Thread Number: 79576  /  Tag: Detergents and Additives
An Ebay question
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Post# 1034760   6/8/2019 at 06:17 (1,756 days old) by polkanut (Wausau, WI )        

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Have any of you ever received a message from a seller asking you to leave them a 5 star rating after making a purchase?  I personally find it kind of ballsy.  I do leave ratings but, I don't feel the seller should suggest how nice of one to leave.  That should be at my discretion. 





Post# 1034761 , Reply# 1   6/8/2019 at 06:33 (1,756 days old) by goatfarmer (South Bend, home of Champions)        

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I leave whatever rating I think is appropriate.


Post# 1034763 , Reply# 2   6/8/2019 at 07:28 (1,756 days old) by turquoisedude (.)        

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I agree - the rating should be based on what you experienced, not what you are being told to leave. I'd ignore the transaction in this case, but I am a bitch...

Post# 1034772 , Reply# 3   6/8/2019 at 09:47 (1,755 days old) by philcobendixduo (San Jose)        
All the Time

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I've had eBay sellers asking me to leave them a 5 star ratings, car service departments asking me to give them a top rating when I'm called, etc. etc.
Of course, I leave a rating commensurate with the experience.



Post# 1034779 , Reply# 4   6/8/2019 at 10:27 (1,755 days old) by DADoES (TX, U.S. of A.)        

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The only "seller" that I recall outright asking for a 5-star or top-rated review is the local automobile dealer service dept.  The last time I was there they definitely did not warrant it.

eBay review solicitations, I figure come automated via eBay's system moreso than directly by the seller.

Some non-eBay product vendors have solicited for a review ... such as for thermal cash register paper rolls.  Seriously?!  They expect praise for the product such as "Wow!  The paper has a velvet-like sheen and this is the clearest print I've EVER seen on a register receipt!  5 Stars!"  LOL.


Post# 1034792 , Reply# 5   6/8/2019 at 11:33 (1,755 days old) by fan-of-fans (Florida)        

So far, I haven't usually had to leave a bad eBay review. More recently though I really should have. bought something on eBay and it wasn't shipped. After waiting two weeks, I asked the seller if they got the payment, or what was up. Then they shipped. What was weird was they didn't offer an apology or anything, and they had apparently been selling plenty of other things in the mean time. Also after that, they never left me any feedback on the transaction.

I haven't gotten such a message from eBay, but I have gotten those "leave me a good review" from store clerks and people at fast food places. Typically I don't mess with such things as they just want my contact info to send me all kinds of emails and mail I don't want.


Post# 1034795 , Reply# 6   6/8/2019 at 12:29 (1,755 days old) by donprohel (I live in Munich - Germany, but I am Italian)        
Maybe it's because of the eBay rating

I may be wrong, but if I remember correctly anything less than five stars is considered "bad" by eBay and entails higher expenses for the seller.

So you give three stars meaning "That's OK, no issue" and eBay understands "What a mess they made!"

Is that stupid? Yes, of course.

However, even if I were correct, the seller should have reminded you the peculiar eBay assessment method rather than begging for five stars (again if I remember correctly, a seller explained it to me) but on the other hand, how many people would read (and understand...) the explanation?


Post# 1034863 , Reply# 7   6/9/2019 at 01:20 (1,755 days old) by dartman (Portland Oregon)        

I just leave a message to the seller that I'll leave positive when it arrives and all my info is current. Most sellers do robot reply feedback the minute they get your money anyway. I've got one guy that I need to drop the hammer on because he sold me Japanese projector headlights for my sisters old 300m. They finally arrived in factory Mopar left and right boxes in perfect condition. Unfortunately I got two right side headlights and they weren't cheap. He promised to send me a shipping label to fix the problem and that's the last I've heard for many months.

Post# 1034865 , Reply# 8   6/9/2019 at 02:57 (1,755 days old) by qsd-dan (West)        

qsd-dan's profile picture
Been using Ebay since 1998 and I've gotten those 5-star begging messages for 20 years.

Reminds me of the old days when all of the post office personnel knew me by name. I must have bought at least a thousand postal money orders through 2007 when Paypal ironed out most of their wrinkles and finally had a better fraud management system in place.


Post# 1034866 , Reply# 9   6/9/2019 at 03:03 (1,755 days old) by thomasortega (El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora de Los Angeles de Porciúncula)        

I never sold our bought anythimg on Ebay, but I work for a company that sells a lot at amazon.

Their rating system with the sellers is like this.

5 stars: Nothing to celebrate, you didn't do anything less than we expected.
4 stars: WTF are you doing, idiot? Four stars? that's horrible!
3 stars: WOW! you need to die and reborn, maybe it may fix you.
2 stars: why do you still breath?
1 star: Nuclear holocaust


The worst thing that can happen is when a customer leaves a review with something stupid like that "The product is great, but I won't give five starts because when i had to call customer service, they let the phone ring THREE times instead of only one before picking up my call."

The "algorithm" will place a hold on your seller account, you will be invisible for other shoppers until you provide a series of documents to proof that you hired a third party company to trains your employees to pick up the phone before it rings or maybe take psychic classes and call the customer before he starts dialing your number, plus the call log for the last 10 million calls, including those from before Alexander Graham Bell was born, photos of all the phones and phone jacks in the company, and a letter signed by AT&T (all of the employees including the janitor) stating that your phone line is 100% ok and you will never miss a call again, plus a video with all of your employees learning how to use superglue to keep themselves stuck in their desks and also a receipt of the diapers the company purchased for the employees so they won't have to go to the bathroom.


Amazon is EVIL with their sellers. If possible, always try to contact the seller directly without using the Amazon mail system.

Amazon is so picky that, if a customers sends us messages using their system making questions about the product BEFORE THEY BUY IT, the system will put our account on hold because our product doesn't have sufficient information and that increases the data traffic, overloading their system.

Other thing people don't know about amazon.

Seller cans NEVER raise the price (even if our cost is higher). But all the time they send us a lovely notice that they will have to increase their margins because their operation costs is higher. It means we will be paid even less for our products. but we can NEVER raise the price if our cost is higher.


Post# 1034902 , Reply# 10   6/9/2019 at 14:47 (1,754 days old) by twintubdexter (Palm Springs)        

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A great thread with some very interesting posts. I've had a couple of sellers ask for a good rating usually accompanied with a "please let us know if there's anything we can do to satisfy you". I've purchased a number of items including a car (shop-a-holic) and only had problems with one seller. It was easily taken care of with eBay & PayPal.  Amazon, eBay and to some extent Craigslist are my downfall. It's a sickness.


Post# 1034915 , Reply# 11   6/9/2019 at 17:40 (1,754 days old) by Lorainfurniture (Cleveland )        

As an eBay seller I can affirm that most of those emails are generated emails.

eBay makes me accept returns for any reason, and I have to pay shipping both ways. I had a person buy a refrigerator compressor and shipped to California. It cost 75% of the total paid to ship. He got it and literally just changed his mind and shipped it back to me. I lost almost $100.

I had a guy buy a board and sent back his old one for a full refund. I had irrefutable photo proof that he didn’t send the original and eBay still sided with the buyer.

I believe that eventually sellers will revolt. This can’t go on forever.


Post# 1034917 , Reply# 12   6/9/2019 at 17:58 (1,754 days old) by thomasortega (El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora de Los Angeles de Porciúncula)        

It will, because just like Uber and Amazon, there will always be "new sellers".

The thing with those companies is that... no matter what, they must have profit... people buy, they want to feel safe... so when they know the company (Amazon, Uber, Ebay, whatever) will alwyas be on the "customer's side" no matter what, they have more profit.

And it doesn't affect them because the losses don't go to their pockets... they never loose. and customer love them.... because people care, as soon as it's not THEIR money.

My father has an expression, sorry tor mentioning it but it matches perfectly... "It's easy to be f***ed when somebody lends you a butt."


Post# 1034918 , Reply# 13   6/9/2019 at 18:04 (1,754 days old) by thomasortega (El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora de Los Angeles de Porciúncula)        

The letter I received from Uber some months ago explains everything...

basically it said "we're now going public so to make our company >>>LOOK<<< profitable and protect our shareholders interest in our company, we are being forced to cut 75% of the drivers fare.

Please be aware our drivers are not employees, but contractors, so we don't need to offer minimum wage.

According to the agreement we have, you're forbidden to participate in any kind of manifestation, protest and we can also deactivate drivers that make negative comments abut our company.

F**k you , dear driver, you'll now make an average of $2 per hour, if lucky, after expenses. That's a very generous wage, considering that as soon as we can we will get rid of all drivers and have self driving cars.


Post# 1034923 , Reply# 14   6/9/2019 at 18:26 (1,754 days old) by DADoES (TX, U.S. of A.)        

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I've considered attempting to sell a few things on eBay but 1) I refuse to link PayPal to a bank account, and 2) I hear these stories and details and it's not worth the risk/effort.


Post# 1034928 , Reply# 15   6/9/2019 at 18:54 (1,754 days old) by Lorainfurniture (Cleveland )        
It’s mostly ok.

There is also a website called bonanza, I’m not sure but I’ve sold stuff there too.

With eBay it’s like 1/50 is a bad transaction. The rest are fine


Post# 1034934 , Reply# 16   6/9/2019 at 20:08 (1,754 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage)        
Have really stopped bothering with eBay sales.

launderess's profile picture
Between the pro buyer stance, high shipping fees which make even the cheapest items expensive just don't see the point.

Ebay has also dramatically cut back with free listing offers and discounts. Those bits made selling slightly worth it, but now it is just so much bother for very little return.

Since never bothered upgrading my PayPal account it is just as well, since have no way to get paid for eBay sales anyway.


Post# 1034935 , Reply# 17   6/9/2019 at 20:17 (1,754 days old) by cadman (Cedar Falls, IA)        

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FYI, as a seller, you don't have to use PayPal to accept payment. They're no longer associated with eBay, and in fact, the rules recently changed that if you're a seller and refund all or a portion of money paid through PP (such as difference in shipping, or a return) PP now keeps their fee % of the funds.

On the 5-star rating, if you operate an Ebay store, anything less than 5-stars hurts your chances of list ranking, impacts shipping supply costs, you'll get passed over for seller promotions and your overall ranking score takes a major hit. This is why Power Sellers make it a point to have you contact them directly for ANY dissatisfaction. They'd rather take a financial hit/return than get 4-star feedback.


Post# 1034936 , Reply# 18   6/9/2019 at 20:17 (1,754 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage)        
I refuse to link PayPal to a bank account

launderess's profile picture
While one must provide such information in order to be "verified" PayPal does offer a sort of account where money can be held instead of it being deposited into linked account.


Post# 1034940 , Reply# 19   6/9/2019 at 21:07 (1,754 days old) by fan-of-fans (Florida)        

"I've considered attempting to sell a few things on eBay but 1) I refuse to link PayPal to a bank account, and 2) I hear these stories and details and it's not worth the risk/effort. "

Agreed on both. If I have something to sell I usually try to find a buyer through a forum or something. They send me the check or money order and I ship it. Usually I only do this with people I've known a while, and haven't had any issues.

It's too risky to do this on eBay and have who knows who bidding or buying it. Not worth the effort to list and have to get shipping supplies to ship either. But some have made a business out of it, I understand.

The once or twice I've had issues on eBay I always contact the seller directly. To me that's how I'd want it if I were a seller. Most sellers in my experience don't leave any feedback until I have received the item and left them feedback first. A few times lately they've left it as soon as I paid though.

I've never bought anything from Amazon, I find more of the things on eBay as far as vintage or older items.


Post# 1034946 , Reply# 20   6/9/2019 at 22:02 (1,754 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage)        
Thing about eBay now is the buyer is always right

launderess's profile picture
You ship something and despite all the tracking and receipt information seller says "I didn't get it", and files a claim. Most of the time eBay will side with buyer and refunds their money. PayPal is another one; you'd better make sure things are shipped with tracking and receipt information uploaded. Even then if a buyer files a chargeback claim it still may go against you.

Either way you can be both out money *and* not see item ever again. You are lucky if it does come back, and is undamaged/in sellable condition.

PayPal cannot stop a credit card from reversing a charge, to the question then becomes what happens to that loss. Do they eat it, or go after the seller's account?

Meanwhile moment a chargeback process begins PP puts a hold on your account for full amount.


Post# 1035028 , Reply# 21   6/10/2019 at 19:10 (1,753 days old) by good-shepherd (New Jersey)        
considered attempting to sell a few things on eBay

Extremely reluctantly I had to give in and set a up separate account for Ebay Paypal transactions and use it exclusively to accept payments, transfering the funds into another account as soon as available. So far no problems.

However, my listings are "returns not accepted" (unless I screwed up or they ask nicely). Moreover, I provide lots of good photos, honest descriptions and package the items well.
This drastically reduces dissatisfied buyers and/or items damaged in transport.

I also use Ebay for shipping labels. Fed Ex Smart Post items can be dropped off at the USPS, have decent discounts and they're not too strict on my size and weight estimates.
Tracking is included so its hard for the buyer to claim the item wasn't delivered.

If they have porch pirates time to move to a better neighborhood.


Post# 1035031 , Reply# 22   6/10/2019 at 19:30 (1,753 days old) by thomasortega (El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora de Los Angeles de Porciúncula)        

It's not like things really work...

Buyer claims he never received the item. You can even send ebay a video of the delivery where the delivery man put the item right on the buyers hands, ebay will ALWAYS be on the buyer side.


Post# 1035037 , Reply# 23   6/10/2019 at 19:57 (1,753 days old) by Yogitunes (New Jersey)        

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yeah, I been through this before.....

and it depends on what type of service they did, or have given....


if I order a part for a machine.....clicked and paid for it.....ALL they did was tear off an invoice from the printer, go down an isle and grab my item, put it in a box, taped it shut, slapped a label on it, and tossed it into a bin for the UPS driver....

what the heck did you do that was so damn special or exceptional?

you did YOUR JOB!!!....big WHOOP!....now onto the next invoice....

was this a promotion from stuffing envelopes?

rest assured, if you F**KED UP, I'll let you know!....just like any other job!


there could be 50 people all selling the same part.....I choose you, where the hell is my high star rating?


I also don't get, 'Like' Us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter.....what the heck for, I may never need an item from you ever again....no one has time for that, or an inbox full of email nonsense afterwards....


Post# 1035039 , Reply# 24   6/10/2019 at 20:00 (1,753 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage)        
Who is going to be making that video?

launderess's profile picture
Only way to ensure anything shipped (USPS, UPS, FedEx, etc....) is only delivered to addressee and signed for is via some sort of registered mail, or otherwise restricted delivery with adult signature required. All those services cost more than standard ground shipping.

Since eBay charges final value fees based upon entire invoice amount billed to buyer (including shipping charges), unless buyer agrees upfront to pay it comes directly out of seller's pockets. When you consider what it costs to even ship small packages these days, we're talking about serious money at some point.

In any event do not know a single shipper who offers video recordings of delivery in USA. Maybe the location where someone must go to collect a package might have some sort of security camera system, but that isn't a given either it will have captured transaction in question.

As stated previously, all a buyer must do is start a chargeback via their credit card. If that process goes in their favor there is nothing PayPal or eBay can do; they will either eat the loss, or claw it back from seller.


Post# 1035098 , Reply# 25   6/11/2019 at 15:26 (1,752 days old) by twintubdexter (Palm Springs)        

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I've never heard that term before...Porch Pirates...I like it!


Post# 1035101 , Reply# 26   6/11/2019 at 15:43 (1,752 days old) by IowaBear (Cedar Rapids, IA)        

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Iowa was one of the states that required eBay to start collecting sales tax.  This started in January of this year.

 

I've only purchased one eBay item this year and eBay charged me 7% sales tax in a completely separate Paypal transaction.

 

Seems ridiculous to pay sales taxes on used items.  And if shipping is listed as a separate charge Iowa charges tax on that as well!

 

Another reason the golden age of small internet sellers is coming to an end.


Post# 1035104 , Reply# 27   6/11/2019 at 16:05 (1,752 days old) by GusHerb (Chicago/NWI)        

I just sold a couple electronic items I had laying around and didn't want anymore on eBay, I didn't really expect to make much money on it. However I noticed that my final value fee/other fees amounts to just over $11 for an item that sold for $87 and another that sold for $9.99. Plus there's what PP takes out. I always choose "buyer pays for shipping".

After all is said and done, for that $87 item I'm getting about $75 out of it. 

 

It's not terribly hard for me to sell stuff on eBay but it's just barely worth it after all the fees, idk how anyone doing it as a business actually makes any money. I only do it to sell off stuff I don't want anymore but don't wanna donate it or throw away. 

 

I'm thinking about trying Facebook Marketplace next time. Have sold stuff on Craigslist before with success but I would only sell large items on there that I wouldn't want to hassle with shipping anywhere. Have sold electronics on there in past and found it a pain and can easily go wrong/be sketchy if one isn't super careful. 

For smartphones and tablets I'll use Swappa but unfortunately the only way to accept payments is PP and like discussed, they always side with the buyer, PLUS the dispute window is 6 mos which is asinine for an old phone or something. I sold an iPad last summer and the guy started hassling me about not being able to activate it on Sprint, I messaged him back and never heard anything again which was fine by me. 


Post# 1035119 , Reply# 28   6/11/2019 at 19:01 (1,752 days old) by Lorainfurniture (Cleveland )        
It is profitable

Once scaled up it is quite profitable. For used parts I buy an entire washer for $40. It will usually equate to about $500 in parts, usually more. Fridges go four figures easily.

To make money doing it you have to make it your job. We ship over a dozen packages daily, usually 2 dozen or more on Monday. We have a little over 3,000 items listed.


Post# 1035124 , Reply# 29   6/11/2019 at 22:46 (1,752 days old) by IowaBear (Cedar Rapids, IA)        

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Thanks for the perspective Eugene.

 

I've browsed vintage audio components for years.  In the last couple of years the shipping charges have become very expensive, sometimes as much or more than the items are worth.  Now add 7% tax to both the price of the item AND the shipping charge...well the fun has gone out of it for me.


Post# 1035127 , Reply# 30   6/11/2019 at 23:16 (1,752 days old) by good-shepherd (New Jersey)        

Even with all the Ebay fees and possible hassles it still a good way to list items with nationwide, even world wide exposure. Some I make a good profit on, others I'm just glad I got rid of them and they went to a good home.

Overall a mostly win-win situation.

Granted, its not like years ago when it was straight auctions where crazy bidding wars could get going and drive prices way up on items I had for sale, Ebay fees were about 2% and the buyer paid for the actual shipping costs.

Then on the other hand, items could be purchase dirt cheap if there were few or no bidders. I picked up a lot of stuff that way and re sold years later for multiples of what I paid.

Now everything is overpriced "buy it now" Amazon style.


Post# 1035128 , Reply# 31   6/11/2019 at 23:38 (1,752 days old) by good-shepherd (New Jersey)        
Porch Pirates...I like it!

Oh, thats a big pastime here in places like Jersey City, Hoboken, and the like.

Post# 1035191 , Reply# 32   6/12/2019 at 19:43 (1,751 days old) by Lorainfurniture (Cleveland )        

I would never sell the volume of parts if it wasn’t for eBay. Don’t get me wrong I think they are just below extortionists, but a necessary evil.

Perfect example would be Larry from modern parts house. Dude had a million bucks in vintage parts In That place. Maybe I’m exaggerating but definitely hundreds of thousands. What little I pulled out of the dumpster I sold for a few thousand immediately on eBay.



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