eBay absences...what gets you worried?

PinkFloyd

What length of absence on ebay typically gets the more experienced ebay buyers/sellers worried? I understand that every situation is different, but I'm looking for generalizations.

I'm selling a sealed set of ATBs with a bidder with no feedback since 11/2008. To me this raised a red flag, and he did not contact me before bidding. (I ask that folks with low feedback ratings--his had reverted to 0%--contact me before bidding. He did not do so.)

If it were a cheaper item, I wouldn't be concerned, but buyer abuses have been prevalent with these ATBs and I'm taking no chances. My gut tells me I should be worried if someone is gone for more than two years, and then shows up to bid on a somewhat expensive item.

I have already cancelled the bids, which royally pissed him off. Am I/Was I out of line?

llafoe

Did you contact him before you cancelled his bids?

PinkFloyd

No, but I was very explicit in my terms that folks with low feedback ratings must contact me before bidding...and I've grown to become irritated at those folks who don't read.

In retrospect, I wish I had contacted him. That was probably the more correct thing to do.

Bochiman

I don't worry about stuff like that.
I go in and out in spurts myself. Sometimes, it is because I don't even get on ebay for awhile, and sometimes it is because I get on, but don't win anything for a long while.
Did you bother to look at see if he had any recent bids? Not feedback, but actual bids?
Did you know not everyone leaves feedback, so if it an occassional ebayer, he may have won something and not gotten feedback?

I think you overreacted and, if he is completely legit, which there is no actual reason to doubt, then he has every right to be upset at your handling.

These ATBs haven't been that easy for many folks to get....people on the forums are spoiled by all the info and tales of people getting 6+ sets.

I wouldn't have canceled the person and I wouldn't have had the same concerns unless some REAL red flags had surfaced.

Bochiman

<< <i>No, but I was very explicit in my terms that folks with low feedback ratings must contact me before bidding...and I've grown to become irritated at those folks who don't read.

In retrospect, I wish I had contacted him. That was probably the more correct thing to do. >>



You say that his "reverted to 0%". He may not have even noticed or assumed that his previous ebay feedback was more than enough as "low feedback" generally means "new" person.

LindeDad

I had a buyer with about five feedbacks buy a $1500.00 coin from me last year. After the sale we conversed via email and he ended up buying four more coins. He ended being a great customer that used eBay to make first contact and then usually went the direct route when he was happy with the service.
Sorry but sounds like you just slammed the door in a customer’s face to me. Dought that you will see him back.

Edit to add. I later found out that he did not use eBay all that often he usually bought his coins at Heritage and had saved searchs at eBay that sent him emails when a coin he wanted was listed.

PinkFloyd

Thanks for the advice. It appears that I may have overreacted.

I do wish folks would actually read the terms of the sale before bidding though.

Bochiman

<< <i>Thanks for the advice. It appears that I may have overreacted.

I do wish folks would actually read the terms of the sale before bidding though. >>



Ebay isn't like a store. Every auction has different "terms of sale"....sometimes even the same seller has different terms in different auctions.
How clear are your terms of sale in the auction? Some sellers have multiple pages of text that really don't say much and it is like reading "fine print".

If you sell on ebay, you need to look at things from multiple views and then decide how to do things from there.
What is the buyer's ID? Would be interesting to take a look and see if there were any red flags.

johnny9434

unfortanatly people will continue to do that

LanceNewmanOCC

good thread and advice for online buying in general

i picked up a couple things myself

thanks

airplanenut

Isn't the percentage only based on feedback from sales? Either way, if there's time, I'd have just contacted the guy, or put in an auto filter with eBay to block people without a certain feedback score. I've had people with great feedback not pay, communicate, or otherwise screw me, and I've had lots of newbies be appreciative that they were given a chance and been great customers...

jsf

"...and I've grown to become irritated at those folks who don't read."

amen, bro. That's what got me my first and only neg.

ed. naw, that first comment I made was too mean. hehehe

rottnrog

I have over 600 feedbacks under my 1 ID and have not made a purchase in about 4 years. If I looked at your auction I would not consider myself a low feedback buyer and would have bid. I would have been pissed if you canceled me as low feedback !!

You can't really call that low feedback. You were WRONG !!!!!!

RWB

Never thought to take attendance...what about recess...?

guitarwes

I've been on ebay for 10+ years and only have like a 200-something feedback that is 100% both as a buyer and seller. I don't live on eBay like some folks but will, every year or so. go shopping or sell a few things. I would be upset if my bids were cancelled before being contacted, but in turn, I probably would have contacted the seller if requested in the description.

PinkFloyd

Since we are sort of on the subject, how do you guys feel about this policy that some sellers are using: "Bidders with less than 10 feedbacks must contact me before bidding." I know Modern Coin Mart often states this in their terms (they even go a step further and say that bids will be cancelled and IDs will be blocked if not contacted, though I doubt they always resort to this).

Is this policy really all that effective in reducing the numbers of scammer/problem buyers? And....for the folks who use this, how do you usually respond if they contact you? I suppose the very act of contacting the seller might be telling.

If anything, I'm guessing that these may be good terms to put in a listing solely for the reason that it gives the seller a reason to cancel bids if they see a bidder that raises real red flags.

PS---I also believe that I went overboard in canceling the bids on the previously mentioned bidder. Live and learn. I guess at the time I was frustrated with folks not reading, and felt like putting my foot down. Probably not a realistic or constructive solution. I should have contacted the bidder to see if he could assuage my fears.

Buyer ignorance is very frustrating, however.

MsMorrisine

I would be very curious to know if eBay allowed the type of bid cancellation you are talking about.

I always assumed it wasn't allowed.


I do agree that the 0% is a seller rating. someone can have thousands of valid positive buy transactions and still have a 0%.


Two years away would make me nervous, but I usually go to extra lengths to check out people, like checking if the address is residential or a commercial mail box store, and checking to see who lives at the residential address. I once found a residence was a group rented home. I put restricted delivery on that package. I didn't want to hassle with potential roommate theft.

pf70collector

i have had a few buyers with 0% feedback. Had no problems in the past. You can limit bidders that have a certain number of negative feedbacks and other negative criteria. Not sure you can limit a bidder in your preferences to someone who has 0% feedback. As far as I know this is not an option.

mrpotatoheadd

As far as cancelling bids, eBay says you can do so if...

"You cannot verify the identity of the bidder after trying all reasonable means of contact."

Personally, that sounds like way too much work, but for those willing to do it, the option is there.