topic nasty bargain hunters in Selling

nasty bargain hunters

ooak3 — Wed, 02 Sep 2015 21:43:40 GMT

do you sellers notice that it seems to be the buyers who get the best bargains that complain the most!!!

over the years selling my unwanted items this has happened so many times

the worst one was a couple of years back she won about 6 x 99cent items then started hinting that i delivered them to her because her car wasnt working i had to put in a non payer on them all eventualy and she gave me negatives on every one (after she picked up )

all kitchen items were like new and would have cost heaps to buy new

thats just one example i bet you have all had this happen ??

i dont mind if my items sell low but i do hate being punished for it

Re: nasty bargain hunters

collect247 — Thu, 03 Sep 2015 00:18:01 GMT

It doesn't matter how low your items sell for unless the buyer gets them with all the bells and whistles that the buyer expects then they won't be satisfied as they don't care

Re: nasty bargain hunters

iainlouden — Thu, 03 Sep 2015 00:50:40 GMT

What I was taught at small business school....

If you are getting too many time wasters and whingers then it's time to put your prices up.

Re: nasty bargain hunters

digital*ghost — Thu, 03 Sep 2015 01:13:19 GMT

There is an old saying "don't change your price, change your customer", but I think sometimes changing your price is the best way to change your customer.... i.e. Perhaps more reasonable and less bargain prices will attract more resonable people. (My worst experiences as a seller have been on items under $5, but I'm starting to phase out a lot of those).

ETA: basically, what iainlouden said.

Re: nasty bargain hunters

everard6920 — Thu, 03 Sep 2015 01:36:52 GMT

Yes. I understand.

It always amazes me when someone wants to buy two or three of my "add-on" items which are $2 - $5, and then they ask for a discount. And I always think, "you're spending $4 . . . how much of a discount do you think I can realistically give you?". I sell these items because they go with my main items; I cover costs plus a very small profit.

I've also had problems in the past when I've discounted stock to clear it out.

The item is really cheap, but the postage is the same price (and therefore seems more expensive), and then I get dinged on my postage DSR.

So now I just discount items, put the postage in the item price and use free postage. I'm not a fan of free postage because 1. I prefer to be upfront about what the postage cost really is and 2. there is no way to discount an invoice with free postage, so if the buyer buys multiple items, they're paying postage more than once, but zzz.

I work in retail and people always ask for more discounts when we have large sales, than when items are full price.

Re: nasty bargain hunters

dylan11235813 — Thu, 03 Sep 2015 01:57:17 GMT

I have a few items that are under $3 for a pack of 10 or 20 pieces and I get people asking if the can have a few pieces for a project. Just pay the $3 (+ postage) and be done with it. It costs about $2 for a can of coke at the shop **bleep**. There are also people that want samples of said item.

Re: nasty bargain hunters

springyzone — Thu, 03 Sep 2015 07:00:10 GMT

That sounds like one nasty buyer you had.

I think some of the others have it right- put up your prices.

Two reasons.

1. The main reason-people have this idea that quality is related to price and if they see your item at eg 99c and another, similar, at $6.99, I could almost guarantee they will think the dearer one is stronger, better material, whatever.

2. You won't come across as a desperate seller. That buyer you mentioned. She obviously judged by the price, thought you were lucky to be offloading your stuff to her and should run after her if you wanted the money. Now, if the 6 items had been about $7 each, she probably would not have bid but more importantly, might have thought a $42 purchase worth collecting.

Re: nasty bargain hunters

phorum_junkie* — Thu, 03 Sep 2015 10:37:09 GMT

Have to agree that pricing items too cheaply is not a good idea. It gives the impression that you don't consider the item worth very much and that is not a good look.

I used to occasionally start very popular items at 99c (when it cost a lot less, no free listings) as it was almost guaranteed that they would take off like a rocket but that is no longer the case and competition is so high now that you are quite likely to sell for 99c if that is what you start at.

Re: nasty bargain hunters

davewil1964 — Thu, 03 Sep 2015 10:44:30 GMT

@ooak3 wrote:
do you sellers notice that it seems to be the buyers who get the best bargains that complain the most!!!
over the years selling my unwanted items this has happened so many times

the worst one was a couple of years back she won about 6 x 99cent items then started hinting that i delivered them to her because her car wasnt working i had to put in a non payer on them all eventualy and she gave me negatives on every one (after she picked up )
all kitchen items were like new and would have cost heaps to buy new

thats just one example i bet you have all had this happen ??

i dont mind if my items sell low but i do hate being punished for it

I would ask why you are citing an instance 'a couple of years back'. Surely water under the bridge, into the ocean, evaporated and back under the bridge by now.

Why?

Do you feel a need to promote your listings?

But 'NO' - I don't sell at less than I'm prepared to accept, and I don't let buyers blackmail me.

Re: nasty bargain hunters

designers*n*more — Thu, 03 Sep 2015 15:14:08 GMT

I had the opposite happen, I actually delivered the buyer's item, then 6 days later she sends me an email saying "I haven't received it". Replied with, I personally delivered it, put it in the letter box (which was built into the wall and only accessible from inside the house), so I know she received it. She was peeved because she paid postage and I delivered it, despite it being 30+ mins away (would have cost me more in petrol) so she threatened to open a dispute, (blatant fraud), so I refunded her postage and change the postage to pick up so she couldn't open a dispute. What a cheek!

Re: nasty bargain hunters

designers*n*more — Thu, 03 Sep 2015 15:23:49 GMT

I had a stall at a kids preloved market once. Most of my items were $5 and were either new with tags or as new. Had an Asian lady that pretended not to understand English, come up and ask to pay $4. As we had only just opened I declined. The item was a Royal Albert lace top, in new condition. I later dropped the price to $4. She comes back asking to pay $3, I declined and said I've already dropped the price. An hr later dropped the prices to $3, again she comes back and wants it for $2. I said no, and told her not to bother coming back as I won't sell it to her. I almost felt like saying "do you want me to pay you to take it" . I dropped the price to what she originally asked for but she didn't want to pay that or even the $3. I'd rather keep it than sell to ppl like that. In the end I sold it online for $15.

Re: nasty bargain hunters

amber-eyed-girl — Fri, 04 Sep 2015 03:58:26 GMT

The buyer might also have been peeved you delivered it personally. Some people wouldn't like that regardless. Same as sellers not wanting pick up. Doesn't excuse the action the buyer took.

Might have been better to suggest home delivery, then bring it to the door if they agreed to it. I've had that happen with a fragile item and I was grateful to the seller for being able to drop it round. Didn't ask for the shipping back!

Re: nasty bargain hunters

ooak3 — Fri, 04 Sep 2015 04:01:06 GMT

how am i promoting my listings ??

i have had many instances of the best bargain sales being the ones that get winged about i have just had anotherone last week

it was a hand knitted alpaca wool childs jumper that cost a FORTUNE was in PERFECT condition never worn

sold at a bargain price (i have not listed for less than willing to sell for for years learnt that lesson long back)

customer then claimed it had 9 holes in it (NOT ! BUT 9 as if anyone could miss a item with 9 holes in it)

anyway told her no way the pictures prove it was perfect so she said they were in the back (she thought all the pictures were of the front) told her end pic was of the back you can tell by the neck line and fold in the middle of the garment

it was such a stupid lie and she has dropped it

i just thought the earlier example i gave was easier to write about lol (and it was 8 negs not 6 she gave me so of coarse im still miffed lol)

but i am interested in the promoting my listings comment would love to know what that meant is that why you post on here so often ?? do your sales go up somehow??

Re: nasty bargain hunters

lyndal1838 — Fri, 04 Sep 2015 04:37:01 GMT

@ooak3 wrote:
how am i promoting my listings ??

but i am interested in the promoting my listings comment would love to know what that meant is that why you post on here so often ?? do your sales go up somehow??

A lot of sellers come to the boards with posts that seem to serve no other purpose than to draw attention to their listings. The fact that you commented on things that happened years ago could lead some of us to wonder if that is what you are doing.

It is also against board posting policy to advertised your listings here.

davewil is one of the boardies who posts regularly to help people with their problems. While he does sell on this account it is certainly not his main selling account. Most of the board regulars do not post with selling account....and certainly not with their main selling accounts.

In fact many of the IDs you see on the boards are posting IDs or buying only IDs.

Re: nasty bargain hunters

ooak3 — Fri, 04 Sep 2015 04:57:45 GMT

so do you think that people that read the boards look to see what the posters are selling??

why would you need or want to know that??

i read all the boards all the time but have not posted much i read to learn and for fun not to see what people or selling it would take hours to look up every posters sales

i buy most of my needs on Ebay but i just search for what i want

like i asked dave if his sales do go up maybe i should post on here more often lol

Re: nasty bargain hunters

lyndal1838 — Fri, 04 Sep 2015 06:07:37 GMT

I don't think that the boardies look up what other members are selling.....I know they do at times.

If you read the boards as much as you say you would know that there are often questions which can be more easily answered by looking at the listing in question. It is not all sinister and I for one don't do it all the time but I have found some great sellers through looking at members listings after they have posted here.

As for davewil's comment....if you look at what he has sold on this account you will answer your own question....he has sold one book in the last 6 months. As I said, this is not his main selling account...if you look at his main account it is a different story and he does not post on the boards with it.

There is one poster that I know of who has a reputation of coming to the boards whenever he wants to boost his sales....we just laugh at him now.

By all means post on the boards but make sure you actually have something to say or you will get a reputation too. If you just want to chat try Community Spirit, not the trading boards.

Re: nasty bargain hunters

ooak3 — Fri, 04 Sep 2015 07:03:43 GMT

yes i think you are right i should have posted on the community board (sorry) my post would have been better on the rant thread haha i just needed to vent i think after the latest jumper farse

but i took offence at being accused of trying to boost my sales, i still can't imagine how that would work

Re: nasty bargain hunters

lyndal1838 — Fri, 04 Sep 2015 08:10:32 GMT

@ooak3 wrote:

but i took offence at being accused of trying to boost my sales, i still can't imagine how that would work

Well, I have just had a look at your listings. If you had not posted here I would never have gone looking for any of the items you have listed but I have seen one item that I think my daughter may be interested in.

That's how it works!!

BTW, venting about ebay is not allowed on Community Spirit....it is a non ebay chat board.

Re: nasty bargain hunters

phorum_junkie* — Fri, 04 Sep 2015 11:26:00 GMT

I often wonder if sellers think that buyers never read the seller's board. Calling buyers nasty or any other derogatory terms using your selling id is not likely to encourage them to buy from you. Another good reason for using a posting id, you can call them anything you like

Re: nasty bargain hunters

davewil1964 — Fri, 04 Sep 2015 11:57:18 GMT

Like Lyndal said - 1 sale in 6 months.

300ish on my non-board account.

And I don't ever cite years ago experience as a reason to start a thread. In fact, I can't recall ever starting a thread with this ID.