General vent about customers here!

i think some buyers think that insulting the item will allow you to give them a better a deal. we see it at flea markets all the time “this item isnt worth anything, it’s dirty and worn out” so the seller is like “ok don’t buy it!”. which is how we feel too. so when we’re buying, we try to compliment the item and the seller “i love this thing! i can give you $2, i really want it.” it works much better, as we know as sellers- we’d much rather be complimented on items and give a discount than insulted any day!

Sounds like someone needs to read Dale Carnegie. I’ll never understand that tactic either.

This was from a case that was opened against me last week. I called customer service and the case was closed it in my favor 🙂 It was from a brand new account 0 feedback. She was upset to say the least saying I didn’t not say the stereo didn’t come with wiring….? The message was written at 2:30 am so I’m guessing she was drunk. Try and make sense of it if you can. First time I read it I was so confused and a little upset. The next few times I read it I seriously laughed out loud it’s just hilarious. I read it out loud to my wife and we both had a good laugh.

“I recently purchased a car stereo, but there was no wiring included in the box? I assumed that it was Included, because it doesn’t State Otherwise in the Post. And how can electronic equipment be installed with No Wiring? Since the post didn’t Include this Important Information… I think that you should be held responsible for Not Being Totally Forthcoming on needing Wires for the Connection/Installation. WHAT GOOD IS AN ELECTRIC STEREO WITH NO WIRING, AND ABSOLUTELY NO EXPLANATION OR INDICATION THAT YOU NEEDED TO DO A WHOLE SEPARATE PURCHASE TO CONNECT TO THE MAIN POWER SOURCE??? VERY SNEAKY, POST SHOULD HAVE DEFINITELY BEEN MORE SPECIFIC. MY FIRST EBAY PURCHASE AND I FEEL VERY MISINFORMED…. VERY DISSATISFIED WITH THE FACT THAT I AM EXPECTED TO MAKE ANOTHER PURCHASE. MORE WAIT TIME ADDITIONAL SHIPPING CHARGES A REAL CASE OF “BUYER BEWARE!” MAKES ME APPREHENSIVE OF ANYMORE FUTURE PURCHASES… PRIMARILY DUE TO LACK OF IMPERATIVE INFORMATION THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN MADE CLEAR… RATHER THAN MISLEAD CUSTOMER TO GUARANTEE THAT YOU WILL HAVE REPEAT CUSTOMER BECAUSE OF INTENTIONAL LACK OF EXPLANATION OF PARTS THAT ARE INCLUDED IN THE COST!!! NOT HAPPY AT ALL RIGHT NOW ???????”

I received this message from a potential customer today about a package of 36 vintage (made in USA) Berol colored pencils. I have them listed for $80.

“why are they so high.. can get 50 crayola for 7 dollars.. i would like to put them to use but not for super high price.. if you are selling them as antique i understand.. someone might collect pencils.. otherwise. can you sell them for 6 total.. these are most likely low end pencils but i would like to try them. been trying all the lower end ones i can get”

Granted, my price is pretty high, but I’m always amused by people who try to convince me to sell an item at less than 10% of my asking price.

Why are the little piddily sales the ones that cause the most problems? To preface, I have been working for almost a year on upgrading my listings and doing away with the small stuff. That being said, I still have small things I’m trying to get rid of-might as well make a buck or two. This woman made an offer on some corsage pins which was ridiculously low. Turned her down, but she kept making offers. Finally accepted one just to clean out some junk and shut her up. Now she is unhappy-says the box is ripped and it’s missing pins. Offered to refund her if she sends them back. If she gives negative feedback I might drive to her state and choke her. All this over some stickin’ corsage pins. Reinforces my decision to upgrade my sales items.

I bought a big bag of Nintendo 64 games at a dirty, dark, junky thrift store somewhere in Oklahoma. About half the games have torn or missing labels, so you can’t read the titles. I put them all up in an untested, “mystery game” lot for $30. A guy started messaging me about 6 times a day with stupid offers for just one of the games. I stuck to my guns that I was selling as a lot. After 3 days of badgering me, he finally bought the lot. You can probably guess the rest – now he’s returning as INAD, saying “Games are dirty and labels are all torn up.” All of these issues were clearly described in the listing. Grrrrr.

Guess that one mystery game wasn’t the one he was looking for?

Of course, I’ll report and block him as soon as I get the package back.

Honestly, I block buyers like this immediately. Anyone that starts a conversation with a negative, insulting, or harrassing tone is blocked right away.

Messages that complain about “outrageous shipping charges” ? Blocked. (I use calculated shipping, and no handling fees)

Insults about the quality of the item? Blocked. (If my stuff is so crappy, why do you want it?)

Repeated low-ball offers with lots of “come on, dude, come on, bro” messages? (I am talking to you, denim-snapback-hat-dude. I am not your “bro”, and I am not selling you my hat for $5 with free shipping). Blocked.

High-maintenance people who send a list of expectations on how they want an item shipped BEFORE they even commit to buying? Blocked.

My store is neither Neimann Marcus nor a 3rd world market. I am not dealing with this crap.