posted on April 18, 2003 12:13:00 AM
In the 6 years I've been buying/selling on ebay,I haven't had very many problems.
But,I recently changed camera systems,getting rid of about 20 pricey items($350-2000).
Normally I just post,and everything over $50 I send Fed EX economy(I get a good rate) and don't really think about dishonesty,not being paid,etc..
But when I posted all these items recently I had alot of fear and paranoia.Almost waiting for disaster...
And what did I get ?...All my fears found me...
3-buyers whose Bidpay transactions were stopped because the buyer could not be verified..
They wouldn't pay because the PO would not take their credit card to purchase a money order.
4-buyers whose info didn't match up.
* 2 people using other peoples accounts and wanting the stuff shipped elsewhere.
2-emails from people dialing up from mideast
or UK cellphones ,emailing me thru ebay and wanting me to send the priciest stuff to Indonesia or Malasia and they'll gve me their CC number by email. Gee,isn't this where my camera stuff is made ?I'll bet it cost $15 over there!
1-Nigerian "419 or whatever email offering me $10,000 in funds in an unmarked bank account for one of my cameras.
1-guy wanting me to send off a $700 item before
the postal money order reached me.
1-winner with an address in Ohio and a cellphone number in California."0" bidder,new account.Opened just to buy my $2000 camera!
So,next time,I just really have to put positive good vibes into this stuff...I put in so many extra hours
cleaning up the crud on these transactions.Not to mention the caredits I have to file for.
They are everywhere and we are surrounded. They are coming out of the woodwork, the floorboards and the basement. Who are these people?
Ebay's new brand of bidder. Bidders who do not read your TOS or who do and think they are the exception. Bidders who think this is Burger King and want it their way. Bidders who want something for nothing and will stop at nothing to get it. Bidders who think, because Ebay is slow, you are willing to do anything and everything to sell your item - even if it may not be quite legal.
I blame it in part on Ebay's corny advertisements and the poor economy. Home robberies are up, people's tempers are up, unemployment is up. People start to get desperate and the result is our eating asperin like candy.
Enough negative - positive vibes are being sent your way. I am positive people will start reading your TOS. I am positive people will respect you as a seller. I am positive people will stop giving you phony phone numbers, addresses and credit card numbers. Oh, and I am positively nuts! LOL!
Cheer up, things will improve and we'll all be stronger, if not a whole lot wiser, for having lived through the hailstorm.
Cheryl