Good ways to screen buyers

greedbay

Is there a decent way to stop buyers with low feedback from buying my items?

I know everyone starts on zero but I really would like to vet out the potential scammers and timewasters.

I've had two major issues this year, both buyers had feedback with less than 10. One buyer claimed item was not as described even though item was new, after they used it for about a month they returned it to me, so I was well out of pocket on the postage and the fact my item was no longer new when I got it back.

Other buyer demanded a partial refund for an item that had no issues and left me a negative when I told them to return item.

If I put bidders with 10 feedback or more only, is that okay to do and then refund all low feedback buyers?

theonlywayisup

You cannot block buyers based on feedback alone and you certainly can't block buyers with feedback of 10 or less.

You can however tighten your seller preferences:

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

mrcol1000

To add to the above. Even a buyer that has 1000+ feedback can be just as awkward. All you can do is insist they follow Ebay procedures and open a case. Block them. Report them to Ebay. Respond to any feedback with a calm response of your side.

You can cancel any sales you want. However it may end up with getting more bad feedback from innocent buyers who are miffed at why you have canceled the sale.

greedbay

My buyer preferences are as tight as they can get, I'm experiencing more and more troublesome buyers with low feedback in these past few years.

theonlywayisup

Then perhaps you need to take a look at your listings?

Moogles44

I would like to make preferences tighter than ebay allow but sadly you can!!!8217;t do more than is mentioned above.

I have found that if someone asks a lot of questions and hassles you to post straight away that these items usually come back or there are problems with the item ( that weren!!!8217;t there when I sent!) . So if someone messages me in this way I look at their feedback and often find a lot of negatives left for other sellers so I block them.

Also if they are newish and have purchased an item , I message confirming that they read all listing details and won!!!8217;t send until they do. This honestly saves a lot of returns and people are grateful usually.

I wish you could block buyers who have left a high percentage of negatives for other sellers in last 6 months as they are often trouble but unfortunately they are allowed to carry on ( I!!!8217;ve had problems with sellers before but if they sort problem easily I never leave neg feedback )

Excuse my apostrophes as they all look like this ( I!!!8217;m)

RFW

Moogles44 wrote: »

Also if they are newish and have purchased an item , I message confirming that they read all listing details and won't send until they do. This honestly saves a lot of returns and people are grateful usually.

Grateful? I'm amazed.
How much do you sell that you get so many problems?
I know certain products attract more problems but something wrong in titles and description can also add to it.

Just from your post above I'd hazard a guess that you have some extra terms within your item description.

soolin

Moogles44 wrote: »

I
Also if they are newish and have purchased an item , I message confirming that they read all listing details and won!!!8217;t send until they do. This honestly saves a lot of returns and people are grateful usually.

I wish you could block buyers who have left a high percentage of negatives for other sellers in last 6 months as they are often trouble but unfortunately they are allowed to carry on ( I!!!8217;ve had problems with sellers before but if they sort problem easily I never leave neg feedback )

Excuse my apostrophes as they all look like this ( I!!!8217;m)

Don't worry about the apostrophes, MSE has about as many glitches as ebay sometimes!

AS for emailing buyers, I'm surprised you don't get marked down, it does sound like you have some strange terms or misleading info in your listing description somewhere, otherwise there wouldn't be a need to email the buyer to make sure they knew what they were buying!

It might be simpler to ensure that your listings are completely clear, use item specifics as that is what ebay go on if buyer claims anything- if you have anything that could potentially be confusing to a buyer, get rid of it.

Moogles44

RFW wrote: »

Grateful? I'm amazed.
How much do you sell that you get so many problems?
I know certain products attract more problems but something wrong in titles and description can also add to it.

Just from your post above I'd hazard a guess that you have some extra terms within your item description.

I sell masses each month.my items are not new so I mention any defects in the listing and new buyers often don’t read listings and often people in a hurry don’t.

I never get negative emails back and I often write that I need them to confirm that they have read this listing before I can send.
Many buyers message with thanks for my honesty or ask to cancel as they didn’t bother reading listing.
I haven’t got any negative feedback and I’ve got over 500 followers and many repeat buyers so I must be doing something right.

Moogles44

soolin wrote: »

Don't worry about the apostrophes, MSE has about as many glitches as ebay sometimes!

AS for emailing buyers, I'm surprised you don't get marked down, it does sound like you have some strange terms or misleading info in your listing description somewhere, otherwise there wouldn't be a need to email the buyer to make sure they knew what they were buying!

It might be simpler to ensure that your listings are completely clear, use item specifics as that is what ebay go on if buyer claims anything- if you have anything that could potentially be confusing to a buyer, get rid of it.

I sell used items which are still worth money even with flaws . My listings are incredibly clear and I rarely ever get problems with item not as described ( only had a few purposely badly damaged items that I won when I contested) . I’m actually overly honest in my listings because I’ve been scammed before and can’t bear dishonest sellers .

People just don’t read listings when buying in a hurry or new buyers, it’s definitely those sales which are the ones that I need to check as 90% have just looked at my photo and title and clicked buy it now.
I won’t ever change messaging buyers of items that I’m selling with flaws as it saves bad feedback and needless returns ( better to cancel than lose the money on what I paid on postage )

Thanks for the thing about apostrophes, I thought it was my iPad.

forgotmyname

I wouldnt be impressed with you emailing me about my purchase.

If your selling a lot surely 2 issues with buyers over a year should not be an issue?