international ebay buyers

[Annabella St. Clair]

I'm needing some space to vent. I've been doing ebay for several years now. I've got a 99 number of transactions, a blue star, and a 98% feedback score which is average for anyone who actually sells items. There are always problem buyers. The 98 is from one neutral feedback on a .99 cent item. Geez, get a f'in life. I don't even think about an items shipping time unless it's like over a month.

I sold a book to a guy from Brazil. He paid $9 for a book worth over $35 and drove me crazy with emails before the sale ended. He was wrapped up in shipping costs for a book that until the last minute was costing him under a dollar. I had to block him today. I left him feedback last night that said transaction processed, buyer new, impatient. That was the truth. After driving me nuts about sending the book, me losing money on shipping and the entire deal, he rudely demanded in two emails I immediately leave feedback. He was rude through the whole deal. Sheesh, I was in the hospital with my first major migraine. I was in such pain and I could see straight, literally. Heck, what I left was me being nice. So what his other feedback says he's a prince, he didn't come off that way with me. I kept him informed about shipping. I've had to state I won't deal with S. America now. I do other international but I'm rethinking that too. I only allow Europe, Australia, England, and Canada.

He sent me back a nasty email today asking what impatient meant. Please note the shipping costs without buying a special envelope at $3, cost me $23. I think he made out. I know I didn't.


"Transaction processed but buyer is new to ebay. Impatient."
What is this ??????? Impatient ? I have paid you on May 30 and you just sent me the book on June 4 !!! And before you sent, tried to cheat me with the shipping costs saying that they were higher. Well, you told me that the book fit the Flat Rate Envelope and the shipping cost were 11,95. And actually I have paid 12.95.
I am contacting the Trust and Safety Team of eBay right now.


So I'm thinking, let me see, he paid on May 30th, I sent book on June 4, that's only a five day wait. And May 30th was a Friday. USP office closed on weekends, I tried to send book on June 2 but shipping was too be over $50 in a box. Couldn't do that. I emailed him to say a difference in shipping costs and a delay. He was rude and then I went out and got an envelope and sent it ground. You live in freakin S. America, it's going to take time to get to you. Does customs ring a bell. The book got to him June 17th.

He wrote to me:
The USPS website is very accurate about costs, even the internationals.
You told me that "The book is about three pounds and 9x12". Shipping will be $15." I have the message here and in my e-mail too.
In the USPS website says that a Flat Rate Envelope that measures 12.5" X 9.5" and "4 pound maximum for international shipments" shipping through Priority Mail to "all other countries" (except US, Canada and Mexico) costs US $11.95. So I didn't even know where did you find that extra dollar, because you charged me $12,95 for shipping hte book, but anyway I've paid you.
You have sent me and invoice that I have in my e-mail saying the that total costs would be US $22.01 (US $9.06 + US $12.95).
I think you must keep the price of the INVOICE, because has been sent by you.


Then:
And please answer my previously message...so I can know what I'm going to do about it.
I don't want a refund, and I am NOT going to pay you ONE dollar extra for anything. You have sent an invoice, I've paid, so now you must ship my book.



I blocked him today. Now I have to deal with stupid stuff from ebay. I told him he had the book, he was impatient, and to go past this. I swear, if it wasn't for us, they wouldn't even have an ebay to purchase items on that you can't get in their countries. I may have to give up all international deals but I like the Europeans.

[Bronya]

I have found that Ebay can be your friend when you have problems and other times not so much. I ordered some "porta-walls" (they are white wall rings for your ties so it looks like white wall tires). I always pay with paypal so he was paid that afternoon. Long story short, weeks later no item. Emails sent, no response, no item, another email more snotty on my part. Finally a response where he said he sent it via USPS (which is scary becasue I still have not rec'd a milk glass vase I ordered on ebay over 1 year ago. It wasn't insured so basically "oh Well") but sent it signed recpt. I said I never got the request from the PO, never go the item. More emails, he saying he is keeping the $$$ and not sending replacemnt, yadda, yadda. I finally got in touch with ebay and got my money back. The thing that pissed me off was they didn't want me to leave a negative comment. WTF? The guy sucked and was a crappy seller. I finally said I was not going to leave any comment to them that is a strike against me. I really am careful with Ebay now!

[Annabella St. Clair]

I got a response from him a minute ago. He seemed more understanding and did point out I lost money on this whole deal. I told him if I can somehow change the feedback I would. He did recognize he had been a bit anxious about sending me emails. I still think he's a newbie to ebay. I didn't write he was rude. My fella discouraged that.

I suppose the migraine the day before didn't help my feedback manners any either. lol.

See with ebay's new thing about feedback, no buyer can get back feedback, no matter how horrible they are, but you can only leave a comment to describe the issues.

I do think ebay's route to get help can be confusing and difficult to navigate.

Sending you a pm about milk glass question.

[DangerousCurves]

I have bought and sold quite a bit on Ebay. I can remember one lousy experience had. I bought a cloak several years ago. I paid around $100 for it which I admit was not expensive but at any rate - got the cloak and there was a GIANT issue with it. Looked like there had been a hole in the side about 10 inches from the botom and they just said "Oh, I'll just put a couple stitches in it". It was supposed to be brand new, made by seller. I was very upset but I wrote a nice emial telling them that I was not happy with the 2 inch long line of stitches closing up a hole adn I would like a replacement. Didn't hear anything. Over a month, I sent about 4 emails and never anythign. I finally left negative feedback. THAT got a response. They sent me a nasty gram about how they had a family issue and I should be more understanding. Ok, so I'm psychic. I explained that I had tried to contact them for a month and I had no way of knowing that something unfortunate had happened but either way, business is business and while that sucked for them, they needed to realize that it was a legal contract to present what the ad was advertising, not a defective product.

[Buxom Wench]

EGADS! I had a few pieces of costume jewelry I was going to throw onto EBay but this just makes me think it isn't worth it.

[LadyLaura]

Oy! I hear your pain. Buyers who want it all for nothing, and want it NOW! lol This guy sounds like a real gem.

I had a guy buy a used western saddle from me on ebay, it stated in the description in BIG BOLD LETTERS that it was damaged, and selling as is, there was a big picture of the damage to the saddle (it WAS fixable by a saddle repair person, but it would cost a bit of cash). I stated it was not suitable for riding in it's current condition, again, AS IS, the idiot got in a bidding war with someone, jacked the price up, won it, got it, then complained it was DAMAGED. Left negative feedback that I was trying to cheat people by selling damaged items. *sigh* I refused to refund his money and take it back. I just ate the negative feedback. One out of two hundred and something isn't so bad. I hardly ever sell on ebay anymore though, the fees are too damn high, it's hard to make any money, and the buyers are a PITA. I always did US/Canada only, and PayPal-only outside the US.

[WenchLadyKate]

I only had one problem with an ebay seller. I buy, I sell, it's all very light, but my fedback is great, no negatives and one neutral (as a buyer).

My problem was a pink hobnail moonstone glass candy dish. It was so pretty and it was going to fit so nicely into my collection of depression glass that I got bid crazy and ended up paying the seller $43.25, not including the $12 shipping.

This candy dish had little "feet" and a cover, so when I sent my payment, via paypal, I also sent an e-mail saying thank you and If if she wouldn't mind to please take extra care in wrapping the "feet". I had mentioned to her that I did once receive a teeny amberine tray with all 3 feet broken off.

I got a reply, something along the lines of, don't worry, I've done this before.

You know, I got that candy dish minus one of the 4 "feet" it had. AND, she wrapped it up together. She duct taped the lid onto the bowl part and wrapped it all up in some newspaper and that's it. Then, she got all pissy when I told her about it. I eventually got her to give me my money back by sending her the broken dish back... packed properly.

I don't think that your situation had to do with the fact that he was in South America, I think it had to do with the fact that he's probably just a jerk.

[Annabella St. Clair]

Yep, jerk with a language barrier. I have enjoyed my experience on ebay and will continue to list. I'm having to clean out my aunt's storage lockups. I just now have a whole paragraph about international buyers. Don't be discouraged about listing jewelry, it's easy to ship. The book was four pounds and cost more.

He's the only problem buyer I've had.

The one that bought the Gaiman book wanted his shipping money back but Tanner just ignored it. It was shipped in time and it cost Tanner a bit more to ship it than the guy acutally had to pay. It was just a scam. Tanner took the money he earned and had a two day trip in San Francisco. I now have a cup from Alcatraz and a piece of the rock cement. COOL.

Unless you want the item ten days from now, shipping is not going to be 4.00 or less.

I have new stuff to take pics of. One of my new finds was a mounton fur coat in perfect condition and too small for me. I have a members only jacket to go up and depression glass. Boy that's hard to take pics of.
Thanks for the support. I'm home one more day due to the migraine incident. My boss isn't happy but doctors orders are orders.

Ann Marie

[Emma]

I don't sell on ebay... but last year I bought a metal belt from a seller there, it arrived with the jewels from the belt missing and some off the belt in the box. I left neutral feedback, not negative, stating it arrived broken and the seller jumpped all over me, left negative feedback and because she "donates" all the procedes to her stray kittens she takes in told me I must hate animals and that I was going to hell and proceded to get very preachy to me.

~Emma

[WenchLadyKate]

Bux, I think that most of us who've had a negative experience with e-bay are frequent e-bayers. All in all, I've gotten to make a little cash when I needed it, buy a few things that I've wanted and grown a collection of all kids of odd things that I've found. Weigh that with the one negative experience and the good definately makes the bad worth it.

I'd totally put the jewlry up and don't be nervous about it! E-bay really is a great outlet. I do have to say though, the fees are getting a little much for the basic "few times a year" seller.

[Buxom Wench]

...I'd totally put the jewlry up and don't be nervous about it! E-bay really is a great outlet. I do have to say though, the fees are getting a little much for the basic "few times a year" seller.

That's why I think I'll be skipping EBay. The fees would probably eat any profiit I'd make.
I was into selling on EBay quite a bit and then, I couldn't wrestle things away from household members to list. :roll:

[Branwen]

I started to buy & then eventually sell on e-bay. The selling part was okay. I had 100% feedback from both buyers & sellers until recently. I had went online for my Mom to look at some "antique" brooches. We found this one seller that had multiple auctions up for an estate sale. We put in multiple bids on a number of items. Once we won a number of the auctions I had sent out MULTIPLE e-mails to the seller asking to combine shipping for all of the items won. There were a few other auctions that were still pending & I also asked the seller to wait on shipping the items until all auctions were over. I didn't get any response. I did get multiple message and requests for payments within 3 days for the auctions that had been won, but no response about waiting until all auctions were done & combing shipping on all items.

Mom & I finally sent out the payments for the items won and waited on the other auctions to end. The jewlery didn't come shipped together, wasn't packed safely. No bubble wrap, no tape. A piece was wrapped, well actually folded into a piece of newspaper and another was tangled up with some toilet paper. They were shipped seperately and Mom & I ended up paying full price shipping for each individual item (total of 5) instead of 1 package of 5 pieces of jewlery.
It took an extremly long time to get the items once the auctions were over and never really received a response from the seller. I didn't want to leave a negative feedback to the seller as I eventually DID get the items, although there were some MAJOR communication, shipping and packaging problems. I went ahead and posted 3 comments as neutral. Since only 1 comment would be counted instead of the 3 I didn't feel that it was too bad. It didn't effect her reputation as badly as a negative, just wouldn't increase her reputation either.
The same day I posted my feedback she came back & Blasted me with 3 Negatives saying the my neutrals were unfair. She received her payment promptly, I even made sure that I e-mailed the seller as soon as I found out that we had won the auctions. Nope, didn't matter. Once I left my feedback that was the trigger for a negative retaliation feedback.

I made sure that my Mom & I will NEVER deal with her again and I have learned my lesson. I won't leave feedback about a seller until I see that feedback has been given first & I NEVER use feedback as retaliation for negative or neutral feedback given. You are providing your selling/buying experience with the buyer/seller. Not as a Quid Pro Quo, you scratch my back & I 'll scratch yours.