The six golden rules of ebay discussion area

zztopgirl

EagerLearner wrote:

Hi,


Can anyone give advice - in particular, what wording to have on listings to protect myself? Also, how can I block the 3 users mentioned above from future auctions?

Any info gratefully received.

Thank you

Blocked bidder list,

http://offer.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?bidderblocklogin

The only thing i can think for your listings, is to stop paypal for now so buyers cant do a chargeback, but have found myself that this loses custom. I cant think of anything else, especially for a npb. Sorry:o

frivolous_fay

EagerLearner wrote:

As a seller most of the time, I will now have to:

- Only leave feedback once a person has left feedback for me, in case they try any scams
- List that any items sent 1st class post cannot be tracked, buyer should select signed delivery at checkout if they want the security of tracked delivery
- List that I always obtain proof of posting from post office
- Check a buyers feedback before allowing bids - maybe only allowing bids from buyers with over 20 feedback

Just a couple of comments. I agree with your points 1 and 3.

Just to let you know that YOU are responsible for getting items to buyers. If you can't prove to paypal that something has been received (ie. provide a tracking number) then paypal is going to refund your buyer, like it or not. Don't even give your buyers the choice of sending by a non-trackable means if you're not prepared to accept having to claim with yrou proof of posting. I think it's fairly obvious that 1st class is not trackable, but paypal won't care if the buyer chose not to use a trackable option.

Point 4... probably a bit over-cautious, and I'm not sure how you plan to check feedback before allowing bids. See my link below for how to filter out undesirables. remember you can always cancel bids from dodgy looking types - but bear in mind those bids are increasing your price!

EagerLearner wrote:

Can anyone give advice - in particular, what wording to have on listings to protect myself? Also, how can I block the 3 users mentioned above from future auctions?

As well as the blocked bidder list that has been posted, go here to set your buyer requirements:

http://offer.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?BuyerBlockPreferences

Set them strictly. Don't tolerate bids from minus feedback users, and don't allow users with less than 5 feedback to bid if they don't have a CC on file.

EagerLearner

Hi there - thanks for the advice - I now have a bidder with just 2 feedback, registered 2 days ago, whose purchase history (4 items) closely resembles that of the person who left me 2 neg feedback - I know it's paranoia, but the items they bought are very low cost items via BIN - all bought yesterday - am I able to cancel this persons bid on the grounds that this person hasn't got enough feedback? Do I need a reason to cancel a bid? Their username is takethatback which further fuels my suspicions.

EagerLearner

frivolous_fay wrote:

don't allow users with less than 5 feedback to bid if they don't have a CC on file.

How do I do this - there seems to be no option on the page I went to?

The_Bookman

buono wrote:

I agree totally about the amazing postage/packing prices some people charge.

I was charged £9.99 p&p by a seller in the UK. The package arrived with postage of about £2.40.

I always add neutral feedback and state that the price for p&p is way over the odds.

Another facor of which to be aware is that some sellers claim to be UK-based but the item is despatched from Hong Kong.

I have also noticed several new sellers from China. I was looking for a decent mp3 player that records in decent quality for podcasting and noticed a couple of sellers with zero feedback ratings selling goods to the value of about £200 from China. the goods are often slightly under what you would expect to pay for the item. To be fair, most people do seem to steer clear as the items all had zero bids.

Charles,

This is a money saving forum, which you've subscribed to. I'd consider it a favour if you could explain for the benefit of us all why you thought it was a good idea to bid on and pay for this item + its £9.99 postage.

lapyap

buono wrote:

I agree totally about the amazing postage/packing prices some people charge.

I was charged £9.99 p&p by a seller in the UK. The package arrived with postage of about £2.40.

I always add neutral feedback and state that the price for p&p is way over the odds.

Another facor of which to be aware is that some sellers claim to be UK-based but the item is despatched from Hong Kong.

I have also noticed several new sellers from China. I was looking for a decent mp3 player that records in decent quality for podcasting and noticed a couple of sellers with zero feedback ratings selling goods to the value of about £200 from China. the goods are often slightly under what you would expect to pay for the item. To be fair, most people do seem to steer clear as the items all had zero bids.

So would you be happy to split fees 50/50 when buying a bargain on ebay, its a buyers market, its there in black and white the cost of postage, if its excessive then simple don't bid,its the sellers who pay ebay fees and paypal fees, I dont think this is fair, I am both a seller and a buyer and dont take this as a go at you because you/me are not alone. Heres an example of fees(straight auction, surprisingly everyone bids at the last minute!problem there ebay, get it sorted!), johnny sells an item worth £200 it makes £100 and the buyer(is over the moon)and pays by paypal, listing fee(for seller ) say £1.20, final auction fee say £4.00(for seller) and lastly paypal fee of £4.00 for accepting paypal, so of the final selling price the seller receives about £90 thats 10% EBAY/Paypal HAVE MADE, how much has the buyer paid in fees NOTHING other than the cost of the item, is this a fair system, in a word NO.But we all still use it don't we Why, coz there aint no competition, any that there is QXL(are they still on the go?) seem to think ziltch of there customers(only my experience), ts a free world:rotfl: So spare a thought for the excessive postage its an indirect way to SHARE fee's and still grab a bargain:beer:

The_Bookman

lapyap wrote:

So would you be happy to split fees 50/50 when buying a bargain on ebay, its a buyers market, its there in black and white the cost of postage, if its excessive then simple don't bid,its the sellers who pay ebay fees and paypal fees, I dont think this is fair, I am both a seller and a buyer and dont take this as a go at you because you/me are not alone. Heres an example of fees(straight auction, surprisingly everyone bids at the last minute!problem there ebay, get it sorted!), johnny sells an item worth £200 it makes £100 and the buyer(is over the moon)and pays by paypal, listing fee(for seller ) say £1.20, final auction fee say £4.00(for seller) and lastly paypal fee of £4.00 for accepting paypal, so of the final selling price the seller receives about £90 thats 10% EBAY/Paypal HAVE MADE, how much has the buyer paid in fees NOTHING other than the cost of the item, is this a fair system, in a word NO.But we all still use it don't we Why, coz there aint no competition, any that there is QXL(are they still on the go?) seem to think ziltch of there customers(only my experience), ts a free world:rotfl: So spare a thought for the excessive postage its an indirect way to SHARE fee's and still grab a bargain:beer:

If you think eBay's fees are excessive, you should try selling at 'regular' auction house. Here's an example. I sell an item on eBay for £4.99, it's going to cost me around 60-70 pence, even if the buyer pays by PayPal. I sell that same item for the same price at my local auction house and I'll be lucky to see £3.00, and the buyer gets to pay a fee as well.

I carry no torch for eBay or PayPal, and I would agree with every criticism of just about all of their practices, especially their lamentable customer service, but not their fees.

eBay works BECAUSE buyers don't have to pay a fee for the privilege of buying something.

arbico

MSE_Martin wrote:

couldn't agree more darbooka. However there's a lot more people using ebay and not checking comparison sites than using comparison sites and not checking eBay!

I agree with MSE Martin ....because ebay not chicking comparison sites :T

Avoriaz

zztopgirl wrote:

…Shilling ebay loves it, welcomes, it, give the shill bidders a huge pat on the back and says well done. I got shilled ..?

I do know that you posted this a while ago.

I know shill bidding is against the rules and also against the spirit of ebay but…..

If you see an item for sale and decide you will pay up to say £50 for it, what real difference to you is there if it is genuine bidders or shill bidders that force your winning bid up to £50?

OK, the seller has used a dubious tactic to increase the price he/she gets but you have still only paid the £50 that you willingly bid. Shill bidders cannot make you pay more than you bid so don’t ever bid more than you are happy to pay.

Avoriaz ducks for cover and runs to avoid the deluge of posts from shill haters.:D

Avoriaz

seven-day-weekend wrote:

… when we lived in the UK we used to sell our own hand-crafted products and they always went like hot cakes, ….the Spanish wouldn't buy our item is it is just not their style..

Go on, admit it.

You were making and selling straw donkeys.:D