I HATE EBAY

[MattMJB0188]

I absolutely HATE IT. I hate how sellers bitch about taking additional pics when they're trying to sell their damn item and how they get back to you days later and its already too f late and someone else already bid. I hate how sellers' jack up shipping charges and how you inform them and they bitch saying well it's a heavy item. EBAY CAN GO TO HELL along with all their god damn sellers!!!

[www.6-ft-under.com]

Oh, I forgot to tell you..... I bought a Grande on e-bay a few months ago. The seller shipped the base and the e-mailed me to tell me that he was having trouble finding a way to send the globe. I told him to take his time and when the globe finally got to me I was amazed...... The box was about 3 1/2 ft tall and 2 1/2 ft across. The globe was in the middle of the box, packed with......ROLLS OF TOILET PAPER!!!! So I got a lamp and 28 rolls of toilet tissue (new in packages mind you) as a bonus! I laughed till I cried! At least there is one seller out there that is not full of sh........
Bert
6-ft-under.com

[Bryin]

I have been buying on eBay for over 10 years. I have been selling on eBay for under 2 years. Buyers complain like crazy. I must have been the ideal buyer. eBay is more pro buyer than seller. Since they no longer allow sellers to leave negative feebacks, I am having tons of trouble. In my last 3 sets of auctions (selling 5-6 items in each), I have had 4 buyers back out after they had won the auctions. The seller then has to wait 8 days before filing a non-paying bidder complaint. Then they have to wait 9 days before getting a credit for the original listing. That means that you can't re-list an item for 17 days even if the buyer tells you that they are not paying. Also, they now suspend sellers that have less than 95% positive in each of the "categories" (i.e. item as described, communication, etc.).

I recently sold a vintage guitar pedal on eBay and the buyer wrote to me to tell me that it wasn't working (it worked perfectly before I shipped it). I told him to return it for a refund. He returned the same make and model of the pedal that I shipped him but all of the wires were ripped out of it. Apparently, he already had one that was missing the wiring, etc., bought mine and returned the broken one to me. When I contacted PayPal to let them know that he switched pedals, they said all he has to prove is that he returned the pedal to me. They issued him a full refund (including what it cost me to ship it to him). Now I have no money, had to pay my listing fees and shipping costs and I have a broken pedal.

I have people yelling at me all the time about my shipping fees. I never charge more for shipping than it cost me. When I ship the item, I have the amount of the postage printed on there. It always cost me $2-$40 more than eBay's shipping calculator figured out. I never charge the buyers this extra money and they still complain. I can't regulate the USPS shipping costs! I always over-pack my items, so I never get anything negative about that. Selling fragile items like lava lamps is a pain. It requires a lot of time and packing material to make sure that it arrives safely.

I used to bitch about eBay sellers all the time until I became one.

[Alfred]

They really suspend you for less than 95% positive feedback in the categories?! I always thought the sellers that insist on all 5 stars in the categories were just whining, but if that's the case, then I understand completely. 5 stars should be reserved only for sales in which the corresponding aspect was handled perfectly and 4 should be considered a reasonable mark, but with this policy, a 4 becomes essentially a failing mark.

[Modulo '70]

Yeah it really sucks when people refuse to leave any feedback without reason. It's especially annoying as a buyer who has paid promptly not to receive deserved feedback.

J

[Doc Lava Roc]

Cut and paste this into your computer. When you buy a lamp, send this to the seller. This came from Weebotech and I always use it. Good luck.


Dear Seller,

I am providing this page so that I may receive my purchase in as pristine condition as possible. I know I'm picky with these instructions, but they have saved some lamps from the carrier’s goal of destroying them. (Kidding, of course). Those who did not follow instructions were ruined. I would prefer to own the merchandise rather than have to file an insurance claim. It is a tedious process, and insurance does not cover the actual shipping charges. Furthermore, I take special pride in purchasing a used item that someone does not want/need anymore. It makes two people happy and keeps items from being trashed, out of the dumps and the ecosystem. It breaks my heart when items come in damaged, as I’m sure it breaks the seller’s heart considering it was once owned and cherished.

When shipping lava lamps, please consider the following precautions to protect my investment in your merchandise:

1. Make sure the lava (wax) is completely solid and the globe (glass vessel with fluid/wax) is cold before moving and packing it. Moving/packing while warm will cause the lava to break up and diffuse in the fluid. This causes the lamp to cloud and can ruin the globe permanently.

2. Remove the globe from the base and cap. Do not transport with the globe mounted on the base. It will bounce and shift during shipment which could cause it to crack (It has happened before) or dent the base. Lavaworld’s normal shipping setup is globe on bottom in corrugated cardboard box or Styrofoam mold with the base on top. This keeps the heaviest part on the bottom.

3. When placed in a box every part must remain completely immobile. Any movement could cause parts to break. If using Styrofoam peanuts, there must be enough so everything is really tight. Parts WILL shift during transit. Delicate parts need to be protected with bubble wrap.

4. If this is a ceramic icon series lamp and the metal sleeve inside the ceramic base moves, do something to anchor it so it does not shift around, i.e., Scotch tape, bubble wrap, saran wrap. If possible lift slightly and place bubble wrap between sleeve and ceramic.

5. The globe MUST travel vertically. I.E. the bottle cap top must face up. If it travels sideways the fluid will slosh around. The globe will then get cloudy and be ruined. Also, if the globe shifts, it could break through the box. If you are not using an original lava box, the globe must be wrapped very well in bubble wrap.

6. If using the original Lava box, it must be double boxed. Some models of the box are not strong enough for shipping.

7. When boxed, position the box as to where the globe remains vertical. The shipping label should be on top. This is how USPS/UPS usually stores it and hands it to me--label up. Arrows on every side should indicate which direction is UP. The box must be marked Fragile/Glass everywhere possible. (Consider that some people take all these precautions, but use a long box and put the label on the long side. This causes it to ship horizontally thereby clouding the globe.)

When shipping my purchase, please provide the tracking number upon shipment via email. This lets me have an idea of when my purchase ”should” arrive and helps us both to avoid a problem.

Feel free to call me with any questions.

Thank you for your consideration.


I know it sounds a bit "over the top", however, many sellers liked the instructions and commented on how it helped them get my new lamp to me free of damage.



Another point: Shipping charges. Don't be mad about high shipping charges. Ebay does not take a percentage of the shipping charges like they do with the selling price of an item. The seller is trying to make money. You do not have to play. If the seller really pisses you off, you can report it to ebay and they will (most likely) remove the auction.

I always incorporate the shipping charges with my bid and never go above my predetermined bid amount.
(unless of course.....I REALLY GOTTA HAVE THAT LAMP!!!!).....:-)

Cheers