eBay, etc. General Question/Answer Thread

[Lake Effect]

@whateve @BeenBurned Thanks ladies, I was hoping /counting that you would respond! I didn't know if it would be appropriate to PM a question like this so I was glad to remember talk of other boards like this. Although I imagine I could ask on another board or PM you where to ask this. I know authenticating is a huge service so I don't want to PM needlessly. Yeah, even though my post painted me as a total whiner I am humble enough to admit I would rather whine here about an impulsively paying for something (blow off a little steam) than ding someone's feedback needlessly. And possibly learn something about shipping, which is a big giant mystery to me as a buyer.
And yes, from what I have read over the past year here on tPF, sellers have their work cut out for them on eBay. But also there are sellers who would blatantly take advantage of a buyer too.
@carlpsmom Yes, it is underscored i need to be responsible and I need to contact the seller before the fact about shipping, which I have done on a few occasions. At the time of payment, several buyers offered more than one shipping rate. And bad on me, I have to steer away from shopping later in the evening. I felt too tired to email at the time I paid, so yup, that's on me. At least by voicing all this, I will put any feelings about the fee I have to rest and enjoy my bag and give the seller positive feedback, pending receiving the bag.

 

[Lake Effect]

@whateve and thanks for confirming that the seller pays shipping when the label is printed.

 

[holiday123]

Another seller charged $6.50 in shipping for the same sized bag and another $7.76 in shipping for a significantly larger bag.

Also depends on their location and ship to location. If I ship FL to FL, it could cost $7, but FL to CA $15 so it's not just weight, it's distance too.

If the seller were to void the label and use a cheaper service, they also have to wait for their original postage to be refunded. It's not immediate, it's weeks.

Edited, it looks like the above was already pointed out so forgive my duplicate postings.

 

[BeenBurned]

@whateve @BeenBurned Thanks ladies, I was hoping /counting that you would respond! I didn't know if it would be appropriate to PM a question like this so I was glad to remember talk of other boards like this. Although I imagine I could ask on another board or PM you where to ask this.

This type of question is always better posted publicly because if you have questions, I have no doubt others (who didn't post the same concerns) can have their questions answered too.

Public posts are learning experiences for everyone, including lurkers.

 

[BeenBurned]

Paypal charged the seller ~3.5% fee based on the total amount you paid but there's no $2 surcharge.

There is not really something called a paypal surcharge. However, ebay will take $1.50 of the $15 he charged you, and paypal will take another 2.9%, which is about another 44 cents, so that is close to the $2 he told you.

I misspoke when I referred to PP's 3.5% fee.

I bet Whateve's theory on where the seller's $2 number came from is correct.

 

[whateve]

@whateve @BeenBurned Thanks ladies, I was hoping /counting that you would respond! I didn't know if it would be appropriate to PM a question like this so I was glad to remember talk of other boards like this. Although I imagine I could ask on another board or PM you where to ask this. I know authenticating is a huge service so I don't want to PM needlessly. Yeah, even though my post painted me as a total whiner I am humble enough to admit I would rather whine here about an impulsively paying for something (blow off a little steam) than ding someone's feedback needlessly. And possibly learn something about shipping, which is a big giant mystery to me as a buyer.
And yes, from what I have read over the past year here on tPF, sellers have their work cut out for them on eBay. But also there are sellers who would blatantly take advantage of a buyer too.
@carlpsmom Yes, it is underscored i need to be responsible and I need to contact the seller before the fact about shipping, which I have done on a few occasions. At the time of payment, several buyers offered more than one shipping rate. And bad on me, I have to steer away from shopping later in the evening. I felt too tired to email at the time I paid, so yup, that's on me. At least by voicing all this, I will put any feelings about the fee I have to rest and enjoy my bag and give the seller positive feedback, pending receiving the bag.

You can calculate shipping cost yourself. If you have a scale, weigh the package before you open it. If not, look at the label to see the weight the seller paid for. Then go here: https://postcalc.usps.com/ USPS calculate a price. Input your zip code and the seller's zip code, which should be on the label, plus the weight of the bag. You'll see all the shipping options and the costs.

 

[ThisVNchick]

I feel like this has been asked before (or at least I might have glanced at it before) but what kind of a feedback is appropriate (or can be given without removal) if you purchased a fake but the seller accepted the return after a case was filed?

 

[BeenBurned]

I feel like this has been asked before (or at least I might have glanced at it before) but what kind of a feedback is appropriate (or can be given without removal) if you purchased a fake but the seller accepted the return after a case was filed?

Did the seller balk before you were forced to open a case?

Do not mention case, ebay having to resolve, etc. Those feedbacks can be removed it the seller complains.

You can say something to the effect of the following.
"Had to fight seller for return of counterfeit (whatever) but she eventually gave in"

 

[ThisVNchick]

Did the seller balk before you were forced to open a case?

Do not mention case, ebay having to resolve, etc. Those feedbacks can be removed it the seller complains.

You can say something to the effect of the following.
"Had to fight seller for return of counterfeit (whatever) but she eventually gave in"

I didn't contact the seller prior to opening a case. From my experience, whenever I message them about the item, they tell me to return the item back on my own dime, do not respond back to me, or are just straight up rude. I find that opening a case is the easiest form to get the seller's attention and everything is out in the open.

In my case, it was a pair of Chanel earrings that had a stamp that said "made in frace" (missing the "n" in France) so it was clearly obvious that it was fake without the need of a 3rd party authentication service. I did check the seller's feedback prior to purchasing and it looks like she sold some LV bags that other buyers were very happy with. But I'd like to throw a caution out there for future buyers that not everything this seller sells is authentic but just don't know how to word it without having it removed by eBay.

ETA: So I can just say something as simple as "earrings received were not authentic"? Also, would a neutral be better than a neg if I'm trying to prevent feedback removal?

 

[BeenBurned]

I didn't contact the seller prior to opening a case. From my experience, whenever I message them about the item, they tell me to return the item back on my own dime, do not respond back to me, or are just straight up rude. I find that opening a case is the easiest form to get the seller's attention and everything is out in the open.

In my case, it was a pair of Chanel earrings that had a stamp that said "made in frace" (missing the "n" in France) so it was clearly obvious that it was fake without the need of a 3rd party authentication service. I did check the seller's feedback prior to purchasing and it looks like she sold some LV bags that other buyers were very happy with. But I'd like to throw a caution out there for future buyers that not everything this seller sells is authentic but just don't know how to word it without having it removed by eBay.

ETA: So I can just say something as simple as "earrings received were not authentic"? Also, would a neutral be better than a neg if I'm trying to prevent feedback removal?

This is my opinion only. YMMV as may that of others.

I think it's always better to try to work it out with the seller before they get that surprise email telling them about the dispute and seeing their funds on hold.

Then the seller can't say, "no contact from buyer. I would have refunded."

Once you notify the seller and get an unsatisfactory response, i.e., you cover return shipping on a fake, THEN you'd be appropriate in opening a SNAD dispute forcing the seller to pay return shipping. The reason I suggest this is that although you indicate your experiences have been different, many sellers (even those who know they don't have fakes) will offer to cover return shipping just to avoid the "dispute ding" on their accounts.

It's difficult for sellers to get negs removed so if you think your experience warrants a neg, as long as you don't violate the feedback rules, you should be fine and your feedback probably won't be removed.

 

[whateve]

I got asked if I had layaway. There isn't anything like this with ebay, is there? I told her to use Paypal credit but I don't think she liked that answer.

 

[ThisVNchick]

This is my opinion only. YMMV as may that of others.

I think it's always better to try to work it out with the seller before they get that surprise email telling them about the dispute and seeing their funds on hold.

Then the seller can't say, "no contact from buyer. I would have refunded."

Once you notify the seller and get an unsatisfactory response, i.e., you cover return shipping on a fake, THEN you'd be appropriate in opening a SNAD dispute forcing the seller to pay return shipping. The reason I suggest this is that although you indicate your experiences have been different, many sellers (even those who know they don't have fakes) will offer to cover return shipping just to avoid the "dispute ding" on their accounts.

It's difficult for sellers to get negs removed so if you think your experience warrants a neg, as long as you don't violate the feedback rules, you should be fine and your feedback probably won't be removed.

Thanks for the advice BB, I'll definitely keep that in mind.

I don't think my experience warrants a neg, so a neutral it is. It wasn't a bad experience. She accepted the return but I had to call eBay to force her to give me a return postage after 5 days of hearing nothing from her. The wait was no biggie for me. BUT my main concern was wanting to throw caution out there for future buyers so they know to inspect their items carefully.

 

[whateve]

I got a message from ebay today about one of my items, but it wasn't a listing question. It referred to an item I have listed and included the title and pictures from my listing. It said "Help answer a question from the eBay community."
"An eBay member has a question for you.

A buyer is interested in the product you’re selling but they have a question. Can you help them out?"

Why wouldn't a potential buyer just ask me the question through the listing?

 

[BeenBurned]

I got a message from ebay today about one of my items, but it wasn't a listing question. It referred to an item I have listed and included the title and pictures from my listing. It said "Help answer a question from the eBay community."
"An eBay member has a question for you.

A buyer is interested in the product you’re selling but they have a question. Can you help them out?"

Why wouldn't a potential buyer just ask me the question through the listing?

That's weird! I think if a member is on your BBL, they can't contact you so maybe it's someone you blocked. (I'm just guessing.) Did they give you the ID of the member who's trying to contact you? If so, is that a name on your BBL?

 

[whateve]

That's weird! I think if a member is on your BBL, they can't contact you so maybe it's someone you blocked. (I'm just guessing.) Did they give you the ID of the member who's trying to contact you? If so, is that a name on your BBL?

No, there is no member information. It's more like I'm giving general information about my product that would apply to any listings with the same item. When I click on it, it shows my item at the top of the page with buttons to buy it now, watch, or see details. Then further down the page are reviews, and questions and answers. The question and my answer shows there, and also on my listing. As far as I can tell, no one has a similar product so the answer doesn't appear anywhere else.

In looking at another of my items, in the review section, the most relevant review is 1 star, and it says "too small," which is annoying because it is a standard size and many people like that size. I really doubt that review is for a similar item.