Zero-Feedback Bidders
conrad99
Posts: 375 ✭✭✭
What do you do about them? Scenario One: they bid hot and heavy near the end of an auction. Or Two: they place an attractive offer on a high-dollar BIN listing. Mainly talking about eBay here.
We've been online for 30 years now. Sure, someone could have been born yesterday but that's unlikely. So there's a serious risk factor. Do you 1) cancel and 2) ignore? Or just let things happen, with a good chance they'll pull a switcheroo on you after receipt?
More to the point: when push comes to shove, is there a policy for any eBay bias against newbs vs established power sellers, for example?
Also, what happened to eBay Concierge? That worked great for me but it seems to be gone now. Anyone else still have it?
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Zero and low feedback bidders are poison. Lots of would-be scammers on eBay will destroy an auction.
You forgot option #3, stop selling on eBay
Yes concierge still exists
My recent Scenario 2: I completed a $900 BIN transaction in April this year with a zero feedback buyer who had created his eBay account the same day as the sale. Well aware of the horror stories, I expected the worst as I sent off the coin, wondering if I’d made a huge mistake. The 30 day return window came and went, I left my positive feedback, and never heard from the guy again (I’m still the only feedback on his account).
Presumably since it was sold through a promoted listing, he saw the ad while surfing the web, clicked it, and joined ebay just to buy my coin. These things can happen too.
But to answer your question: I took a gamble…
I've actually never had a problem with a zero feedback buyer. I had 3 in the last month.
Corrected per @MFeld . I had 3 zero feedback buyers in the last month and all went swimmingly.
Thanks for your testimony gentlemen. One more question: would it change the equation any if the coin is certified and encapsulated? I'd think that would cut down on the likelihood of shenanigans.
And again, if anyone knows: is it reasonable to think that ebay would consider your status in the event of a conflict after the sale? By status I mean things like 20 years on eBay, 100% PFB, TRS, and such. When the counterparty is a zero-fb newb. Or am I dreaming about that..
I welcome them with open arms...
Zero feedback bidders are fine. You can't block them, and if you could you'd be leaving a lot of money on the table.
Their money is just as good as anybody else's. I've had more problems with people with high feedback than people with no feedback.
It's part of dealing with the public. Deal with any issues as they arise, and stop wasting time worrying about people's feedback. Your business and mental well-being will be better off by focusing elsewhere.
What happens if the zero feedback bidder wins the high ticket price auction, pays, receives the item, files a snad, and mails you back a rock in a box?
Are you out the return shipping cost and the high value item?
I do not sell on eBay, and I honestly have no clue how this plays out with ebay customer service.
If i ever used Ebay I would be a zero feedback person. I don't use Ebay, but just because somebody has zero feedback doesn't mean anything except they are new to Ebay.
Successful BST with ad4400, Kccoin, lablover, pointfivezero, koynekwest, jwitten, coin22lover, HalfDimeDude, erwindoc, jyzskowsi, COINS MAKE CENTS, AlanSki, BryceM
Never had a problem with them. We all start with 0 feedback.....
I only had 2 returns in 18 years on ebay until the last year. I have had 6 returns, 5 of which were NGC and PCGS coins with very presentable photos. One was a raw coin. I've never listed an auction with no returns, but for slabbed coins, I am considering it. Not sure if it would stand with ebay, but thinking of it, nonetheless.
Jim
When a man who is honestly mistaken hears the truth, he will either quit being mistaken or cease to be honest....Abraham Lincoln
Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.....Mark Twain
Like NONE of us EVER had zero FB on eBay?
USAF (Ret) 1974 - 1994 - The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of blessings; the inherent virtue of socialism is the equal sharing of miseries. Remembering RickO, a brother in arms.
I’ve had 3 in the last month and each paid quickly and were a pleasure to deal with.
Ebay has been very helpful a number of times. They have paid me for losses a couple of times. They've erased feedback. They've tossed a guy of the platform. People hate on ebay more than anyone but CAC, but it's really not true that they only side with buyers or are out to punish sellers.
Twice.
I don’t have a Ebay account, but I want to make one soon. I’m kind of worried about it though, as people might not trust me,.
Type collector, mainly into Seated. -formerly Ownerofawheatiehorde. Good BST transactions with: mirabela, OKCC, MICHAELDIXON, Gerard
Sell items at a fixed price and add best offer option. Put your price on the high end that way you will get offers and almost no buy it now purchases will be made (and if one is made then trust your gut either sell or cancel the order). Then pick and chose your best offers based on their feedback rating. Problem solved. As for no reserve auctions it is risky business in my opinion. A lot of good people out there but a lot of bad ones as well. I am glad I am done selling just sold my very last few coins in the last few weeks and all is OK. Been on Ebay for 21 years and I consider myself lucky never had any bad feedback and received feedback 99% of the time. There are some good buyers that just simply never ever leave feedback not much you can do about that.
A few times I had bad bidders on open auctions and had to send 2nd chance offers to the 2nd and 3rd highest bidders. Again I got lucky all went well the few times this happened to me. I explained to the buyer why I did what I did and they understood.
As a seller I am done so finally these worries are behind me now. Whatever I collect will stay in my collection till they put me 6 feet under.
NFL: Buffalo Bills & Green Bay Packers
On another note I never ever sold outside of Canada & USA not worth the stress in my opinion. And always shipped my items via registered or express mail. I would never use any other method. Fully insured as well. Sure it costs more but best to be safe than sorry.
NFL: Buffalo Bills & Green Bay Packers
Don't start with a $1000 item. Buy a few small items to establish yourself.
As others have said, we all have to start somewhere. Use your best judgement, but many people don't even bother to leave feedback anymore.
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Buy things like DVD's, shoes, pet products, books and so on. And then go up from there to establish your record.
NFL: Buffalo Bills & Green Bay Packers
some zero feedback buyer might be problem some might be OK. You never know for sure until you sell. I just sold a 4200 coin to a zero feedback buyer. Even worst the buyer is from Euro zone. Shipping to Euro zone is very troublesome. I took my chances.
If I was zero-feedback or low-feedback buyer and was worried that a seller would cancel my bids or purchase, I would simply send the seller a message briefly introducing myself and explaining my situation. That would be enough to convince most sellers that I am OK to deal with.
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Just pay after you purchase, you'll be fine.
This is good advice. But many people, myself included, do not discriminate against low feedback buyers. If someone does, there's little you can do about it. But you've really lost nothing but time if someone cancels your bid.
Join the party.
I can understand why people were turned off to ebay, especially years ago with the questionable raving sales listings. Things have gotten better on both sides recently and their QC team does a good job.
Think how bad things could go...a buyer buys an expensive item, cracks it out of a holder or dips a raw coin, things go bad with his "experiment". He sends it back for a refund. Or the purchase falls through the cracks of the ebay system, substantial $$$ at stake and ebay sides with the fraudulent buyer.
Based on my experience - The Zeros can have a high likelihood of a return or some other problem. Are they really new or somebody starting over with new ID. If big ticket item, watch out. Even the single digit ones too.
Coin Club Friend calls them “The Walking Dead.” (of EBay).
I have purchased numerous coins and other items on eBay since joining more than eleven years ago. In all that time I have left only one negative feedback, and that for a less than ten dollar purchase. I have purchased from sellers with zero feedback and feedback in the hundreds of thousands. There are bad apples in all facets of commerce, yet in the end this is a very small percentage. I just use my judgement (however faulty that may be) when making a purchase, and I am consistent, missing only a few, in leaving feedback when the item is received.
Mine is "2". I boycotted E-bay for 10 years due to a PAYPAL dispute. My old account was purged from the system. I am starting over but do not do much there. Items are usually overpriced anyway. I buy direct from established dealers and get a better price.
https://www.smallcopperguy.com
Everyone here started with zero feedback. I did 3 times after my accounts were hacked and eBay refused to do anything about it
"I spent 50% of my money on alcohol, women, and gambling. The other half I wasted.
Wow, that is a lot of value to trust to a buyer with 2 strikes against him. Good luck and please let us know how it turns out.
To me a zero feedback buyer is like a person that doesn't do a political survey or a survey sent to them by mail. As long as the buyer is happy and doesn't return the item, what's the problem. I don't always do feedback when I buy something on eBay and I do very few surveys when I'm asked to do one by phone or by mail. However, If I have a problem with a seller I will definitely send feedback to the seller because i'm not happy.
USN & USAF retired 1971-1993
Successful Transactions with more than 100 Members