STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

Members Login
Username 
 
Password 
    Remember Me  
stylethread site home page -> stylethread forum -> eBay & Etsy -> ebay etiquette question
Post Info TOPIC: ebay etiquette question
bumblebee


Coach

Status: Offline
Posts: 1550
Date:
ebay etiquette question
Permalink Closed

Are a lot of sellers extremely rude in what they say to buyers? This isn't the first time I've noticed, but here's what I have going on now:


I bid on and won a pair of shoes from a seller on 9/26.  The auction said that payments were due within three days, but also said that there was combined shipping for $1 on your second item if you won more than one auction within 7 days of each other and you requested a combined invoice. 


I wanted to bid on a second pair of shoes from the same seller, which ended on 9/29, which is three days after the first auction ended.  I e-mailed the seller to make sure that was ok and that I wouldn't be late on their three-day payment policy if I wanited until the second auction ended so I could pay for both together.  No response.  So I e-mailed my question again.  No response. 


I didn't want to be late on my payment for the first auction, so I went ahead and paid for it, plus the shipping.  I figured when I won the second auction later that day, that they would work out the shipping.  They sent me an invoice for the total of the second item, plus full shipping.  When I politely asked if I could have the $1 combined shipping, I received this nasty response:


THIS ITEM SHIPPED - 9/28/05 - ITEMS NEED TO BE CON ONE COMBINED INVOICE TO SHIP TOGETHER AND RECEIVE SHIPPING DISCOUNT - THANKS


So I wrote back saying this:


i asked for a combined invoice--twice before i paid you for the first pair of shoes.  it's not really my fault that you didn't respond to any of my e-mail messages until just now.  it seems fair that you should ship the second pair for $1.


So then this is their response:


INVOICES ARE UPDATED AND COMBINED EVERY DAY - IT IS NOT OUR FAULT THAT YOU DID NOT PAY FOR THE ITEMS COMBINED - DO YOU ACTUALLY THINK THAT IT COSTS $1 FOR A PACKAGE TO SHIP VIA UPS - THIS IS PASTED FROM YOUR AUCTION (DID YOU READ THIS?) :  PLEASE WAIT UNTIL YOU ARE THROUGH BIDDING AND REQUEST A COMBINED INVOICE. WHEN WE SEND A COMBINED INVOICE, YOU WILL BE CHARGED $6.95 SHIPPING ON THE FIRST ITEM - ALL OTHERS SHIPPED WITH THIS ITEM WILL SHIP FOR $1 EACH. THE SHIPPING DISCOUNT WILL ONLY APPLY TO AUCTIONS THAT END WITHIN A 7 DAY PERIOD AND ARE TOGETHER ON A COMBINED INVOICE .


My guess is that they offer this "combined shipping" but then don't respond to buyers e-mails, thus making it extremely difficult for anyone to actually obtain the offer.  I am just wondering if this is a common eBay ploy. 


Here's my response, do you think they will actually send me my item? I probably should have just left it alone:


I did read that in the auction, and I also read "Auctions must be paid for within 3 days of winning."  My second auction ended three days after the first, and I didn't want to pay you late for the first auction.

That was why I asked the question (twice) by e-mail.  When I had no response from you for days and days, I figured it was better to pay for the first auction and work it out later--I was trying to be conscientous and respectful, even though I wasn't being treated in the same manner.

I will gladly pay you $6.95 again for the second shipment, even though it is unfair and not what you specifically offer in your auctions.  I realize now that you probably save costs by making it extremely difficult to obtain the "combined shipping offer."  Maybe you should stop offering it if you don't really intend to honor it.



__________________
bumblebee


Coach

Status: Offline
Posts: 1550
Date:
Permalink Closed

ok, and also, i don't ACTUALLY THINK THAT IT COSTS $1 TO SHIP SOMETHING BY UPS.  but i also DON'T ACTUALLY THINK THAT IT COSTS $6.95.  so rude. 

__________________
FashionPrincess


Hermes

Status: Offline
Posts: 5381
Date:
Permalink Closed

Very rude!  I would report the incident to ebay.

__________________
919083.png
lynnie


Chanel

Status: Offline
Posts: 3612
Date:
Permalink Closed

is that affinityretail with all the jcrew shoes?  They were rude, but honestly, because they sell sooo many shoes, i'm sure they can't keep track of all their auctions.  Next time, just don't pay them until you're finished bidding.  The worst they can do is leave you neg. feedback, which you can reply to, and most aren't going to leave neg. feedback in the first 3 days. 

__________________

my fashion/style thoughts www.poetryofpause.com 
bumblebee


Coach

Status: Offline
Posts: 1550
Date:
Permalink Closed

yes, it was affinityretail. 


that's what i'm worried about, but they couldn't really leave me a negative, could they? i haven't done anything wrong--they were the ones who didn't respond to my questions, and then were rude about it.  i've paid them quickly and in full twice.  hopefully it will all be over now.  whatever, it's only a difference of $6, it just bugged me taht they were so incredibly rude about it. 



__________________
cc


Marc Jacobs

Status: Offline
Posts: 2047
Date:
Permalink Closed

"DO YOU ACTUALLY THINK THAT IT COSTS $1 FOR A PACKAGE TO SHIP VIA UPS "

Umm ok I can understand that ebay can be frustrating when there are so many bidders who don't pay or want the seller to jump through hoops but why would someone who wants to sell items and relies on good feedback to do so send such a rude messge.

And they certainly make the combined shipping requirements confusing enough. I have only specified that I would do combined shipping in my auctions once (when I was selling the different versions of the same thing and the auctions ended within minutes of each other) but I have had people ask me several times if I would combine shipping on auctions that ended a few days apart and I have always agreed and sent a final invoice after the end of the second auction. It does seem like they are trying to get out of offering the discounted shipping since they ignored both your emails. And if the "invoices are updated and combined" every day I don't understand how they would work out combining invoices on auctions that end up to 7 days apart. The whole thing confuses me but the main issue is that you sent two messages requesting a combined invoice according to the guidelines of the auction. Since you already bid and won go ahead and pay the full shipping charge again but I think you should leave negative feedback and say that the seller failed to respond to two emails and that their eventual response was really rude.

Sometimes I do prefer to buy from retailer sorts of sellers rather than regular joe sellers, if they can't keep track of their auctions and can't respond to messages then they shouldn't be selling on ebay.

-- Edited by cc at 19:32, 2005-09-29

__________________
idprefernotto.blogspot.com
bumblebee


Coach

Status: Offline
Posts: 1550
Date:
Permalink Closed

yeah, i usually prefer to buy from retailers rather than regular joes, too, because this kind of stuff doesn't tend to happen with them--they are usually professional and interested in keeping their customers somewhat happy.  i dunno, it just makes me not want to use ebay anymore--it's too much stress. 


my whole point in saying that they should ship my second package for $1 was that i was giving them a chance to make it right and do the right thing.  i realize that it doesn't cost $1 to ship a UPS package.  but the $6.95 i had already paid for one small package sent by UPS Ground should more than cover the cost of sending two--it wasn't like they were going to even lose money on the deal.   



-- Edited by bumblebee at 19:40, 2005-09-29

__________________
lynnie


Chanel

Status: Offline
Posts: 3612
Date:
Permalink Closed

So off topic, but what shoes did you pick??  Can you post reviews in the shopping thread when you get them?  I hope they are at least worth the stress!


 


Not that it makes it right, but i know that ups is pricey =/  $6.95 sounds cheap- i've had jewelry shipped to me for $9.00 with ups.  They should have at least split the shipping though with you for their mistake.  I've been looking at some of their shoes- now i know not to pay til the bidding is over! 


 



__________________

my fashion/style thoughts www.poetryofpause.com 
bumblebee


Coach

Status: Offline
Posts: 1550
Date:
Permalink Closed

yes, i will def. post reviews for you.  i got the j.crew flats that have the lacy cutouts, in pewter and in gold.  i have a bunch of j.crew shoes and boots, and the quality is always nice. 


and yes, it's not the $6.95 x 2 that is making me upset, it's just their mean-ness. 



__________________
Page 1 of 1  sorted by
 
Quick Reply

Please log in to post quick replies.
stylethread site home page -> stylethread forum -> eBay & Etsy -> ebay etiquette question
Tweet this page Post to Digg Post to Del.icio.us


Create your own FREE Forum
Report Abuse 		Powered by ActiveBoard