Ebay and the people who can't read

GizmoGC

GizmoGC

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So I just listed a ton of auctions. In my auctions I state "If you have less then 5 feedbacks, please contact me before bidding. If you do not, I reserve the right to cancel your bid. If ou have exccesive negative feedbacks, please do the same."

So what do you think happens? Someone used BuyitNow on one of my auctions, and he has 0 feedback. WTF! Do people actually ever read descriptions? So now, I can't even cancel his bid. Is there anyway on ebay to actually STOP people with a certain # of feedback (less then 5) from not bidding?
 
Not that I'm aware of. You can of course refuse his payment and relist or demand that he gives you a confirmed shipping address but you can't block people with low feedback from using the buy it now option, I really wished they would change that.
 
I've had to cancel like 30 bids from people outside the US. I clearly state, in big bold letters, that I don't ship outside the US. Very annoying.
 
[quote name='Chris in Cali']I've had to cancel like 30 bids from people outside the US. I clearly state, in big bold letters, that I don't ship outside the US. Very annoying.[/QUOTE]

Well that you can change, under seller options you can change it to only allow US bidders.
 
You can limit the people from bidding with a certain amount of negative feedbacks in the past month (or three months, something like that) which is what you SHOULD do. People with zero feedback spend their money very easily, why wouldn't you want them to bid? :)
 
Someone with zero feedback may not be familiar enough with eBay to know to read the full description. Also, it could be argued that using BIN is buying, not bidding, and therefore would not be subject to the bidding rules.
 
eBay of course doesn't want to make it difficult for new people to get their feet wet (0 FB) if you want to sell on eBay you have to deal with them.
 
[quote name='sylentwulf']You can limit the people from bidding with a certain amount of negative feedbacks in the past month (or three months, something like that) which is what you SHOULD do. People with zero feedback spend their money very easily, why wouldn't you want them to bid? :)[/QUOTE]

2 reasons:

-Scammers who make new accounts buy items and screw you with a CC chargeback.

- Non-paying bidders, a whole lot of these people have low feedback.
 
[quote name='zionoverfire']2 reasons:

-Scammers who make new accounts buy items and screw you with a CC chargeback.

- Non-paying bidders, a whole lot of these people have low feedback.[/QUOTE]

Very true, but scam artists I've seen have had varying levels of feedback. Everything from a 0 to 121 positives.

Even though I have the most trouble with low feedback users, I can't lump everyone into one category, and I do sell to them.
 
Ebay should at least give us the option to block out members with a certain number of feedback (or negative feedback) and also the ability to block out members by region. Less hassle for sellers.
 
[quote name='gmzone']Very true, but scam artists I've seen have had varying levels of feedback. Everything from a 0 to 121 positives.

Even though I have the most trouble with low feedback users, I can't lump everyone into one category, and I do sell to them.[/QUOTE]

Yes but the quantity of problems with new users is the problem, most are just fine but I don't see any reason to take a risk when there are plenty of users with feedback who are willing to pay just as much.
 
[quote name='zionoverfire']2 reasons:

-Scammers who make new accounts buy items and screw you with a CC chargeback.

- Non-paying bidders, a whole lot of these people have low feedback.[/QUOTE]

don't accept payment from non confirmed locations.. always use delivery confirmation... about the non paying bidders.. not many non payers will use a BIN the majority of people using the BIN will pay for it because its the price they want..

there solutions to your problems. you can always not take Paypal/credit card payments from people with FB < 5 and you can wait until the check or money order clears before sending the goods..
 
if you go into your personal account info, there are options to block people for diffrent reasons. you can select thier negative raitings, if they live outside of were you ship to ect ect- you can even block everyone who does not have a paypal account
 
I am a gold powerseller on ebay my sugestion to you is to go into your paypal account and change settings to only accept payment from confirmed add. and us only. I list everything buy it now only with immediate payment required. therefore item remains listed until it is paid for and the buyer must have a confirmed add. then you do not have non payers and best of all no chargebacks as long as you always use delivery confirmation.
 
[quote name='urzishra14']don't accept payment from non confirmed locations.. always use delivery confirmation... about the non paying bidders.. not many non payers will use a BIN the majority of people using the BIN will pay for it because its the price they want..

there solutions to your problems. you can always not take Paypal/credit card payments from people with FB < 5 and you can wait until the check or money order clears before sending the goods..[/QUOTE]

Not accepting payment from non confirmed locations requires frequent relisting of auctions because no one ever reads item discriptions. Plenty of newbs buy a items with buy it now then later win the same item for less in an auction and decide not to pay you.:D

You can try all you want to only accept checks and MOs from people with less than 5 feedback if of course you can convince them to do it and feel like having your auctions drawn out over weeks.

I think the real solution to my problem is for ebay to stop catering so much to the buyers, if the sellers are going to take all the risks they should have some decent means of protecting themselves.
 
[quote name='zionoverfire']I think the real solution to my problem is for ebay to stop catering so much to the buyers, if the sellers are going to take all the risks they should have some decent means of protecting themselves.[/QUOTE]

The buyer always pays before the seller sends on eBay. I'd say that's taking a bit of the risk.

Sure a thief buyer can make fraudulent charge backs, but a thief seller can clean out and close down their PayPal account making chargebacks (outside of CCs) nearly impossible.
 
yeah, should be some options either under seller tools or item listings to adjust it so that those with negative feedback or less than 2 can't bid. Works wonders, just don't remember where in the hell it's located
 
I just found this in ebay...
"Only apply this block to buyers who have a feedback score of 5 or lower."

Looks like that may be it?
 
[quote name='gizmogc']I just found this in ebay...
"Only apply this block to buyers who have a feedback score of 5 or lower."

Looks like that may be it?[/QUOTE]

Where'd you see that? I'm really surprised eBay lets you block new eBayers from auctions, would be pretty cool if you could do that for just certain (read: high dollar) listings.
 
I only have 2 feedbacks on ebay right now, but I had 40-50 on my old account. (I lost my email address and couldn't get access, just started a new one) Why should I be penalized, for buying when I only go out to look for rare items I can't get in store?

That's ridiculous. You're getting essentially guaranteed payment from paypal. At retail stores, you sometimes have people use credit card chargebacks to get their money back, but they have to deal with it as a cost of doing business. So do you.

Just be careful, and you won't get scammed. Don't punish people who don't buy often.
 
[quote name='fanskad']I only have 2 feedbacks on ebay right now, but I had 40-50 on my old account. (I lost my email address and couldn't get access, just started a new one) Why should I be penalized, for buying when I only go out to look for rare items I can't get in store?

That's ridiculous. You're getting essentially guaranteed payment from paypal. At retail stores, you sometimes have people use credit card chargebacks to get their money back, but they have to deal with it as a cost of doing business. So do you.

Just be careful, and you won't get scammed. Don't punish people who don't buy often.[/QUOTE]
i have to agree.. just because they don't have a feedback score doesn't mean they are going to rip you.
 
Okay I just figured out what you can do as far as blocking buyers (I think)

In My eBay go to

eBay Prefereces -> Seller Preferences -> Bidder Requirements (it's a list click 'Change')

You can block buyers with a FB score of -1 or lower, but not 0 from any of your listings.

You can block buyers who have a FB score of 5 or lower from winning/bidding on 2 or more of your auctions in one of the other sections "Buyers who may bid on several of my items and not pay for them" but you can't keep them from winning/bidding on that first listing. (That's where you quoted from gizmo.)

bluekeith75's suggestion seems like a great one if you are really worried about chargebacks.

Personally I block bidders with 2 unpaid item strikes in the last 30 days and that's it. (I wish that section could be a little more strict...)
 
[quote name='fanskad']I only have 2 feedbacks on ebay right now, but I had 40-50 on my old account. (I lost my email address and couldn't get access, just started a new one) Why should I be penalized, for buying when I only go out to look for rare items I can't get in store?

That's ridiculous. You're getting essentially guaranteed payment from paypal. At retail stores, you sometimes have people use credit card chargebacks to get their money back, but they have to deal with it as a cost of doing business. So do you.

Just be careful, and you won't get scammed. Don't punish people who don't buy often.[/QUOTE]


You're old account means nothing if the seller does not know about it. To them your just someone with 2 feedbacks. And yes, you should be penalized. Some sellers list items from as little as $10-$1000 dollars. Now, most people on ebay that have less then 5 feedback really have no idea how an auction even works. They don't read the description that says "Payment must be in 7 days". Then guess what happens? The winner never pays, and the seller has to post a negative. Then the buyer gets mad because 'I'm new! You should give me more time!" and then posts a negative on the seller.

To me, in the past 2 months Ive sold atleast 75 or so items. 4 had to be relisted. 3 of those items were purchased by bidders with LESS then 5 feedback.

I'm not going to even go into the whole Paypal thing. I as a seller can have 500 feedbacks, and a buyer with 3 can do a chargeback and win. Paypal and ebay do NOT care about the seller. As soon as my current auctions end, I'm done with selling. I really can't stand the retarded questions buyers have 'Will you ship to Brazil; what color is that; what system; does it come with the manual; how much is shipping' the amazing thing is, ALL of these are listed RIGHT IN THE AUCTION.
 
[quote name='gizmogc']You're old account means nothing if the seller does not know about it. To them your just someone with 2 feedbacks.[/QUOTE]
You've successfully botched the usage of "your/you're" in two different ways in the space of two sentences. Congratulations.
 
[quote name='soulwish2003']Well... my guess is that you did want zero feedback is because you think they might not pay... well, this person paid. So, go with it???[/QUOTE]
The problem is that the buyer can receive the item, claim that it wasn't received, and get paypal to refund the money.
 
[quote name='nwaugh']The problem is that the buyer can receive the item, claim that it wasn't received, and get paypal to refund the money.[/QUOTE]

Ah, ok... if he is confirmed, go with it. If not, just let the person know.

The only places I have had problems with is MEXICO and BRAZIL... 2 'unauthorized' paypal charges in the last few years. I stick with USA and CANADA because of that.
 
I am always amazed that eBay sellers are COMPLETELY unwilling to accept any of the "cost of doing business" risks that other types of retailers deal with every single day. Every time something goes wrong, these stubborn sellers add to the 3 page list of insane rules they have attached to each of their auctions, hoping to cover their butts. No wonder no one reads anything! Not only is the majority of the bidders not going to read your demands, the ones who do will be turned off and are likely to look elsewhere. I know I do. Who wants to deal with an unfriendly seller like that?

We all get burned. But by allowing new eBayers to bid on your auctions, you are sure to increase the bidding, and therefore increase the final prices, thereby making enough extra money to cover any losses you may incur due to a few non-paying newbies.

I am happy to accept the bids of newbies that other sellers have scared off. I find that they pay twice as much for my items, get hooked on my store because they don't want to bother to look elsewhere (or just don't know any better), and come back again and again.
 
[quote name='wubb']The buyer always pays before the seller sends on eBay. I'd say that's taking a bit of the risk.

Sure a thief buyer can make fraudulent charge backs, but a thief seller can clean out and close down their PayPal account making chargebacks (outside of CCs) nearly impossible.[/QUOTE]

But at the same time the sellers have to take nearly all the risk, it's not like ebays seller protection plan is worth a damn.
 
[quote name='seamonkeygirl']No wonder no one reads anything! Not only is the majority of the bidders not going to read your demands, the ones who do will be turned off and are likely to look elsewhere. I know I do. Who wants to deal with an unfriendly seller like that? [/QUOTE]

I agree with this, although the OP was asking if you can block 0 FB bidders, not whether or not we think you should.

Every seller has to decide what level of risk they are comfortable assuming for themself.

Though I generally chuckle at people with stuff in their listing that I know eBay and PayPal won't let them enforce. (Most common thing is their claim that if the buyer doesn't buy insurance they won't be responsible for lost packages. Sorry but PayPal will take the money if you can't prove delivery. But I guess that could work on a portion of ignorant buyers.)
 
[quote name='zionoverfire']But at the same time the sellers have to take nearly all the risk, it's not like ebays seller protection plan is worth a damn.[/QUOTE]

Buyer's protection isn't worth a damn either. I got ripped off on three seperate auctions last year (not all at once) and neither eBay nor PayPal gave me any compensation. The best I got from them was "well, you are in the right, but we can't get even a fraction of your money back."
 
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