How not to write an ad

[springyzone]

Just musing here, I have no complaint or anything.

I recently (well, yesterday) bought an item off a big volume seller with quite a classy, professional looking ad.

Excellent, clear photos Tick

Dimensions clearly listed Tick

Quick communication Tick

But I noticed a couple of things about the ad & wondered what your thoughts are on these?

Firstly, the ads were quite long. They were divided into sections eg product details/payment/shipping etc (big tick) but each section was quite wordy.

I would have said that usually I read ads carefully but I overlooked one bit in the shipping info where it said to provide a contact phone number or else shipping would be delayed. It is all good as I have done it now but I would have thought if a buyer paid and didn't provide some necessary detail, a seller should probably message to ask.

And it's probably not a great idea to put a condition like that in the middle of shipping details with about 4 or 5 other paragraphs, it can get lost. Sometimes brief is better (says I-but then, this is a message board, not an ad)

Secondly, I seriously wonder about the wisdom of putting unenforceable terms & conditions into an ad. From my perspective as a buyer, it comes across as confrontational to some extent and puts my back up a bit. Plus I tend to think-rubbish, you would have no way to enforce that.

eg  Serious buyer only, DO NOT bid if you don't intend to buy, non purchases after a winning bid will require 20% for management and eBay re-listing fees.

There was a lot more, paragraphs more, but you get the picture.

To me, it would make more sense to shorten ads  & concentrate on more relevant details.

But,, the seller has thousands of sales behind him, so maybe I am wrong.

[ozstockman]

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@davewil1964 wrote:

If your items are made of wood, I would seriously reconsider offering international postage. Australia doesn't, generally, allow importation; I suspect other countries might have similar quarantine laws.

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Most of them made of craftwood(MDF) so no problems with expoting them to any country.

[ozstockman]

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@*tippy*toes* wrote:

I agree with Dave. No way would I have cancelled. Why let them get away with it? I only cancel in very special circumstances. Anything else, NPB. That way if they do try to trash my feedback, eBay removes it.

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I just do not want to fignt with them over $9-15 items. If I open an unpaid case they may get angry and leave a negative feedback. It has not saved me once from it with the 3rd example but other two have not left  any feedback at all.

[imastawka]

If you do a UPI ebay have to remove the neg.

There's been no sale

[*tippy*toes*]

If a buyer leaves negative feedback and the unpaid dispute closes without payment, it is normally automatically removed. If it's not, you contact eBay and let them know the feedback was attached to a non payment transaction and they will generally remove it while you are on the phone. It falls into their feedback removal policy.

A cancellation, they are free to do and say whatever they like in regards to feedback.

Edit: you beat me by 30 seconds Stawks!

[imastawka]

Ner