My $.02 on ebay problems

[RiceLynnEvans75]

It seems what I've seen more and more of lately are people complaining about their ebay transactions. When I hear stories and look at the auctions, the situations could have EASILY been avoided. Here's my $.02.

Sellers

-Should provide both front and back scans of a card, especially the sellers who deem it justifiable to simply put "see scan" for an item description.

-Actually talk about the card and don't just say, "see scan(s)". This is great and all but keep in mind a scan does not tell the whole story. There are plenty of flaws that will not show up in a scan. If you want to avoid having to give a refund, state the flaws in the item description.

-If you're going to assign a grade (NM, EX, MINT), then make sure it is that condition and not what you just want it to be. Grades are completely subjective and nobody is 100% accurate. If anything, go a grade lower and you'll make someone happy.

-With s/h, be reasonable and state how you will ship the card and what services are provided so it is laid out in front of the customer.



Buyers

-Ask questions! If you have an auction that you're interested in and it looks somewhat off then ask about it! Ask about condition, s/h methods pertaining to cost, etc. Ask for a back scan if one is not shown.

-Read the entire description. Sellers make mistakes whether it be forgetting to change a photo from a prior auction template to mistyping something in the text. Just like you, sellers are not perfect. If something seems off, then again, ask about it!

-If you are not happy with the item you receive, contact the seller and see what can be done to fix it whether it be a 100% refund, partial refund, or maybe some other cards will be sent to you. Don't be so quick to hit the feedback with a neutral/negative as yes, it can have a fair impact on them.



Anyway, I'm sick of typing this now and I know there are things I forgot but keep in mind. The transactions are a two-way street. Each side can do something to protect themselves and prevent these situations. 99% of the time, it isn't just one side taking the other for a ride.

 

[notjomommasclint]

as simple and obvious as those things seem... some people have problems implementing them.

 

[jcmint]

Some people will never be happy unless the card is pristine. Front of the cards are fine unless there is a major problem on the back. Higher end cards should be front and back but every card, never gonna happen on ebay. Too time comsuming and it will sell for the same regardless if the back is scanned at all.

 

[predatorkj]

I think the only couple of things that get my goat is with the shipping problems and the feedback. I know its gonna come as a shock but you are still responsible for mail whether its lost or stolen or delivered to the wrong addy etc., whether insurance is purchased or not . Another thing is...feedback should be looked at like this: Would you buy from this seller again or did they do something that pissed you off enough to not do any more business with them? Just like going to a local store...if the service is good, then you are not going to go bad mouth the store around town. Same should be said of any particular ebay seller. Either its good or its not. The only way to accurately allow others to make a judgment before they buy is by accurately reporting your personal experience. If I see a bunch of good feedback and then some random rant somebody goes off on...I tend to dismiss the rant. But true and numerous accounts lead me to stay away.

 

[rymflaherty]

I agree with everything except the "see scan" part.

This is something I've actually begun doing. Now granted if there is a noticeable flaw I would feel obliged to reference it in the description, but if it is something minor I may not even have noticed it. As big a collector as I am I have never had a card graded - I don't really bother with it and there for do not know all the intricacies that diffirenciate a card from an 8.5 or a 9/9.5 etc.
To me calling a card Mint or near mint only leads to future problems.....so it seems the best thing to do is to provide good scans as you mentioned......and it also goes back to what you mentioned - the buyer fully reading the description, checking out the scans and then asking questions if condition is going to be a major issue for them.

 

[loftlife]

I have had great success as a seller.

I do not post a scan of the back...
I do state that all cards are NM or better unless noted
That all lines, spots etc are on the holder, in the scan etc unless noted

And when it comes to packaging I go one better then 98% of the sellers on Ebay.
I no longer use Kraft paper type mailers for many reasons, instead I opt for Poly mailers, water proof in the event of rain or other accident.
Secondly I use TWO mailers for every deal...
I put the card sideways in mailer (nice and snug)
I trifold that mailer around the card so it is thoroughly protected... the card is now slabbed between the normal bubble padding of the mailer, with double-bubble padding again on both sides.
I then slide that wrapped mailer into the other mailer. So essentially the card is layered in 4 layers of bubble wrap on both sides of the card, with multiple layers of poly... it also offers great protection against USPS employees wanting to punch a card out of a paper mailer.

My final step in packing is to protect against thieves is I tape the USPS label on the BACK! I tape over the seal with part of the label... one less entry point. Making it next too impossible of breaking the seal and gluing it shut.. you will have to take too much time to prevent tearing the label, which postal employees do not have unless they are the carrier.

The final step is too mail QUICKLY!!!! I hate slow ass shippers!!!
I take the steps to end auctions on weekends, fast payers who pay on Sat & Sun get it mailed on Monday... DONE... after my auctions are completed I pre-pack and label the mailer with buyers last name and wait for payment. After a busy ass day at work, I come home to find they paid, it takes very little to print the label and tape it on... ready to go. On the days I am on the road, I simply email the buyer and tell them when I can get it in the mail, 98% are very cool about it and appreciate the heads up.

I have learned the hard way as a BUYER... my goal has been to be the kind of seller I would like to deal with, and I think i have succeeded.

My Ebay 2,183, FB 100%
DSR's... 4.9 / 4.9 / 4.9 / 4.8
Shipping $3.00 standard... multi win shipping discounts given... thicker/heavier packages done accordingly.

Simple... yet some ass hats have given me a 1 on my DSR's... you cannot avoid the idiots, only minimize their damage.

 

[brumbach]

I just don't understand why everyone feels so compelled to run to the closest message board to vent their frustrations over a botched eBay transaction. Find a way to fix it, learn from it, and move on. I've been selling cards since 1987 and been on eBay since 1998 and cannot recall every wanting to post about my trainwrecks on a public message board, especially one like FCB where everything shows up on a Yahoo or Google search. Not that I have a lot of problems but stuff happens, I don't see the need to announce it from the rooftops of the internets, that's all.

 

[011873]

The amount of morons on ebay is amazing. On top oif that, NO ONE reads descriptions. NO ONE READS THEM.

Cant tell you how many times Ive typed "WILL NOT SHIP OVERSEAS NO MATTER WHAT, PLEASE DONT ASK......NO MATTER WHAT, EVEN IF YOUR FB IS GREAT"

And I STILL get emails asking if Ill ship overseas.

Or how about that Stras Super? How many questions did the seller get asked the same questions? Seriously, look at the questions from that auction.

Q: How many were made?
A: Only one

Q: Is there only one made?
A: yes, this is the only one.

Q: Is this the only card made?
A: yes it is

Q: is this really the only one made?
A: yes

Qid you get it in a pack?
A: Yes I did

Q: did it come in a pack?
A: yes

Q: did you pull the card from a pack?
A: I did from 2010 Bowman

Q: How did you get the card?
A: from a pack

Q: what pack did it come from?
A: 2010 Bowman

Q: what does it book?

 

[RiceLynnEvans75]

I'm a big fan of the "see scan for item description" when in fact it's not a scan at all but a photo taken with the camera, the card is at an angle, and has a nice big flash spot on the front/edge/you name it, thus not being able to judge the card at all for an item description.

But I'm sure the seller feels it's fine. ::facepalm::

 

[RiceLynnEvans75]

Some people will never be happy unless the card is pristine. Front of the cards are fine unless there is a major problem on the back. Higher end cards should be front and back but every card, never gonna happen on ebay. Too time comsuming and it will sell for the same regardless if the back is scanned at all.

Exactly, you are not going to be able to please everybody. This is why I threw in my $.02 on protecting yourself from problems. I wouldn't call doing front and back scans all that time consuming at all as it takes maybe an extra minute to get a total of 9 extra scans uploaded and then copy/paste the image code. I'll just call it laziness.

True, it likely isn't necessary with a low end card for something selling in the hundreds and the seller has no more than 10-15 auctions running? Not that big of a deal.

 

[RiceLynnEvans75]

as simple and obvious as those things seem... some people have problems implementing them.

I refer to it as the "I want to do as little as possible and have the least amount of responsibility for it" syndrome.

 

[RiceLynnEvans75]

Predator-Completely agree. People do need to be more accurate in feedback, especially when something did not go right.

rymflaherty- I can agree with that. A flaw should be noted as a scan will not show everything. That being said, if the description says "see scan for description", it should be a good scan and not a photo from a foot away with a big flash spot on the item.

loftlife- You said it best when you want to be the type of seller you would like to deal with. That should be how everybody runs their auctions. However, there are lazy people. And I hear ya on the low shipping hit. I've had great numbers all except one guy. The kicker was I either paid more than he actually got charged with or it was free delivery. One of those two and he gave me a hit. Unreal.

brumbach- I agree with this as well. No need to post the guy all over the internet. I would like to see it if someone is called out that the other party gets brought into it as well. There are ALWAYS two sides to a story. Just because someone may be a member of a site does not mean that they are 100% in the right on whatever the situation is. Of course, the unhappy person should always contact the other party before running all over the internet anyway.

011873- Ebay has become a moron party. I'd be willing to bet many of the people asking questions were likely just being morons.

 

[rsmath]

one thing I can think of is don't put "sportscards" or "baseball cards" or other similar wording on your return label. Use your name or initial and last name. I don't put "sportlots" on orders I send out just to try to keep the obviousness minimal. I think that would keep the USPS from wondering if it's a card enclosed or if it's something non-collectible related. Of course if the mail carrier or people working in your local postal substation knows you are a card collector, that increases the chance of problems.

 

[bowmanchromeandorr]

there is proof everyday that stupid peoeple shouldn't breed, we find this proof with 99% of the buyers on ebay. you could sell some people a bgs pristine 10 rc of mickey mantle (which we know doesnt exist but for arguments sake) and they will buy it for an amount they feel is too much, yet they bid on it nonetheless, wait two days to recieve it, which they feel is two days too long, and when they get it, leave feedback saying item not as described, after they have broken it from its case and fingered it all day. then ask for a refund and leave a neg and all 1's on the dsr's