Ok...seriously done with Ebay, paypal, etc...

Signed-In Members Don't See This Ad
Status
Not open for further replies.
J

jleiwig

Member
Joined
Jan 10, 2007
Messages
1,860
Location
Monroe, Ohio, USA.
So I sold an item on Ebay this past weekend. The guy emails me and asks me if he's going to get 7 items or 6 items because the picture I had posted had more items that the auction. I email him back and tell him he will get everything listed in the ebay auction. So he emails me three more times asking me the same question over and over. Is it that hard to understand english? Have we as a society dropped that far evolution-wise that they don't understand basic english? I used the same picture for multiple auctions because I was lazy and it was easier than taking individual pictures of the items.

Am I in the wrong here? I read ebay policy and it deals with descriptions (which was accurate), and I couldn't find anything about a picture. From what I understand the text is the contract of the sale, so I'm in the clear right?

I just want to make sure I'm not doing anything wrong because I have a feeling that this guy is going to cause major problems for me. If that is the case I will officially close my ebay account and probably my paypal account as it is, because I'm sick and tired of dealing with all the crap!
 
Signed-In Members Don't See This Ad
good luck.

If the guy protests, he can have the transaction reversed through paypal. He must return the items though.

Had a woman complain that a bag my wife was selling "wasn't as large as the pictures portrayed" and got paypal to side in her favor despite the fact that the actual measurements were in the listing and there was nothing in any of the pictures that could have been used to base the size off of (nothing in the background, etc for a size reference).

Paypal gave the woman a certain period of time to return the item even though I was adamantly against it. She didn't return the item, so we got to keep the money.

But it goes to show that Paypal/Ebay doesn't care what the listing says, they will throw a dart at a wall to determine the resolution.
 
jleiwig said:
So I sold an item on Ebay this past weekend. The guy emails me and asks me if he's going to get 7 items or 6 items because the picture I had posted had more items that the auction. I email him back and tell him he will get everything listed in the ebay auction. So he emails me three more times asking me the same question over and over. Is it that hard to understand english? Have we as a society dropped that far evolution-wise that they don't understand basic english? I used the same picture for multiple auctions because I was lazy and it was easier than taking individual pictures of the items.

Am I in the wrong here? I read ebay policy and it deals with descriptions (which was accurate), and I couldn't find anything about a picture. From what I understand the text is the contract of the sale, so I'm in the clear right?

I just want to make sure I'm not doing anything wrong because I have a feeling that this guy is going to cause major problems for me. If that is the case I will officially close my ebay account and probably my paypal account as it is, because I'm sick and tired of dealing with all the crap!
Click to expand...

Justin, Don't read this post if you are looking for sympathy. Are you wrong here, of course you are! You do realize that don't you? The easiest way to confuse a simple person is to run an ad for six items while showing a photo of seven. Regardless of what ebay's policy is, taking the extra 4.35 minutes to snap a digital photo of the items would have eliminated the whole problem.

Now instead of blaming this on your self admitted laziness, you blame ebay and even poor ole paypal and they didn't have a thing to do with your problem!

I think the title of this thread should have been... "Laziness not always the best approach - lesson learned!" :)
 
Justin - I have never used ebay or paypal so my thoughts are only based on your post. I think you created your own problem by posting a picture that doesn't match your list. As you said, you were lazy. Then, instead of answering the buyers question, you sent him back to your list ( and picture) which is what confused him in the first place.

As for understanding English - maybe he doesn't understand. Maybe english in NOT his first language. Or maybe your English just isn't clear to him.
 
Sorry, I'm with Tex on this one. Just as you wouldn't put a picture of an Emperor and a description of a slimline or a picture of an acrylic and a description of a cheap wood you don't post a picture of 7 when you are selling 6.

GK
 
I know that I was lazy in the picture department and owned up to that first thing in my post, but I also have explicitly in my post a listing of 6 items that are itemized by number totaling six items and six numbered points, and a line that people are to email with questions prior to bidding!

So my question is am I the only one that was lazy in this example? Or was the buyer lazy as well by reading six items, seeing more than six items, waiting out the 7 day auction (bid on third day), buying it anyway, and not asking a question before hand?

I'm not saying I'm not completely at fault as I admit to being lazy that day, I'm just saying that if there were questions as to what he was getting he should have:

a. Asked before bidding.
b. At least clarified before Paypaling me money.
c. All of the above.

If he bid on it mistakenly thinking he was getting more than the 6 items listed I would have gladly accepted a bid retraction no problem, however he didn't mention anything to me until after he had sent the money via paypal.

I mean it's obvious to his multiple emails asking the same question that he doesn't pay much attention to words, only pictures. Doesn't Ebay have an age policy? I mean shouldn't we be past the picture book stage of development by the time we're shopping on Ebay?

I asked opinions here because I don't like to be known as a bad guy, but then again I'm not also going to take responsibility for others mistakes.

I just emailed him and will refund him his money because I just don't want to deal with annoying whining for the next month over something so inconsequential. I've got better things to do with my time. I cannot believe I've gotten so riled up over something of so little consequence.

Thanks for listening.
 
Likewise, an answer to the email that said "you are getting 6 items, as stated in the description" would have been less confusing to him than "you are getting everything listed in the ebay auction." From his point of view, the picture is part of the auction.
 
If you're in the "wrong" boat, it's crowded. I see pictures like that all the time on ebay. I think you just open yourself to problems, but you certainly aren't the Lone Ranger in these situatio.
 
Yes, the bidder could have done those things just like you could have posted a correct picture and directly answered his question about the number of items. IMO the responsibility here is yours, not the bidder. If you had posted an accurate picture he would not have aksed questions.

I also think your comments on here about the bidder (ability to understand english, picture book stage of development etc) are uncalled for. Haven't ypou ever heard the phrase "a picture is worth a thousand words"? Your picture spoke the 'wrong' words.
 
Well the issue is done and settled, thanks for the opinions everyone. I had thought I had it set to where people who had 0 feedback couldn't bid on my auctions but I was wrong.

Anyway..I'll stick to craigslist where people can come and see the items themselves. As George said...taking the easy way out is not the best approach.
 
From your own description, you intentionally misrepresented what you were selling. You posted a picture and a description that did not match. Whatever results from that, the fault is yours. When the winner asked about it, the only proper response should have been an apology, an explanation, and offer of full or partial refund.

Again, from your own posting, your listing is exactly what an abay scam looks like, and makes it harder for good sellers. I'm glad you finally offered a refund, but your attitude about the situation seems way off base. Good luck on Craig'slist.
 
Texatdurango said:
Justin, Don't read this post if you are looking for sympathy. Are you wrong here, of course you are! You do realize that don't you? The easiest way to confuse a simple person is to run an ad for six items while showing a photo of seven. Regardless of what ebay's policy is, taking the extra 4.35 minutes to snap a digital photo of the items would have eliminated the whole problem.

Now instead of blaming this on your self admitted laziness, you blame ebay and even poor ole paypal and they didn't have a thing to do with your problem!

I think the title of this thread should have been... "Laziness not always the best approach - lesson learned!" :)
Click to expand...

Bit of a tough judgement here , methinks. As they say "Read the fine print".
 
sefali said:
From your own description, you intentionally misrepresented what you were selling. You posted a picture and a description that did not match. Whatever results from that, the fault is yours. When the winner asked about it, the only proper response should have been an apology, an explanation, and offer of full or partial refund.

Again, from your own posting, your listing is exactly what an abay scam looks like, and makes it harder for good sellers. I'm glad you finally offered a refund, but your attitude about the situation seems way off base. Good luck on Craig'slist.
Click to expand...

No it was not intentionally misrepresented. There were multiple items that I was selling in a single picture. By your judgement, since I took the picture on a blanket on my desk in front of my computer, the blanket, desk, and computer should have been included in the auction as well?

Was that misrepresentation as well since I didn't list them in the auction? Seriously? I think there was a pen and checkbook sitting there as well....guess I should have listed those in the listing as well...since what's in the picture HAS to be what is included in the auction. Maybe the wall of the house and the window behind should have been thrown in as a freebie too?

When you guys list pens for sale on your website do you include the stand or prop the picture it was taken on in the sale? If not by your judgement of me it sounds like you should. Otherwise you may have misrepresented your ad!

I think that some of you read too much into things. It's easy to judge someone from behind a computer on intentions. I do appreciate George's post though because he told me his opinion without trying to villify me and I respect that.

Either way it's a done deal, and I have perfectly fine luck on craiglist. I've bought and sold lots of stuff. You just have to learn how to deal with the rabblerousers and weed out the fluff. I don't get that option on Ebay....and now I remember why I stopped selling stuff on ebay.

Thanks
 
Craigslist is no ebay that's for sure I sell on both,but could not do what I do with craigslist alone.I didn't read all the post don't have the time,but it is what it is a forum with thousands of opinions.Good Luck Sir,Victor
 
Ignoring the issue of the picture not matching the listing, I can't understand why you have gotten so upset or were short with your customer.

We always try to stay patient and to carefully explain when we are asked questions by customers. They are, after all, giving us money.
 
sbell111 said:
Ignoring the issue of the picture not matching the listing, I can't understand why you have gotten so upset or were short with your customer.

We always try to stay patient and to carefully explain when we are asked questions by customers. They are, after all, giving us money.
Click to expand...

I know....patience is a blessing, and right now I'm not very blessed! I'm working on it. I try every day. My wife and mother might not agree, but I'm working on it! :biggrin:
 
jleiwig said:
No it was not intentionally misrepresented. There were multiple items that I was selling in a single picture. By your judgement, since I took the picture on a blanket on my desk in front of my computer, the blanket, desk, and computer should have been included in the auction as well?

Was that misrepresentation as well since I didn't list them in the auction? Seriously? I think there was a pen and checkbook sitting there as well....guess I should have listed those in the listing as well...since what's in the picture HAS to be what is included in the auction. Maybe the wall of the house and the window behind should have been thrown in as a freebie too?

When you guys list pens for sale on your website do you include the stand or prop the picture it was taken on in the sale? If not by your judgement of me it sounds like you should. Otherwise you may have misrepresented your ad!

I think that some of you read too much into things. It's easy to judge someone from behind a computer on intentions. I do appreciate George's post though because he told me his opinion without trying to villify me and I respect that.

Either way it's a done deal, and I have perfectly fine luck on craiglist. I've bought and sold lots of stuff. You just have to learn how to deal with the rabblerousers and weed out the fluff. I don't get that option on Ebay....and now I remember why I stopped selling stuff on ebay.

Thanks
Click to expand...


What's the item number for your listing?
 
I can see both sides of the fence here, but what's disturbing is that there is absolutely ZERO accountability for bidders. If you had posted a picture of 6 items and listed 7, would this guy be complaining? And what recourse would you as the seller have if you came up with some hairbrained complaint that he still owes you for the 7th item because he only paid for 6 items since there were only 6 in the picture? Why is it "OK" when the bidder feels he's making out, but not "OK" when he feels he's being short changed? At some point, Ebay is going to drive itself into the ground, soon I hope. Why is it such a quick leap to accusing the seller of false advertising? I was in Wal-Mart behind this guy in the checkout line, who was up in arms because an item rang up $0.50 more than he thought it should. Turns out he was looking at the price on the shelf above the item. Did he admit that he made a mistake? Nope. He started yelling something about false advertising and that he should get it for his price. $0.50!!!!! And he was clearly in the wrong. Sellers can't possible anticipate every idiot bidder that might look at their listing. Sorry if some of you have been that bidder, but if there's one thing I can't stand in this world it's people who are oblivious to anything around them.

I worked in the payroll department of a company and if we made a mistake in the employee's favor, very very few people would ever tell us about it. And what a mess if we ever tried to get the money back. If we made a mistake in our favor, man did they **** and moan. One woman made a HUGE fuss because the letter she received stating her raise carried it out 3 decimal places, but her paycheck only carried it 2 decimal places. She calculated the effect that had on the company match to her 401k for the 4 months since her raise and demanded that her comp rate be changed retroactively to "correct" it. I think it amounted to about $0.25. True story. And she made well over $100K/yr. I had all I could do not to laugh right in her face.
 
Babyblues - I don't see anywhere in the posts that the bidder was complaining. He asked if it was 6 items (as listed) or 7 items (as pictured). The seller didn't answer his question but rather sent him back to the list and picture so the bidder emailed again with the same question. He was basically asking what was correct - the list or the picture. That's not complaining. That's asking a very simple question.
 
JimB said:
Babyblues - I don't see anywhere in the posts that the bidder was complaining. He asked if it was 6 items (as listed) or 7 items (as pictured). The seller didn't answer his question but rather sent him back to the list and picture so the bidder emailed again with the same question. He was basically asking what was correct - the list or the picture. That's not complaining. That's asking a very simple question.
Click to expand...

My bad. "Complaining" was the wrong choice of words. (Sigh)
 
babyblues said:
My bad. "Complaining" was the wrong choice of words. (Sigh)
Click to expand...

Only two things I'm going to add and then I'm done posting in this thread as it's like banging my head against a wall repeatedly.

First, I understand where your coming from, thank you for your opinion on the matter.

Second, Apparently the buyer and some people here don't understand the definition of listed

list1
–noun A series of names or other items written together in a meaningful grouping or sequence so as to constitute a record: a list of items



This was the original reason for posting this. I just can't believe that after three pages someone still is claiming that I didn't answer his question when I told him what was LISTED was what was included....LOL :eek:. Must be related to the bidder!

Over and out...
 
Now that's funny, but I don't think I'm related to the bidder. The bidder asked YOU a simple question and you didn't answer. He asked you 6 or 7. Did you answer 6 or 7. No. You answered LIST.

I understand LISTED. I also understand if you post a picture of what you list, they should match. If someone here list 6 blanks for sale and posted a picture of seven blanks wouldn't you ask if it is 6 or 7? I would. After all, the list could be a mistake and the picture could be right.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top Bottom