| Author |
 Replies: 20 / Views: 3,664 |
Page 2 of 2
|
|
|
|
Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
Although the seller may have 100% feedback, blocking your bid without explanation would make me suspicious anyway.
Two way street, Blocked in BOTH directions!
|
|
New Member
United States
21 Posts |
As someone who works for a company that sells coins on ebay, I can answer your question. In the current ebay atmosphere, buyers have huge power over sellers in their ability to leave DSRs and feedback. Yet sellers cannot leave negative feedback for buyers as they used to be able to do. It is extremely difficult to maintain a "top seller" status, which means 20% discount on fees. For many sellers, that 20% is a significant percentage of their profit. It's hard to please 100% of the people all of the time. Even if you are honest and try your best, there is always someone who is going to find something wrong or have a misunderstanding, or accuse you of something. All you need is more than 2 low DSRs (1 or 2 rating) in a category within a 3 month period, and you lose your top seller status. People who ask questions tend to do so because they are a bit more picky about their purchases. It's not always the case, but often times it is. So many sellers will automatically block anyone who asks anything that indicates they may be picky. If they are picky about their coins, they may also be picky about how fast it gets to them, or how accurately they feel you described the coin, or how well they feel it was packaged (all things that are opinion-based). If the post office messes up and takes 6 days to deliver the package, they could give you a bad DSR even though you shipped 5 hours after receiving payment (this has happened to our company before quite a few times). It may not be fair, but you are being stereotyped based on the question you asked, and the seller simply feels he would rather not deal with potential problems of someone who is picky. |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
4418 Posts |
I had a similar experience with another seller. I just wrote to ebay, asking them if/how I might block this seller AND the one who blocked me from appearing in my searches. I anticipate no reply but wil post it if one is received. Another thought is why not post a listing of such arrogant sellers on CCF? I would personally boycott such sellers. |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
2936 Posts |
 with EricN on this one. I have quite a few "blocked" bidders mainly from non-payment, spoken/unspoken threats related to feedback, etc.; however logical questions are welcomed. It's tough being a seller given current guidelines/restrictions and it's going to get much worse 1 July. Maintaining a "Top Notch Seller" post June (and have a 20% fee reduction) will sorta be like standing on your head and gargling peanut butter. Edited by paleoguy45
04/05/2012 2:45 pm
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
3755 Posts |
Wehad top seller status and lost it over having tracking info posted. We were not using the postage from ebay on everything, so didnt have tracking to use. Stupid. I actually looked at the requirements. Pffffttttt. And its going to be even harder? Everyone here is so ready to jump down sellers throats if they dont do things the way they like and this is the result. Create a black list because you think a seller is arrogant? Really? How McCarthy can you get? Notions like that are exactly why sellers are quick to do things like that. As Eric points out, I as a seller can do NOTHING when I jacked around by a buyer. I can not affect their rating at all. My ONLY option is to block someone. And if I get an idea that a buyer is going to cause m issues, I might be inclined to do a premptive blocking too. |
|
Moderator
 United States
16679 Posts |
I found a coin on ebay that I really liked and when I tried to place a bid, it said the same thing...blocked from bidding. I tried to email the seller as I don't ever remember dealing with this particular seller, and ebay would not let me do anything as far as a contact for this seller. I blocked HIM, and moved on. There are plenty of fish in the sea (sellers ;) swcoin.ecrater.com
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
3283 Posts |
I think it is completely appropriate to ask a question that might give us more confidence in a purchase, especially about color. I've seen lime green IHC's that were nice natural brown when I received them. Sellers that block buyers that are that close to making a purchase are poor businessmen, destine to fail. But I suppose that is what ebay is all about sometimes, a anonymous free for all |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
4418 Posts |
Quote:
Everyone here is so ready to jump down sellers throats if they dont do things the way they like and this is the result. Create a black list because you think a seller is arrogant? Really? How McCarthy can you get? Notions like that are exactly why sellers are quick to do things like that. In this particular thread, it was the seller who, in effect, blacklisted a potential buyer for asking a question. Is that McCarthyism? People boycott businesses for all sorts of reasons. But, businesses boycotting people? Shades of civil rights is my take on this scenario. My simple point is that buyers deserve the same rights as sellers ... IMHO, the best way to combat problem sellers is to network with other buyers as we are free to do here on the CCF. ebay has effectively shut down the previously enjoyed networking of buyers. Some sellers fail to post buyers' "telling questions" that have potential to minimize the value of their offering; this, whether it be purposeful, careless or laziness. In this particular case, not only was the question ignored, but an opposing action, McCarthy-like, was taken against the poser of the question. My position is NOT that of buyer vs. seller. I've long gone out of my way to help and applaud the the efforts of honorable, caring sellers. Fortunately, the good sellers are in the majority. It's only by weeding out the bad sellers and bad buyers (not those buyers who ask questions), that ebay will work for the greater good. Amen ...  |
|
New Member
United States
21 Posts |
I'd say that unless you have been a regular seller on ebay and have tried to make a living by doing that, this subject is not something you can really understand. I'll give an example of what typically happens. I have a friend who sells on ebay (not coins, but still relevant to this discussion), and he carries several different products which require different size packaging. He makes a very small profit on each item, so he makes a living through volume selling about 30-40 items per day. He clearly states in his auctions that he cannot combine shipping, and explains the reason for this. So he receives an email from a potential buyer asking if he can combine shipping charges if the buyer purchases 5 different items. He writes back and explains that he cannot since each product requires different packaging. Buyer goes ahead and buys all 5 products, and then proceeds to leave 5 low DSRs for shipping charge. My friend loses his top seller status, and saw his income reduced by 60% for the following 90 days. My friend now says it was his mistake for not blocking the seller after he asked that question which was basically a complaint disguised as a question. He now never makes that mistake. |
|
Valued Member
United States
259 Posts |
I understand EricN's point about a business not wanting to deal with picky customers. That makes sense, as they often are not worth the trouble. However, that was not a picky question; rather, it was a perfectly legitimate one given the pictures. A seller who blocks someone after asking a legitimate question isn't somebody I would do business with. Based on the pictures and his response to the question, I wouldn't trust the guy. Thanks for letting us know about this.
|
|
New Member
United States
21 Posts |
BTW, I'll just add that most of the coins that I have purchased (I posted pictures of them in another thread), I have purchased from ebay, and I always ask lots of questions, and am very picky about my coins. I have never been blocked, but I always make sure to explain my question and be very nice about it in an almost apologizing type of way. I want to make sure I convey to the seller that I am a very reasonable buyer who just has some questions, and not someone who could cause them problems. Most sellers do not mind if buyers have an problem with something, but they want the type of buyer who will give them the opportunity to make it right, and not someone who will just leave bad feedback or DSRs without notifying them first and giving them the chance to fix the problem. Nobody is perfect and it is difficult to please everyone, but if you mess up then you should have the chance to make it right without losing your livelihood. |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
1770 Posts |
he should have taken some more pics just to verify so your question was indeed valid, its a buyers and sellers market makes no sense why he acted that way
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
3755 Posts |
Exo, the point you miss is that the buyer on ebay can screw a seller over with hardly a thought and not an ounce of real evidence needed. And you dont need a group of people with a mission in mind tearing through sellers. Nor do I believe there is any need at all for the mob mentality I have seen here numerous times. I cant begin to  the number of time someone posts something about a seller in a negative manner and there was nothing at all wrong in the listing. The only problem being with the reading comprehension of the person making the post. How many times do you see a post like What a junky buyer, he didnt pay! NEVER. I have not once seen a post saying lets list piece of junk buyers who dont pay or leave bad feedback for grins. Simple fact is sellers are the folks more likely to need to band together with blacklists. Edited by smokeriderdon
04/06/2012 11:08 pm
|
|
Valued Member
United States
223 Posts |
While I do find the seller rude for blocking a seller I don't see any advantage for him. Most sellers would want more bidders instead of less. While most buyers knows that there will always be more coins out there, so of they're patient they can always find another one.
|
|
Valued Member
Australia
369 Posts |
I'm with EricN on this. Buying and Selling is a two-way street. Buyers have to realise that respect and good manners are essential. And common sense is required. My latest question was "What other coins do you have?" With no salutation or Greeting or signing off this one was immediately blocked. And if anyone questioned me about colour they would be blocked too. I cannot believe that anyone in their right mind would buy a coin online based on photos and the colour. If you require a certain colour then you need to see the item. I've taken thousands of photos and am constantly amazed at the differences in colour that come out even though nothing has changed. Differences in colour and brightness should be expected as computers are different. If the seller says dark brown or whatever and it looks light brown you should show a little faith and believe him. If it turns out to be false then he has described it incorrectly. With the feedback situation being what it is, it is just not worth replying to and I would consider it an insult. Sorry if that's a bit harsh but that is the way it is.
|
|
Page 2 of 2
|
Replies: 20 / Views: 3,664 |
Page 2 of 2
|
First Page
Posted 04/05/2012 1:41 pm
