Sellers biggest ebay grumbles (Things they should fix)

techspec

The NPB process.

I recently filed an NPB. If the buyer had not paid - they would not have been allowed to leave feedback.

But after filing the claim (after 6 days) - the buyer paid within 5 minutes. They then sent me a load of abuse for filing it.

Now they are refusing to collect the parcel from the delivery office.

They might also trash my feedback.

Its a sad day when an Ebayer cannot use Ebays own procedures without fear of relaliation.

Another Ebayer paid, after i filed an NPB - and then emailed me 5 mins later asking for their money back. Still a NPBidder in all but name - but it won't show that on their account. Again - they can retaliate via feedback if they want.

techspec

melliott1963 wrote: »

recorded is a waste of money. You don't get any additional compensation over just getting a (free) proof of posting. Recorded post is not tracked, it just goes with standard mail and may (but not always) get a signature when it's delivered.

In the event of a claim - you are gauranteed your money back if Royal Mail don't have a signature. With proof of postage - if they write to the buyer and the buyer ignores them - Royal Mail refuse to pay. So POP is not exactly the same. Also a buyer cannot claim INR if they signed for it. They can if they didn't.

luvvlyjubbly

I mark as despatched as soon as I have wrapped just mainly as a mark to myself that i parcel is wrapped, it's easy to make a mistake if you have more than one of the same item.....now i don't always post that day, hadn't really thought about it from the buyers point of view....so a wrapped up marker would be useful
Also I would like to see a photo of my items in my Ebay, just a niggle but would make things easier

techspec

luvvlyjubbly wrote: »

I mark as despatched as soon as I have wrapped just mainly as a mark to myself that i parcel is wrapped, it's easy to make a mistake if you have more than one of the same item.....now i don't always post that day, hadn't really thought about it from the buyers point of view....so a wrapped up marker would be useful
Also I would like to see a photo of my items in my Ebay, just a niggle but would make things easier

Yeah, everyone used to do that - but now Ebay send an Email to the buyer saying dispatched - i don't recommend it. Some petty buyers check the postage stamp for everything from amount paid to date posted.

I always mark as dispatched the day they go out. Its the only way now - as it looks like misleading the buyer if you don't. I used the 'add note' feature to tell myself its packed - but agree a new 'item packed' marker would be great.

luvvlyjubbly

Thanks...I will have to try the add note suggestion.

UnderPressure

For me it would have to be the lack of seller security, ebay and paypal especially seem to love having sellers jump through hoops just to keep your accounts alive and to be able to get your hands on your own money!

It is far to easy to find yourself on the wrong side of either of them whether it be your own fault or a scam artist of a buyer, ebay and paypal can too easily limit your accounts effectively destroying what you have built up in no time at all.

Paypal are a law unto themselves that emply nothing but corporate robots that read from pre designed scripts, there is no common sense with this company at all they need to be tightly regulated here in the UK because at the moment they literally make it up as they go along! Same with Ebay but with them it is down to a serious lack in any kind of decent competition they have the market cornered and they know it so they milk it for every penny they can with no thought to the sellers that actually feed them every day.

These are my gripes, I do not see anything happening any time soon to change any of this though Luckily I have always sailed under their scope with such problems but I know of many many honest seller that have had their Ebay businesses trashed due to Paypal and Ebay incompetence or dodgy buyers. It spoils my whole ebay experience as I am of the frame of mind that I am sure it will be my turn 1 day, I have seen some huuuuuugggeee powersellers have their businesses wiped out over night, I know of 1 chap who ended up declaring bankruptcy as paypal limited his account and held onto thousands of pounds that was intended to be paid to suppliers, this resulted in his whole life falling apart at the seams literally. None of this should be allowed to take place in the UK but it does...........

Crowqueen

I always mark as dispatched when I get home from the PO.

It depends on how long it is between being marked as dispatched and receipt but I would usually treat people who appear to lie about dispatch harsher than those who do not dispatch soon.

Also, although a lot of buyers may well confuse delivery with dispatch, we are all in the same boat on that one, yet people still manage to maintain good ratings all the same. So allowing for that fact, if your dispatch score is lower than someone else's, it's still important to make an effort to send out promptly.

Items being delayed in the mail also happen, but buyers tend to leave feedback based on how a seller deals with it, so if your item has been delayed two weeks after posting, you need to cultivate your buyer and make sure they are kept happy. Your responsibility does not end at the post box or post office, so be VERY careful how you address legitimate complaints about eBay because all these threads end up with poor sellers slating their customers, which gets tedious to read and reply to.

My pet bugbear with eBay is an increasingly glitchy site (wasn't always noticeable until this summer) and some inconsistencies in feedback policy which I fear will get worse rather than better now sellers are getting the ability to directly report buyer mischief. I don't have much issue because I've usually had a good return as a seller and know the pitfalls as a buyer - if that ever changed I'd simply leave, as I don't have (and don't want) an eBay business.

lovinituk

As a full time online retail seller (ebay, Amazon and own websites) I actually think ebay is a good place to sell. There will always be buyers who can't read, are out to scam or who are just plain spiteful but thankfully they are a minority (although it might not seem like it for private or low volume sellers who can be harmed by a single bad feedback). As a business we accept that there will occasionally be problems and it goes with the territory, as with any other kind of business.

I also find ebay customer support to be extremely helpful but then I always phone up and I always get through the call centre(s) in Ireland (suspect this is related to being TRS).

The only real gripe I have with ebay is their apparent lack of dealing with sellers that steal images and content from others sellers listings. It took me a long time to get one sellers listings removed where they had done a complete copy and paste of mine.

graspthenettle

techspec wrote: »

Yeah, everyone used to do that - but now Ebay send an Email to the buyer saying dispatched - i don't recommend it. Some petty buyers check the postage stamp for everything from amount paid to date posted.

I always mark as dispatched the day they go out. Its the only way now - as it looks like misleading the buyer if you don't. I used the 'add note' feature to tell myself its packed - but agree a new 'item packed' marker would be great.

Petty? I always tell my buyers to check the amount paid on the postage stamp, its the only way they can be 100% sure that they aren't being overcharged.

I read another seller's neutral feedback yesterday, the buyer marked them down because the 'postage was too expensive' the seller had charged £2, the actual cost was £2.70. Obviously the buyer wasn't 'petty enough' to check the label and so just went on what they expected the cost to be.

To get back to the OPs original question, IMO, ebay should do away with that 5th star rating altogether - I'm not convinced that you even can be very satisfied.

Also, and I keep asking them to do this, I would prefer them to make those communications on our behalf optional - as a buyer it drives me nuts to get all those emails, I just want to hear from the seller directly. As a seller, I just want my buyer to hear from me and not be bogged down with official notifications. I accept that some businesses might like it, that's why I think it should possible to opt in or out of it. I'm a big girl now, I can speak for myself, thanks ebay

emmbrook

techspec wrote: »

Yeah, everyone used to do that - but now Ebay send an Email to the buyer saying dispatched - i don't recommend it. Some petty buyers check the postage stamp for everything from amount paid to date posted.

Petty indeed! I received an item despatched email the other week shortly after buying (from a large business seller) which I thought was commendably quick, even on a 2 - 3 day estimated delivery. It wasn't actually posted until a whole week later. Did I mark down on comms and despatch time? What do you think?

If it hasn't been sent, don't tell me it has been. If it's going to take a week, don't tell me 2 - 3 days. That's not unreasonable is it?

I do agree though that the stars and gradings are very confusing and need to be changed.