topic Re: Why do some clothes sellers do this! in Buying

Why do some clothes sellers do this!

ginger_ice_cream — Mon, 05 Jan 2015 07:20:09 GMT

Another listing for an article of clothing just now where the seller has provided the measurements in inches.

This is Australia, not the USA. We don't think or talk in inches in Australia. Yes, I know that an inch is 2.5cm, but as I was taught - as an Aussie, in an Australian school, to measure and think in cms - why on earth must they do this??!! If the description says "26 inches" - I have to get my calculator out and convert it. So why not use Australian measurements - i.e. cm's???!!

Just another problem with clothing listings on ebay that needs sorting out. Yes as I mentioned in a previous thread, measurements should be mandatory - and when they are inserted into a description, the only accepted measurement should be cm. This is Australian ebay - use cm's.

On an Australian cooking site, would it be irritating if only pounds, and ounces were used for measurements as per the USA - or would we like to not have to convert everything to what we can understand.

So annoying!!!

Re: Why do some clothes sellers do this!

imastawka — Mon, 05 Jan 2015 07:25:42 GMT

I was taught in school in inches and feet and yards and bushels and pecks

and on and on.

Must be an older seller.

I still think in inches and have to convert it in my mind.

Yes, if they are selling, it should be in cms

Re: Why do some clothes sellers do this!

phorum_junkie* — Mon, 05 Jan 2015 07:43:04 GMT

As a seller I want to make sure I accommodate as many people as possible and because so many older people were indeed brought up using Imperial measurements rather than metric I give all my measurements in both. It has absolutely nothing to do with the US but rather appealing to the widest spectrum.

Re: Why do some clothes sellers do this!

lyndal1838 — Mon, 05 Jan 2015 07:45:59 GMT

I'm with you stawka....I still think in inches and feet, and ounces and lbs. Showing our age I guess.

If you are buying from overseas it is handy to know these conversions.

I solve the problem by having a 2 sided tapemeasure beside the computer...metric and imperial.

If a seller wants to sell clothes overseas as well as in Australia they really should list in both measurements.

Re: Why do some clothes sellers do this!

2106greencat — Mon, 05 Jan 2015 08:07:01 GMT

There is also a very easily accesable conversion chart.

Inches, millimetres, centimetres, at least they put a measurement.

It really isn't rocket science.

http://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CC4QFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.metric-conversions.org%2Fconverter.htm&ei=EUaqVIyqJMuB8gX71IGYDA&usg=AFQjCNEfwos2Vi3NPw4no7msZZtOoFmq9A&bvm=bv.82001339,d.dGc

Re: Why do some clothes sellers do this!

ginger_ice_cream — Mon, 05 Jan 2015 08:50:45 GMT

Yes, you're right, but that's not the point. I'm talking about sellers who only give the measurement in inches, which to the Australian seller, using the Australian ebay, buying an item for sale in Australia, therefore has to be converted to cm's by at least around 50% of their potential customers. You give both, ok, great. But I'm talking about only listing in inches.

Re: Why do some clothes sellers do this!

2011.narelle — Mon, 05 Jan 2015 08:54:19 GMT

At least there were measurements,probably from an older seller.

You are very hard to please, i gather from your posts.

Women don't generally understand inches,as men tend to lie about such measurements,but my tapemeasure has cm & inch measure.It's not that difficult but msg the seller & ask her to convert cm to inches & see if you end up on her Best Buddy List.

BBL has universal measure.

Re: Why do some clothes sellers do this!

ginger_ice_cream — Mon, 05 Jan 2015 08:55:26 GMT

You've missed the point it seems. I have a 'conversion chart', it's called a calculator. I mentioned that. I don't need a conversion chart, and in any case, surely the point I was making was the hassle of having to convert the inches to cm!

No, it's not rocket science to 'convert' whether or not you have to find a link to a chart, or use your calculator. That's my point though - it's annoying to have to be converting, when we deal in cm's in Australia not inches. Older people may have been taught inches, but as in the year 2015 we use cm as our standard measurement, my point is why are sellers using inches, which the majority of us then have to convert.

Before you decide to "have a go" and remark that "it's not rocket science" perhaps double check that you've read the post and understood what my point is first. And yes, "at least they put a measurement" but again my point is surely that if you put a measurement in Australia, why use an American one, not an Australian one!

Re: Why do some clothes sellers do this!

ginger_ice_cream — Mon, 05 Jan 2015 08:57:19 GMT

Again, missed my point? Why would I take more time to contact the seller and ask to convert?

Surely the seller should be using cm. Yes, the tape measure has both - my point exactly isnt it?!

I'm hard to please it seems, as I don't have a high tolerance of idiots.

Re: Why do some clothes sellers do this!

2011.narelle — Mon, 05 Jan 2015 09:13:52 GMT

Neither do i but i don't mind poking a stick at a teddy to prove it's a bear

I got your point,you enjoy harassing clothes sellers.

Many online clothes sales sites do not include measurements.

On ebay it is not mandatory.Buyers will say an item is too small/too big despite measurements given so even that does not guarantee a good result for some buyers.Perhaps you would be more suited to buying from a B&M store where you can try clothes on.

Re: Why do some clothes sellers do this!

harley_babes_hoard — Mon, 05 Jan 2015 09:16:25 GMT

Geeze is it really that big of a deal. Convert it yourself it takes all of a couple of seconds.
Sellers can use whatever measurements they want, there is no rule to say you have to use cms

Re: Why do some clothes sellers do this!

i-once-was-bump — Mon, 05 Jan 2015 09:17:07 GMT

I am a weaver and am in Australia and everything is in inches, yards, pounds and ounces. It is accepted worldwide that this is how all books and magazines will be printed.

But when I want to buy clothes I like cms to be showing.

Yes, I am very good at looking at a ball of yarn in Spotlight and converting its weight to ounces and length to inches but that is because that is how my weaving mind works.

Weaving is one of the very few things exempted from the metric system, clothing is not exempted.

Re: Why do some clothes sellers do this!

2011.narelle — Mon, 05 Jan 2015 09:29:10 GMT

I was looking at some beautiful fabric & it was measured in yards.I don't know what a bleedy yard is,so i just googled it.No drama,no hassle for the seller.

It's a lazy era where everyone wants everything spelled out & even that isn't good enough for some.

I used to measure clothes in cm.I still got ebayers asking if 43cm waist was around & if you rounded a tapemeasure you would see that only an extreme anorexic or toddler would be 43cm around,so i had to also type in "flat measured" with everything.

Re: Why do some clothes sellers do this!

ginger_ice_cream — Mon, 05 Jan 2015 09:31:55 GMT

Yes it is that big a deal. Hence my OP. Why should an Australian buyer, using Australian ebay have to "take a couple of seconds" to convert USA style measurements?!

Again, no rule, that's my point - perhaps there should be a rule!

And, yes as I clearly pointed out, I am converting it myself. "Geeze"

Re: Why do some clothes sellers do this!

ginger_ice_cream — Mon, 05 Jan 2015 09:34:53 GMT

Where did I say I was hassling the seller.

My point is that - this is Australia. Read that slowly.

Why list measurements in inches, we use cm's in Australia, which for the majority of buyers means grabbing a calculator, or opening a seperate page with a conversion chart, getting out a tape measure etc. Not the end of the world, I've been putting up with it for years and said nothing. I just saw it again today, and felt annoyed that this is not the USA and why should I have to convert the measurements. Anyone else that needs that explained again?

Re: Why do some clothes sellers do this!

ginger_ice_cream — Mon, 05 Jan 2015 09:44:18 GMT

Lazy and ignorant seller perhaps?

So, when the seller only states "Size S Charlie Brown skirt"...the interested buyer should only rely on that description and not need to know a measurement, the fabric, whether it is dry clean only etc etc.

So you only rely on that moronic description and decide to go only on the picture and the most basic of description, and then the item arrives and it's not the right fit, isnt at all what you expected going on the picture and the flimsy description so what then?

Hassles then for the seller in terms of refunds, or returns or just an unhappy buyer that leaves bad feedback...and then the buyer is "hard to please" and or, didnt ask before bidding.

So, asking questions to know if you should hand over your money on ebay means you "enjoy hassling clothes sellers". Perhaps a lazy, shonky seller would see it that way, or maybe someone who thinks that when you buy on ebay you have to expect to get garbage and just take pot luck that what you get is what you thought you paid for?

The point I am making is that ebay needs to make it easier for the buyer to use ebay, and get what they are paying for. At the moment when it comes to listing, there are no rules in place, and sellers can just cut every corner, not provide necessary information and even provide American style measurements. As a savvy buyer I will ask any question necessary - you don't see how this protects not only me, but also the seller?

Re: Why do some clothes sellers do this!

2011.narelle — Mon, 05 Jan 2015 09:53:16 GMT

I don't need it explained,i have a firm comprehension of ignorance & sarcasm.Everyone got it.

I personally hate listings with no measurements & think such sellers are asking for refunds/defects & trouble.

My listings with measurements,item weight for postage,fabric type & washing instuctions took much time but saved me a lot of hassle.

Look at my old listings if you think i was a lazy seller but i would have put you on my BBL for your angry attitude to clothes sellers from your posts here anyway.

As a clothes seller I used cm, as i was born in decimal currency & metric measure.

Don't expect everyone to conform to your specific requirements.

Take the time to ask every seller who doesn't include measurements what the measurements are...or buy from actual stores.

Re: Why do some clothes sellers do this!

harley_babes_hoard — Mon, 05 Jan 2015 10:39:18 GMT

So stop shopping on ebay if it annoys you so much. shop on other online store where there are no measurements of any kind on listings to get up your nose!

Re: Why do some clothes sellers do this!

ginger_ice_cream — Mon, 05 Jan 2015 10:55:24 GMT

Perhaps if ebay actually enforced some listing rules, Ebay would be more popular and more people would be prepared to use it?

How many people would say something like "no way would I buy on ebay, you never know what you're going to get, and I can't risk wasting my money being duped, or getting something that doesnt fit or wasnt what I believed it was".

So...how many potential buyers don't bother to ask, but merely log out and buy from real stores and feel that it's better to pay retail prices in order to know what you're getting.

I am expressing my frustration at almost always having to convert, and ask the necessary questions ultimately in order to avoid wasting my money and ending up with something that either has to be disputed or donated to charity.

I don't want to use 'real shops'. I think that Australian consumers pay way too much compared to USA for most things, clothes being just one example. I save a fortune on ebay. But as an experienced and savvy buyer I know what questions I need answered before bidding in order to avoid wasting my money on something that isnt right. What I am getting more and more tired of, is what turns a lot of people off using ebay at all, and that is, flimsy almost useless descriptions, when surely ebay could implement some basic common sense rules when it comes to listing descriptions. Yes I ask when I have to, but it's getting to the point of being beyond belief that so many sellers don't think that people need to know basic things like a measurement, or an adequate item description, yet they take the time to list endless "terms and conditions" regarding dealing with them.

It seems that the buyer can't win with most sellers can they? If they don't ask before bidding and leave bad feedback, or then complain that they can't wear the item as it's not the right fit or not what they expected based on an inadequate description, they are a pest and and a bad buyer. If they do bother to ask the questions, or inform ebay of the problems experienced from a buyers perspective they are "hard to please", told to shop somewhere else, or told they are now on my BBL.

So the buyer should expect that a size S, is a magical universal size "S" that is an exact measurement and never varies between brands? The buyer should not need such pesky information such as "will I need to keep running to the dry cleaner and spending money on this to clean it" or, "what is the fabric" as I hate jersey, or in order to fully understand how the item will look on as different fabrics effect the look of the outfit. That is, silk looks different on to linen. The buyer should not hassle a seller by wanting to know what the chest measurement is, in order to avoid buying a 'size 10' that in most brands would actually be a size 8 at best and then will never fit properly and ends up never worn and another expensive ebay mistake? The buyer shouldnt be so annoying as to need to know the actual length but rather just assume that "knee length" means the same to someone that is 175 cm tall and someone that is 162cm tall? The buyer should query the actual colour when the description says "Aqua" but the item appears to be pale baby blue? The buyer should be added to the BBL due to such outrageous demands! Clearly your attitude proves my point that ebay needs to implement some listing rules if they want to keep buyers using ebay. There is no point implementing an "ebay guarantee" when you don't do anything to help people to get what they wanted in the first place.

Re: Why do some clothes sellers do this!

ginger_ice_cream — Mon, 05 Jan 2015 10:58:48 GMT

Online stores actually have "Size Guides" which apply to their range.

You can also phone a free or local number to get help if you need it.

That is kind of what I'm talking about in terms of problems with ebay isnt it? And as for saying "shop somewhere else if you don't like it" - what kind of answer is that? So, rather than sellers do the right thing by a buyer, or ebay implementing some well needed changes, we should all just shop elsewhere...so where will ebay be then, if the buyers all just go elsewhere?