What's with these sellers??!!??!!

mballai

I've been buying and selling stuff on the web for quite some time, but I just can't figure out what some sellers are thinking. Is it really too hard to communicate? I can't get word one from a seller as to when or if he shipped my package many days since I bought the item. A simple yes and a date would suffice. I don't bug a seller unless more than a couple weeks go by.

Monday is zero hour and one turkey gets a complaint filed with PayPal as well as a fat neg if the package isn't in my mailbox or the guy doesn't respond. I HATE to have to do this, but apparently nothing short of this seems to elicit a response from the living dead.

The sad thing is I bought more of like item from another seller and even ordered a second bunch, I already received the second order. If the other guy was awake and working, he might have gotten some repeat business.

Three Precious Metals: Gold, silver and lead

offeror

An auction is supposed to be a transaction between two equal parties with a broker in between. Once upon a time, auction sites were about auctions, collecting, the careful transfer of prized items, vintage stuff, heirlooms, etc. No more. If one is going to be realistic, auction sites have now become places to establish businesses, some of them very successful, but some of them (a certain percentage) are also bigger than is good for them. My rule of thumb on eBay and Gunbroker is that anything but 0 negative feedback is unacceptable. Now, given the occasional nut case, this may not be quite achievable, but a 99.9%% positive feedback rating certainly is, if one operates with quality and satisfaction as the paramount concerns on every single transaction and e-mail that goes with it.

Sadly, I'm not running the world. This means there are people out there on auction sites who a) revel in their freedom to flaunt their idiosyncracies and the chance to be the "boss" of their little nazi policy or b) think mediocre business practices are good enough, or c) (and most damning of all) enjoy the "big business" image, even if they're running out of a PO box, and the impersonal, I don't care, attitude that goes with it.

Obviously, I try to avoid the nut cases, which I define as those who enjoy acting like impersonal businesses and believe they can afford to ignore the questions and details of your e-mail and tell you things like "if you don't like it lump it."

With me, you get sensitivity. I just don't have respect for those that "believe in" the other philosophy.

- Life NRA Member
If dishonorable men shoot unarmed men with army guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary and not by general deprivation of constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878

FUBAR

I also buy and sell and have a perfect A+ record. The key for me as a seller is "Communication". I have had bad buyers and go through the process of collecting back the auction fee, and yes it does take a while but at least I still have the Gun. When I buy I have to say it is extremely frustrating after I send payment and FFL info. (and at least 5 days for mail service) that communication stops, and I am left hanging until I badger the seller enough to let me know what step they are in regarding shipping. The "communication is key" for me may have been learned as a buyer. Sellers should take note, there are sellers that I and am sure others absolutely will not even look at their merchandise anymore. They are that bad. This includes Ammo also, there is a seller on GB who is the worst communicator i have dealt with in the past, and will not do business with again. For those who sellers who will reply about their high volume and buyers who don't list the auction number, forget about it you'll just be trying to cover-up the issue of communication.maballai e-mail me at
ThunderCloud1956@yahoo.com and tell me who the seller is.

Guns! Guns! Guns!

mballai

What I don't understand is that most of the sellers who seem to be light on communication is that they are usually really quite honest. They just don't answer email or are away from their computers for extended periods of time. Not surprisingly, they will provide phone numbers as if I want to subsidize my long distance carrier or can use my boss' phone for such calls on company time.

Most sellers balk at doing a lot of email. You don't have to do a lot of email. Provide the terms, including projected shipment time in your EOA and then send a "payment received, your item goes out on xx/xx/xx by xyz carrier email" How hard is that? I've done over 1000 auctions on eBay, Yahoo, GB and other sites and this stuff just ain't rocket science.

Three Precious Metals: Gold, silver and lead

mballai

Heard from the seller this morning. There was an illness in the family and he got behind on his auction stuff.

I can understand this, but it seems to me if you are in business, you should still notify people as to the problem before they start to feel they are left on hold. While no one can know when the unexpected will happen, maybe it's a good idea to plan for it. If your computer gets toasted or you have to be away for awhile, what plan do you have to make sure your bidders are kept informed? I have a second computer, but I still have to figure what my plan will be for being away. Auto response email is probably the easiest.

Three Precious Metals: Gold, silver and lead

He Dog

You are right mballai, he should have let you know. Then, instead of being worried or miffed, you would feel you were a valued customer, and likely come back for more. Some folks learn slowly, and some never do. Glad you are getting the item!

nunn

Once I had a buyer win about 5 auctions at once and then renege on payment. Ignored emails.

I finally got aggravated and gave him an F on the transactions and reported him to GB. GB Admin did a little checking up and found out the poor guy had died. I felt kinda bad about the F ratings after that.



SIG pistol armorer/FFL Dealer/Full time Peace Officer, Moderator of General Discussion Board on Gunbroker. Visit www.gunbroker.com, the best gun auction site on the Net! Email davidnunn@texoma.net