Power Sellers Unite

bdp31770 · Joined: 01 Jan 2012 Posts: 2

I wasnt familiar with selling on ebay and made a mistake on a sale...completely my fault, and now I have 2 bad feedbacks out of 3, or 33%. I have some collectibles I'd like to sell, worth about $1000. I'm curious if I should even try ebay, since I have a bad rating maybe no one will trust me with the sale. I've since learned my lesson, and have a very good rating on amazon.
Any feedback would be appreciated...should I try ebay, or maybe another site? From what I've read amazon isnt good for this type of sale, with lots of varied items, unless one has a power seller account, which I dont.

gourmetfoods · Joined: 13 May 2010 Posts: 28

Did you try to contact ebay and discuss this with them maybe they can assist you since you were new on how to handle this problem. I dont use ebay as I items I sell small profit I just cant afford all their fees. Not to say anyone else shouldnt use ebay if they can. But I stay with the free sites currently only list on hibidder.

seewhatimsellingnow · Joined: 29 Feb 2008 Posts: 1254 Location: Ohio

OP said "I wasnt familiar with selling on ebay and made a mistake on a sale...completely my fault, and now I have 2 bad feedbacks out of 3, or 33%. I have some collectibles I'd like to sell, worth about $1000. I'm curious if I should even try ebay, since I have a bad rating maybe no one will trust me with the sale."

I'd be interested in knowing what the 'mistake' was- that resulted in your 2 negatives out of 3 feedbacks? That HAD to be something drastic. I would think this could only be from selling something 'not as described'...waiting a long time to ship or charging excessive shipping? Please, give us some more 'details'. Betty Lou

bdp31770 · Joined: 01 Jan 2012 Posts: 2

The first time, I didnt price it correctly, and it sold for way below what it was worth. I thought I had set a minimum, but I hadn't. The second time, with the same buyer and item, I cancelled the transaction because I didn't realize shipping would be so expensive on it. Like I said, both things were my fault, I take full responsibility, and I'm more careful/responsible now.

seewhatimsellingnow · Joined: 29 Feb 2008 Posts: 1254 Location: Ohio

Many an Ebay seller has reluctantly had to accept an 'opening bid' price for an item that was worth much more. Ebay encourages us to begin our auction style listings at 99 cents or even a PENNY- Don't do this- ever! Not unless you are willing to let it go for that. It happens.

You say you 'thought' you had set a minimum price? Did you pay for a 'reserve'?

I can see a 'new seller' making these mistakes- if they have never sold online before- especially the 'shipping fees' charged. It can be a 'live and learn' experience. Get yourself a scale (you can buy good, cheap ones on Ebay) and weigh your items- adding an approximate weight for the box and packing materials.

Feel free to email me- I will be glad to help you with any questions you may have. I have been selling on Ebay for 11 years now. You can 'private' email me. Betty Lou

elpereles · Joined: 15 Dec 2006 Posts: 1478 Location: Puerto Rico

It isn't the 1rst time I saw sellers losing high value items because they follow eBay suggestion 0.99 or penny auctions. Also some of these sellers believe that they are "smarter" because they don't pay high fees. :roll:

Some weeks ago I found a seller. He/she isn't a rookie neither a TRS that like to begin items in pennies. I was curious and added one of the auctions in the watch list to go later in a "war bid" against other buyer. And sent him a message if he/she ship to PR. Never receive an answer. The items goes with a winning bid of $0.01. :roll:

Items goes $0.01 with $12. The auction was a lot. I know the weight of the items in it. The items weight more than 5lb in total.

How much he loose in fees and real shipping? In my opinion. He just donate the auction to eBay fees.

bdp31770, my recommendation for now in eBay. If you don't want to loose money just use the "free 50 monthly" or "penny/free weekly" posting promotions in eBay. You will have the opportunity to post your items with the price that you believe match the value it has for you. Just be careful with "Gallery Photos option" and "Picture pack" because not always is free for all categories.

seewhatimsellingnow · Joined: 29 Feb 2008 Posts: 1254 Location: Ohio

Christmas- a year ago- I won a 'Lot' of picture mats for opening bid price of $14.99. I paid and the seller said he shipped (not with Paypal label) A few days later, he refunded my money saying the package had been returned to him, by the post office, because it had been damaged beyond repair. I never received a 'confirmation' number, or any proof of shipping. Within two days- he had the mats RE-LISTED (exact same items, exact same picture) but now- listed at three times the price! This, obviously, was a seller who did not want to settle for 'opening bid price', and had found a way around it.

I asked for 'proof' of the damaged, returned package and recieved no reply. I reported this to Ebay- and they simply said he probably had more of the mats. LOL- if this were true, why wouldn't he have sent me another order?

Betty Lou :roll:

sanibel · Joined: 16 May 2007 Posts: 205

If you are just starting out selling and learning the ways of ebay and you are the victim of 2 out of 3 bad feedback ratings, I would just make a new ebay id and start all over again.

You will have to have a new ebay name and use a new email address (which you can make through gmail or msn for free and have it forwarded to your regular email) but it doesn't look like it is worth the hassle of trying to climb out of having a 33% rating, it would take you forever.

elpereles · Joined: 15 Dec 2006 Posts: 1478 Location: Puerto Rico

seewhatimsellingnow, that stories happens in eBay a lot.

Last year I found a seller cancel my orders with a lot of excuses. The 1rst one was that he doesn't combine shipping, then he argues about my comments, then somebody "died" in his family or something like that, then one day just refund my money, and the items were again for sale.

Also found another seller that after he received my payment. The next day send my an message asking for the payment. He/she didn't wanted to accept that he/she had my money or want to send the item.

And other seller refund my money because his basement got flood. :roll:

seewhatimsellingnow · Joined: 29 Feb 2008 Posts: 1254 Location: Ohio

LOL- They DO get creative, don't they? :) Betty Lou