Please allow me to first say that I will make every effort to be fair minded to all sides of this issue. As a retired business person, I can state without any reservation, that every dispute has at least two sides, and that no customer or retailer is ever 100% right or wrong all of the time. This is one of the reasons why eBay started the feedback program. But, it seems that the old saying about "absolute power corrupting absolutely" certainly has reared it's ugly head when it comes to "Feedback", and how some people use it, as well as other "Online Operating Guidelines and Practices".
In every transaction, both seller and customer, have a moral obligation to make every effort to "do the right thing" with regards to the transaction. This includes honesty in the listing, prompt payment by the purchaser, speedy shipment of the items purchased, followed up with mature, honest feedback by both parties, after the transaction has been completed. I know, "In a Perfect World . . ."! BUT, if any system is to have a chance to work in the manner within which it was conceived, a mutual bond of trust must be established. This trust must be backed up by Prompt, Ethical, attention to the needs and problems of both buyers and sellers, by the only people with the power to do so, by eBay!
For far too long now, many dishonest buyers and unscrupulous sellers have been allowed to run wild on eBay. Both sides have learned how to sneak in and out of the "gray" areas of business policy, and eBay has been far too slow and reluctant to do anything about it! Consequently, many areas of eBay have truly become a "Thieves Paradise". Every day, eBay charges a fee on every new listing, a percentage commission on every sale, and if that sale is paid for through "PayPal" (another eBay company), they charge a percentage of that amount too, including shipping and handling! Can you just imagine how many millions of items are impacted daily????? THIS IS BIG BUSINESS and it is high time that eBay took this bull by the horns and delivered "real service to its customers, both buyers and sellers"! Crooked buyers have learned that uninsured packages, or those received without "Delivery Confirmation" can be challenged. Likewise, a crooked seller can never ship a purchase and say "you didn't buy insurance so it's your problem. . ." THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT BOTH ARE WRONG! Currently, there is only one logical solution to this problem, "DELIVERY CONFIRMATION"! If you are a buyer and have a problem with paying this charge, or a seller who thinks that this is too much trouble to deal with, GO DO BUSINESS SOMEWHERE ELSE! This is the only tool currently available that mutually protects both buyers and sellers. It should be mandated as eBay policy. If a seller takes advantage of available USPS (others too) programs that allow sellers to print their own postage and shipping labels, Delivery Confirmation, as a "Free Perk" is a byproduct! This could then be passed on to the buyer - FOR FREE - as a positive selling tool. This, along with a serious PROAVTIVE position on the part of eBay, would eliminate this broad avenue of online fraud. Delivery Confirmation would then make "lost packages" a problem of the shipping agency (USPS, UPS, FedEX, etc.). As a followup, eBay should then block any attempt at negative feedback on any lost or uninsured transaction. This is not intended to give any advantage to the seller. Sellers control the terms of the sale. If a seller does not PROTECT HIMSELF by requiring insurance on a transaction, and it legitimately gets lost, HE OWES THE CUSTOMER A REFUND! ANYONE WHO BUYS ON LINE, AND CAN PROVE THAT THEY MADE PAYMENT (cancelled check, PayPal record), has every right to receive their product or a full refund, including shipping charges. This refund should take place within a standardized time frame set forth by and enforced by eBay. It would solely be the responsibility any buyer who has made direct payment by check, or money order to apply for a refund of any lost funds from the issuing party of said payment. Likewise, it should always be the responsibility of the SELLER to deal with their chosen shipper in matters of lost items. They shipped it, and they bought the insurance! The insurance refund will be paid to them, therefore, there is no reason for a customer to wait for a full refund. This is why it is so important for sellers to be good business persons.
There are other problems on eBay! Assuming that the afore mentioned "lost package" problem was dealt with, there is still what I consider the WORST AND BIGGEST PROBLEM, counterfeit, fake, and otherwise MISREPRESENTED MERCHANDISE being offered for sale or auction as genuine. ANYONE SELLING FAKE OR COUNTERFEIT MERCHANDISED AS GENUINE or DISPLAYING A REPEATED HISTORY OF CONSTISTANTLY OVERGRADING OR MISREPRESENTING THE QUALITY, GRADE, OR VALUE OF ITEMS BEING OFFERED should be permanently suspended from all eBay participation. Just as in any court of law, this type of activity clearly constitutes "A CONSCIOUS ATTEMPT TO DEFRAUD". EBAY should act swiftly and decisively to protect all buyers, and the integrity of it's sales platform from all such persons. As any seller can also be defrauded, these allegations must first be proven. If a seller refuses to issue a refund for a suspected non-genuine item(s), it would then become the responsibility of the buyer, as the injured party, to obtain verifiable documentation of authenticity from a reputable, certified third party expert (manufacturer of said product, or as in collectibles such as coins ANACS, PCGS, NGC, or their assigned agent). If the item(s) in question prove to be not genuine, the seller should then make a full refund of all payments including said certification charges, in the case of an isolated incident. Multiple confirmed incidents of non-genuine items being offered as genuine, should result in permanent suspension of that seller. All CONFIRMED CASES of sellers offering non-genuine items as genuine should become a permanent part of that seller's history, irregardless of how the matter was eventually resolved. This process should extend to ALL areas of eBay sales. Counterfeit jewelery, watches, coins, CDs/DVDs, clothing items, and collectibles of all kinds should be covered by this umbrella! EBAY could then use this as a monitor of a seller's ability to be a responsible eBayer, or as documentation for possible dismissal. Just like that old line from "The Godfather". . ."It's just business, not personal!"
Over the past years, eBay's reluctance to follow-up with internal investigations of sellers who repeatedly break the rules of good business practices, has resulted in "Feedback" becomming more of "CROOK'S BASEBALL BAT" than a business tool, for both buyers and sellers. Quite often, new buyers, (easily identified by only having 1-30 feedback) have been allowed to damage a seller's reputation by leaving immature and unrealistic feedback. A few recent examples: 1) OK Coin. Arrived on Time. - NEGATIVE FEEDBACK LEFT - Buyer had feedback score of 3. 2) Charged $4.00 Shipping, PostMark said $2.05. - NEGATIVE FEEDBACK LEFT - Buyer feedback score 27. 3) Paid By PayPal. Took 9 days to arrive. - NEGATIVE FEEDBACK LEFT - Buyer has feedback score of 12! Lets face it, if a bidder doesn't know how to issue feedback, eBay should have questioned and/or reversed these feedbacks! If a seller reports this stuff to eBay, it almost never gets removed. Consequently, many sellers use negative feedback in retaliation. I propose that ALL FEEDBACK ISSUED BY NEW EBAYERS (1-50) BE PROBATIONARY AND SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
There are many dealers of collectibles (Coins, stamps, baseball cards), who routinely and intentionally overgrade or otherwise misrepresent many, and in some cases all, of the items they offer, by using "sham" or totally unaccredited "So-Called Certification Services". These services aren't insured or bonded, and for the most part, can't be contacted! Their Certification is WORTHLESS, and their opinions of grade are almost always several grades too high! In most cases, these services have direct ties to a seller or several sellers using their services. In any business, such a practice is a conflict of interest and morally corrupt! I truly believe that most people are basically honest. In collectibles, like coins or stamps, many bidders are new to eBay, often either young or very old. They see offerings in what appears to be "legitimate" certified holders, and bid accordingly. When the items arrive, they find out that they were cheated. Their emails usually go unanswered, or they are told that there is no refund. If they give Negative Feedback, they receive the same. Out of frustration, many never buy again, or never report the crime! This is nothing less than FINANCIAL BLACKMAIL, and by doing nothing about it, it can only be assumed that eBay condones it. To most people, it looks like eBay is more interested in the listing fees, sales commissions, and PayPal percentages that they collect from these crooks, than the safety and welfare of their honest customers! Only eBay can fix these problems.
Anybody looked at the value of eBay stock lately?
If you feel that this guide was informative or in any way helpful, I would greatly appreciate your taking just a few moments to check the ( YES ) box at the bottom of this page. (mintex03)
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