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Saturday, May 19, 2012

Build a Bear


I made another big Facebook purchase yesterday. I was just saying on the eBay Underground forum that sometimes you have to be willing to shell out big bucks in order to make bigger bucks. It's very nice to find something at a yard sale or thrift store for a buck or two and flip it into $25-30. But sometimes it's exciting to spend $100 and flip it into $400. That's what I'm hoping this one will do.

I bought a big BABW lot yesterday. It included an inflatable chair, 4 Build a Bear plush, a Build a Bear girl (Friend 2B, which I've never heard of), 5 Friend 2B outfits, and 26 Build a Bear outfits. I paid $100 for them, which is probably a little more than I should have. But even if I sell the outfits for only $9.99 each, that's $310 on just the outfits. The couch won't get me much. The plush aren't just bears, so I'm hoping I'll do already with them. But no matter what, I expect to more than triple my money. We shall see...

Here's what I got:


I have all my pics edited and ready to go, but it's late and I do NOT feel like starting with the listing. I'll work on that tomorrow. As with all my bulk purchases like this, I will post back anytime I sell something!

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I am not running a sale right now, and I haven't listed all week, and my sales have died again. Truly. I sold 3 jars of shoe cream yesterday for a whopping $8.75. That's it. Today? A hairpiece and another jar of shoe cream. It is becoming more and more obvious to me that I bring these slow spells on myself. I neglect eBay? eBay neglects me. lol. All joking aside, it really is that simple. If you just keep listing, you'll see the sales come in. I have bought a lot of stuff over the past couple weeks. Great stuff! I just need to take a few minutes and get them listed.

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Complaints seem to come in clumps for me. Remember the buyer with the silver paint on the shoes? That was #1. I got another message from a buyer whose shirt doesn't fit, so he wants to return it. No problem. I have a 14-day return policy. And he was very nice about it. That was #2. But #3? Yikes. Crazy lady!

Here's the listing in question:


I have highlighted the important part in blue.  The first contact was this:

"No where did say that these are children shoes. I want a full refund with shipping."

That's it. So I think I laughed and said to myself, "What exactly does 'girls' mean?" Then I double-checked the listing to see if I provided measurements, and sure enough.  7 5/8" sole length. Can you picture that? That's pretty small, right? So I gave myself the luxury of composing (in my head only) all the replies I wanted  to send her. But, I am a professional. So I didn't put any of them in writing. Instead, I said this:

The title and the item description both clearly state that these are girls' slippers/boots. I also included the sole length, which is 7 5/8". Reading my description, there should have been no doubt that these are girls' slippers/boots. If you wish to return them, you may do so by sending them back to me within 7 days to:

Jessica
Address
City, Street

Once I have received them back in their original condition (still attached to the card), I will refund you your original purchase price of $9.38.

Jessica

Silly me, I thought that would be the end of it.  But no. It's never that easy. Her response:

Well most put small, medium, or large. That's fine and as soon as the package is marked as shipped, because I will send it tomorrow, I will send a number and expect immediate refund. If not, I will use that that sent you a tracking number and open a paypal case. Thank you! :)
Because you know, small/medium/large would have clarified without a doubt that these were children's slippers. <end sarcasm>  And then she threatens to open a case against me. And then she has the audacity to smile at me???   So I replied:

I included the size that was on the slipper - girls 11/12. There is no need to threaten a case. I will stand by my word and issue your refund as promised. As evidenced by my feedback, I am an exemplary businessperson and would never risk that. I assure you your refund will be issued immediately upon receipt of the package, provided it is still in its original condition.

to which she replied:

No. If I send a tracking number to prove it is sent, I want my money back. If anything happens in the shipment process that is the post office problem. I paid you before I got my product without anything, but the tracking number.
At this point, I called eBay. Obviously,  I'm not going to refund her until I've received the item back. But I wanted to be able to tell her that eBay SAID SO. The customer service rep read over our exchange and actually LAUGHED. She said, "Of course you don't refund until you get her item back. Blame us. Tell her that it is eBay's policy."  So I did. I replied:

I just spoke to an eBay customer service representative. She read through our correspondence and pointed out that it is THEIR policy that sellers not refund until they have received the item back. Customer satisfaction is very important to me, and I am definitely willing to work with you and refund you your $9.38 as previously promised, but I do have to abide by eBay's policy of waiting until I have received the item back. Thank you for your understanding.

to which she replied:
Well I hope you receive it, because if not it will be your head. Thank you and it will be sent back.

And on that note, I wish you all a good night!

12 comments:

  1. Could you send her ebay user ID so we can block this "person"? I would REALLY appreciate it! Cathy

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    1. I won't post it publicly here, but anyone who wants it can contact me through the "Email Me" link at the top of my blog and I will be glad to share that.

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  2. I know it's annoying but I laughed out loud at "it will be your head" and then you're picture!

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    1. Oh yes! I laugh out loud every time I read it or tell the story! It's just such a ridiculous threat. I can't help but belly laugh :)

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  3. What a piece of work! She must not have anything better to do with her time. I don't get how people cannot take the time to read a quick description of any item - ridiculous! Glad you got ebay on your side!

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  4. "..it will be your head." OMG!

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  5. Be thankful that you are an educated, rational/logical person with good people skills. Not everyone is so blessed. That definitely was good for a chuckle, and cheap entertainment. I bet you can't wait to see what condition the slippers are in.

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  6. People are crazy! I wonder if she threatens people in real life like that or if it just the anonymity of the internet.

    I have a question, what happens if the items is not returned on the card? I have stated in my listings that items must be returned in the same condition as they were sold but I always wondered what would happen if they weren't. I worry about something being returned in a condition that would make it unsellable again or if I sold something new and it was returned out of the packaging/without tags, etc. which would make it less valuable. What happens then?

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  7. Thanks everyone. Kate, yes I know I have been blessed with rationality and people skills. I sometimes forget that not everyone has been. I try hard to be patient with people, but that patience only lasts until they threaten to chop off my head. Lol!

    Jennifer, if that happens, I will not refund her. I have a sneaking suspicion that I have a negative heading my way with this one no matter how I handle it. If she sends them back unsellable, I will NOT refund her. If she negs me, I'll just reply to the feedback...

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  8. What a great laugh that gave me.."it's on your head" lol! You'd think they were a pair of $700+ red bottomed shoes. Give them to a little girl and keep it moving, sheesh! Anyway, great lesson in dealing with the difficult.

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  9. and she wanted to wear Hello Kitty slippers???
    Lisa

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