Ebay Powerseller (w/100% +) Doesn't Reply To My Emails!

ChuckC

I won an auction last tuesday, paid immediately via paypal, and all I want is a lousy tracking number. I emailed the guy "hottestcoins" the next morning about a tracking number and he said that he'd ship it that day and provide me with a tracking no. asap. Since then, no word...even after two emails (latest one sent yesterday) requesting the info.

Am I paranoid? I bet the coins arrive today...supposedly they shipped from LA to me here in Ohio, so five business days is not out of the question. Or should I worry?

ziggy29

1200+ feedback in more than two years, no negatives, I'd say it's too early to hit the panic button. I wouldn't appreciate not getting the tracking number when you asked for it, but it's possible that it slipped his mind. If you don't have the coin by about Thursday or Friday, it's time to start asking serious questions (or even getting contact info and picking up the phone). But it wouldn't seem like this is a scam.

ksteelheader

The guy could also be at the PAN and ANA shows. People do sometimes forget things.
I forget things even when I have a list of things to do made up!..Give the guy some time!!

UncleJoe

Am I paranoid?

Yes.

Per eBay standards you should make contact within 3 days.

I don't know what volume that seller is dealing with but for me who only does this as very part-time, I would not have the kind of time to constantly check my account every day let alone every few hours.

Now for those who might say, Then don't sell on eBay, I disagree. eBay is not a professional marketplace no matter how many would like it to be so. It is an electronic flea market at best with people from all walks of life with little or a lot (or is that "alot" ) of selling experience.

When "buying" on eBay IMO you must take the above into account and have a little more patience than when dealing with a "professional" set-up.

Joe.

ChuckC

thanks for the replies... I think I'm too wrapped up or 'excited' about my wins and I've come to expect quick communication as I have with previous auctions I've won.

CarlWohlforth

If you had your PMs on I would have sent one. I've purchased from that company, I believe I posted feedback #1 for them. They are younger guys from Southern California (Malibu I think). I met them at a show in Santa Clara and they seemed nice.

Russ

They are known for not responding to eMail, but you'll be fine.

Russ, NCNE

beartracks42

I think that if you tell someone you will do something, then you have the obligation to follow through. Being "BUSY" is not a valid excuse. If I were in Chuck's position, I would be concerned, just as he is.

"Say that you will do-and-Do what you say" is a good rule to follow, especially dealing with the public.

ccrdragon

I've dealt with them before also and they are good for the auction.

The only problem that I had was they put me on thier 'spam' list w/o my permission and I had to jump thru hoops to get my email off of thier list...

susanlynn9

<< <i>Now for those who might say, Then don't sell on eBay, I disagree. eBay is not a professional marketplace no matter how many would like it to be so. It is an electronic flea market at best with people from all walks of life with little or a lot (or is that "alot" ) of selling experience. >>


Joe,
I have to disagree with you. Ebay has its share of professionals who sell there. The fact that it's possible for the "non-professional" to also sell does not make the whole marketplace unprofessional. That's like saying that, since anyone can get a website and sell from it that selling via website is not professional. As with any other business venue, there are good business people and bad. To let the existence of bad ones label the good ones as not professional is unfair and wrong. I have been in poorly run brick-and-mortar shops that have been significantly less than professional in manner, but just about everyone considers a standing shop as a professional business, regardless of the service received.

ChuckC

I agree with your comments, susanlynn9... many people make a living selling soley on Ebay. That being said, norms for small businesses apply such as customer service and quality merchandise. Ebay is a C2C (consumer to consumer) marketplace, but for most of these powersellers, it's more like B2C.

Edit: just received email, apology included for the delay..."being shipped today" but no word on a tracking number. The wait is killing me!

RBinTex

NEVER a problem w/Nathan Hotler (hottestcoins). Won't speak to the tracking # thing but he's honest and capable & you'll get what you're supposed to in a timely fashion.

If you also beleive all that why even a need for a T#?

UncleJoe

The fact that it's possible for the "non-professional" to also sell does not make the whole marketplace unprofessional.

susanlynn9, This may come under the heading of semantics but I didn't write that "the whole marketplace unprofessional". What I was trying to convey is that eBay sellers for whatever reason may not be able to respond to you with the speed or in a fashion that you would expect from "professional" sellers (and sometimes they are not too swift).

All I suggest is that one might keep in mind that they may need a little more patience when dealing with eBay buyers and sellers.

Joe.

Russ

<< <i>NEVER a problem w/Nathan Hotler (hottestcoins). >>



I'm not sure he's running it anymore. There seems to have been some changes recently.

Russ, NCNE

CarlWohlforth

"I'm not sure he's running it anymore"

When I spoke with these guy's last Spring they said Nathan was not part of the business any more.

ChuckC

Nathan is out according to a recent "neutral" feedback message

susanlynn9

<< <i>All I suggest is that one might keep in mind that they may need a little more patience when dealing with eBay buyers and sellers. >>


Joe, unfortunately what you say is true that many of the sellers do not respond immediately because it's not a face-to-face transaction. I believe the fault lies with the sellers though. I think the buyers are perfectly reasonable to want their transaction to be handled as if it is a face-to-face transaction. And, yes, it would require a tremendous amount of effort on the part of the seller to provide that. Personally, I do not feel that buyers (who are the ones spending the money) should be expected to be more patient because of the venue. We are powersellers on eBay and my husband and I work between 12 and 15 hours every day to be sure that our customers get treatment that is as close to face-to-face as possible. It can be done with a tremendous amount of dedication and effort and I believe this is what makes us successful. Getting back to the immediate cause of this thread, the seller stated that he would provide a tracking number. To not follow through with any promise made to a buyer fosters mistrust. In many ways, customer service in this venue is even more important than face-to-face because it's much harder to have faith through impersonal emails. Just my two cents worth.

ChuckC

This powerseller is really tickin me off now...said he'd ship "today" and that was last weds. Got an email saying "sorry for the delay will ship today and your feedback is automatically left once paid for" and that was yesterday (tues). Today (weds night, 8 days since winning) no feedback left which suggests my coins haven't been shipped. Today I sent an email requesting tracking numbers but at this rate, I'll hear nuthin.

susanlynn9

Chuck, unfortunately there are some sellers who aren't very customer-oriented when it comes to communication. If the seller has not responded to with a tracking number by the 10th day, I suggest you pull his contact info and give him a jingle. From what I have read, I think the personnel has changed and therefore things may be delayed. I wouldn't get too nervous though. I can't remember - did you say you paid with PayPal? If so, you are protected so you have no need to worry. I know it's frustrating though. Try to hang in there.

ziggy29

<< <i>This powerseller is really tickin me off now...said he'd ship "today" and that was last weds. Got an email saying "sorry for the delay will ship today and your feedback is automatically left once paid for" and that was yesterday (tues). Today (weds night, 8 days since winning) no feedback left which suggests my coins haven't been shipped. Today I sent an email requesting tracking numbers but at this rate, I'll hear nuthin. >>

That sucks. Keep in mind, though, that many sellers don't leave feedback until the buyer receives the item and indicates they're satisfied; that tells the seller the transaction is complete and it's time to leave feedback. Given the ANA in Pittsburgh, I wouldn't necessarily read too much into what is probably an e-mail equivalent of a form letter. For folks actively involved in the industry, these aren't times that are conducive to being "on top of your game" for remote customer care, if indeed they are in Pittsburgh.

Still, I agree that this isn't terribly acceptable. If you can't give your remote customers good service while you are away in Pittsburgh (or anywhere else), don't schedule auctions to end while your ability to give good service is compromised.

susanlynn9

Once again, I agree with you Ziggy. I can understand not being on top of your customer service due to such a huge event, but the show is something that could have been planned for weeks in advance and customer service should have been a top priority to be factored in during preparation and attendance at the show. Many sellers will put it in the auction if they are not going to be available due to a vacation or whatever. That is the way to do it. The fact that none of the emails have mentioned the show tends to make me think that isn't the problem. If it is, all the seller had to do was be honest with his buyer(s). People can be incredibly patient if treated courteously as equals.

ChuckC

thanks for feeling my pains....I want to be patient, but given the nature of ebay transactions (= high uncertainty), buyers get nervous when the seller doesn't stick to the script (marketing term). The script (when using paypal) is:

bid-->win-->receive congratulatory email from ebay-->possible email from seller-->buyer pays with paypal in short period of time-->seller acknowledges receipt within one business day-->seller ships within 3 business days of receipt of payment and leaves feedback-->item received in less than 10 business days-->buyer consumes-->buyer leaves feedback

Any deviation from this script is alarming to both sides especially given the high uncertainty nature of ebay transactions. What I don't like is that they said they'd ship "today" twice!

ziggy - they told me that feedback is automatically left when the items are shipped; it's an automatic process

susanlynn - you know, i didn't know the buyer was protected with paypal. Since I've never been in a position where I've needed a refund due to negligent sellers, how does paypal work in this regard?

susanlynn9

Chuck, that's a wonderful eBay script. Have you had a lot of sellers that follow it? Personally, I agree with it and that's exactly how we operate our business. If an item isn't shipped by the day after payment, we feel that we have shipped late. I feel that is the way it should be. I haven't found very many other sellers who work according to that ethic. I'm envious that you have

Here is the link to PayPal. Hope it helps.
https://www.paypal.com/us/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=p/gen/ua/policy_spp

It states at the bottom that the seller is supposed to ship within 7 days of payment, Hmmmmm.........

Reece

I just bought a 1000.00 coin from them off E-Bay and had the same e-mail problem, but got the coin OK talk to Mark Kranz 310-5899345 I think he might be at the ANA so talk to Issac you shouldnt have a problem-But let us know!! I also e-mailed them last week about another coin they had for sale on E-Bay and still have not had a response either!! Reece

ChuckC

ah reece, that makes me feel a little better esp. now that you've provided a phone #. I didn't know these guys actually went to shows. If they are out in pittsburgh, they have a long way home in cali. I'll keep waiting with fingers crossed.

K6AZ

If they are in Pittsburgh maybe they can drop your coin off on the way home?

Seriously, it is very irritating for a seller not to play it straight. Under PayPal policy, they must ship within seven days from receiving payment. Whatever you do, do not let them string you along past 28 days. If 28 days after you paid, you don't have the item, file a complaint with PayPal.

Boom

I'm dealing with someone right now That isn't playing it straight!.

K6AZ

.

Boom

susanlynn9

Whatever that is on the obverse sure isn't nothing. I am appalled at his behavior regardless of his registry standing. Anyone who sells coins has a responsibility to represent the item fairly and correctly. Whether you're dealing with a run-of-the-mill Buffalo or an MS Pillar Dollar. The rules are the same. Each item needs to be described completely including the good and the bad. There is a code of ethics that requires that items for sale be accurately represented. It's a shame that dealers like this one give honest dealers yet one more hurdle that they have to overcome in order to succeed.
As much as I hate to say it, there are a lot of sellers who, for different reasons, don't leave feedback until the buyer does. In our case, we feel that the transaction is not completely finished until we leave our feedback. But we furnish excellent customer service and never argue with any return for any reason (and we've only had 2 returns in over 1300 transactions). Also, we don't "trade" feedback. If the customer met the requirements deserving of a positive feedback, that's what they get from us regardless of what feedback they leave for us. (I guess that's easy to say with only 1 negative in over 1300 transactions.) There is no rule on eBay stating when the seller must leave feedback or even stipulating that he must at all. This is a tool that dishonest dealers use to "blackmail" their buyers with feedback. If the seller has a higher number of feedback and the buyer is pretty new, the dishonest seller knows that the buyer can't afford to swap negatives. This is very unethical behavior, but name a business that doesn't have some unethical participants in it. I hope you get your refund with no problems.

Boom

Russ

<< <i>Chuck, that's a wonderful eBay script. Have you had a lot of sellers that follow it? >>



I got a GOOD NEWS YOU WON! invoice from a seller yesterday (the 18th) for an auction I won on the 15th. I paid via PayPal within two minutes of auction close, so I figured the coins were already on the way. No, sellers don't follow any script. Many are completely clueless.

Boom,

That quarter looks like crap. Out the seller.

Russ, NCNE

susanlynn9

Hey Russ, you're not the only one. I have gotten invoices and auction notices as late as a week later and I pay within 5 minutes of auction end with PayPal. Some sellers are truly clueless

ChuckC

Well oddly enough the coins came today...talk about making a big deal for nothing. The lack of custmoer support (emails) is what got to me. I'll probably leave a negative sounding positive feedback

UncleJoe

Well oddly enough the coins came today...talk about making a big deal for nothing. The lack of custmoer support (emails) is what got to me. I'll probably leave a negative sounding positive feedback

Oddly enough? Did you really believe you wouldn't receive the coins?

(Donning flame suit) What you wanted was to receive them quicker (go to a retail shop), and to be told every step of the way what was happening to your coins. Just because you e-mail me for a tracking # doesn't mean I have to comply. Yes, it might be nice from a customer service point of view but not required (and yes, once he said he would, he should have done so) but in my opinion your request was premature.

As in life a lot of situations are easier if a little more patience is involved. What at first blush may seem like a difficult situation is hardly a problem if at all when a little more patience is applied (and cooler heads prevail).

As I have posted many times, it's eBay. I know everyone would like it to be more professional and more customer service oriented but if it doesn't walk like a duck or quack like a duck, it's probably NOT a duck.

Grant me patience, NOW.

"Uncle" out. Joe.

Edit. He deserves POSITIVE feedback for getting your coins to you safe and sound and in a reasonable time frame IMO.

ChuckC

Oddly enough? Did you really believe you wouldn't receive the coins?


------


No, I didn't believe I'd receive them so soon since they said they shipped on tuesday from california--presumably a week late. I left positive feedback as well.

tgilliams

he'll come thru, he just has a slight attitude that he's better than most sellers and follows his own rules. coins are fairly good, but getting an answer to an email from hottestcoins is tough. i just don't bid on his auctions anymore, his prices are a bit high also and coins are ok, but not the creame of the crop.