I have been selling Yugioh cards for the last year or more and have yet to receive negative feedback within that last year. I do this by ensuring customer satisfaction and by treating them as they should be treated... as the payer of my paycheck. I've seen some of the retaliatory negatives some sellers give and my first response to this is - What are you thinking??? If you handle receiving their negative feedback properly you could find yourself a repeat customer who will in the future leave you glowing reveiws... which, admit it, is what us sellers want. Should a customer get ahold of you before leaving negative feedback? YES. BUT you have to realize that not all of them understand the rules and regulations of Ebay even if they've read them. The best thing to do is to explain to them, as nicely and politely as possible, that ebay encourages both buyers and sellers to try to resolve their issues before feedback is left and, even though you already have a negative, do everything you can to satisfy this customer and THEN ask, again nicely and politely, if they would consider withdrawing the negative they left you. By doing this as opposed to getting angry and leaving them a negative in retaliation and demanding a withdrawal of yours for a withdrawal of theirs, you will not only most likely get the negative removed, but you may have found yourself a repeat customer who's next feedback will make you look great.

An Ebay transaction consists of : a bidder winning an item, bidder paying for item, seller shipping item, buyer receiving item. THAT'S IT!!! Feedback is NOT considered part of the transaction (read the Ebay rules, feedback is supposed to be impartial and if buyers are constantly worrying about receiving a negative for telling the truth then it sure isn't impartial. Feedback is NOT a weapon) If the buyer has paid for the item then they have completed their part of the transaction. SO leave them positive feedback and be truthful. If the payment was a little slow but within the time limit you asked for leave a positive but also state the time it took (not as a negative, just as a fact... ie: Item was paid for within 4 days, good ebay buyer. Would deal with again) Do everything you can to avoid leaving a negative for a buyer, if a neutral is called for then use that first. Only leave a negative feedback if the item was never paid for, if payment was canceled or taken back somehow after it was sent, or (if you wait to leave feedback until yours is left) if they return an item in perfect condition when return description clearly states that only damaged merchandise may be returned (though sometimes a neutral may still work here if you describe the incident in the comment section).

Now onto the listing in specific. I've seen alot of people who sell "grab bags", "mystery items" or "mystery boxes". There is nothing wrong with this when it is done properly. When selling something that is RANDOM, make sure that you state it everywhere as clearly as you can. Include no extra words that could be misinterpreted or confusing. Because I sell Yugioh cards I will use those as an example.

Incorrect way to list a Random lot:

(Title) YUGIOH ULTRA SUPER RARE EXODIA GOD RANDOM LOT!

(Picture = pictures of God or Exodia cards)

(Description) PLEASE READ DESCRIPTION BEFORE BIDDING - You are bidding on a 50 card random lot - Get 45 commons, 3 rare and 2 holo in every lot - No individual cards are guarenteed in this auction, they are random. Email me with problems before leaving negative feedback, you leave negative - I leave negative.

The reasons this is incorrect: 1. Stating in the title the names of cards that most likely will NOT be included. 2. Picture of cards that most likely will NOT be included. 3. Description is okish until the end... except that the tone isn't very friendly... you can almost tell already that if you have issues with this seller they will not be resolved and you can expect negative feedback if you leave it which is a threat and against ebay policies. Plus there isn't enough information so even though this seller isn't listing the items as mint the buyer will most likely expect cards to be in good condition and will be angry if they aren't.

CORRECT way to list a Random lot:

(Title) RANDOM YUGIOH CARD LOT, 2 HOLO, 3 RARE

(picture - either digital of complete collection or hundreds of cards, individuals hard to see. Or picture of back of Yugioh card. If you will be guarenteeing a certain card(s) then by all means use a picture of that card(s))

(Description) This auction is for a 50 card lot of randomly picked Yugioh cards. I will guarentee that all the cards you will receive will be Authentic, English version Konami Yugioh cards. They range in condition from Good (could have any or all of these: a bit of edge wear, up to 4 bends/creases or up to 6 very small bends/creases, some surface wear resulting in a pebbled or wrinkled appearance and/or some minor to moderate scratches, dings or dents) to Near Mint (almost perfect possibly with one or two very minor or very small flaws). - Because the listing states that this lot is random I won't be able to guarentee any specific cards... But if before you bid you want to let me know what kinds of cards you prefer I can certainly try to get as many of those kinds into the set as possible (kinds mean warrior, fiend, aqua, elemental hero, destiny hero, ninja etc NOT Exodia, God, Silpher or other certain cards... and not all 50 will be the kind you specifiy but I will go through all of my cards and make sure you have the biggest selection of that kind of card that I can give you from what I have). If you don't have a certain kind you want then I will pick them randomly. - Asking for a specific card will mean heartbreak for both of us if I don't have it. Heartbreak for you because you won't get that card from me and heartbreak for me because I honestly want to get you what you want. However, if there is a certain common card (excluding the exodia and other very hard to get commons as I probably won't have them) that you really want, you can ask and I will look. If I have it I will include it if you win the lot. (Add shipping info, return info and so-on) If you have any problems with your purchase once you have received it please email me. I want you to be satisfied with this transaction and will do everything I can to make it right. BUT please do NOT worry about retaliatory negative feedback because I will not leave a negative just because I received a negative.

The reasons this is correct: 1. No where in the listing or pictures is there listed a certain card that could lead to misunderstandings, someone wanting very specifically a God or Exodia card won't buy from me and therefore will not be upset when/if they don't receive it. 2. Tone of the description is very friendly and helpful, plenty of information is given so the customer knows exactly what they are getting. They are encouraged to ask for types of cards so they wind up even more satisfied in the long run and should I do something wrong they are asked to get ahold of me first but also are reassured not to worry about retaliatory negative feedback leaving them feeling safe and secure bidding through me. I can't guarentee that the second lot will sell for as much - it probably won't. But the customers will feel safer bidding through the second seller and will be more likely to go back even if an issue arises.

General listing points that should be brought up, even though most are common sense, are to be sure that your listing is as accurate and descriptive as possible. Although descriptions should be kept as concise as possible that doesn't always mean brief. List all wear or damage to the items, pictures rarely show every little scratch, tear or ding so don't just refer the customer to the picture for the item condition. Are you going to get a little less money if you describe all the damage... maybe depending on the item. But being dishonest or vague about the condition your items are in will lose you customers and even more money in the long run. Also be sure to list any specific pieces of information that your customers need to know about payment/shipping/return options, restrictions and guidelines. Do your best to give the customers all the information they need when making the choice of what to buy and from whom.

The last thing I want to add should be common knowledge,  and I'm both surprised... and a little sickened by how many people don't even think of this. BE NICE in all that you do. Unless the person you are dealing with is so rude that you just can't hold back a rude comment, then go out of your way to be nice. Be kind and polite to any potential buyers asking questions before the end of the auction, be kind to the buyer while waiting for their payment, be kind after you've received your payment and be kind even after feedback is left... regardless of whether the feedback is positive, neutral or negative.

Make sure to put yourself in the buyer's shoes. What do YOU look for in a listing? What information would you want to know about the item? How would you want to be treated? Ebayers should be over 18 years old to bid, but many people buy things for little ones; children, grandchildren, neices or nephews... especially if you're selling something a kid would want remember that it's not just the buyer who will be dissapointed if the transaction doesn't go smoothly. I've read some very cruel feedback from some buyers when told that the way they sold or advertised the item left a little one in tears. Remember the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you (NOT as you have had done unto you). Customers pay our paychecks, treat them well and your paycheck will grow.