Slightly OT: I got a phone call from Ebay last night...
Stork
Posts: 5,206 ✭✭✭✭✭
I was sitting at my computer with 32 seconds left in an auction...the phone rings and my 8 year old answers it. He asks who is calling and says "Mom, ebay's on the phone". I'm thinking that can't be right, but now I have 22 seconds left...so I asked him to tell the person I'll be there in 20 seconds. (I made a successful one second snipe 
) and went to the phone.
It was indeed someone from Ebay who wanted my opinons on a few things for a survey. The questions were along the lines of 'had I noticed anything different about ebay' 'when was the last time I bought something' (that one was easy to answer) 'what kind of things I look for' 'how easy is it to find something' etc. No security questions and other than not wanting to say I buy alot of coins (I said medals), nothing that sounded like a potential scamster.
Then she asked me about what bothered me about ebay and what things I would improve or what features I would add....all I could come up with on such short notice (and with 2 very distracting children running around....)
1. I don't like "grab-bag" type auctions where the sellers promise to send a random assortment of something "but with at least one gold coin added to some lots" for example, as this was a situation ripe for ripping off the unwary. I pointed out that I felt individuals have a personal responsibilty to try and protect themselves, but this sort of auction can be predatory.
2. I don't like "mystery lot" auctions, where a value (say $100,000 dollars worth of coins was the example I used) is given, but then there is a much lower starting fee/bin/or make offer that can be accepted. I noted that an unethical seller could then send whatever he or she wanted without really meeting the value stated.
3. I did complain about the guy who was going to charge a $5/day late fee if paypal wasn't done in 24 hours or the postmark wasn't the next day, and he wouldn't send the item until all 'late fees' were paid. I did not like the fact it would be impossible to confirm any claim he might make and there was no recourse available. She seemed a little surprised about this one.
4. I then pointed out that I wanted to complain about this guy and it was Very Difficult to negotiate the help pages to find the link. Some people here actually gave it to me, but I noted to her that trying to find the link on ebay was not intuitively obvious.
5. I also then pointed out the guy in the above example did change the style of his auctions and removed the late fee clause and I suspected it was due to complaints. I said that I understood the need for privacy, but perhaps there could be something like an "I've been a bad boy"asterisk that would go next the ebayer's name for a week or a month to show they had been sanctioned for something. She asked me about reading feedback, and I pointed out how it did not always seem to accurately reflect reality, and something more would be nice...just to let a buyer know that a seller may have had a few complaints not worth of a NARU.
and in one of my more inspired moments:
6. I asked for the ability to search the decriptions of completed auctions, not just the title.
In any case, there are several more things I wish I'd thought about, but I was too slow and I wish I'd had a checklist next to the phone when it rang!!
So post what you would have said, and if your phone rings tonight you will be more prepared than I was!!!
) and went to the phone. It was indeed someone from Ebay who wanted my opinons on a few things for a survey. The questions were along the lines of 'had I noticed anything different about ebay' 'when was the last time I bought something' (that one was easy to answer) 'what kind of things I look for' 'how easy is it to find something' etc. No security questions and other than not wanting to say I buy alot of coins (I said medals), nothing that sounded like a potential scamster.
Then she asked me about what bothered me about ebay and what things I would improve or what features I would add....all I could come up with on such short notice (and with 2 very distracting children running around....)
1. I don't like "grab-bag" type auctions where the sellers promise to send a random assortment of something "but with at least one gold coin added to some lots" for example, as this was a situation ripe for ripping off the unwary. I pointed out that I felt individuals have a personal responsibilty to try and protect themselves, but this sort of auction can be predatory.
2. I don't like "mystery lot" auctions, where a value (say $100,000 dollars worth of coins was the example I used) is given, but then there is a much lower starting fee/bin/or make offer that can be accepted. I noted that an unethical seller could then send whatever he or she wanted without really meeting the value stated.
3. I did complain about the guy who was going to charge a $5/day late fee if paypal wasn't done in 24 hours or the postmark wasn't the next day, and he wouldn't send the item until all 'late fees' were paid. I did not like the fact it would be impossible to confirm any claim he might make and there was no recourse available. She seemed a little surprised about this one.
4. I then pointed out that I wanted to complain about this guy and it was Very Difficult to negotiate the help pages to find the link. Some people here actually gave it to me, but I noted to her that trying to find the link on ebay was not intuitively obvious.
5. I also then pointed out the guy in the above example did change the style of his auctions and removed the late fee clause and I suspected it was due to complaints. I said that I understood the need for privacy, but perhaps there could be something like an "I've been a bad boy"asterisk that would go next the ebayer's name for a week or a month to show they had been sanctioned for something. She asked me about reading feedback, and I pointed out how it did not always seem to accurately reflect reality, and something more would be nice...just to let a buyer know that a seller may have had a few complaints not worth of a NARU.
and in one of my more inspired moments:
6. I asked for the ability to search the decriptions of completed auctions, not just the title.
In any case, there are several more things I wish I'd thought about, but I was too slow and I wish I'd had a checklist next to the phone when it rang!!
So post what you would have said, and if your phone rings tonight you will be more prepared than I was!!!
0
Comments
2. Did they leave a name and number for you to call back?
3. What did they say was the purpose of the call?
4. Did you ask how they got your phone number?
5. Why are they calling you?
I'm a very caution person when it comes to someone I don't know calling me or contacting me in any way. Of course I live in a very high crime area so I grew up with little trust of my fellow man. Many phone calls around here are scams to see if you are home, when your home, do you use mail order catalogs, do you use ebay to buy expensive things such as coins. With this information criminals tend to rob your mail or rob your premises. I grew up with individuals that did and do things like that.
Better to be safe than sorry.
The questions were primarily focused on opinions about the page layouts and features and what I would like to see changed. The only question that seemed remotely like it could have been someone fishing for info was that she did ask what category I shopped the most, which I hedged a bit by saying medals rather than coins. I also buy books and toys. No electronics or electronic gear etc.
I probably should have asked for a call back number though...
<< <i>Y'all be forewarned...if they call you have some good answers ready . >>
Yeah...I'll tell them Private Feedback and Private auctions should be stopped IMMEDIATELY!!.
It encourages shilling and can hide crooks/terrorists laundering money.
If I only had a dollar for every VAM I have...err...nevermind...I do!!
My "Fun With 21D" Die State Collection - QX5 Pics Attached
-----
Proud Owner of
2 –DAMMIT BOY!!! ® Awards