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I'm both a Buyer and Seller on eBay. If you're a Buyer, I would encourage you to demand this kind of relationship with your Seller on eBay.
1. Demand Accuracy
My biggest peeve with eBay Sellers is terminology. Deception, lack of information and plain ole' out-and-out lies are an unfortunate common practice with some Sellers. It especially bothers me when the deception is in the auction's title line. Ultimately, such practices undermine the Seller's credibility (and thus their future as a successful eBayer), but in the short-term, it ends up hurting the uninformed...
For instance, I understand that the word "rare" is subjective in its definition. The American Heritage Dictionary defines "rare" as "Infrequently occurring; uncommon." But if a person uses the word, they must be able to 1) prove the item truly is uncommon, and 2) prove the item is real and not bootleg or altered. The word "genuine" is another overused falsehood. The DVD being offered may have the "genuine" movie on it, but that doesn't mean it's the real thing...ask if the DVD is a REAL item created by a COMPANY-AUTHORIZED factory or if it's a bootleg. If you don't get a response, that in itself should tell you something about the real answer.
Some Sellers play upon a Buyer's ignorance by conveniently leaving out information. On gaming equipment, I've seen people advertise, for instance, for a "New PS3 Box with Everything Inside for Sale." Well...they're not lying: It's a new box. And you've won everything that's inside the new box. But they don't bother telling you that they've removed the contents from the box and placed packing peanuts inside." Convenient. Sadly, you must ASK THE QUESTION of Sellers, "Is this system NEW in the box, SEALED AND NEVER OPENED?" This prevents Sellers from switching good systems for bad ones, getting rebate material out of the box, etc.
With software, especially, a SEALED AND NEVER OPENED OR REGISTERED question must be asked. Software piracy is rampant, and many times a unscrupulous Seller will register a product for himself and then sell the disk to some unsuspecting individual, who then is unable to register the product for themself.
We as human beings want to be trusting...but on eBay, let the Buyer beware. ASK QUESTIONS before bidding. If you don't get an answer, you have to ask yourself what the Seller is hiding...
2. Demand Protective Packing
A close 2nd on my aggravation list is when I purchase items and they are mailed without any padding or protection. I'm a pin collector and I've received packages where pins are sticking through the envelopes, or where pinbacks are bent or broken because of no padding. Pins are simply thrown in together, allowing them to rub and scratch each other in shipping.
It's the Buyer's right to demand that items be guaranteed deliverable in the same condition as before they were shipped. This sounds like a no-brainer, but not all Sellers have morals. As a Buyer, I make it a habit of stating iin the comments line (when paying), "Positive feedback upon the safe, rapid receipt of my item." I'm certainly not offended when someone states that to me...they pay good money for my items and deserve their item to arrive in the same condition as what they purchased.
3. Demand a Picture
On eBay, a picture is worth far more than 1,000 words...it's a protection for both the Buyer and the Seller that the pin a person receives is the same pin that they bought.
This is especially true now that eBay offers Gallery photos for no additional charge. It's simple laziness to not include a picture of an item. I do use stock photos on occasion, as I sell a lot of pins. But if a stock photo is used, the Seller MUST state that a full refund will be given if the item is in less condition than the photo shows. To send an item that's worse than the picture shows is "bait and switch," which is illegal.
That said, Buyers need to understand that there are subtle scratches and flaws that a photograph will not pick up, and that no item is absolutely flawless (unless it is marketed as such, and then it would be expected). Brand new items are going to have slight blemishes on occasion. This is just the nature of things. As Sellers, we MUST be honest to point out noticeable flaws; but as Buyers, we need to be understanding that what we're buying is not a flawless diamond.
4. Demand Realistic Pricing...and That Means Realistic Shipping & Handling Charges!
EBay is a place where the Buyer has complete control of what they want to pay for an item. But some Sellers are fleecing unknowledgeable Buyers by putting ridiculous prices on items. But it's easy to fight this practice with education.
You've seen the outrageous examples of this: Small $10 items being marketed for $100,000 (just to see if some fool bids on it), but most of the time, people try to prey upon a person's strong desires to own something specific. This happens most frequently in eBay Stores, where prices are totally out of line in my opinion. But it happens on regular auctions as well. I recall several auctions where people were selling common jewelry pieces for over $30 each, claiming the pins were "super rare." P.T. Barnam was right when he said, "There's a sucker born every minute." But an ethical Seller doesn't seek to take advantage of such poor souls. Look for a realistic opening bid price, and let free marketplace take over determine what the item is worth.
Yes, I feel for the poor Beanie Baby collector who spent thousands of dollars of stuffed animals, finding that they're virtually worthless now. And I'm sorry that stamps you bought 20 years ago are now selling for their postage price. Baseball cards have also lost value...but it has been the marketplace - not inaccurate or deceptive pricing - that must dictate the final price.
Next time you see someone trying to fleece others online, write them and ask, "Surely you're not asking THAT much for this...did you make a typographical error?" You may not get a response - or get a sarcastic reply - but at least your comment lets Sellers know that others are watching their actions and will not support their efforts to fool people.
Even worse is the practice of price-gouging on Shipping & Handling. This is especially true with electronics and their accessories. An item that costs $1.50 to ship - even with packaging, gasoline to the post office and eBay costs - should NEVER cost $7.95 or more to ship. Same thing with software, CDs or DVDs (which are usually shipped via media mail, which costs next to nothing). The official site of the United States Postal Service (usps.gov) is a great place to get a decent idea of how much your item should cost to ship. If you see an auction that grossly overcharges on shipping, REPORT THEM using the link at the bottom of the page. EBay IS monitoring such reports and will remove and warn Sellers who abuse the system by grossly overcharging. But it won't happen unless you turn them in.
I have found, personally, that a fair charge for an item that weighs under 3 oz. (electronics accessories, CDs, pins, etc.) should cost no more than $3.50 to ship...including handling charges for materials, eBay charges, etc. That amount rises to a whopping $4.50 if we're talking international (though in some cases, international postal rates are actually LESS than shipping within the United States).
5. Finally...Demand Honesty
Finally, let's just talk about honest dealings. You would think this wouldn't have to be mentioned, but unfortunately there are always going to be Sharks in the ocean of eBay selling.
It's a shameful practice. I've seen Sellers who have been "going out of business" for the past six years. There are bootleg Sellers who claim they're marketing "real...genuine." If something seems too good to be true...well, you know the rest. Buyers should report bootleg Sellers to VerO through eBay. Don't just grumble; do something about it so others don't get ripped off. And if you're a Seller, realize that you're only hurting yourself by lying to Buyers. We're not as stupid as you.
There is a code of ethics eBay expects from both its Buyers and Sellers. What I'm saying is nothing beyond eBay's Terms of Service. And as both a Seller and a Buyer, I'm talking to myself when I write this. As Buyers, if we make demands for excellence with Sellers, that's what we'll get. As Sellers, if we walk with integrity and excellence in our dealings on eBay, it will pay off for us in the end.
Now that eBay has expanded their Feedback - allowing buyers to rate sellers on such things as speed in shipping, honest descriptions, etc., things should improve.
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