This post by an eBay seller was placed on a public forum.
"Unfortunately there just is no alternative when it comes to ebay. The money they make off you compared to their no customer service is insane. But ebay really is the ****. I have buy and sell everything on ebay from small items to cars and boats. I love buying used stuff for way less than it cost new.
There are ways around there fees tho - when I sold my last car - I filled for a non payment from buyer credit after it sold and got my $90 back. If you want to get $50 for something list it for $10 +$40 shipping. You can sell multiple items from 1 auction outside of ebay. You can end auctions early if someone makes you an offer. I have sold 10 times more things through ebay than I have been charged."
Thank you for your advice, username Pigeon. Let's talk about circumventing fees -
charging excessive shipping to avoid final value fees. Big eBay violation. I and many of my forum members report this one all the time. I reported a seller yesterday for selling a package of 20 Bandaids with $14 shipping.
Excessive shipping charges is of the biggest scams on eBay. First, you are avoiding paying fees. Second, if the customer is not happy and a seller such as yourself offers a gracious refund - the customer is only refunded the price of the item, and not the $40 shipping, right?
Don't think buyers are not wise to this one. And now with DSRs, if you pull this one on a buyer who actually completes the transaction, your DSR for shipping fees will go into the toilet. But hey, that is good for the ethical sellers.
Don't expect all buyers to be Pigeons.
Unfortunately this is the nature of the beast, there are always going to be those that are unwilling to pay the going rate for the use of a service (Ebay). These are the sellers that have no idea that it is not a right to be able to sell on Ebay it is a privilege, where else can you guarantee such a huge worldwide marketplace!!!
Posted by: Online Auction Trader | April 2, 2008 11:48 AM | Permalink to Comment