# A mild little Ebay Rant **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 12, 2003, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-mild-little-ebay-rant/212794 "2003-11-12T12:23:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![butter\_pie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aca169/32.png) [@butter\_pie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/butter_pie)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2003, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-mild-little-ebay-rant/212794/21 "2003-11-13T15:33:08Z")
IMO, if the shipping fees were not listed when you bid, you have a legitimate gripe. If it said $6 for shipping in the auction listing, then regardless of actual costs I think you have nothing to complain about. I would probably not buy from that seller again, but I consider shipping fees in the total amount bid, and whether or not the item gets bid up an extra $5 or that $5 just comes on the shipping, it all balances out in the end. ---
**Author:** ![Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5fc32e/32.png) [@Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bad_News_Baboon)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2003, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-mild-little-ebay-rant/212794/22 "2003-11-13T16:07:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jinwicked \* > \*\*IMO, if the shipping fees were not listed when you bid, you have a legitimate gripe. > \*\* Well, I can understand that if someone is new to e-bay that they would make this mistake. However, if you bid on something NOT knowing the S&H, it is not a legitimate gripe. I admit that it can be easy to get mesmorized by something you simply must have, but that doesn’t legitimize bidding anyway. IMO, it’s like ordering stuff on a menu that doesn’t have prices on it. You wouldn’t order off of it at a restaurant\*, you shouldn’t do it on e-bay. \*well, unless you are Bill Gates rich or something! ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2003, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-mild-little-ebay-rant/212794/23 "2003-11-13T16:12:59Z")
There is an option to post your version of the story when you get negative feedback on eBay. “Respond to this feedback”, I think. ---
**Author:** ![Jurhael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/cab0a1/32.png) [@Jurhael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jurhael)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2003, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-mild-little-ebay-rant/212794/24 "2003-11-13T18:19:46Z")
DA, yea, I know it works both ways. That’s why some buyers wait too, so sometimes I don’t get feedback at all. I can understand that. I’ve yet to deal with a seller that hasn’t given me feedback though. Heh Maybe the system could be like Amazon, where only the buyer leaves feedback. Heh ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2003, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-mild-little-ebay-rant/212794/25 "2003-11-13T19:51:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by abba21 \* > \*\*I buy and sell on Ebay, and I always leave feedback for my buyers the same day I receive their payment. The argument that other sellers give (on the Ebay boards) for withholding feedback goes something like this: “Feedback is meant to reflect the entire transaction. Until the buyer receives his merchandise and leaves me feedback, the transaction is not complete.” To which I say, “Bullshit”. There are two parts to every transaction after a winning bid is placed: > > 1. Paying for the merchadise. > 2. Sending the merchandise. > > If I win your auction, the buying part is up to me. When I’ve won the auction and paid within minutes, I’ve done my part and done it well. I think I should be given feedback then, and the content of said feedback should not be dependant on what I have to say about whether or not you did your part properly. For example, I bought a ring. I paid within minutes. Shipping was $6. When I got the ring, it was shipped in a manilla envelope for 60 cents. To me, a 1000% markup on shipping is a little steep, and when I emailed her to ask about it she told me that shipping is more than just a stamp and that there were Ebay and Paypal fees involved, too. I didn’t think I should have to pay her fees, so I left her a neutral. She then left me a negative, even though I had done my part with no problems. How is this fair? I forwarded her email to Ebay and reported her for fee avoidance. I felt it was my duty, as she had confessed to the fee avoidance in her email. 😃 \*\* IMO anybody that bitches _after the fact_ about fixed shipping charges that are listed upfront by the seller on Ebay is an annoying retard. Sometimes if I have difficult to sell items, or items where the price competition is fierce, I will reduce the sales price and kick up the S&H charges to compensate within limits. I don’t mind at all if someone decides not to buy because they think my S&H charges are too high on a small item. It is, however, intensely annoying when someone buys the item with all the fixed charges listed upfront, then bellyaches after the fact about the fixed S&H, or wants to negotiate it. The few times this has happened I have immedately and politely offered to cancel the sale completely. In all cases the after-the-fact bellyacher has backpedaled and agreed to take the item. I have 158 perfect positive feedback responses to date. ---
**Author:** ![abba21](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f4b2a3/32.png) [@abba21](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/abba21)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2003, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-mild-little-ebay-rant/212794/26 "2003-11-13T20:50:49Z")
I was not asking her to refund or reduce the shipping charges. I admit that I should have asked in advance how she was going to ship the item, and I would have been happy having paid the $6 had she taken the least bit of care with her packing or had she mailed the items priority. Again, MY fault for assuming she would do this. I also would not have left her neutral feedback had she not been rude in her reply (she told me that I was a moron and not to pretend that I knew anything about shipping, which was IMO harsh) and told me that she was charging me for _her_ Ebay and Paypal fees. I am not stupid or a whiner, but I did feel ripped off and I had every right to ask her about it, and when I got her response I felt she deserved a neutral for how the name calling and for the admitted fee avoidance. I _did_ feel like I would get a neutral in return, which I probably deserved for asking after the fact; I just felt like the negative wasn’t called for. I paid on time and I was never rude, and I don’t think it was warranted. I have learned my lesson about the shipping thing, though. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Kayeby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9de0a6/32.png) [@Kayeby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kayeby)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2003, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-mild-little-ebay-rant/212794/27 "2003-11-14T00:46:52Z")
I think two things that sellers do which can annoy buyers are charging high handling fees and holding feedback hostage. As a buyer I don’t return to sellers who do either, and as a seller I think the ill-will generated by these acts is greater than any measly profit or extra feedback I could possibly earn. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2003, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-mild-little-ebay-rant/212794/28 "2003-11-14T01:13:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by astro \* > \*\*Sometimes if I have difficult to sell items, or items where the price competition is fierce, I will reduce the sales price and kick up the S&H charges to compensate within limits. \*\* Isn’t this technically against the eBay rules? ---
**Author:** ![Ms\_Boods](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5e9695/32.png) [@Ms\_Boods](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms_Boods)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2003, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-mild-little-ebay-rant/212794/29 "2003-11-14T19:50:21Z")
I just got payment from a buyer who decided my $6.50 shipping was too high, and she sent what _she_ thought was appropriate…er… I always try to charge ONLY the postage, cos I cannot stand sellers who sell something like a pair of tights for $1 and then charge $10 s/h…in fact when I over estimate, I refund the money, or if it’s someone I know will be a repeat buyer, have given them credit towards the next sale (their choice). I’ve sold many of this particular item before, I know it actually costs a wee bit _more_ than $6.50 to send it priority to her location! Argh! ---
**Author:** ![Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5fc32e/32.png) [@Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bad_News_Baboon)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2003, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-mild-little-ebay-rant/212794/30 "2003-11-14T20:08:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mangetout \* > \*\*Isn’t this technically against the eBay rules? \*\* As far as I know, the answer is no as long as the item is a relist. When you relist the item, it gives you the option to change the price, etc. I know you can also add stuff to an auction as it is in progress. For example, you can clarify what you wrote as a description. I don’t know, however, if you can physically change the price during an auction. I don’t think you can, but I have never tried. ---
**Author:** ![Wyatt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b19c9b/32.png) [@Wyatt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wyatt)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2003, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-mild-little-ebay-rant/212794/31 "2003-11-14T20:30:53Z")
I’ve seen the ‘feed back’ hostage crap, too. Never thought of posting feedback listing their obnoxious business practices … great suggestion! ---
**Author:** ![Delly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/85f322/32.png) [@Delly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Delly)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2003, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-mild-little-ebay-rant/212794/32 "2003-11-15T00:23:48Z")
Ive had the same thing happen regarding the feedback, Ive only bought maybe 20 or 30 things but there are only 5 posts in my feedback because I get those emails too. Doesnt bother me really. What does bother me is “We Ship Worldwide” so I email the Seller, “Hi whats the shipping Quota for Ireland?” “Im sorry we dont ship to Ireland” What the F\*CK??? Idiots! ---
**Author:** ![Catamount](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/catamount/32/2840_2.png) [@Catamount](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catamount)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2003, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-mild-little-ebay-rant/212794/33 "2003-11-16T20:21:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jurhael \* > \*\*Maybe the system could be like Amazon, where only the buyer leaves feedback. Heh \*\* Actually sellers can leave feedback on Amazon as well. Most don’t unless the buyer was really unreasonable or painted their house for them. I don’t. What can I say? “This person bought my book. Yay for them.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-mild-little-ebay-rant/212794.md?page=1)