Over the last two months, I’ve shopped like crazy on eBay. My partner makes fun of me and claims that our local post office had to expand their service because of me. With so much eBaying, from all parts of the world, plus several “adoptions” at misc. forums, you’d expect there to be items lost or perhaps broken in the mail, but this has yet to happen. I’ve also managed to steer clear of scammers and frauds – until now, that is..
I’ve come across one of several eBay stores which picks action figure and Barbie boxes apart, selling each single accessory, the outfits and the nude dolls (even heads and bodies!) separately. Awesome, as far as I’m regarded, because I don’t want to shell out a couple of hundreds on a “rare” action figure (google “war journalist action figure”..) just to get hold of a snazzy SLR for my dolls. My first round of shopping with this shop was just for clothes, though. I won four mix’n'match outfits, three coats, and a bag, on BIN. When the package arrived, they’d thrown in three small bags of multicolored Barbie shoes (wedges and pumps in “jellies” style), a “princess” gown in turquoise and pink, an extra outfit (vest, top, mini skirt) and an extra bag. Pretty neat, huh? Problem is, some of the items I actually paid for were missing, and childish Barbie stuff won’t really make up for that… I wanted the outfit below because of the jeans; my girls love straight legged, classy jeans:
In stead I got a pair of wide legged, _really_ flared, and horribly ripped (!) jeans.. There were rips all the way down the front of each leg, perhaps ten rips on each, kind of like these, but with wider legs (premade rips and not accidentally ruined, but definitely not my dolls’ style!).
The pic also shows the bag I originally ordered, and although I’m not that annoyed by getting that one replaced (the two (!) replacement bags were kind of neat), it’s just the principle of it that annoys me. When you have BIN auctions, at least make sure that the items you offer up are in stock..! I wonder what was up with those extras added, because they were nothing like the style of the items I purchased – I ordered classy clothes and boots, and the extras (shoes, dress and outfit) were kids’ stuff by both colour and style measurements. Did they really think that I would just shrug it off and be happy with what I got?
Well, I didn’t, I messaged them straight away, pointing out the missing bag (at the time I didn’t realize that the two other bags were replacements, because two of the coats were “dressed” with them) as well as the replaced jeans. After two days (!) I got a reply, apologizing for the missing bag, asking me to pick an item from their store of a value of $1 (!) which then would be shipped me for free. No mention of the jeans. I messaged them again – this time, the reply didn’t take as long, and they removed the dollar limit, again asking me to pick a replacement from their store.
I couldn’t find an outfit which appealed to me – I really wanted those jeans, dammit – but found these:
With some tape added to those pins, don’t you reckon one of my boys could use those? They’re “movable” – I guess that means posable (they’re only two hands, though shown in different poses). They’re $6.99 and I don’t know yet if they will be accepted as my refund gift – the two items I am displeased about were only a dollar each. I’ll definitely let you know. ;)
My main reason for writing this is: what do I do now in regards to feedback? I’ve given feedback for all the other items in that shipment, positive for each and with a thank you for the extras added (although I didn’t like them, heh…). The two remaining items – outfit and bag – have not yet been FB’ed. What would you do? Leave positive feedback and write how the wrong items arrived and that I got “refunded” in means of replacement items? Leave negative feedback because I didn’t get what I actually purchased? I mean, this is dollar items we’re talking about here, but I want to be sure about getting what I am paying for no matter how much the store owner wants for them. Plus, the shipping cost was not really cheap (it was more than the total value of my order), so I shouldn’t feel too silly about this.
Doll collector since the summer of 2008, never really played with dolls as a kid. Discovered Blythe and Pullip... (
Wow, that really sucks ! I think I would personally give them negative feedback.
I just feel like you should have gotten what you ordered and a refund doesn’t really make that better/ok. I guess it would depend on how they responded to me. Did they genuinely sound sorry, were they polite, etc.
But I’d also wonder if they really couldn’t care less, and if they’d do it again to someone else. I think it’s kinda the buyer’s responsibility to warn others just in case.
I’m sorry you had such a bad experience. :( I’ve had a few of my own on Ebay over the years and boy does it suck ! -_-
Oh – do they have any negative feedback already ? If they don’t have any then if it were me, I’d probably consider that maybe it really was a big and honest mistake and do the positive feedback but definitely mention the mistake. :)
They’re a power seller store, 136 negs over the last 12 months out of a total of nearly 20K. A quick look in toolhaus.org reveals that the negs and neutrals quite often are about the same thing – item not the same as pictured…
I just learned that I will get those hands. Now, do I leave neutral or positive feedback?
Ugh, that sucks that it apparently happens somewhat often. :\ Maybe they should replace some of that power-selling with a bit more quality transactions. >_>
A $6.99 item in place of $2 worth of not-gotten items, right ? That’s pretty nice, actually, I guess. Maybe because of that a neutral detailing how they screwed up would be ok. As long as they were polite with you about their mistake and all that, of course. I have a thing with rude people, especially with stuff like this. XD I forgot that neutral feedback is an option !
I hope you find a similar pair of jeans to replace the ones you wanted soon. :)
I would just be honest with the feedback.
If you’re satisfied, then it was an overall positive experience – I’d still mention the mix up and how it was resolved just to let other people know.
If you’re kind of meh about it, I’d leave neutral and mention the mix up.
If you’re upset by what happened and still not really happy with the result, leave negative feedback.
:D
also a sidenote: I don’t think that the item pricing for the replacements can really be weighed. The seller still makes a profit and you’re still out the money and items you wanted.
something else to add…
You may want to go and check those profiles of the people that left negative feedback and see how the shop owner responded to it. Don’t want to tarnish up your own feedback as a result of the feedback you leave for them. :D
I think your advice is a good idea, the judging by how you feel about the whole experience thing.
God, I remember the time I ordered something, it didn’t come for months (with no good explanation/reason), I talked to the seller through email and IM and they were awful, I left negative feedback, and then THEY left negative feedback about ME.
>_<
I don’t believe sellers can leave negative feedback anymore – it’s either positive or none at all. Not sure.
That’s definitely good to know ! This was probably about.. wow. 5 years ago ? Something like that.