Interesting thing about Ebay.

[jleiwig]

Well I needed to order a new housing for my cell phone since the old one is cracked and just worn out from one too many drops. I tried the flea market, and no one sold a OEM replacement housing, so I was forced to turn to Ebay. Normally I don't like dealing with Ebay because I've had too many problems with electronics on Ebay. I searched high and low for someone in America and not Hong Kong or Tiawan.

Well I got my Package yesterday, finally had time to open the package today. First off there wasn't a t-6 screwdriver included like they said. Also the housing said T-Mobile on it when the picture shows a blank housing. I went to leave neutral feedback, because I don't believe in leaving negative feedback unless I was totally ripped off. Here is what Ebay says.

So ebay wants me to work things out with the "Power Seller". So does that mean if I'm not a power seller Ebay will let someone leave me negative feedback within 7 days?

Anyway..I sent the company an email, and I'm sure they aren't going to give me any sort of refund, and I'm not shipping the housing back because I already put it on which was no easy task to begin with.

Moral of the story, I don't like to be forced into one option. I would have liked to leave neutral, not negative feedback. Ebay doesn't allow that until after a 7 day waiting period. One more reason for me to stop using Ebay.

 

[DennisM]

Ebay's rating system is all but a joke now anyway.

It was a great idea while it was new, now it is a giant flea market, and the power sellers rule the tables.

I still use it, when I need to, prices sometimes cant be beat and the hard to find items are there. As for the feedback, when it comes to a power seller, leaving a neg or neutral before the 7days wouldnt really matter anyway.

I always wait a week to leave the feedback to make sure the item lasts at least the first week. For most of the items like that, if it makes it the week, it made its moneys worth.

ALso you never know, I had bought a case and battery for a old palm, same thing came branded, well they sent me a new case and a second battery for the trouble.

 

[jimbob91577]

You know, I just bought a highly figured quilted maple off of ebay. The company that listed it listed it as a 1.5x8x33" piece, but when I received it the other day it was only 23" long.

I contacted the seller immediately. The seller was willing to refund my whole purchase, part of the purchase, or give me a discount on another item off his store site. I opted for option 4 - fill a flat rate box with cut-offs and stuff that I can turn into pens and ship it my way. So, I'm now receiving a box with olive, eucalyptus, black walnut burl, and some other stuff that I can use to make pens with for Christmas. All-in-all, it cost the seller less money, gets rid of a bunch of his excess, and makes two people very happy.

The seller will receive positive feedback once I get the cut-off package...

 

[Jim Smith]

I have also had very good luck with contacting sellers if I encounter any problems with items from Ebay. The last problem was with a music CD that had one of two CDs missing. I'm sure that the seller was not aware that the CD was missing as it was not clear that there should even be two CDs. Anyway, he immediately gave me a full refund and I keep the item. I've had people offer partial refunds etc. The rating system actually does have an impact on the behaviors of reputable Ebay sellers. I know that personally I will not even consider buying anything from someone with less than 97% positive. Give the seller a chance to respond to your concerns and you might be surprised.

Jim Smith

 

[jleiwig]

His response, and I think I got this exact "ok, so do you want me to refund you $2.00 for the screwdriver?"

Totally glossed over the fact that his ad misrepresented what he was selling!

Tomorrow on the 7th day he will get neutral feedback for his item not being as described, not acknowledging it, and not even apologizing or acknowledging I was displeased. Tempted to give negative, but I'm not that mean.

 

[sbell111]

... Here is what Ebay says.

So ebay wants me to work things out with the "Power Seller". So does that mean if I'm not a power seller Ebay will let someone leave me negative feedback within 7 days? ...

I agree with this rule.

In the old days, you could immediately give negative feedback, but it meant nothing because your one feedback couldn't budge the power seller's rating. However, with recent rules, a negative rating could easily cause a seller's 'powerseller' status to be revoked. This does a number of things including making it more costly for them to sell their items.

A seven-day cooling off period allows the seller to fix whatever problem that was experienced and makes for happier customers. It's too bad that you couldn't come to an amicable conclusion to your issue. That will be his loss, and yours.

 

[sefali]

His response, and I think I got this exact "ok, so do you want me to refund you $2.00 for the screwdriver?"

Totally glossed over the fact that his ad misrepresented what he was selling!

Tomorrow on the 7th day he will get neutral feedback for his item not being as described, not acknowledging it, and not even apologizing or acknowledging I was displeased. Tempted to give negative, but I'm not that mean.

The highlighted section warrants negative feedback. As a power seller myself, I feel conduct like that gives us all a bad name. Unintentional misrepresentation (not likely) may deserve a neutral, but the "whatever" attitude deserves a negative.

 

[woodchip]

I hate it when a seller holds your feedback until you post feedback for them. i bought a bowling ball a few days ago and they said they would post feedback for me after i did for them. If they do their job they will get a good feed back.

 

[DurocShark]

I hate it when a seller holds your feedback until you post feedback for them. i bought a bowling ball a few days ago and they said they would post feedback for me after i did for them. If they do their job they will get a good feed back.

I understand this. I used to give good feedback as soon as they said they received the item. Then they'd leave a neutral or neg without even talking to me. Most of the time I got it removed, but it was such a PITA.

I haven't sold anything on eBay in years now. The new scam isn't worth my trouble.

 

[jleiwig]

So here's the latest. I sent him back an email saying that I would rather have a blank bottom piece than the 2.00 refund he was offering. I get an email back today saying $2.00 refunded

Nothing else. No sorry for the confusion, Not even a "hey, it's not possible to get a blank bottom piece for these phones"

I still left him neutral feedback even though I'm beginning to think I should have left negative.

 

[jleiwig]

I understand this. I used to give good feedback as soon as they said they received the item. Then they'd leave a neutral or neg without even talking to me. Most of the time I got it removed, but it was such a PITA.

I haven't sold anything on eBay in years now. The new scam isn't worth my trouble.

You should leave feedback as soon as the item is paid for. At that point, the customer's end of the transaction is completed and they have no more obligations to you as a seller. Waiting any longer than that is unfair regardless of what sort of feedback they leave you.

It's just like any brick and mortar store, you only have one chance to make a good impression, so you need to make sure everything is on the up and up before the transaction even takes place.

I personally don't think sellers should be able to leave feedback. It doesn't work that way in real life, so it shouldn't on Ebay. Walmart doesn't tell Best Buy about me, and neither should Ebay sellers power or otherwise.