General Forum

I skimmed this, so I don't know if I'm repeating another's thought, but there are a lot of dishonest BUYERS out there too. Looking for any angle to get a little something extra from the seller... or even end up getting something for free. I'm going to address a few things at random, so bear with me. As far as posting pictures with multiple items and then explaining the auction is for the item listed in the title, it is perfect actually. It makes perfect sense. The purpose of multiple item pictures is (or should be) to advertise the seller's other items. I find it very helpful as buyer and have found many things other than the original item I was searching for from one seller as a direct result of them having multiple items pictured. For example; I type in Ebay search, "1799 Cliftus Shizzlechin Chartreuse Fuzzfractor" and I find a seller with what I'm looking for in the title and in the picture I also see the Baby- poo Brown Fuzzfractor I need as well. The little old lump of neuron packed fat in my skull says to me, "Hey, they may be selling that as well. I should check their other auctions." I check their other auctions and find that they also have a Cuspidor (spittoon) from the Crystal Palace Saloon circa 1880 and I want that! This saves a buyer time (less searching) and money (combined shipping). A picture of multiple items is also perfectly acceptable as an example of a set if they are just selling singles to those trying to complete sets. All you need is a proper title and the needed (but really shouldn't be needed) explanation that it is indeed an auction for the item listed in the title only. If it's a lot, it usually says so. I agree 100% about using a Title That Says They're Selling Something They're Not. That should be against Ebay policy. I think it might be. I agree 100% about using pictures that have nothing to do with the item in the title, unless it's a store logo or a hot chick. It would be great if all vintage cards were sold with photos of front and back, but as long as vintage sellers have a condition listed, I'm good. I also only buy vintage from well known vintage dealers that I trust. If an item has a picture and no condition listed, I don't buy from that seller. Also someone mentioned "rip offs" being a result of commercialism. I could be wrong, but I think they might have meant capitalism. If I'm wrong about that, ignore the following. If that is what they meant, I disagree. While there are many crooks out there looking to take advantage of the unknowing, those who don't know what they're doing, shouldn't be doing it. There's nothing wrong with someone setting and ASKING any price they want for an item that they own. It's up to the buyer to decide if the product is worth the price and if they are willing to pay it. Making a profit is not only a good thing, it's a must. Greed and theft are the problem. There is however, a fine line between profiting (capitalizing) and greed, but who decides where it begins and ends? We are talking about collectibles here and just because someone is asking a price that I can't afford or am just not willing to pay, it's doesn't make them a greedy capitalist. Concerning this subject and "Best Offer".... I have taken low ball shots in the dark when someone has a price I've found way too high, but I've been polite about it. I'll explain what I think the actual value of the item is, why I want or need it and I even ask "please". It has worked many times.

As a seller I used to wait for customer feedback to be sure that the customer had received the item OK. Now when I sell stuff I usually give positive feedback a day or two after receiving payment. Now the only feedback a seller can give is a possitive, anything else they have to submit a non-payment report or some other type of report and hope the issue gets looked into.

I had heard horror stories of sellers leaving excellent feedback once they recieved payment and then the customer being an arse and slammnig them with a negative sometimes just for fun, or for something that could have been resolved had the customer contacted the seller before leaving feedback.

Vvvergeer wrote:  .....and I hate the sellers who won't give good feedback until they see that you have them good feedback

All is well. The way I see it is, if I'm searching for a card... a specific card and I find listings of that card... I select an auction and it has a photo of multiple items... I then look to see the item I want in the photo. If it's there and the price is right, I bid/buy it with the understanding that I am buying exactly the item I was looking for and nothing else unless noted in the description. I just don't understand how it could confuse anyone. You search for a specific item, so you know what you were looking for. You see it among other items in the photo and you read the description that confirms you are purchasing only the item YOU WERE LOOKING FOR, the price is right, then you buy it. Just to be clear, I'm using YOU in general. I understand you're point, but not how it could cause any confusion. I'm a little biased, I guess, because it's happened to me as a seller. It's one reason I don't sell on ebay anymore. About 2 years ago I was selling off the dupes of the Skylanders set I built for our son for Christmas. Selling them as singles for others trying to build it. I used 6 different cards in a photo for an example of the set. The title clearly stated the year, manufacturer, card number and character name. The description with the same information PLUS in large text, "This Auction is for The Item Listed In Title ONLY" or... THE ITEM YOU WERE LOOKING FOR in other words. I send it out, get a message saying, "My 8 year old son thought he was getting 6 cards." Well, their 8 year old should learn to read and shouldn't be buying things on ebay without their supervision. I refused to refund and ebay agreed with me, but wouldn't remove their negative feedback. Ebay agreed the auction description was very clear. They also stated that stock and sample photos are a common and recommended practice as long as title and description are clear. Also that the 8 year old buying was against ebay policy. Still, negative feedback is allowed. Needless to say, if I ever sell again, I will withhold feedback. Another point on feedback: As a buyer, I leave positive feedback as long as I get my item in condition described, even if it takes a month to get it.

Kirk wrote: HowlingFury - I beg to differ with your opinion on the eBay photos showing multiple items.  The seller should show what is being sold and nothing more.  As a buyer I've been confused many times when the title, photo(s), and product description conflict with each other.  All it does is add needless confusion.  Also, if I want to view a sellers other auctions, eBay already has a button I can click to do just that.  Maybe I'm different than most,but I like listings to be simple and clear, so I know exactly what I'm buying.