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I bet quite a few of you resellers are going to say the same thing as well, especially the ones who are purely Etsy sellers.
Here's my vent. I don't list things often. Once in awhile, sure. To make some extra money. I listed some Strawberry Shortcake stationery from the 1980's, which always sells pretty well. This was the second time I listed it - the first being before Christmas. BOTH times a person with zero feedback bid within the last seconds of the auction, never paid & became a no longer registered member. BOTH times eBay deleted my auctions all together so I was unable to offer a second chance option (possibly that's to prevent shill bidding or whatever it's called). I have been hocking some Super Mario Bros stickers. I sold 3 lots. A person in Mexico claims to have never received. I was going to send with tracking again, but... according to Canada posts, it costs $88 to send with tracking to Mexico - $88 f*@#ing dollars! I told him forget it, take a refund like you wanted, eBay wouldn't find in my favour unless I resent with tracking anyways. Only about 10% of the time do they find in favour of the seller. So, the 3rd sale never paid. 50% of the recent auctions of mine, the buyer didn't pay. I had to go through the "non paying bidder" crap to get my final credit fee back. One allegedly they never got it, I don't believe they got it YET, but whatever. I am going on vacation soon & don't want the hassle of it on my mind.
I like eBay for the quick sale. You can sell stuff you cannot on eBay. You seem to reach a larger audience. You get free auctions. I dislike how Etsy charges per auction.
Thanks for reading/listening. My fellow bloggers, eBay & Etsy resellers are the only ones to understand. What the hell is wrong with people? I've been on eBay on & off for over 10 years.. back when you could of easily scammed people when you could still send cash in the mail. IT WAS NEVER THIS BAD.
People are annoying f*@#ing scumbags.
I understand why some people only ship within their own countries. I like to ship outside of Canada, I seem to think it maximizes my profits, but I guess this one is a lesson for me, only a $2.50 lesson, I have about 100 of these stickers, so really, I only feel like I am out shipping, but I could have used that $30. I really wish people would include Canada in their auctions, not just stick with the USA. I am thinking in the future, I might just stick with USA, Canada, but for stationery, a lot of people in Brazil seem to buy it..
Yes, to everything you said and more! I used to sell on Ebay, too but when they said they wanted to be like Amazon it started to go all downhill. And their new thing with free auctions gets every Tom, Dick and Harry thinking they can sell. I have some stuff I NEED to sell on ebay - I'm just procrastinating because I feel like you do - they hardly ever side with the seller and there's all kinds of people out there trying to get you stuff for free. I know this sounds trite but I do feel your pain.
ReplyDeleteNo, it doesn't. I'm glad (but a little sad, since eBay used to be so much fun) that I'm not the only one..
DeleteI've never tried to sell with eBay because it just seems so complicated, and if it is annoying for me to buy something, then it sure as shit is going to be annoying for me to sell something. I know it is bothersome to give Etsy money per item sold, buuuut you can command a better price on Etsy, and it really seems to be geared to sellers. I haven't had a single issue in 23 sales.
ReplyDeleteI hope it gets better!
Yeah, but shipping from Canada to USA & international bites the big one! Usually you can get the item shipped from the USA to Canada cheaper than shipped from the same province! so dumb.
DeleteOMG!! You have had the shi*iest luck ever with ebay! I'm so sorry! I only use it when I want to sell something bigger and more valuable. I guess I have this fantasy that two people will get into a bidding war over one of my items and ill end up making a couple hundred bucks on something I paid $2.00 for! Hasn't happend yet though. I've sold about 100 things and I haven't had a single issue with a buyer. All good feedback. I guess I've just lucked out. Knock on wood!
ReplyDeleteI feel for you! That would make selling no fun at all!
Erica
Er
*KNOCK ON WOOD INDEED*
DeleteMy biggest sale was $232.50 on a shirt I paid $7 for. LOVED IT!
I totally get you. A few weeks back a buyer filed a chargeback with paypal. I sent paypal the tracking number stating the item was delivered. The buyer claimed his credit card was used without his permission. I sent that scumbag a message and of course he never responded. Paypal decided to refund his money but since I was covered under seller protection, my money was never used. It pisses me off that he got his money back and he got to keep my item. No wonder ebay and paypal charge so much to sell because of scammers like him. I stay away from auctions unless I think I can get a bidding war.
ReplyDeleteHe should have sent the item back..? I mean, if his credit card was used fraudulently then he should still have to pay for the item? IDK. Maybe it's covered in seller protection. I don't know about it.
DeleteScumbags & scammers all over.
I've had crappy experience with Ebay and Etsy.
ReplyDeleteMy real petpeeve is Canada Post; their international shipping rates for heavier stuff are CRAZY! I feel I loose sales because of that.
That is true. Canada Post is wild. I wonder if some things would be cheaper sent UPS?
DeleteFunny thing, I once bought a NIB Pee Wee Herman of ETSY & it was cheaper for her to send it in a cab across downtown Toronto than to send it Canada Post. LOL!
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ReplyDeleteWhat's with the Strawberry Shortcake? I sold a lot of Strawberry Shortcake wrapping paper 2 different times and both times the buyer dissappeared from Ebay. The third time the person never paid. I finally was able to ship the paper off the a reliable buyer the other day, 4 is the charm I guess. I've had a lot of other problems with buyers as of recently. Where is the seller protection?!? I feel your pain and shipping is unbelievable. So annoying.
ReplyDeleteFeel your pain!
Hanna
There is none! I remember seeing that wrapping paper on your blog - I was jealous.
DeleteI am in the same boat as you. Same bitch just bid within the last seconds using the name for the girl from the Vampire Diaries name as her actual name.. how in the hell do they keep being able to sign up for eBay!?
I'll have to list for a 4th time. People who actually want it are going to lose interest.
I agree, ebay bites big time.
ReplyDeleteBut I have had problems with Etsy! I am just about done with any online sales and buying! Facebook, although, has been good to me.
It only takes one bad selling experience on Ebay to undo all the good ones. Someone contacted me via my blog wanting to buy some sunglasses in my private collection. Once I sent them off the buyer seemed to regret spending the money & sent me multiple emails about how they felt unsure of the purchase. And surprise surprise the sunnies arrived broken. I KNOW couldn't have broken, she just wanted her money back. I refunded it & lost out on international shipping because the buyer was stressing me out so much. I don't know why people have become so dodgy & selfish, but it does put me off selling because the odds of being ripped off are getting worse. All I'm trying to do is make a bit of extra 'pocket money'!
ReplyDeleteUgh. I'm sorry to hear.
DeleteBut I'm happy to hear "sunnies". I'm going to use that word. My boyfriend's going to hate it.
I have heard a number of horror stories, but the only people I have had any problems with are the ones that win with a 99p bid and then refuse to pay. I did have a gal in The Netherlands a few years back who won an item from me for 99p that was damaged. I had listed the damage, put in very clear photos and said 'the damage does not detract from the overall look of the item'. She freaked out on me over the little tear and after a number of emails (she said she wasn't getting my emails, but I know damn well she was), I refused to give her her money back until she sent my item back at her expense. If she hadn't been such a cow, I would have let her keep it AND given her her money back.
ReplyDeletePeople are freaking nuts. Clueless & nuts.
DeleteThe last time I sold on Ebay, I went through the same zero feedback crap. It happened when I started showing stuff on my blog that I was selling. Brought crazies out of the woodwork, and I haven't sold anything since, so I feel your pain! Just not worth the trouble...
ReplyDeleteYea, starting to think it's not. It's been one big FREAKIN headache.
DeleteI also used to sell on Ebay, but haven't in a few years because their prices got too high. Now I have a booth at an antique mall and customers are trying nickel and dime me to death there. It's so annoying. The price I mark it is the price I want for it people otherwise I would have marked it cheaper to begin with! I think people are confusing antique malls with flea markets. You really do have to have your guard up with auctions though. There are lots of scammers out there!
ReplyDeleteI didn't know people tried to haggle at antique malls! Weird. People will haggle anywhere.
DeletePeople want that rotten apple at my work for half price.. we won't sell that rotten apple at half price. Odds are we didn't know it was there. If you really want a rotten apple. Walk down to Metro. That's all they have.
DeleteHere in America, haggling is a given at antique malls and most other second hand operations (antique store, estate sale, garage sale, flea market, swap meet, etc.). I never demand discounts, but it never hurts to ask.
DeletePerhaps the rules of haggling differ in Canada?
These horror stories are why I have never tried Ebay. However, if you use Paypal on Etsy you will run into some of these same issues because, as you say, Paypal usually sides with the buyer. I have hundreds of sales on Etsy and have only run into a few bad transactions. And I solved the whole "I never got it" or "It broke" thing by getting insurance on every package through ShipSurance (they have it for Ebay too). Totally reasonable rates that you can build into your item or shipping price---lots of peace of mind.
ReplyDeleteThey even insure international packages without tracking.
I will look into it.. although, a lot of things aren't available to Canadians. :/
DeleteI don't sell on ebay, but I purchase.
ReplyDeleteHere's a buyer's rant. I pay the minute I know I win, many times seconds after the auction ends. But the sellers don't leave feedback. Yet I am expected to give them wonderful ratings.
One recent transaction, I left a neutral rating and got a written tirade on my star page thingie. No mention of my instant payment. Only a tirade because I felt that the item wasn't quite as described, the vendor had stressed the quality of the embroidery, the beauty of the stitches and the smooth, clean appearance of the wrong side of the work. When I stated that it was beautiful but might be machine embroidery, she went nuts.
I understand that resellers need to make a profit but when I'm willing to pay $18 for a piece that she picked up for under $5 and then pay over $18 for shipping, I think she's out of order.
I hear ya! That's why they took feedback away from sellers.. because sellers would just leave negative in return, even if the seller was PERFECT to a T.
DeleteI am like you. I pay instantly, unless, I need to wait for an invoice for international shipping, then I request the invoice instantly.
50 and Counting, as someone who has sold on eBay I support the fact that you have every right to expect to get what your hard earned money paid for.
DeleteFor a Seller, fee discounts can be revoked and accounts suspended if they don't receive positive and across the board 4 star ratings. So a neutral feedback or even a 3 star rating hurts a Seller.
A Seller can feel side swiped by a Buyer if not given the courtesy to work on correcting an issue before feedback is left. After all most people don't intentionally mislead.
Even as a Seller with a no return policy, I always welcome the opportunity to correct any mistake I've made. In order to do this, a Buyer has to first contact me.
This is why I never leave feedback first when I'm the Seller. I consider online transactions as ongoing until the Buyer leaves positive feedback. This signals to me that the Buyer has received the item and has no issues. Thus, the complete selling experience can be accurately rated.
I'm not a linen expert, but if clear images of the embroidery where given and the description didn't specify machine or hand details, then it's up to a buyer to ask before bidding.
I've assumed a few things, and I'm not saying you're in the wrong. I'm wanting to possibly clear up why you felt retaliation from a Seller.
I just sold my first two things on Ebay. I have bought a gazillion things on Ebay, but never worked as a seller. I do fine on Etsy, bu there are some items I know I can get more money on so I tried Ebay. Crossing my fingers..the buyers paid right away and I shipped items out today.
ReplyDeleteI hope it works out for you! eBay used to be so much fun. I don't know what happened! I loved picking stuff up & selling it.
DeleteEbay seller here for 10+ years! My horror story is I sold a Coach purse and the buyer claimed it was fake. I tried to reason with her and all she could say was that I am a scammer, a fraud, and a thief. Long story short - she complained to PayPal, she returned the purse, PayPal automatically refunded her, and I got a box of rolled up magazines!!!! The buyer blocked me, and deleted her account a couple of days later. UGH!
ReplyDeleteThat is a horror story!
DeleteI recently read that as protection you should always require returns to be sent with signature confirmation that way you could open up a package right in front of the UPS or FedEx employee. I'm not sure how much true protection you would get from this, but it's a thought.
Sir Thrift-A-Lot, First, apologies for what might be considered taking up too much room on your thread, as I've posted responses to quite a few of your followers.
ReplyDeleteI've had great international sales and have found that I get more money from overseas customers. I wanted to share some policies and practices that work for me.
To reduce the risk for myself I follow these guidelines:
- Shipping is from the USA to North America (including CANADA!!), Western Europe, Japan, & Australia/New Zealand only.
That means no Eastern Europe, Africa, Asia (besides Japan), or South America.
- International Shipping is done USPS Priority or UPS/FedEx only.
This way, guaranteed delivery times are between 3 - 14 days depending on location.
- All shipments are sent with Tracking.
USPS will just allow tracking up to Customs.
- All shipments are insured.
I include this in my shipping charge.
Yes, some policies increases the cost for a customer. However, I want to attract the type of Buyer who wants fast service, shipping protection, and a great item at a *FAIR price.
* Notice how I say Fair? I tend to price items near their peak value. This helps weed out the people who want something for nothing.
It's My store, my items, my policies, and my responsibility to my business and to myself to make a fair and healthy profit while limiting risk.
It's how I run my business, and I make no apologies about it. After all, I work hard and deserve the rewards not the short end of the stick.
Have you ever tried Bonanza? I like selling from there.
ReplyDeleteIt's a shame to have trouble with Strawberry Shortcake, of all things. I've never had trouble with Raggedy Ann. Perhaps b/c if you mess with her she sends out her brother Andy to straighten things out. You don't want that. ;)
I agree with a lot of your sentiments. My least favorite experience was with someone who contacted me for discounted shipping. I told them no. They bid on the item anyway, won, and then asked again for a refund for discounted shipping after I sent the item. I said no a second time, and offered to pay for her to ship it back to me and that I would refund the item entirely. She said no, and then left feedback that the item was damaged. I took up the case with Ebay, and they didn't do anything. I only sell on there if I absolutely must get rid of something that isn't vintage.
ReplyDeleteReading through this post and comments has been VERY enlightening. I just listed an item on eBay with the intent of listing more, but now I'm terrified of scammers and low-down, scheming buyers.
ReplyDelete