Selling on eBay can be a great opportunity for your business, and it can be fun. It also has the potential to be quite profitable when you know how to make the system work well for you. Of course, whenever you are selling, there is always the possibility of running into disputes with buyers. These issues can arise for many different reasons, and even though most transactions will go very smoothly, having one bad transaction can make some wonder if it is worthwhile to sell. The following are some of the most common transaction issues that you might encounter when selling on the site, as well as how you can resolve them.
When the Buyer Doesn’t Pay
When you sell your items, it is expected that the buyer will pay you for your goods. However, that does not always happen. If the buyer doesn’t pay immediately, there is no reason to panic, but you do want to follow up. You can send an email, or even call, for a friendly payment reminder. If the buyer vanishes though, you will want to open an unpaid item case with the site’s resolution center. This lets eBay monitor the contact between you and the buyer, and they can step in if needed.
Buyer Says the Item Never Arrived
If a buyer says that he or she did not receive an item, they can go to eBay and start an item not received case. Therefore, it is important for sellers to have ways of proving delivery. One of the ways to do this is through special delivery offerings through the USPS and other shippers. They can show proof of delivery. However, in some cases, it might simply be easier for the seller to provide a refund to the buyer. If this is unable to resolve the issue, eBay could again step in and help to resolve the issue. Always keep good track of shipping, delivery, and communications with the buyer.
Damaged Items
Sometimes, the items get there, but the buyer says that the item is damaged. If this happens, ask the buyer to send photos of the damaged item, and then offer a refund or a replacement on the item. Before simply offering this option though, it might be a good idea to look at the buyer history and feedback. If they have other incidents of bad feedback with sellers saying they didn’t pay, or they have other instances of “broken items”, they might simply be trying to get something without paying.
If you notice that you have a number of these incidents, you should look at your shipping methods and the carriers you are using.
It’s Not All Doom and Gloom
For the most part, you will find that selling on eBay is not actually as difficult as it might seem, and most of the buyers pay on time and have no issues. Still, it does pay to know how to handle some of those common disputes that crop up just in case they happen to you. It’s also a good idea to have some good basic ideas of what you need to do to make the most out of your time on eBay.
Parting Tips
Always make sure you have clear listings that are accurate. Use quality photos and descriptions, and make sure that you have good photos so the customers know exactly what they are getting. Make sure you communicate with the buyers regularly, and make sure that you answer their questions and try to resolve any issues they might have as quickly as you are able. When you are honest and communicative, your buyers are more likely to leave positive feedback.
Resource: http://www.moneywise.co.uk/work-wages/make-more-money/how-to-be-successful-seller-ebay