Classic Rotary Phones Forum

Telephone Talk => Auction Talk => Topic started by: MagicMo on August 31, 2013, 02:17:27 PM

Title: Is there an Alternative to eBay?
Post by: MagicMo on August 31, 2013, 02:17:27 PM
To make a long story short, I am done with selling on eBay. I recently had a bad experience that makes me no longer want to sell through them. I felt bullied by a buyer and returned his money including shipping. He accused me in an email of being misleading and scamming him. He accused me of not being truthful in my listing and left me negative feedback and was going to report me. To top it off , the item he purchased ended up selling for .99. YES 99 cents. I listed the item as is for parts or repair. I called ebay and they told me he was right and I was in the wrong. The radio did not have tubes and should have stated that. I had no idea...I pictured everything in my listing.
I will no longer give anymore money to a company that does not let me voice my opinion or state my side. The buyer was a bully that got his money back plus he still has my item!
I felt as though all my rights as a seller were taken away and he was able to write bad feedback. I was unable to leave him bad feedback as a seller. There is something seriously wrong with this system and it not only angers me but it is simply not fair.
I am looking for another option to sell. I will no longer give eBay another penny.
Thanks for listening and if you want to see the listing that I scammed the buyer on here is the link.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/300949037206
Mo
Title: Re: Alternative to eBay
Post by: Haf on August 31, 2013, 02:30:29 PM
I Can absolutely understand you. Ebay has abridged sellers rights over the last years. Wonder how long the can go on this way until nobody is willing to sell there as fees increased too. Sadly there is no real alternative choice to me, neither for selling nor buying.

Haf
Title: Re: Alternative to eBay
Post by: WesternElectricBen on August 31, 2013, 02:35:19 PM
I understand you to Mo,

My brother was selling some stuff and the people said "the item has not reached the destination." But, long story short we got lucky.

I don't know what idiots work for eBay, and why would a "hacker" would buy something like a radio, (generally older people buy stuff like that) and I'd think most "hackers" are into new tech...

Though, I like to figure things like that out, this probably isn't our average "hacker" as he obviously has a 1971 chevy van (user name 71chevyvan) and he buys radios, as his feedback was made by several people who sell radios etc.

Ben
Title: Re: Alternative to eBay
Post by: MagicMo on August 31, 2013, 02:36:56 PM
Quote from: Haf on August 31, 2013, 02:30:29 PM
I Can absolutely understand you. Ebay has abridged sellers rights over the last years. Wonder how long the can go on this way until nobody is willing to sell there as fees increased too. Sadly there is no real alternative choice to me, neither for selling nor buying.

Haf

I was thinking the same thing. Huge companies are born from others mistakes. It's time for a new way to sell or buy.
Mo
Title: Re: Alternative to eBay
Post by: twocvbloke on August 31, 2013, 02:45:38 PM
Sounds like a case of buyer's remorse, they thought they got a bargain in perfect shape, and the description, which is pretty straight to the point and accurate, they decided to ignore...

Yeah, ebay is a buyer's market, I could happily buy something and demand my money back for whatever made-up reason and I would get it, because ebay sides with the buyer, ever since they dropped the seller's ability to leave negative feedback, it's just gone downhill for sellers, so I don't blame you for wanting to find an alternative... :-\

The best way to get around these sorts of buyers is to include a couple of T's & C's that legally they can't get around, cos if they buy it then they agree to them, and they can't claim ignorance cos it'll be there onscreen in black & white, and if ebay say you're in the wrong, then hire a lawyer and set them on ebay & the buyer, and make sure that they pay the lawyer fees... :)
Title: Re: Alternative to eBay
Post by: MagicMo on August 31, 2013, 03:00:43 PM
The funny thing is, I gave him his money back regardless. PLUS SHIPPING!
The foreign Lady from eBay told me she can't take his feedback down or she could loose her job. Really? I asked her if eBay was willing to loose the money from my listings over this and she plain out said "YES." How's that for customer service?? I sell thousands a month.
I know this is only a little bump in the road and I may sound like I am overreacting but it never feels good to be called a scammer or liar when you're  the one being scammed. It just made me think that anyone with half a brain can play this eBay game and get what the want for free. AND EBAY DOES NOTHING ABOUT IT!
The one upside is that it took 122 people to find the bully.  
Mo
Title: Re: Alternative to eBay
Post by: jsowers on August 31, 2013, 03:02:21 PM
When you used "for parts or repair" you essentially said it didn't work. You never claimed that it did work or that it had tubes. That's what "as is" means. You buy it as it is, warts and all. Your picture of the insides shows no tubes. Yes, you were scammed by the buyer and eBay incorrectly took his side.

For those who sell on eBay, a lesson to be learned from this is to describe and photograph your item in incredible detail. They give you about two rows of pictures. Take that many pictures, inside and out, top and bottom, so there is no question. Describe all the flaws as best you can. That way the scammers have little recourse. Yes, it's a lot of trouble for a 99-cent item. I have never sold on eBay, but if I did, I wouldn't start anything that cheaply. It would go in the trash, or back in the basement, if it didn't sell for at least $9.99.

Mo, you need to take some deep breaths and chill out a little and then reconsider selling on eBay after some time has elapsed. Yes, it hurts, but you have to take the bad with the good. I've had plenty of disappointments with eBay and they start to dim after a few days have passed.  You can also respond to that negative feedback with "I never claimed it had tubes."
Title: Re: Alternative to eBay
Post by: RotarDad on August 31, 2013, 03:35:49 PM
Mo - I wouldn't let one bad apple spoil your use of a very good tool (Ebay).  You've got 135 positive feedbacks in the last 12 months (and someone already gave you good feedback on top of that negative one).  You can't make everyone happy all the time so hold your head high and just move forward...  I don't worry about buying something from a seller with a couple negatives.   I still buy on Ebay (and sell sometimes) even though some people don't pack things well and damage results, etc.   The good sellers and buyers (and finding the sweet BIN sometimes) way more than offset the bad stuff.  I say keep selling and know that a 135 to 1 feedback ratio is really stellar in our imperfect world.
Title: Re: Alternative to eBay
Post by: TelePlay on August 31, 2013, 03:42:17 PM
I have a hard time understanding how someone who is into old tube radios and would buy one in "as is" condition for parts for a buck would do so and then raise the specter of no tubes when the back photo shows the metal shielding can for the 3rd tube from the right as empty (the one circled in yellow). The rest of the tubes could be short and not seen but that can had to have had a tube that stuck up through the top hole and with it being empty in the photo, I don't think the buyer had a case. It is also the case that the eBay CS person doesn't know a tube shield from a spark plug and as such did not have the knowledge to fairly settle that complaint.
Title: Re: Alternative to eBay
Post by: dsk on August 31, 2013, 04:31:18 PM
I guess you always may get bad experience with all solutions, and markeds.

You may of-course try to sell telephone-stuff here, but not always as expansive as at eBay.

I have been buying at Etsy without trouble, but will still say eBay's better.


And you could look at http://tinyurl.com/nwh3e96 (http://tinyurl.com/nwh3e96) Whats your Next Dream Phone thread and pm people if you have their dream.

dsk
Title: Re: Alternative to eBay
Post by: southernphoneman on August 31, 2013, 04:40:33 PM
magicmo,i to have had the experiences as a buyer and as a seller from ebay, and I personally have purchased 2 items from you and have been treated like royalty, and my reaction to what ebay did to you is going to be the phone I just listed is going to be removed . good luck magicmo,southernphoneman.
Title: Re: Alternative to eBay
Post by: MDK on August 31, 2013, 04:57:22 PM
Tell me you got the radio back. The buyer should have seen it's a beauty and a bargain in any condition. The parts that are there are worth more to an antique radio guy than anywhere near what he paid for it.
Title: Re: Alternative to eBay
Post by: Doug Rose on August 31, 2013, 10:13:31 PM
Mo....I have been selling on eBay for over 15 years. I am a collector first, a seller second.

Sh*t happens! You cannot please everyone. Be honest and the let the chips fall. I get really upset with the PITA buyers, Janet is my customer service. I get pissed, she smooths everything over. I have a temper. There is always a PITA, whether at work or eBay. Take a deep breath and start again tomorrow.

eBay is the best Antique store in the world, everyone sees your items for a whole week and you get fair market value. You know that!!

Don't let the bastards get you down! Start listing tomorrow...Doug
Title: Re: Alternative to eBay
Post by: K1WI on September 01, 2013, 11:57:28 AM
     I have to agree with Doug, same here buyer first , then a seller.  I also agree there are a lot of "pippones" (Italian slang) out there.  Been using e-bay for a long long time and only had three bad dealings two as a buyer and once as a seller.    The only negative I  ever received was very similar to your latest experience. Sold a rather valuable  car instrument panel and some of the bulbs were missing. Sold for 99 Cents like yours and I got a negative hit.  !!!!  BUT looking back and thinking as a buyer I had to agree I made the mistake. Did  getting a negative for an item that went for a song  seem appropriate to me , absolutely not , but the buyer didn't feel that way.
     Other times I've been truly supprised by the good out there . There is one seller (of phones) that will refund any excess  in cash in the package for shipping cost if he finds a better way to send.  Recently I sold a set of my personal license plates and the buyer wanted to make sure they would not get lost in transit , asked if he could pick them up in person , and would not accept a refund he already made for shipping.
     Even with
all that goes on with e-bay it still beats almost any other market , although I do miss the handshake at the conclusion of a transaction. (hey I'm and old timer)

Andy F    K1WI

Title: Re: Alternative to eBay
Post by: LarryInMichigan on September 01, 2013, 12:20:53 PM
Maureen,

You certainly have my sympathy.  I have not sold very much on ebay and so far have not encountered a really bad buyer.  To me, anything that is listed "for parts or repair" means that the item is likely incomplete and almost certainly non-working.  I expect that this buyer is probably just an angry jerk who like to take out his frustration on others.  Just be glad that he is not your father/husband/neighbor/coworker/etc..

As far as ebay's customer service, it is outsourced to the Philippines like so many  other companies'.  The reason that it is outsourced to there is because of the agents' willingness to work for very low wages, not their superior service skills.  It is probably safe to assume that they have never bought or sold antique or vintage items, so the concepts you try to explain to them go right over their heads.  I used to have a brokerage account with ETrade which also outsourced their calls to the Philippines.  The agents taking the calls had absolutely no understanding of financial issues.  I discovered that ETrade had been sending checks and debit cards for my account to the wrong address, and the outsourced agents could not understand why it made any difference, nor did they have any idea how they could correct the problem, even if there were a reason to correct it in their minds.  I am sure that none of them had ever held a brokerage account.  Needless to say, I closed the account as soon as I could.

Somewhere there should be a list of problem ebay buyers (and sellers also), so that people can try to avoid them.

Larry
Title: Re: Alternative to eBay
Post by: JohnInWI on September 01, 2013, 03:09:48 PM
Maureen,

I also bought two items from you and were very pleased with both of them.  You're on my favorite seller list.  I wouldn't let one jerk discourage you.  Remember your good fortune with the Picturephone, and the mobile telephone?

-John
Title: Re: Alternative to eBay
Post by: MagicMo on September 01, 2013, 06:00:14 PM
Thanks to those who have purchased from me, I am grateful. I will just take a little eBay break right now. Hell hath no fury like a woman who receives negative feedback!!
I'm over it, but as jsowers mentioned I have learned a valuable lesson. I will make sure I put a disclaimer in my listings and be thorough in my discription. I always wondered why some sellers listings seemed to be angry in nature, now I get it.
I'm not an angry person (nor a sneak as accused) so I will let it go.
I have always been an advocate for what I think is right and I don't like it when I cannot be heard, they just shut you off.
Blah blah blah!!!
I told you, Hell hath no fury like a woman who receives negative feedback!!! Lol

Title: Re: Alternative to eBay
Post by: LarryInMichigan on September 01, 2013, 06:16:39 PM
For what it's worth, when I look at a seller's feedback, if there are only a few negatives, I read them to see how relevant they are.  I figure that there are plenty of crackpots out there who would give negative feedback to their own grandmothers.  I discount the rants like the one in this case.

However, when I see a trend of negative feedback with statements such as the seller failing to ship on time or packing poorly, I take those seriously.

Larry
Title: Re: Alternative to eBay
Post by: twocvbloke on September 01, 2013, 06:47:41 PM
Something useful you might want to use in future, just to get around those unruly people who think they can cheat the ebay system:

"Due to some unpleasant buyers here on ebay, I have to state the following terms:

This item is sold as-is, it may or may not be missing parts internally unless otherwise stated, and may have damage not listed in this description. The item comes with no official warranty due to the age, and therefore no returns will be accepted. By purchasing the item, you are acknowledging that you have read and agree to these terms. If there are any problems with your purchase, please contact me as soon as possible to resolve any issues that arise.

Refunds, either partial or full, will only be offered if the item is lost by the postal service or if it arrives damaged, any attempts to demand a refund without good reason to will be challenged.

Thanks for looking and please check out my other items for sale!!"



;D
Title: Re: Alternative to eBay
Post by: New England Tel. on September 01, 2013, 07:49:50 PM
Quote from: K1WI on September 01, 2013, 11:57:28 AM
     I have to agree with Doug, same here buyer first , then a seller.  I also agree there are a lot of "pippones" (Italian slang) out there. 
Andy F    K1WI

Hi Andy,

I see that you also are a fan of NBC-10 News at Sunrise and Frank Coletta (those dastardly computers)!  ;D

Title: Re: Alternative to eBay
Post by: K1WI on September 01, 2013, 09:27:48 PM
QuoteI see that you also are a fan of NBC-10 News at Sunrise and Frank Coletta (those dastardly computers)!  ;D


Yes but , Io parlo Italiano.
Title: Re: Alternative to eBay
Post by: Greg G. on September 24, 2013, 05:53:53 PM
Sorry to hear you had a nasty experience Mo, you certainly don't deserve that kind of treatment.  Here are some alternatives to eBay:

http://auctionsitenews.com/alternatives-to-ebay/ (http://auctionsitenews.com/alternatives-to-ebay/)
Title: Re: Alternative to eBay
Post by: AE_Collector on September 24, 2013, 10:31:27 PM
Sorry to hear of your bad luck with ebaY and this buyer Maureen. It is highly annoying isn't it?

I very recently had a "run in" with an ebaY seller and am out $237 and don't have the item either. After much useless discussion with the seller I finally resorted to my PayPal purchase protection. What a joke! How many out there are aware that if you pick up an item locally you are not covered. I had arranged to pick up locally but upon inspection of the item I decided to pass and left it with the seller. I never got a refund and PayPal bailed out saying that I had arranged to pick it up locally so my choices were to deal with the seller or file a report with the Police or sue them etc...

After hearing repeatedly that the ebaY seller is always in the wrong and the buyer is always right in ebaY/PayPal's eyes, they did absolutely nothing for me as a buyer. The seller even has the item listed for sale on ebaY at this very moment.

In the end I walked away from the whole mess before I wound up in the hospital. Hundreds of ebaY transactions over 13 years and this was the first time I have been ripped off. I guess I did pretty good getting this far. My only recourse was to slam them in the feedback department and even then I waited until almost the last moment hoping they would do the right thing before I did it.

So Mo, I guess things go both ways on ebaY but in your situation where you have a LOT of stuff to find new homes for....I think ebaY is really your only realistic choice.

By the way, the item I finally ran out of luck with on ebaY.....a red AE 880 speakerphone with a red MagiCall Dialer. How Ironic is that! Mo tipped me off to this listing on ebaY right in my back yard - Pleae don't feel bad about it Mo..the bad outcome was nothing to do with you and I still appreciated you thinking of me.

Terry
Title: Re: Alternative to eBay
Post by: WesternElectricBen on September 24, 2013, 10:36:31 PM
That's rough Terry, sorry about that.

Ben
Title: Re: Is there an Alternative to eBay?
Post by: JohnInWI on September 25, 2013, 02:40:35 PM
Terry,

If you paid PayPal using your credit card, you can resort to calling the credit card company, and tell them the problem, and you will receive a refund.  If you used your checking account or money in your PayPal account, then I am afraid you are out of luck.

-John
Title: Re: Alternative to eBay
Post by: southernphoneman on September 25, 2013, 03:30:57 PM
Quote from: AE_Collector on September 24, 2013, 10:31:27 PM
Sorry to hear of your bad luck with ebaY and this buyer Maureen. It is highly annoying isn't it?

I very recently had a "run in" with an ebaY seller and am out $237 and don't have the item either. After much useless discussion with the seller I finally resorted to my PayPal purchase protection. What a joke! How many out there are aware that if you pick up an item locally you are not covered. I had arranged to pick up locally but upon inspection of the item I decided to pass and left it with the seller. I never got a refund and PayPal bailed out saying that I had arranged to pick it up locally so my choices were to deal with the seller or file a report with the Police or sue them etc...

After hearing repeatedly that the ebaY seller is always in the wrong and the buyer is always right in ebaY/PayPal's eyes, they did absolutely nothing for me as a buyer. The seller even has the item listed for sale on ebaY at this very moment.

In the end I walked away from the whole mess before I wound up in the hospital. Hundreds of ebaY transactions over 13 years and this was the first time I have been ripped off. I guess I did pretty good getting this far. My only recourse was to slam them in the feedback department and even then I waited until almost the last moment hoping they would do the right thing before I did it.

So Mo, I guess things go both ways on ebaY but in your situation where you have a LOT of stuff to find new homes for....I think ebaY is really your only realistic choice.

By the way, the item I finally ran out of luck with on ebaY.....a red AE 880 speakerphone with a red MagiCall Dialer. How Ironic is that! Mo tipped me off to this listing on ebaY right in my back yard - Pleae don't feel bad about it Mo..the bad outcome was nothing to do with you and I still appreciated you thinking of me.

Terry
Hi Terry, I have had similar instances, that said I have said enough to ebay buyer protection, next time you may want to consider paypal buer protection, I have had to open 2 cases in recent months and found in my favor, I am sorry this happened to you, Gregg
Title: Re: Is there an Alternative to eBay?
Post by: Babybearjs on September 27, 2013, 08:27:42 PM
crazy, for the amount of money, they buyer sure made a stink....I would have ignored it and moved on... just have to remember to mark stuff "AS_IS" and "NO REFUNDS" I stopped selling on ebay specifically for this reason... people don't want to pay for stuff, so they shouldnt buy!  I sold a antique box once... the seller made a stink about the condition the box was in.... alot of people don't understand ebay and what its all about.... they just think they can get stuff for free... the minute you want full price, everyone runs... its a waste of time trying to sell on ebay.... but you can finsd some great deals, if you look....
Title: Re: Alternative to eBay
Post by: MagicMo on October 13, 2013, 04:55:05 PM
Quote from: AE_Collector on September 24, 2013, 10:31:27 PM
Sorry to hear of your bad luck with ebaY and this buyer Maureen. It is highly annoying isn't it?

I very recently had a "run in" with an ebaY seller and am out $237 and don't have the item either. After much useless discussion with the seller I finally resorted to my PayPal purchase protection. What a joke! How many out there are aware that if you pick up an item locally you are not covered. I had arranged to pick up locally but upon inspection of the item I decided to pass and left it with the seller. I never got a refund and PayPal bailed out saying that I had arranged to pick it up locally so my choices were to deal with the seller or file a report with the Police or sue them etc...

After hearing repeatedly that the ebaY seller is always in the wrong and the buyer is always right in ebaY/PayPal's eyes, they did absolutely nothing for me as a buyer. The seller even has the item listed for sale on ebaY at this very moment.

In the end I walked away from the whole mess before I wound up in the hospital. Hundreds of ebaY transactions over 13 years and this was the first time I have been ripped off. I guess I did pretty good getting this far. My only recourse was to slam them in the feedback department and even then I waited until almost the last moment hoping they would do the right thing before I did it.

So Mo, I guess things go both ways on ebaY but in your situation where you have a LOT of stuff to find new homes for....I think ebaY is really your only realistic choice.

By the way, the item I finally ran out of luck with on ebaY.....a red AE 880 speakerphone with a red MagiCall Dialer. How Ironic is that! Mo tipped me off to this listing on ebaY right in my back yard - Pleae don't feel bad about it Mo..the bad outcome was nothing to do with you and I still appreciated you thinking of me.

Terry

Terry, I just read this today! Omg! I thought I was helping you! The good don't always prosper and seeing bad people succeed emotionally sets me off. I don't like being negative and I want to believe people are honest but it's not always the case. One thing that is clear about what you went through, you can go to bed with a clear conscience, that alone is priceless.
I have taken a break from ebay but I plan on returning to selling in late November. I will be more clear like Babybearjs said. Funny thing is, I returned that guys money AFTER I unknowingly got bad feedback. I would have probably returned it anyway, because that is how I was brought up. His momma needs to give him a spank.......Southern Style! Lol
Title: Re: Is there an Alternative to eBay?
Post by: AE_Collector on October 14, 2013, 12:35:55 AM
Yeah it is always a surprise when it finally happens to you... err me! Kind of comes out of the shadows and blind sides you. Oh well...

I hesitated even writing about this Mo as I knew it would upset you but as I said, I still appreciate that you thought of me with this item and the way it ended was nothing to do with you at all.

Terry