Unfortunately, not all transactions are picture perfect on eBay. Sooner or later, we all encounter one transaction that requires an email to eBay Customer Service. I buy AND sell on eBay - I’ve encountered this situation from both sides. I hear the same same complaint over and over: “eBay only takes care of buyers!” Or “eBay only cares about sellers!”

So what do you do?

Well, if your complaint is valid - then take the time to report it. eBay relies upon both buyers and sellers for this kind of input. I find it astounding that 9 out of 10 people never read the user agreement we all sign when joining eBay. Hello! You just signed a contract - don’t you want to know what the rules are?

Take a few minutes exploring the resources available. Look up at the top of your screen. There’s a few important links you have to familiarize yourself with. These appear on EVERY SINGLE PAGE!! HOME is where you find the link to contact eBay live chat if you don’t know how to get help. Live chat is there for a purpose. Use it.

Next: Buy, Sell, My eBay, Commmunity, and Help appear on EVERY SINGLE PAGE on eBay!! Do yourself a big favor and browse the HELP section. Read the rules & the user agreement. I hear this way too often: “Imagine that. I’ve been on eBay for six years and I didn’t even know that rule/guide/section existed.”

Whether you are a buyer or a seller, you only have two obligations on eBay: The first is self-explanatory. If you buy something, pay for it; if you sell something, send it out in good condition.

The second obligation is just as important: We all play by the same set of rules. Know what they are.

One of my pet peeves are those stinky auto-response emails that eBay sends whenever I have to contact them. They must take up to a megabyte of inbox storage in my email system. You know the one: “We appreciate your concern...” and then there’s this endless list of links, “do this” and “don’t do that.” Who has the patience to read that stuff? Besides, it clogs up my inbox.

Well, think about this for a second. Why does eBay do that? There are people at the other end who have to read our emails. Wouldn’t they appreciate it if we took the time to file a legitimate concern the right way instead of the wrong way? It takes the same amount of time. Maybe if we DID take the time to do it the right way...that auto-response wouldn’t contain so many directives.

Hmmmm? Worth thinking about that concept. Most sellers joke that every buyer should be required to sell something on eBay just once, to see how much work is involved. I’m guessing most of the eBay staff feels the same way, too - that everyone on eBay should spend one shift just to see what it’s like on the other end of that old email complaint line.

That’s the final tip from Twinkie’s toolbox: Treat people the way you like to be treated and not like an auto-response email . Above all else - have some fun on eBay today!