Book Dealers-eBay sellers-dt.org buyers/sellers/ to Avoid like the Corona Virus

[jhanic]

I think you are completely right in that, tippy!

(Sorry the book got messed up.)

John

[JRM]

I never buy from Ebay and I only buy from REALLY popular and good rated sellers from Amazon. I mostly stick to Craigslist. Lol. We meet, we exchange cash for books, we're done.

In fact, I've gotten most of my Stephen King books from Craigslist (about 30) -- all hardcover -- for $5 each, at most. Gotta love bargain shopping. But shopping online usually scares me away.

[Room 217 Caretaker]

I never buy from Ebay and I only buy from REALLY popular and good rated sellers from Amazon. I mostly stick to Craigslist. Lol. We meet, we exchange cash for books, we're done.

In fact, I've gotten most of my Stephen King books from Craigslist (about 30) -- all hardcover -- for $5 each, at most. Gotta love bargain shopping. But shopping online usually scares me away.

JRM

You are really limiting yourself by not using Ebay. To every bad seller (I've met a couple in my time) you will find 1000 good ones including everyone on dt.com

I've had issues with high rated sellers at Amazon, Abebooks, etc. Shoot, Amazon themselves have a lot to be desired when it comes to packing.

Ratings don't really mean that much. I always try to strike up a conversation through contact to get a feel for the person before bidding if at all possible. Of course, buy it now on a quick sale item won't give me that option but that is the chance I take if I want the item before it disappears.

Tippy has every right to be mad, especially since he gave instructions and why. I think bubble wrap and box should be a requirement on ALL shipping from Ebay. Now the real test for the seller, will he respond with an apology and offer a refund or will he argue, or worse, no communications at all. If he argues or won't communicate, the wrath of dt.com will be on his head (it's worse than Captain Trips)

Honestly JRM, I would rather take my chances with Ebay over meeting people off Craiglist. You could be setting yourself up for a meeting with the Dark Man himself.

All the above is my opinions of course.

Mulleins
Cumberland VA

[carlosdetweiller]

I've certainly been on the receiving end of some pretty bad packing and have had items banged up as a result. And I sympathize with tippy4 in this instance. I'm sorry your book got bumped.

However, to play the devil's advocate, I would say that special packaging requests should be discussed before the auction is over.....not after.

One of the things I often forget is that 99% of sellers on eBay are rank amateurs. There is no screening process to be a seller on eBay. Anyone can do it and they do. The seller may have the book already packed up poorly and ready to have a shipping label stuck on it prior to the end of auction. If that were the case and some buyer e-mailed me with his shipping wish list after the auction was over I would probably be a bit irritated.

I usually (but not always) contact the seller as soon as I see something I plan to bid on and ask him about packaging, timeliness, etc. before I bid. I wish I would always do it but I don't. Maybe some food for thought.

[tippy4]

Agreed. Really no excuse for poor packaging.

Newby sellers can claim they didn't know better, and they probably don't - but any time spent on eBay will make most sellers with common sense WANT to pack things well in boxes.

Either way, with the message you sent, it should have been done.

This seller is not a newbie and has over 6,000 feedbacks....all positive.

However, to play the devil's advocate, I would say that special packaging requests should be discussed before the auction is over.....not after.

That is just not realistic as I win less than 10% of the auctions I bid on. I would be wasting HUGE amounts of time.

HOWEVER, I think that on all future won auctions, I will send my packing requirements over BEFORE I send payment, and tell the seller that once he/she agrees to my terms, I will send over payment.

Tippy has every right to be mad, especially since he gave instructions and why. I think bubble wrap and box should be a requirement on ALL shipping from Ebay. Now the real test for the seller, will he respond with an apology and offer a refund or will he argue, or worse, no communications at all. If he argues or won't communicate, the wrath of dt.com will be on his head (it's worse than Captain Trips)

The seller did apologize, and did offer my money back...but that is not good enough. I am not going to waste my time packing the book up, going to the post office and writing several emails just to be back to the point I was before the sale took place.

About the only thing that would make me a truly satisfied customer at this point would be if the seller had another copy that he could send me...covered the postage cost for me to send back the damaged book, and compensated me for my time spent on this fiasco.

[Rahfa]

Uh...once you bid and win on an item, you've lost that right to negotiate shipping terms not explained in the listing...you can suggest, but you can't demand.

You gotta email before the listing ends...or like you said, you can demand a refund later, and get justifiably annoyed. Part of the buyer's responsibility is to get this taken care of BEFORE buying the item...sorry...

You have the right to demand a refund, of course...but this could have been solved beforehand.

You're a seller just like me, and if any buyer - after the auction ended - came up with new shipping demands, etc., I would absoutely, 100 percent not ship the item, and cancel the auction because of bidder nonpayment.

[Fsmdr]

Most likely, the seller did not even read the email on packaging that Tippy sent him. I do avoid buying from large volume sellers. They are so busy filling their orders that emails often goes unanswered or I am guessing unread.

I also sent packaging instruction. Usually right after I sent in payment. Most of the individual sellers acknowledge the email and shipped in in the requested packaging.

I did purchase 4 collectible books this month from the UK through a private transaction. It was also my fault that I did not request it be packed in a box (who would ship hardcovers overseas in a bubble mailer?!). I guess some people do.....and as a result of the bubble mailer, 2 of the books got bumped. But the seller was extremely professional and offered to reship me the 2 books at no charge.

I feel for you Tippy, I would have been just as upset.

[Fsmdr]

You're a seller just like me, and if any buyer - after the auction ended - came up with new shipping demands, etc., I would absoutely, 100 percent not ship the item, and cancel the auction because of bidder nonpayment.

Just my opinion, of course. I think had the request have been to ship the item in a different carrier or speed than what the buyer had paid for would be to me, an unreasonable shipping demand. However, if the buyer politely request a reasonable packaging that I can provide easily, I see no reason to fulfil their request. But you would have replied a yes or no to the request anyway, or cancel the auction as you said and that is what is lacking in Tippy's case.

[Rahfa]

You're a seller just like me, and if any buyer - after the auction ended - came up with new shipping demands, etc., I would absoutely, 100 percent not ship the item, and cancel the auction because of bidder nonpayment.

Just my opinion, of course. I think had the request have been to ship the item in a different carrier or speed than what the buyer had paid for would be to me, an unreasonable shipping demand. However, if the buyer politely request a reasonable packaging that I can provide easily, I see no reason to fulfil their request. But you would have replied a yes or no to the request anyway, or cancel the auction as you said and that is what is lacking in Tippy's case.

Yeah, you're right - my view isn't as extreme as I made it sound...(you meant 'not fulfill their request,' I assume).

Basically, though, if an auction ends and I have a winner, and that winner says "I'm only paying once you acknowledge that you are shipping in such-and-such a way," then I'd be seriously put off...

Would I cancel the auction? Now that I think about it, probably not. I'd be annoyed, and wonder "why didn't this lazy buyer take two minutes to confirm this with me before bidding?"

[Randall Flagg]

The seller did apologize, and did offer my money back...but that is not good enough.....

I think that is a fair offer.
If you go to (or order from) Sears, and are dissatisfied with the item; then receive a refund offer, to ask for more is punitive. You just can't expect reimbursement for travel time, frustration etc. Particularly from a private seller, in a likely one time transaction.
I hear and understand your frustration, but I don't see you as suffering any damage-tort. (The book was the only thing that was hurt.)
At least you have a place (www.thedarktower.org), to come and vent.

[tippy4]

Uh...once you bid and win on an item, you've lost that right to negotiate shipping terms not explained in the listing...you can suggest, but you can't demand.

You gotta email before the listing ends...or like you said, you can demand a refund later, and get justifiably annoyed. Part of the buyer's responsibility is to get this taken care of BEFORE buying the item...sorry...

You have the right to demand a refund, of course...but this could have been solved beforehand.

You're a seller just like me, and if any buyer - after the auction ended - came up with new shipping demands, etc., I would absoutely, 100 percent not ship the item, and cancel the auction because of bidder nonpayment.

Rahfa...one of the few times we have disagreed.

I have the right to expect safe delivery of my merchandise.

I did not make any odd or unusual requests such as demanding that the book be shipped in a purple box with a green bow on top. I just wanted my somewhat expensive item shipped safely.

Bottom line, the seller should have either followed my requests, and if not willing to do so, should have let me know and given me the right to cancel the transaction. He could get a final value fee refund from ebay, and I would have gladly paid his listing fee to avoid the frustration.

(I see that you already sort of eased up on your position a few posts up, but just could not let your original post go by)

[demorgan]

Nothing wrong with requesting extra protection for your purchase...or asking for a book to be packed in a certain way..especially a medium to high value item. Ive been asked many times and had no problem explaining how the book would be packed up and shipped. On the flip side....I would be grateful that the seller refunded your money without any hastle.

[Mr. Rabbit Trick]

I did not make any odd or unusual requests such as demanding that the book be shipped in a purple box with a green bow on top.

Yeah, it was a blue bow when I last sold you a book.

[Rahfa]

Uh...once you bid and win on an item, you've lost that right to negotiate shipping terms not explained in the listing...you can suggest, but you can't demand.

You gotta email before the listing ends...or like you said, you can demand a refund later, and get justifiably annoyed. Part of the buyer's responsibility is to get this taken care of BEFORE buying the item...sorry...

You have the right to demand a refund, of course...but this could have been solved beforehand.

You're a seller just like me, and if any buyer - after the auction ended - came up with new shipping demands, etc., I would absoutely, 100 percent not ship the item, and cancel the auction because of bidder nonpayment.

Rahfa...one of the few times we have disagreed.

I have the right to expect safe delivery of my merchandise.

I did not make any odd or unusual requests such as demanding that the book be shipped in a purple box with a green bow on top. I just wanted my somewhat expensive item shipped safely.

Bottom line, the seller should have either followed my requests, and if not willing to do so, should have let me know and given me the right to cancel the transaction. He could get a final value fee refund from ebay, and I would have gladly paid his listing fee to avoid the frustration.

(I see that you already sort of eased up on your position a few posts up, but just could not let your original post go by)

I agree with your general point...I think what I didn't agree with was when you said you'd send payment only after the seller agreed with your terms - after the auction was won.

Obviously, the seller should accomodate any reasonable requests, but you can't negotiate these terms after the fact...you can request, but that's all.

The final value and listing fee is incidental and irrelevant...it's a lost sale if the buyer backs out, and all this should be discussed DURING the auction.

[tippy4]

I hear your point about discussing these things before the auction ends, but like I said, I don't win most of the auctions I bid on...and would just be wasting my time (but saving myself potential frustration if I won).

Mostly, my system of sending my packing requirements after the auction ends has worked for me. This recent situation is the exception and not the rule.

[Rahfa]

I guess it all comes down to tone...if somebody emailed me - before payment - and said "hey, you're going to ship this in a padded box, right? I mean, charge me an extra buck or two if you need it, but make sure it's safe..." then I'm sure I'd be fine with that.

That would be a lot different than saying "I'm not paying until I recieve assurance that these shipping demands will be met..." (which you're not saying anyway).

So it's all in HOW it's said as much as what's said.

[tippy4]

Agreed! And I would always go with option #1.

The last thing I would want to do is be a dick to the person I want to take care in packaging my book.

[Randall Flagg]

The last thing I would want to do is be a dick to the person I want to take care in packaging my book.

Book Collecting Rule (Commandment) # 6: Do not be a 'Dick' to the person packaging and shipping your book.

Just trying a little humor, but it does give me an idea for a thread with the 'Ten Commandments" of book collecting.

[Cujo56]

The last thing I would want to do is be a dick to the person I want to take care in packaging my book.

Book Collecting Rule (Commandment) # 6: Do not be a 'Dick' to the person packaging and shipping your book.

Just trying a little humor, but it does give me an idea for a thread with the 'Ten Commandments" of book collecting.

I like it!

[carlosdetweiller]

Just trying a little humor, but it does give me an idea for a thread with the 'Ten Commandments" of book collecting.

Rule #1 - NEVER prepay for a book being published by Cemetery Dance.

[Dolso]

[quote=Cujo56;511537][quote=Randall Flagg;511536]

The last thing I would want to do is be a dick to the person I want to take care in packaging my book.

Book Collecting Rule (Commandment) # 6: Do not be a 'Dick' to the person packaging and shipping your book.


Hey~~~I resemble that remark! Alright! alright! But, really, I just can't help it!

Dick

[Brice]

Just trying a little humor, but it does give me an idea for a thread with the 'Ten Commandments" of book collecting.

Rule #1 - NEVER prepay for a book being published by Cemetery Dance.

This should be on a plaque or something hanging in every book collector's home.


Jerome, I really like that thread idea.

[Mr. Rabbit Trick]

Just trying a little humor, but it does give me an idea for a thread with the 'Ten Commandments" of book collecting.

Commandment # 1

Thou shalt not covet carlosdetweiller's collection!

[Room 217 Caretaker]

Just trying a little humor, but it does give me an idea for a thread with the 'Ten Commandments" of book collecting.

Commandment # 1

Thou shalt not covet carlosdetweiller's collection!

oop's I'm doomed

Mulleins
Cumberland VA

[Brice]

We might all be doomed if we make that a rule.