eBay literally stabbed me in the back! (1 Viewer)

[MarkeytMaker]

Before I begin let it be known I understand the importance of being extra polite to people who are in charge of your account. From the beginning to the end I acted calm, patient and professional.

A month ago I noticed my eBay seller performance was going down...so I called eBay and we discovered that when I couldn't complete a transaction I should have been selecting "buyer requests to cancel order" vs. "seller requests to cancel." What would happen is I would create a listing for a key for a toolbox (clearly stating)...code CH1 thru CH 501...if your code is between CH1 to CH501 then this auction is for you! Then when the auction ends the buyer would say his code was ZX8790. The listing wasn't for ZX8790 so it wasn't even an order I could fulfill. I would then have to cancel the auction since they were asking for something I wasn't offering. This happened (19) times actually but I never knew at the time it was digging me a hole. Anyways...the difficult part is the buyer's technically never asked to cancel the auctions, so I felt the best selection without offending them between the two choices offered on eBay for canceling an auction was to select "seller requests to cancel" vs. "buyer requests to cancel." I had no idea by selecting this choice it would effect my seller performance. I never got a pop up warning sign saying, "hey Mark you shouldn't be selecting this choice because it's going to negatively effect your performance!" It was making me look like I was selling things and not able to deliver (as if I were out of stock) The man I spoke with at eBay a month ago concluded the selection I was making was the "only" reason for my lower performance level. Now a month goes by and I'm completely aware of what had created the issue so I'm not doing it anymore. Fast forward a month...my account gets restricted today! I call eBay and again they say it was caused by the canceled transactions I did in the past. Today I explain to the guy at eBay that the issue was discovered a month ago and I know "not" to make the wrong selection anymore...and, I don't even list auctions with numbers anymore to prevent further issues...so why the restriction all of of a sudden today I ask? He says they review the cases monthly and I won't be able to sell again until the 20th. I ask to speak to a someone higher and the next guy sounds real sympathetic and sounds as if he can help restore my account so I can start selling again. Upon finishing up our conversation he said he had no control to lift the resrtiction but I could talk to the account people in charge of that. The next guy I speak with concludes "he understands" but unfortunately I caused damage to ebay and the listings I created that I couldn't fulfill orders on created an environment where eBay lost potential customers and revenue. He said we have we have already decided to cut ties with you to prevent further damage.

OK...really!!! I'm so in dis-belief that it went from not selling again until the 20th to we already decided to cut ties with you to prevent further damage!!!

Never once did I create a listing to deceive or be dishonest...the customers were "SIMPLY" asking after the auction for something that wasn't part of the auction...PERIOD!

I've heard of some dandy eBay stories but my goodness this to me is offensive, unethical and unprofessional.

Member since 1997 100% Feedback!

TODAY...BANNED!!!

This is real hard to accept...as hard as it is, it's unimaginable that as much effort as I put into doing the best job possible for 20 years, they conclude I'm no longer good for them! Something that wasn't even in my control at that! I honestly think eBay no longer has a chance to survive...with that said I'll consider a large short position in eBay!

 

[Al Fisher]

My sympathies . . . there is no doubt that evilBay sets the rules and interprets them as they wish and to their benefit.

My gripe is with the USPS . . . who is equally adept at arbitrarily interpreting the rules. An item was sent while I was on vacation and while a mail hold was in place. It was delivered to my front door and probably left in plain sight as was the custom at the time. (At least I've been able to get them to put parcels out of sight since then.) When I came home, the package was nowhere to be seen, so I contacted USPS. First they said they'd have to canvass my neighbors, then I was told to file a claim with eBay, then it was "Oh it's our fault; we'll pay you in full" so put in a claim. Then after a six-month wait it was "Oh, the package wasn't insured so we can't pay you anything". It wasn't the loss of slightly over $100 that was annoying, it was the way they handled the whole thing.

Seems that it's always the little guy that ends up with the short end of the stick . . .

Bosun Al

 

[MarkeytMaker]

Al,

I'm so fed up with big companies being able to right off individuals because of their size...I'd still be on eBay if they were starting off...oh wait...I was one of the first when they did start off. I didn't even get a thank you and I know exactly why!!!

 

[pugio]

Before I begin let it be known I understand the importance of being extra polite to people who are in charge of your account. From the beginning to the end I acted calm, patient and professional.

A month ago I noticed my eBay seller performance was going down...so I called eBay and we discovered that when I couldn't complete a transaction I should have been selecting "buyer requests to cancel order" vs. "seller requests to cancel." What would happen is I would create a listing for a key for a toolbox (clearly stating)...code CH1 thru CH 501...if your code is between CH1 to CH501 then this auction is for you! Then when the auction ends the buyer would say his code was ZX8790. The listing wasn't for ZX8790 so it wasn't even an order I could fulfill. I would then have to cancel the auction since they were asking for something I wasn't offering. This happened (19) times actually but I never knew at the time it was digging me a hole. Anyways...the difficult part is the buyer's technically never asked to cancel the auctions, so I felt the best selection without offending them between the two choices offered on eBay for canceling an auction was to select "seller requests to cancel" vs. "buyer requests to cancel." I had no idea by selecting this choice it would effect my seller performance. I never got a pop up warning sign saying, "hey Mark you shouldn't be selecting this choice because it's going to negatively effect your performance!" It was making me look like I was selling things and not able to deliver (as if I were out of stock) The man I spoke with at eBay a month ago concluded the selection I was making was the "only" reason for my lower performance level. Now a month goes by and I'm completely aware of what had created the issue so I'm not doing it anymore. Fast forward a month...my account gets restricted today! I call eBay and again they say it was caused by the canceled transactions I did in the past. Today I explain to the guy at eBay that the issue was discovered a month ago and I know "not" to make the wrong selection anymore...and, I don't even list auctions with numbers anymore to prevent further issues...so why the restriction all of of a sudden today I ask? He says they review the cases monthly and I won't be able to sell again until the 20th. I ask to speak to a someone higher and the next guy sounds real sympathetic and sounds as if he can help restore my account so I can start selling again. Upon finishing up our conversation he said he had no control to lift the resrtiction but I could talk to the account people in charge of that. The next guy I speak with concludes "he understands" but unfortunately I caused damage to ebay and the listings I created that I couldn't fulfill orders on created an environment where eBay lost potential customers and revenue. He said we have we have already decided to cut ties with you to prevent further damage.

OK...really!!! I'm so in dis-belief that it went from not selling again until the 20th to we already decided to cut ties with you to prevent further damage!!!

Never once did I create a listing to deceive or be dishonest...the customers were "SIMPLY" asking after the auction for something that wasn't part of the auction...PERIOD!

I've heard of some dandy eBay stories but my goodness this to me is offensive, unethical and unprofessional.

Member since 1997 100% Feedback!

TODAY...BANNED!!!

This is real hard to accept...as hard as it is, it's unimaginable that as much effort as I put into doing the best job possible for 20 years, they conclude I'm no longer good for them! Something that wasn't even in my control at that! I honestly think eBay no longer has a chance to survive...with that said I'll consider a large short position in eBay!

I was banned from E-Bay many, many, years ago. Up until then, I bought and sold many items, hundreds probably. Then out of the blue I was told that I owed $140 on my account. I had no idea of what they were talking about and NEITHER DID THEY! But they insisted that I pay it. Not being as pleasant as you, I told them were to go, bingo banned for life.... I found other outlets for selling my soldiers, cap guns, trains etc.. Also, many E-Bay sellers have actual phone numbers listed, so if I wanted an item, I called and made a deal if possible. Remember, there is life after EVILBAY....

 

[BLReed]

eBay is a big company made up 162 million Users, 25 million Sellers that does $82 billion in gross merchandise sales annually.
So many little people make up that big company. Plus 12.000 employees Tough riding herd on that group. I'm just glad I have
sufficient income that I don't have to nickle and dime it on eBay to pay my bills. I can imagine how many people survived during
the recession thanks to eBay.

USPS handles over 700 million pieces of mail daily. With over 490 million employees.

Every once in a while a little guy screws up.

 

[MarkeytMaker]

I was banned from E-Bay many, many, years ago. Up until then, I bought and sold many items, hundreds probably. Then out of the blue I was told that I owed $140 on my account. I had no idea of what they were talking about and NEITHER DID THEY! But they insisted that I pay it. Not being as pleasant as you, I told them were to go, bingo banned for life.... I found other outlets for selling my soldiers, cap guns, trains etc.. Also, many E-Bay sellers have actual phone numbers listed, so if I wanted an item, I called and made a deal if possible. Remember, there is life after EVILBAY....

I read the email again today mostly because I'm still in disbelief I was banned for selecting the wrong choice on who is requesting the return...even so after they themselves claim it could easily be selected as a wrong choice by misunderstanding the correct choice. I'm really in disbelief, maybe denial is a more appropriate word that after what they know happened they couldn't straighten in out and allow me to start fresh. Their system allows users to select a multiple choice question and if you choose the wrong one...TOO BAD!!! I'm so thrilled to read..."you are no longer able to sell on eBay but your more than welcome to continue to be a buyer"

 

[Peter Reuss]

Guess I'm a bit confused...you had one listing where people could choose to purchase one item out of a range of items? Were they auctions or fixed price listings? Usually a listing is for one specific thing (or variations i.e. sizes of shirts). Haven't seen any listings with many things in the same listing.

Perhaps I'm misunderstanding...

 

[Toy Soldier Brigade]

Guess I'm a bit confused...you had one listing where people could choose to purchase one item out of a range of items? Were they auctions or fixed price listings? Usually a listing is for one specific thing (or variations i.e. sizes of shirts). Haven't seen any listings with many things in the same listing.

Perhaps I'm misunderstanding...

Glad I'm not the only one. I thought I was missing something. Just open a new account. That's what everyone else does.

 

[jazzeum]

Same here. eBay is in the money making business so I sense there is something else going on here. Your feedback is 100% so something doesn't add up in this little drama.

 

[MarkeytMaker]

Guess I'm a bit confused...you had one listing where people could choose to purchase one item out of a range of items? Were they auctions or fixed price listings? Usually a listing is for one specific thing (or variations i.e. sizes of shirts). Haven't seen any listings with many things in the same listing.

Perhaps I'm misunderstanding...

Peter...I typed you out a large response earlier...when I returned from doing other things and submitted it, I was logged out and my response was deleted/lost...sheesh!

 

[Baymax]

Just open another account.

 

[MarkeytMaker]

Glad I'm not the only one. I thought I was missing something. Just open a new account. That's what everyone else does.

What the heck are they doing?...curious how long you were a member and your feedback score? For me I was a member since 1997 and 100% feedback.

 

[Toy Soldier Brigade]

I've actually had two accounts. My first was in 1997. As far as I know it's still open haven't used it for years. I stopped using it because I wanted a new member name that better represented what I was selling. I have been using my current account since 2000. Feedback is currently 99.5% only because I had a nut job last year who felt he needed to leave me eight negative feedbacks because I sent him extra items in his order. Yes you read right, I sent him more items than he paid for and he complained. This is one of the reasons that potential new members need to take an IQ test before they can open an account.

Do yourself a favor. Avoid eBay at all costs. Start your own site and use the resources to promote your own business. eBay does not care about you. They only care about the stockholder. Every decision they make is to that end. Sellers have very few rights left. eBay has the attitude that they are your business partner, and you pay to work for them. They make decisions that effect your business and bank account without even consulting you first. I have had my share of issues with them. Good luck with their third world customer service. They have also been accused of playing games with their out dated search engine. Steering people to smaller sellers so they can even the playing field. Hence one week you have strong sales the next week not so much. Their site technology is also about a decade behind everyone else.

Also never be mister nice guy on the phone with them. I was always taught never let people walk on you when your in the right. They're are many new curse words now being used in India because of my interactions with eBay customer service

 

[joesgis]

Mark,
This takes the cake for the most ridiculous ebay story I have ever heard. I'm sorry to hear this happened to you. It's just so grossly unjust. And how it went from a suspension to a complete severing of ties without even any warning whatsoever is just hard to fathom/accept.
I'm just really disappointed in ebay's ridiculous actions, especially when it's entirely logical what occurred, and on top of that you are a long time customer with 100% feedback! I don't know how they can function treating people like this. Ebay used to be a fun, good thing. But it has run its course and is too big for its britches anymore. I hope they fold.

Joe

 

[joesgis]

My sympathies . . . there is no doubt that evilBay sets the rules and interprets them as they wish and to their benefit.

My gripe is with the USPS . . . who is equally adept at arbitrarily interpreting the rules. An item was sent while I was on vacation and while a mail hold was in place. It was delivered to my front door and probably left in plain sight as was the custom at the time. (At least I've been able to get them to put parcels out of sight since then.) When I came home, the package was nowhere to be seen, so I contacted USPS. First they said they'd have to canvass my neighbors, then I was told to file a claim with eBay, then it was "Oh it's our fault; we'll pay you in full" so put in a claim. Then after a six-month wait it was "Oh, the package wasn't insured so we can't pay you anything". It wasn't the loss of slightly over $100 that was annoying, it was the way they handled the whole thing.

Seems that it's always the little guy that ends up with the short end of the stick . . .

Bosun Al

I'm sorry to hear of you troubles with USPS Al. The US mail system has seriously deteriorated in my area as well. I used to think for a gov't agency it was run pretty well, but those days are looooonnnng gone, at least in SoCal. I've had voluminous negative experiences of a surprising variety w/ USPS since they've gone to obamacare cost saving measures of using part timers. Gone are the days when you'd have a reliable, familiar mail carrier on your route. It is an absolute joke what USPS has become, and the worst part is the don't care and do nothing to fix it. This is what happens in what we're becoming, a non-merit based, entitled society.
Joe

 

[MarkeytMaker]

Mark,
This takes the cake for the most ridiculous ebay story I have ever heard. I'm sorry to hear this happened to you. It's just so grossly unjust. And how it went from a suspension to a complete severing of ties without even any warning whatsoever is just hard to fathom/accept.
I'm just really disappointed in ebay's ridiculous actions, especially when it's entirely logical what occurred, and on top of that you are a long time customer with 100% feedback! I don't know how they can function treating people like this. Ebay used to be a fun, good thing. But it has run its course and is too big for its britches anymore. I hope they fold.

Joe

I was seriously considering shorting eBay's stock based just on my ordeal...LOL! Good thing I didn't because their earnings report was positive...go figure!!!

 

[kilted vampire]

Kharma

 

[PanzerAce1944]

I quit selling with E-Bay last year ! I had 100% positive feedback, became a Top Rated seller, and all of a sudden my listings wound up in the last 3 pages of my selling category that had
5,500 items listed and over 27 pages with 200 items per page selected. I called them 3 times asking why as a top rated seller my listings had very low visibility ! I realize there is the advanced
search feature but how many of us like to search page by page, when time permits ? Many of us !!! They were also screwing me with their "Defect Rate" as 2 knuckle heads opened up inquiries as
to where their boxes were, when Tracking info showed....DELIVERED ! The replies were....Oh sorry my wife grabbed it and stuck it in the closet, or....Oooops my neighbor had it ! Really.
Thus the defect rate should have been restored due to buyer stupidity on their part. E-Bay seems to have a habit of mistreating experienced, trusted sellers to no end !

Wayne

 

[MarkeytMaker]

Wayne...I had someone say 2 days after buying something they realized they ordered the wrong thing and would prefer I didnt ship the item...of course I had already shipped the item. Then they claimed a return because of the item being defective.

 

[gk5717]

I have actually sold everything, at least for now, that I want to sell. And guess what? It's so great to not have to dread checking emails and seeing that dreaded message from ebay. Knowing full well something you sold now is a problem.
Gary