eBay people are driving me INSANE!!

[81xsproject]

So I decided to list my carb SERVICE on ebay and test it out. My fam could use the money right now so I thought, what the hell.

Maybe I could get some intelligent second opinions from you folks. Is my add THAT hard to understand that it is 225 for the service, and extra for any needed parts and shipping both ways?

You would not believe how many questions I have gotten from people that don't understand.

[red bandit]

Hey 81, I saw your add. I know what you mean. I ran a similar add last year for the same thing. OMG some of the questions. I'm not sure if I want to go there again. Good Luck. Red

[Paintman]

Dealing with the public

LOL i feel your pain no matter how you write it up people will miss everything you say.I paint bikes on teh side and some of the things people ask would make ya drop. Why do you have to see my bike to give me a price on painting it lol.
Good Luck!!!
John

[tomatao]

Well... you did say in your listing

"Feel free to contact me with any questions"

Your listing is fine, sheeple are dumb. My work in car insurance claims confirms that most every day.

[olebiker]

Yep some of the people using ebay are dumber than hammers. I thought your ad was great and your price is good as well. Good luck I hope you get some business out of it.

[xsilerating]

Please take with a 'grain of salt' as suggestions are merely that... suggestions!

Just to play 'Devil's Advocate', if not carefully read it could be somewhat confusing and misinterpreted on a number of points. For example, mixing dollar amounts of value with costs (cleaning/rebuild service $200.00 - value with new float valves ($35 for a set of 4), and new bowl gaskets ($15 for a set of 4) - cost). Also, "Custom jetting for non-stock applications is available (ie aftermarket exhausts and air filters)" - is that included in the 'service' cost or is their an additional charge to do this?

A couple of suggestions (for what it's worth):
1) Instead of listing the ad with a bidding process and 'Buy it now', why don't you just have it listed only as a 'Buy it now'? 2) If the new float valves and bowl gaskets are going to be used no matter what, then why don't you include them in the cost of the service. Instead of listing the price as $225.00 list it at $275.00 and amend the listing to read "Carbs are rebuilt with a minimum of a new set of 4 float valves and bowl gaskets (included)..." 3) Instead of "Buyer ships carbs both ways and parts are separate cost." have it read: "Buyer is responsible for return shipping and handling costs and any additional parts that may be required."

Like I said, just some suggestions .
(For the sake of clarification and, to avoid any confusion) there are a number of other changes I would make as well . If interested you can PM me... if not, well...

[81xsproject]

Those are good suggestions. I think that if I try again, I will list it as a flat amount plus extra parts.

[madmax-im]

Doesnt matter how its worded

Stupid ppl will still ask stupid questions....I had the same thing happen to me when I sold my Mom's car.The ad clearly states everything you'd want to know,but I would get dozens of ppl asking stupid questions when the answer was right in front of them.They are either ill-literate or they just aren't reading very thorouhgly.I had one woman respond that her offer was reasonable and why didnt I accept it...when I clearly stated what the car was to sell for...FIRM and her offer was not reasonable to me...then she started to ask questions that the answers to were clearly stsed in the ad.I really let her have it and told her that there was no way i was going to sell the car to her because she was too stupid to read the ad before asking her stupid questions.
Ya really cant win...no matter how clear and concise your language is...the majority of ppl are just plain stupid...fact of life..
Later when I did sell the car the ebay buyer complained that I didnt tell him everything abt the car but it was his fault because he did not read the ad thorouhghly..if he had he would've known I was being up front..after he left his feedback I emailed him and he said he did not see the whole ad...so he winds up giving me a borderline (but srtill pos) feedback..go figure

[red bandit]

To add to what madmax said. I've had people buy something from me on e-bay and THEY choose parcel post which takes 5-10 days. They write me in 3 days, upset, wanting to know where their stuff is??? And then say in the feedback that I ship slow. ppl. baaaah!

[madmax-im]

Whats yor reserve?

Thats another one ppl seem to think its okay to ask The whole idea is that the reserve is confidential...if you knew what it was would you still bid on the item in question?

[mason79]

men knows, boy's don't

[fredintoon]

Sometimes ya gotta

"I've had people buy something from me on e-bay and THEY choose parcel post "
Hi Bandit,
buying things stateside from Canada you are forced to have them sent by US parcel post. Whenever I buy from a US source I e-mail them this in caps:-
"Send only via USPS. UPS & other private services charge Canadian recipients an additional $30 brokerage fee on US sourced parcels. Any such parcel sent to me will be refused."
Refusing UPS delivery works with (say) Dennis Kirk or other big suppliers because they will re-ship USPS after they get the follow-up e-mail explaining the refusal and asking did they not understand the first e-mail? Getting a refund or re-ship from a small outfit or a private seller is another matter.

[prometheus578]

Good price.
That's about what we used to charge for a bank of four.
I agree with Xsilerating... change the price structure to included the "minimum" parts.
Carbs cleaned for $275, this price includes new float valves and new bowl gaskets(a $50 value)

[thewiz]

It's not just the Fleabay people either ....

same kind of people responding to my Craigslist ads. Frustated with a stupid caller the other day, I finally asked the guy, "Did you read the f'in' ad, or WHAT?" "Yeah," says he. "Well then, why are you f'in' asking me THAT?" .... I think the country's populace is not only suffering from an obesity epidemic but also from mass, widespread brain atrophy as well.

[malber]

Welcome to my personal hell that is customer service.