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Bad experience with eBay seller hrpawn

Take a deep breath, sometimes people are @@@@.
I once got “blocked and banned” by a seller for saying “Hi, I’m interested in your jacket, just wanting to confirm that it is leather and not a synthetic material. Many thanks”.
I got a basically abusive reply along the lines of “are you saying my items are fakes, that they are cheap plastic crap @@@@ off”.
I was like wow.
With offers, it’s normally polite to offer no more than a 20% discount. But then again some sellers set up their listings way too high to encourage the “I got a bargain” mentality.
Some sellers expect an offer, others are offended.
so you never know what seller you are dealing with.
You are quite right, the seller should set a “minimum offer amount”, that way if your offer is too low you know straight away, it simply doesn’t go through. No one gets offended.
if a seller doesn’t want an offer at all, they should set their listing that way.
likewise you are correct to expect a counter offer, however sometimes I find that doesn’t happen.
Id just say the seller needs customer service training and as to saying “don’t buy from me?” Why bother being on eBay if you don’t want buyers.
if you still want the item, see if a friend has an eBay account and go back and buy it that way.
 
CaseyLouLou said:
I looked into reporting him to eBay but I didn’t see an option for reporting rude and abusive messages. I can’t believe he has 100% positive feedback on eBay.
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Feedback doesn't always tell the whole story, unfortunately. One time (and only once), I left negative feedback for a super nasty seller. It was true and honest, and in no way vulgar. She had it removed. But I'd purchased 12 items from her (polymer clay). So I left it again... she had it removed a 2nd time. This happened 3 times. I finally called ebay to ask why my feedback was being removed when it was clearly in accordance with their policies? I was told sellers can dispute negative feedback 5 times per year. And, often, the rep doesn't really do much investigating. They just tend to remove it. Awful, isn't it? The one time I exercise my right to voice a complaint, and it kept being removed. But I outlasted her! :dance:
 
CaseyLouLou said:
“Please do not shop with us, we do not want customers like you. You are a disrespectful buyer that has no idea what you are doing. Take care.”
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I think this is hilarious and makes this the easiest transaction in the world. Just walk away and never, ever look back. Would you ever trust anything this person said or sold you? Awful people are awful -- there is no need to interact any further with them. It is also bafflingly self-destructive -- which may be why they can not run an online business.

For all my "Make Offer" listings (usually camera equipment and some clothes, shoes, and electronics from my kids), I would get offers at 50% all the time. Your offer seems generous for a "Make Offer" listing. And it is so easy for the seller to set the threshold so that offers below a certain percentage do not even create an alert. So they clearly want to know about low offers just so they can insult you! Again, which is why they are failures.
 
CaseyLouLou said:
I looked into reporting him to eBay but I didn’t see an option for reporting rude and abusive messages. I can’t believe he has 100% positive feedback on eBay.
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Don't worry @CaseyLouLou
What comes around goes around and karma is a great leaveler

Unexpected rudeness can come as such a shock to the system

Try to put it out of your mind - i know that can be hard
so go out and do something nice for yourself right now !

A better ring with a better stone with a better price from a nicer seller is just around the corner waiting for you
063f6cdf82c50f4a2208f361e8d8bd90-1.jpg
 
For the few items I had sold via eBay with the "Best Offer" option, I set a minimum price below which would be automatically rejected, no fuss no argument.

It allowed me to set an "automatically accept" price which was the minimum price that I would accept.

Those offers in between the two would come to me for assessment, and I have had only one of them for a lady with a sob story, and I sold it to her below the minimum price that I would accept.

DK :))
 
I’ve told this story before, but my favorite message that I ever received while selling was someone who messaged to ask me where Walmart was.
 
Bron357 said:
As a seller I got this message, and I did respond kindly.
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This is one of the most common scams -- crying poverty and preying upon the misdirected kindness of strangers. On the thread about "Can I get these potential home-sellers to like me more by writing them another letter?" I just said it is all about money. Most sellers are tuned in to this scam and see right through these "but just for me" entreaties.

Why would a "penniless" person trawl eBay for chess tables??
 
Asking for a discount is always tricky because you have no way of knowing how much the vendor can bargain while still making a profit. I usually make up my mind about how much I am willing to pay, and if it is more than 30% below the listed price I simply don’t bother - unless I have reasonable ground to believe the vendor can deal with it.

People getting offended can eat a bag of d***s :bigsmile:
 
sydneyatl said:
I’ve told this story before, but my favorite message that I ever received while selling was someone who messaged to ask me where Walmart was.
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OMG you're killing me!! I nearly spit out my tea when I read this. baa haa haa! Where do these people come from?!
 
CaseyLouLou said:
I got an email that Yelp review was removed because it wasn’t complaining about an issue at their physical location. Kind of annoying. Also the ring did sell for full price apparently.
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I noticed it was gone almost immediately... they may want you to think it sold for full price, but that seems awfully coincidental to me, timing-wise. They probably removed the listing for now. Also, don't give up on your review. Sellers often have Yelp remove negative listings by using all sorts of excuses. If you're persistent, it will stick eventually. I know... it's super frustrating. :liar:
 
I think this seller’s behaviour was uncalled for, and it’s a good thing you reported them to ebay.

At the same time, I’m not a big fan of naming and shaming vendors on a public forum like this unless what they did involved intentionally ripping someone off or commit some sort of act of fraud or equivalent. On google and other established review sites, vendors/shops are more likely to see reviews and have the opportunity to respond, but they may not see it on a site like PS.

Still, it's really not nice to have your day ruined by an unexpected unpleaseant experience like this :confused2:

Regarding the ebay function that tells you what price range - I should point out that it's totally unreliable :D

I tried that with one of my listings and it was suggesting it was overpriced. Odd, as I know that there are other live listings for similar items above that price. When I looked at items that ebay were comparing it against, not only was the sample group small, but nothing like my item. It seems that the algorithm just took a sample group of items with ‘antique diamond gold ring’ in the title, and worked out the price range, irrespective of any other detail.
 
Also, what can be super annoying about buying jewellery and gems is that when the item isn't mass manufactured and the exact same thing is not available elsewhere, you sometimes feel like you have to put up with difficult sellers as they come along with the item :???:
 
JewelledEscalators said:
Also, what can be super annoying about buying jewellery and gems is that when the item isn't mass manufactured and the exact same thing is not available elsewhere, you sometimes feel like you have to put up with difficult sellers as they come along with the item :???:
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So true!
 
Bron357 said:
As a seller I got this message, and I did respond kindly.
There are some odd bods out there.
don’t take it personally.
93923A4D-AC28-42E2-A39C-4826859BB770.jpeg
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If I received a message like that, I'd feel inclined to reply back with:

"Thank you for your message. I completely understand where you are coming from. It is a lovely chess table and I do feel sad having to sell it. Like you, I feel jealous for those who can afford to put their offer or bid here when I can't even afford to keep the item myself, because apart from being in dire financial straits, there is no space for it in our small home. Our family of six live in a one room apartment and three of our kids have to sleep on top of each other, with the eldest crammed into a single bed alongside my husband and I. After the chess table goes, our children can sleep in twos, though whether it's a good idea that my husband and I to get the bed to ourselves is another matter - we don't want to end up being even more overcrowded if you know what I mean!! We're desperately saving up for a larger place and in the process selling off everything we can, including our children's school books and bedding but we're still nowhere near being in a position to buy. You are so lucky, at least you have a home big enough for the chess table! If you ever decide to give away your home for free (not very likely), do let us know. We're near Adelaide and can move in at any time!"
 
T L said:
Geez, I make 50% off lowball offers. That seller’s head would explode, lolololol!
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Do you do that because you feel the item is overpriced? Or is it a case of making offers based on a set percentage of listing price for items as a matter of routine?
 
The fact that it is a pawn shop is rather dark humor. Without a doubt, when they offered 200-250 for that 900 ring, I can only assume they didn't find that insulting to offer at all.
 
JewelledEscalators said:
Do you do that because you feel the item is overpriced? Or is it a case of making offers based on a set percentage of listing price for items as a matter of routine?
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No, it’s like @Autumn in New England stated, you make a lowball offer, they come back with a higher offer, and you meet in the middle. By the way, it never ever hurts to give a lowball offer, unless you’re terrified of losing an item you absolutely have to get. You should never be afraid of “offending” a seller, the worst that can happen is that they decline your offer, but most times, they come back with another offer. If you make too high an offer, you might be overpaying. If a seller gets offended, oh well.

I was shocked recently at getting no response to a 50% offer I made on a ring setting, but in that case, I was okay to let it go. The seller simply ignored me. I guess some get offended, to which I could care less.
 
T L said:
I was shocked recently at getting no response to a 50% offer I made on a ring setting, but in that case, I was okay to let it go. The seller simply ignored me. I guess some get offended, to which I could care less.
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As a sometimes-seller on eBay, I understand the irritation at a true low-ball offer so there is some potential harm. If it's a commoditized item, then who cares; there will be a million more in better or worse shape. But if it something you truly love, I would aim higher than that (maybe 70%).

As a seller, I typically would tell the lowballer that it's a new listing, this is a good example (of x type of thing), I did my homework on what I should be able to get for it, so I will probably just let the auction play out. Most disappear because they do not want my like-new widget -- they want anyone's widget as cheaply as possible. For one-offs, though, they may try a little harder.
 
T L said:
No, it’s like @Autumn in New England stated, you make a lowball offer, they come back with a higher offer, and you meet in the middle. By the way, it never ever hurts to give a lowball offer, unless you’re terrified of losing an item you absolutely have to get. You should never be afraid of “offending” a seller, the worst that can happen is that they decline your offer, but most times, they come back with another offer. If you make too high an offer, you might be overpaying. If a seller gets offended, oh well.

I was shocked recently at getting no response to a 50% offer I made on a ring setting, but in that case, I was okay to let it go. The seller simply ignored me. I guess some get offended, to which I could care less.
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Thanks for your response. Actually I was asking this more because of experiences I've had on Ebay as an occasional seller :D

A while back, I listed an item for let's say 400 dollars. Within hours I get an offer for 350. Since it had a lot of interest, I told the bidder that I just listed it and as it's getting some interest, would like to see how it goes for a few days. If I don't get a better offer after that, I will let them know if they are still interested. No response. A while later, I didn't get a higher offer, so I contacted the earlier bidder and asked if they are still interested in purchasing for 350. I then relist auction style for 350 starting price, lots of watchers but no bidders. I then relist for buy it now or best offer 350. Then the earlier bidder comes back and bids 300. I decline. I also noticed that other offers I was getting was lower than before.

For some items, for a quick sale, I've listed items at close to cost. Again, lots of interest and no bids. When the auction ends, I get someone offering a little less than the starting price. Since I was taking addvantage of ebay's 80% off fees promotion with the previous listing, I can't sell for that price. Actually even with the promotion, I will lose money if I sold at that price. You wouldn't be able to buy a similar item at an auction house for that amount, and in addition, I accept returns which they don't.

I'm not offended by so called 'low-ball' offers because I understand that many people have a budget constraint particularly in these troubled times. But I am surprised that people think they can buy an item at some of the prices they offer.

Recently someone asked me what my best price for an item was, and in the course of it, they told me their budget, which was just under 50% of the listed price. If you took the weight of the gold and multiplied it by the buying price for scrap gold at 18ct, it would account for 3/4 of it. Minus ebay fees and that works out to just 30 dollars in addition to the scrap gold price, yet this is a vintage/antique ring with a small old cut diamond.

I am getting the feeling that whether it is people's budgets or the love of a bargain, there are a lot of buyers who 'value' the item based on the listing price, rather than the actual value of the item. In such case, it seems that if you price it quite low relative to cost, you shouldn't add a best offer option (though people might still message regarding prices), and if you add a best offer option, you need to price it bearing in mind the kinds of discounts buyers might ask for, though I still wouldn't be able to offer 50% off the listing price for most if not all of my items, unless I really raise the price relative to cost to start with.

I don't blame buyers for this, as I too am a buyer and like most people, want to buy at low price and love a bargain too. I guess one just needs to factor this psychology when pricing items or choosing selling format on ebay.
 
JewelledEscalators said:
Then the earlier bidder comes back and bids 300. I decline. I also noticed that other offers I was getting was lower than before.
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I think these are all resellers. If you have crummy photos or little feedback, they know they can buy cheap from you and flip for a quick profit. I have put a lot of effort into my photos and descriptions and the flippers can not do much better than I can selling this same item.

But I have not sold anything for over a year and each selling experience is generally worse than the prior one. This pattern has repeated for maybe 15 years.
 
LilAlex said:
I think these are all resellers. If you have crummy photos or little feedback, they know they can buy cheap from you and flip for a quick profit. I have put a lot of effort into my photos and descriptions and the flippers can not do much better than I can selling this same item.
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You're right, I think they were a reseller.

So I guess I should price things higher as low price attracts resellers who want it for less than you'd like to sell, and buyers with unrealistically small budget who want to buy at prices you can't afford to sell :think:
 
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