eBay, etc. General Question/Answer Thread

[JadaStormy]

What are the rules on shipping and delays? Is a seller allowed to tell you after the fact that they are on vacation and will ship the item 2 weeks later? I mean technically wouldn't the buyer be able to open an INR claim?

 

[Catbird9]

What are the rules on shipping and delays? Is a seller allowed to tell you after the fact that they are on vacation and will ship the item 2 weeks later? I mean technically wouldn't the buyer be able to open an INR claim?

If the delay wasn't mentioned in the listing, and the item doesn't arrive by the date shown on your order details, you can file an INR claim.

 

[nicole0612]

If the seller uses their international selling (where you ship it to eBay and they ship it on) the customs and all that are automatically added through eBay, if they set the price for shipping to another country manually, then you pay the customs duty the old fashioned way.
The PayPal also tends to be different from country to country, having moved a couple of times, it depends very much on the banking in the country, Germany encourages international transactions, whereas in the UK it is a bit less common and the fees are super steep. It's getting better, but I think it also depends what your CC company charges for foreign transactions and what deals they have.
For example in the US if I pay with one of my UK cards, I get massively hit with an additional fee for paying in another currency, the other card - just the currency exchange rate.

This was from awhile ago, but you are exactly right. The additional charges were because the UK seller used the “global shipping” program which I now avoid when deciding which item to purchase due to the extra fees. This situation was actually a mess, because with global shipping you prepay customs, yet I still got a call to pay customs when it arrived and eBay could not help me other than to offer that I pay customs again and then they would give me an eBay account credit for the amount I paid in customs the second time. So obviously I avoid items with global shipping now!

 

[nicole0612]

I noticed, but I hadn't seen an answer and figured since I could answer it, it would be polite to do so as others might be wondering too as I bought 2 items from the US last month and one had the customs charged via eBay check out through the international selling program, so if people prefer to pay the customs the "old way" they can skip those who offer through the international program.

Absolutely! I had to learn this lesson the hard way!

 

[JadaStormy]

If the delay wasn't mentioned in the listing, and the item doesn't arrive by the date shown on your order details, you can file an INR claim.

Ok thanks. The date they plan to ship is well after the date on the order details page. Guess I'll have to decide if I want to wait or ask them to cancel.

 

[whateve]

Ok thanks. The date they plan to ship is well after the date on the order details page. Guess I'll have to decide if I want to wait or ask them to cancel.

I wouldn't necessarily ask them to cancel. Just open the INR after the expected delivery date. The seller will get a ding on her account. If you ask the seller to cancel, you are endorsing her bad behavior.

 

[N.M.Nevuhmynd]

Tossing this out to the masses .....

I ordered something that was supposed to be two packs of two items, four items total. This is the way they were originally sold in stores and the way the packages are labeled. And it's how the listing was worded.

When they arrived, one of the packages had been opened and one item removed, so I ended up with three items total instead of four. It's entirely possible the seller didn't know, or even know to check for if they got these from an estate sale. There is no outward indication on the one package of any discrepancy. Being familiar with the item, I knew the minute I touched the one package before I even opened it (thickness and weight).

It's not worth returning and I wouldn't want to since I can use the three. I don't see any advantage to either of us to incur additional shipping charges for a return and I doubt they have a replacement item since it's vintage and somewhat rare. I despise 'partial refunds' and know that many sellers consider buyers who ask for them to be less than honest. But in this case, I felt that a 25% refund was the best option for both sides and that's what I asked for via messages (no case opened). I haven't heard back from the seller, but it's only been a day and I'll give them a few days before my next step.

Question is ... what do you feel that next step should be?

 

[BeenBurned]

Tossing this out to the masses .....

I ordered something that was supposed to be two packs of two items, four items total. This is the way they were originally sold in stores and the way the packages are labeled. And it's how the listing was worded.

When they arrived, one of the packages had been opened and one item removed, so I ended up with three items total instead of four. It's entirely possible the seller didn't know, or even know to check for if they got these from an estate sale. There is no outward indication on the one package of any discrepancy. Being familiar with the item, I knew the minute I touched the one package before I even opened it (thickness and weight).

It's not worth returning and I wouldn't want to since I can use the three. I don't see any advantage to either of us to incur additional shipping charges for a return and I doubt they have a replacement item since it's vintage and somewhat rare. I despise 'partial refunds' and know that many sellers consider buyers who ask for them to be less than honest. But in this case, I felt that a 25% refund was the best option for both sides and that's what I asked for via messages (no case opened). I haven't heard back from the seller, but it's only been a day and I'll give them a few days before my next step.

Question is ... what do you feel that next step should be?

This is how I think I'd handle it.

I'd give the seller another day or so to respond since this is considered to be one of 2 4th-of-July weekends (this year) and perhaps she's away.

if there's no response, it's clearly SNAD. Although you can still use the 75% that you received, you risk having the seller state the commonly recommended mantra of "return for refund" but if that's what she wants to do, she's on the hook for return shipping (plus the initial shipping cost).

The dispute does allow you to state that you'd be happy with a 25% refund which is exactly what you deserve (not to mention the inconvenience of not getting what you paid for nor what was advertised) and if she's smart, she'll agree to that.

In case they're needed, take pictures which you can add to the dispute at the outset or later on.

If she doesn't agree to the partial and prefers that you return it, you can decide if that's acceptable. (You can also leave feedback.)

You can also escalate, in which case she'd have to convince ebay that it's not SNAD, which seems as though would be difficult, if not impossible.

 

[Mulberrygal]

If I sell an item and only take cash on collection can the buyer still open a SNAD case through EBay?

 

[N.M.Nevuhmynd]

But in this case, I felt that a 25% refund was the best option for both sides and that's what I asked for via messages (no case opened).

Seller agreed and sent the refund.

Proves that sometimes it's best to simply explain and ask, even if you can't prove your case. How would I have been able to prove the one item wasn't there?

 

[MAGJES]

What's your opinion on this......

I purchased a Hermes handbag on ebay. I asked several questions beforehand on condition. Asked for more pictures. Seller replied each time. I had the item authenticated. I purchased, I paid for expedited shipping.
The seller waited a week to even ship and it will take a week to arrive via FedEx (she did not choose the expedited option apparently). So that is 14 days arrival from the date of purchase. What kind of feedback does this call for would you think? I mean it hasn't arrived yet but this is the history so far. I did message the seller and ask why the delay. She only said ....."Sorry....busy!"
I have purchased from this seller before. Not a handbag but a Hermes accessory. In that transaction she sent the wrong item and waited a week to send me the return label. I left no feedback in that case. Marked it as an honest mistake.

 

[threadbender]

I wouldn't even consider feedback until after I received the item. Also, what does her handling state in the listing? I think I am a lot more lax on delivery time than others; if I am in a hurry, I buy local. If I get what I paid for, I am happy.

Keep in mind that she did seem to take her time previously, so it isn't really a surprise this time. lol

If nothing else, you can forego feedback altogether.

 

[Mulberrygal]

What's your opinion on this......

I purchased a Hermes handbag on ebay. I asked several questions beforehand on condition. Asked for more pictures. Seller replied each time. I had the item authenticated. I purchased, I paid for expedited shipping.
The seller waited a week to even ship and it will take a week to arrive via FedEx (she did not choose the expedited option apparently). So that is 14 days arrival from the date of purchase. What kind of feedback does this call for would you think? I mean it hasn't arrived yet but this is the history so far. I did message the seller and ask why the delay. She only said ....."Sorry....busy!"
I have purchased from this seller before. Not a handbag but a Hermes accessory. In that transaction she sent the wrong item and waited a week to send me the return label. I left no feedback in that case. Marked it as an honest mistake.

I wouldn't even consider feedback until after I received the item. Also, what does her handling state in the listing? I think I am a lot more lax on delivery time than others; if I am in a hurry, I buy local. If I get what I paid for, I am happy.
Keep in mind that she did seem to take her time previously, so it isn't really a surprise this time. lol
If nothing else, you can forego feedback altogether.

I totally agree with Carpsmom, I wouldn't consider leaving feedback until the item has arrived..........Lol, things could get worse and you'll have far more to say or you may be delighted
There will also be an estimated delivery date shown, if it arrives before this date it doesn't matter how long it took her to post - it's arrived in the specified time. If it arrives late that's different but depends how you feel when it arrives. It's also an included question in feedback now "did the item arrive on time?" If sellers get too many negative responses they are penalised

I quite often revise my BIN listings when I go on holiday to state I'll despatch in 15 days and adjust it the nearer I get to coming home. If I've got a good promotion on sellers fees that I don't want to lose it's the easiest way to adjust. I'm a private seller and as such I can't just add a "seller away/shop closed" as business sellers can which always bugs me.......mind you I'd be polite and helpful about the delivery time and email them to confirm I was away and would be despatching when I got home

 

[Catbird9]

What's your opinion on this......

I purchased a Hermes handbag on ebay. I asked several questions beforehand on condition. Asked for more pictures. Seller replied each time. I had the item authenticated. I purchased, I paid for expedited shipping.
The seller waited a week to even ship and it will take a week to arrive via FedEx (she did not choose the expedited option apparently). So that is 14 days arrival from the date of purchase. What kind of feedback does this call for would you think? I mean it hasn't arrived yet but this is the history so far. I did message the seller and ask why the delay. She only said ....."Sorry....busy!"
I have purchased from this seller before. Not a handbag but a Hermes accessory. In that transaction she sent the wrong item and waited a week to send me the return label. I left no feedback in that case. Marked it as an honest mistake.

I would wait until the bag arrives. If you paid for expedited shipping, and didn't get that service, that's wrong. I would not just ignore such lackadaisical attitude from a seller of luxury brand items. Her excuse in the previous transaction, "Sorry, busy" is borderline rudeness. I'd probably leave neutral feedback and explain my reasons.

 

[BeenBurned]

What's your opinion on this......

I purchased a Hermes handbag on ebay. I asked several questions beforehand on condition. Asked for more pictures. Seller replied each time. I had the item authenticated. I purchased, I paid for expedited shipping.
The seller waited a week to even ship and it will take a week to arrive via FedEx (she did not choose the expedited option apparently). So that is 14 days arrival from the date of purchase. What kind of feedback does this call for would you think? I mean it hasn't arrived yet but this is the history so far. I did message the seller and ask why the delay. She only said ....."Sorry....busy!"
I have purchased from this seller before. Not a handbag but a Hermes accessory. In that transaction she sent the wrong item and waited a week to send me the return label. I left no feedback in that case. Marked it as an honest mistake.

I totally agree with Carpsmom, I wouldn't consider leaving feedback until the item has arrived..........Lol, things could get worse and you'll have far more to say or you may be delighted
There will also be an estimated delivery date shown, if it arrives before this date it doesn't matter how long it took her to post - it's arrived in the specified time. If it arrives late that's different but depends how you feel when it arrives. It's also an included question in feedback now "did the item arrive on time?" If sellers get too many negative responses they are penalised

I quite often revise my BIN listings when I go on holiday to state I'll despatch in 15 days and adjust it the nearer I get to coming home. If I've got a good promotion on sellers fees that I don't want to lose it's the easiest way to adjust. I'm a private seller and as such I can't just add a "seller away/shop closed" as business sellers can which always bugs me.......mind you I'd be polite and helpful about the delivery time and email them to confirm I was away and would be despatching when I got home

Beware. Ebay will still ding the seller (which she can see in her dashboard) if the item isn't shipped within her stated handling time. And even if she printed the label, they'll ding if tracking doesn't show up within the timeframe. The estimated delivery date is based on the generation of the label PLUS tracking so it can conceivably indicate what appears to be acceptable but when taken into account with the handling time will still be a defect.

As others have mentioned, wait to see what you get before doing anything. You have plenty of time (60-90 days) to leave feedback.