company who issued them cannot do anything about it.