Selling your Stuff on Amazon Part 10 - Discussion Thread

EricDeeson

Christina_F wrote: »

I was just wondering how well cds sell (just out of curiousity)

Dunno, but I can say that I've found audio books sell very slowly if at all: had a load from dead blind relative and have perhaps shifted 5%!

Cheers, all - Eric

Mochichu_Books

SoozyJ22 wrote: »

Grrrrr. I've just been left neutral feedback on Amazon because apparently 'The guide wasn't "new" as specified on the internet'. Well, I have no idea where she got that idea from since it was bought brand new from Waterstones and I never read it. I checked before listing that it was still the current edition. I've had no contact from the buyer to say she wasn't happy. This is not good as I only have 3 other feedbacks (all positive) in spite of a lot more transactions so now my feedback is now a rubbish 75%.

Is there anything I can do? I can't see any kind of option to reply to feedback like there is on ebay.

Edited to say: it was the current edition when I listed it, but it was reissued a couple of weeks ago (AFTER she ordered) so maybe that's her problem? It was listed under the 2005 edition and not 2007 though, so she got exactly what the listing was for.

Hello Soozy,
I really do detest neutrals as they'e so not neutral at all - if I get a 1 or a 2 at least I know that the buyer (rightly or wrongly) meant to express how hacked off they were - whereas buyers can post a neutral and think "it was o.k. I'll give them a neutral - no harm done" - how frustrating!!
Anyway, rant over...I think your best bet would be to contact previous customers and explain the situation and ask for feedback - this sometimes works as long as the e-mail is not too pushy - "I rely heavily on positive feedback as a small seller, it would really help me out if you could spare a few minutes etc. etc." As with anything, there are possible (if somewhat unlikely) outcomes to this - if a buyer feels like you are hassling them and then leaves a neg. feedback because of this even when they were previously happy with the transaction itself.
Alternatively, get a friend to buy a couple of penny items from you and leave positive feedbacks.
Not sure if you have contacted the buyer at all yet - offer a refund that you'll give as soon as feedback is removed (apologies, I don't know the value of the transaction to know whether this is a feasible solution).
You can feedback on the transaction too - go in to "your account" then "view your ratings and feedback" then "see all feedback" and you'll see "leave response" by each feedback you've received - best just to keep it factual though - you can show show your annoyance but keep it fairly clean and as "nice" as possible.
Finally, I would try not to worry too much about the rating(easier siad than done I know) - the more discerning buyer would recognise that 75% feedback with so few received means very little (as opposed to a well established seller where 94% or so might be the cut off). - sadly there are quite a few non-discerning(that's never a word is it?) buyers out there too so I really do understand your concern.
Hope this helps - any more questions re: the above just ask.
Thanks,
MJ (Mochichu Books).

mishkanorman

I would definately ask your buyer 'why' they werent happy, (and didnt contact you !!) I had a 3/5 left with a comment about pricey for a used book, when i got in contact with them they said they actually felt the P+P costs were high for what was spent on postage ????

Bit random some of these buyers

mishka

soolin

When I got a 3 from a buyer for something like book wasn't in good enough condition for the price I tried Amazon first but they wouldn't remove it. I then contacted the buyer and explained the sort of thing that has been suggested above that as a small seller I was reliant on good feedback and that if she felt the book was misdescribed then she could return it for a full refund.

I didn't hear anything for a while then suddenly out of the blue she contacted me to say that she just felt the book could have been newer for xx pounds and that postage was excessive. I explained to her that p and p was set by Amazon and that my book was sold only as good (which it was) and that if she had wanted a very good or an excellent book then the next copies were almost £10 dearer. Again there was a bit of a delay but she did reply to say that she had looked through the condition guides that I had sent her the link for and she agreed that my book was 'good' and she apologised for being hasty and removed the feedback. So it is worth a try.

passion8

Hi

This may be an idea that's already been mentioned, and it's an "after the horse has bolted" post, but it might be worth mentioning again.

Feedback always worried me when I sold a used book, so to put my mind at rest, and to reiterate to the buyer that the book was in such and such a state, I'd always mail them before the book was posted and include the following in the text:

Title: [Make me a Millionaire ]

Condition: [Used - Acceptable (as a for instance)]

Seller's comments: [Copied word for word from the listing]

Price including posting and handling charges as set out by Amazon: [Price of book plus handling - the end figure that the customer was paying - (must be stressed as I once nearly put the price I was receiving!)]

I'd then thank the buyer (profusely lol) and supply them with shipping details.

Doing it that way, I felt, was reminding them what they'd bought, and gave them a second chance to back out of buying. No-one ever did.

On a brighter note, my books have been given a reprieve from clutterdom world. My DH "remembered" :rolleyes: that he had an empty ship's container and I could store them there. It's only a temporary retrieve, but I can't believe he'd forgotten he had this. He's been climbing over boxes and traversing across rooms for months!

Good luck with the feedback issue

Magenta

I have sold quite a few books now but have only received feedbacks from about one in four buyers. I also had a 3 out of 5 feedback and that was from a buyer who said excellent seller would definately buy from again.!!
I have never asked a buyer for feedback, I didn't know that it was possible.
Maybe they would feel a bit harassed.
Anyway don't worry Soozy your "score" will soon go back up again. It is so important for us for small sellers.

claireabelle_2

afternoon all... I sold my first book on amazon 2 weeks ago so thanks for all the advice in this post.
I have just had an email from the buyer asking when she can expect the book, I posted it on 10th September second class from the post office, so either a) it hasn't been received or b) it has been received and there is something fishy going on. Has anyone else had this problem? It was Harry Potter VII, for 6GBP.
Thanks in advance!

funkyfunkymonkey

Hi Claireabelle

I would suggest that you email your buyer and ask them to confirm the delivery address and also check with their local sorting office incase they weren't in when the postman called - it would probably be too big to go through their letter box and the postman may not have left a card.

Check if they have any feedback left that suggests they have had this problem before.

If it turns out that you sent it to the correct address and it is not at their sorting office you will need to issue a refund. Leave them positive feedback along the lines of "Sorry for the non delivery of your book and thank you for your patience." - it will act as a warning to future sellers if they have alot of these, but if they are genuine you have said 'sorry and thank you'.

Then print out the refund details and fill out a claim form to get your money back from Royal Mail. I assume you have kept your proof of posting that the Post Office prints out?

Good luck

FFM

DonnaP

:mad: :mad: I am getting so fed up with Amazon selling, to the point where I think I am calling it a day.

I am fed up with books all around the house which never sell and when they do, only to make a few pounds.

To cap it all I have today received my first negative (2 out of 5) from a buyer who says my book took longer than others to arrive! It was bought on the Friday night and posted on Monday! She hasn't contacted me at all to say there was a problem and I have emailed her asking if she can consider removing it as any delays would have been out of my control.

I am beginning to think I much prefer ebay - at least any feedback I leave for these idiots is also taken into consideration. I will leave feedback for this woman, but it doesn't really have any clout.

A very p*****d off Donna

Wolfsbayne

claireabelle wrote: »

afternoon all... I sold my first book on amazon 2 weeks ago so thanks for all the advice in this post.
I have just had an email from the buyer asking when she can expect the book, I posted it on 10th September second class from the post office, so either a) it hasn't been received or b) it has been received and there is something fishy going on. Has anyone else had this problem? It was Harry Potter VII, for 6GBP.
Thanks in advance!

I've had that this week. Posted Theme Park Inc on the 11th September (got proof of postage, have double checked address on delivery note) and received an email on the 21st saying game hasnt been received and she wants a full refund, no question of when it was sent, etc. So ive advised that according to Royal Mail policy an item isnt classed as lost until 15 working days after the expected delivery date, that she should contact me again when this time has passed by which time, if she hasnt received it I will issue a full refund and launch a missing item investigation with RM.

Im always paranoid when people say they havent received something and 'demand' a refund as I often get the sneaking suspicion that they have actually received it and are just trying it on - especially when its something like a computer game which may not be compatible with her computer or something. Will wait and see what happens . . .