Lazy eBay sellers --- rant

Fuzz

Is it me? Am I asking to much? I have been out over the last few weeks or so trying to aggressively buy cards on eBay. What I am finding is that about 70% of the sellers can not manage to get me a single piece of paper that has -- who they are, an address, a hint of what I won, and a total on one piece of paper !! Is that asking to much? Why is it on me to figure out all of this stuffl?
What I have been seeing is links (not AH or the like) that take you to a place that will give you a hint but not the info. What's up with that? If you mail back, they don't answer. It is a miracle that most of the stuff arrives and they only get paid because I actually wanted the item. A lot of automated email that says you one this for x, check my listing for this which says part of what you want to know, maybe and then check here for something else.
Is the bar now so low that this is somehow considered business like? I have spent two to three hours each of last to mornings trying to piece together information to pay people. I don't care what the card is or how cheap it is, it isn't worth the time and effort.
The way eBay works makes this ridiculous, if I don't pay in 12 nanoseconds per the listing then I get the non-paying bidder form of death. If I leave neg feedback, which a lot of these guys have coming in some form. then we all get wiped. I will be shortening my list of sellers to buy from again and cutting back on what I bid on again just to avoid the hassle. Is anybody else seeing this.
Satan, please tell us these people will have their time come !
Fuzz -- at my wit's end

thefootballcardstore

See - now I feel guilty. I have to go send a combined invoice or two.
Jeremy

interchanges

Just get a paypal account, then when the auction ends, you punch a few buttons, and it's on its way.
Most sellers accept it.

pc

Dave-whatever you need lmk!
paul

Wabittwax

Do you sell much? I am a really small seller conpared to Ebay standards and I seem to spend half the day sometimes just listing stuff. And that not including the 3 hours I spent on Ebay looking for stuff to buy to resell. Then there is all the question answering and invoice sending after the auctions end. And when everything is said and done, after ebay and paypal fees, I make like a hundred bucks or some crap like that. When I started using automated invoices, I thought they were the greastest thing since the invention of peanut butter. For big Ebay dealers, they are not optional, they are a must. I think as long as a seller uses an automated invoice that has all the info on it, then it's ok. I can see how it would frustrating though if the info is incomplete.

Ripken

I can't speak for the other services, but I think vendio.com seems to be pretty good.

The buyers seem to have an easy time with the checkout which is very easy, as long as we responsible sellers make it that way when we set up our preferences (very simple). They also include a direct link within the listing so that all you have to do is click within the listing and it will rush you through checkout.

The only people that seem to have trouble following this automated checkout (which sends WB notice immediately after the auction) all have one thing in common. They can barely construct a complete sentence. Not surprising. Or.. they don't update their EBay contact info and wonder why "I never received a notice". Duh.

wolfbear

Ripken - Thank you for your elitist attitute.

I think Fuzz's point is that :
The buyer shouldn't have to jump thru a bunch of hoops just to figure out how to pay,
and how much to pay for the auctions that he has won.
He's already paying his hard earned money,
and the seller should have to put out at least SOME effort toward making a smooth transaction.

Also, because we're working on some of the same sets, I FEAR THE FUZZ ...

SKINSFAN

IM with wolf FEAR THE FUZZ. and yes i agree would be nice to just get a good old email saying you won 3 cards total with ship is xxx add xx if want insured. oh for the good old days

GATOR5

Hmmm when you krazy fb collectors going to step into 65 tallboys????


Gator

zardoz51

I use vendio

I thank the stars each and every day for it. The time that I would spend collating lots and invoicing accordingly was horrible back in the "good old days". Sure, I still get a few "Well you never invoiced or contacted me" emails, but all in all, most people are intelligent enough to respond to the vendio invoice.........after all, they collect cards don't they?


The warm fuzzy emails are nice when you're running 6 lots to 4 diff buyers, but when you have 100 or 200 lots to 80+ different buyers, many otherwise productive hours are lost.

packCollector

not sure about vendio but I started using sparedollar.com thanks to a referal on this board. I used to do it all manual. works great and you can personalize any template you want before sending it. I am a small seller as i buy and sell . As a buyer I hate getting 5 emails for 5 items with 5 totals 5 shipping amounts, i think i am entitled to 1 simple invoice. here is a little spam spareDollar

qualitycards

With my auctions, Paypal automatically sends each winning bidder the info which can be confusing for multiple winners. So from day 1, I have always sent out winners notifications minutes after my last auction ends. I usually run between 15-40 lots on any given night, so it only takes a few minutes to copy & paste the info on my pre-set grid. I would rather spread out 200 lots throughout the week then have them all end in one night for this reason.
I should run more '66's so FUZZ can see that I still do it this way, as he has won a ton off of me in the past and neither of us have had any problems...jay

Basilone

You can switch on and off whether Paypal sends out its own end of auction notification. I have switched it "off" due to the lateness of the notification.

I also use VENDIO....which sends out an automatic notification, but also lets you send out shipment notification (i.e. when and how the card is shipped) and leave feedback at the same time. My bidders have told me they appreciate the shipment notification as not too many do that...and since it is a click to send...it takes no time on my end.

John

edited: spelling

sagard

The automated response systems allow the sellers to be alot more accurate and not to forget anyone when they are selling hundreds of items per week. I'll take that over not getting any response any day.

dude

I'm like Jay (qualitycards) and do it manually within several hours of the auctions ending. I can't speak for all automated services, but many don't get it right with multiple winnings and insurance.

Ripken

Wolfbear,

Not sure why you think I was being "elitist". I was just making an observation that there are some automated checkout systems that are NOT difficult to use for either buyer or seller. And buyers DO have to realize that to enjoy some of the benefits of browsing through thousands of auctions for PSA material, the process also has to be painless for sellers who offer that bounty of material. Automated systems make it so. And they're NOT that hard to follow...at least that's what buyers tell me about the one I use.

SKINSFAN

zardoz nothing wrong with auto mails if done right!!!!, but ive found most are always missing something. By the way just bought a card from both jay and dude as always both went smooth as silk. auto mail but also a PERSONAL email. Just my opinion but the personal email to me means alot. Nice to get a mail from Dan or Jay calling you by name. I compare it to having to promp 50 diff #,s when you call most companys or worse a state or fed gov # trying to get a live person.To much taking the consumer for granted these days. Dealers who take time to say hello to there customers or even remember there names are a dying breed. KADOOS TO THE GUYS WHO MAKE TIME !!!!!

wolfbear

Ripken - I agree that the auction services are a necessity for the larger sellers.
I'm very thankful for DSL and their ilk, for without the auction services they use,
they wouldn't be able to supply us with such a vast quantity of cards.

Also, I agree that zardoz needs more "productive time" to study the Daily Racing Form.

Still, it is the sellers who add a personal touch that contribute to making collecting such a pleasure.

Just didn't appreciate the condesending tone of your response.
Besides, most of us football card collectors ARE illiterate. The truth hurts ...

Fuzz

Let's see if I can catch up here a little. I have done business with many of the guys that posted on this thread. Jay, Dan, Art, pc and Wolfbear off the top of my head. They are all top notch or better. As far as automated goes. I don't mind at all, in fact I agree that DSL is one of the most professional in the business. I don't care if it is warm and fuzzy or cold hard facts .............. as long as it is all there, correct and vaguely timely.
Situation 1: I get an automated request from a dealer, I won one card. Great. Click this link to site I have never heard of, fill out the poorly organized info for several screens written in a font too small to read. I get to the last page, it gives me a total and an address. Great. Then there is a note that says "the site was unable to calculate a proper total --- contact seller. Page is very color and graphic intensive. Won't print readable on my printer. Bad. Back to the notice. It says "check my listing for shipping details". OK. Go there, it says shipping is x. No mention of insurance. Using these #'s I have a different total than the previous place. Back to email, received second notice from seller. Has additional info. New numbers for selling and insurance. Does not match either listing or check out #'s. Wonderful, pick a number, any number. I pick the highest # because that should cover it. Wait no address. That can only be found on crappy checkout site, back through that to get address again that I cannot print. Twenty minutes later, I have all the hand written notes I need to pay this guy one of the three amounts he has requested. And this is only one example of what I am now getting three to five times each and every day. That doesn't count the easy stuff like the dealer who still hasn't contacted me for the card I won on Saturday. Or the guy that combines shipping if you ask that hasn't responded for more than 48 hours, etc.
There is stuff out there I want. I have money in the bank to buy it just not enough time. So, every time I get one of these, it cuts down on what I can get. Saw stuff today on eBay from one of these guys that got me Monday. Right stuff, right price with BIN. I passed today. Too much hassle. I vote with my wallet.
I ran a mail order business for 7 years. It is hard work for little reward. No one said getting rich would be easy. Automated or not, professional and efficent is a must (Vendio, AH, Andale, Paypal, they all work: but only if you put the complete and correct info in).
Fuzz
PS. Jeremy, I have seen your prices. I will save you some time, you will not have to prepare any invoices for me.

Fuzz

Skinsfan --- Wolfbear,
Buddies........
Now come on, I'm just an ol' fat guy in the desert. Nothing to be afraid of. Just gonna make you work a little this year on a couple of sets. Just to keep you both honest and dedicated.
Oh and by the way, new upgrades posted today on 66T and 67 T FB. Also, received in the mail more upgrades for each of those sets today. My 63 Fleer FB posted today as well but I do not think it is right. Have the missing cards for that set at PSA. Have a few more sets to post as well as soon as I get some time.
Don't look behind you men ----- something might be gaining on you. Good Luck guys.
Fuzz