I just read a post over at Seeking Alpha that explains some sellers are actually suing over negative feedback. I have to say, it's not surprising.
I've been selling on eBay again after taking the summer off. I sell on Amazon, eBay, Bonanzle, and eCrater. Guess where I have the most trouble? eBay of course. I handle all of my orders exactly the same, I print the labels, pack the items, and ship them all together, no matter where the sale came from. I use the same descriptions and photos on items that sell on multiple sites. The most questions come from eBay buyers. The requests for discounts come from eBay buyers, the emails asking where their package is come from eBay buyers, and the (undeserved) negative feedback? eBay buyers.
The most irritating thing about it is about half my sales come from eBay buyers. This business would be great if it weren't for customers.
Read the Seeking Alpha post...
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Like you, I have the same issues with eBay customers. I’d add to the list that eBay is the only venue where I have non-paying bidders.
I’m still trying to get sorted on Bonanzle (it’s a description editing issue after importing my eBay inventory).
Amazon won’t let me sell because I’m not in one of their site-countries (ditto with eBid now – but they’ve actually server-level blocked anyone not in their site-countries, so I can no longer see their sites let alone use them).
This next four weeks is going to be new-channel manic for me. I aim to have another dozen venues carrying my products before the end of January so that I can drop eBay completely. I’d love to be able to say I would do it before New Year, but that is just about an impossibility due to product range width.
The thing about the problems with eBay buyers is that the frequency and aggressiveness to their enquiries have soared this year.
Back in 2003 it was a rare buyer who raised an issue, in 2008, it’s approaching 1 in 10 raising a where is it enquiry days after buying – despite them choosing 7 week delivery in order to save a few pennies. There are times I feel like telling them to go boil their head or stick it where the sun don’t shine.
And that’s a major reason I want off eBay – the time spend providing service to such pillocks, if saved, would allow me to run another sales channel.
Gaz