Insulting eBay seller listing, or 'funny' disdain of buyers?

rjdjbd · February 26, 2015

I need to have the gauge cluster repair done on my Suburban, so naturally I've looked around on eBay. There are a ton of choices, all very similar in what the repair consists of, pricing and the turnaround time to get the cluster back. Imagine my surprise when I came across a listing from a seller named 'channel-one' that in huge red letters refers to potential buyers as idiots. ('IDIOTS PLEASE READ AD') While I understand the need to make a listing as clear as possible so buyers know exactly what you are getting, as this is a 'repair service' and not a 'gauge cluster-replacement purchase', this listing makes it pretty clear by stating it at least six times AND the seller doesn't even send you his shipping address until AFTER you pay, so it's impossible for any buyer to pre-ship the old cluster and expect a brand-new one back.

Since I was a little surprised about calling potential buyers of this service 'idiots', I contacted the seller, and I can tell you that the seller doubled-down on his views, twice, in fact. Clearly, apparently from old previous transactions, this is one angry seller and is up-front with his disdain of buyers. I can only imagine the customer service you'd get once you've completed your eBay transaction and posted feedback. His reply probably starts with 'Dear Idiot'...

When researching eBay for this repair service, I also noticed that some sellers offer warranties at 6 months, others a few years, and others as 'lifetime'. Those sellers also state that they use new parts... this seller states "All parts are used unless stated otherwise. All parts will come with a 30 day warranty; this guarantees the part to work for 30 days beginning from the invoice date." So for the same pricing as other sellers, you get used parts AND a almost nonexistent warranty that starts from the date of the invoice, not the date you've received the gauge cluster back.

There are a lot of choices out there when you want to spend your money; you should always get what you pay for AND be treated with respect. Calling potential buyers 'idiots' doesn't fall in that category, at least to me, but members here are free to decide for themselves.

Maybe others here will think being treated with a lack of respect is funny; you tell me if in this day and age this is what we should expect from sellers...

PJB1972 · February 26, 2015

I would want to be treated as if my money was worth spending... That being said, I would expect the seller to act as if they wanted it.

Thus being respectful, courteous and professional during all phases of the transaction.

I would avoid this dude at all costs.

Of course, in retrospect...

If you paid the same money for USED parts, LESS warranty AND verbal abuse... Maybe he is right.

SteveBBB · February 26, 2015

So............did you buy from him?

rjdjbd · February 26, 2015

So............did you buy from him?

Is that supposed to be 'humor'?

I'm simply offering a heads-up on this eBay seller... if you like being called an 'idiot' when paying for a service, feel free to use him, as I'm not promoting any specific seller, just exposing one that maybe people shouldn't use or won't be happy with in the long-run.

SteveBBB · February 26, 2015

I don't like giving money to people who are nice to me, I'm sure not giving any to someone is rude and insulting to me.

00Silverado4x4 · February 27, 2015

I typically do not use eBay for anything however, if I did I know I won't be using his services. Thanks for the head's up on this guy.

rjdjbd · March 1, 2015

I don't like giving money to people who are nice to me, I'm sure not giving any to someone is rude and insulting to me.

I agree, especially when there is no shortage of eBay sellers offering the same service, some at a lower price, and do more as part of their service, such as doing the software update as part of the service repair.

After a few emails back and forth, he told me that both eBay and PayPal representatives said his ad was 'hilarious'. I'm going to give eBay the benefit of the doubt and feel that while maybe they can't make him change all his listings and remove 'IDIOTS PLEASE READ AD:', I doubt they think it's hilarious.

patriot · March 1, 2015

At least he's up front about being a dick.

SnakeEyeSS · March 1, 2015

As Caryln once said:

"Think of how dumb the average person is. Now realize half of all people are dumber than that."

Seems like people are misunderstanding the intent from lack of eBay experience.

I sold something on eBay recently, I had a TWO sentence description. The first sentence directed to the PICTURED damage on the collectable.

The guy got it, said he didn't know it was damaged.

Yes, a lot of idiots on eBay.

To the ad in question.

Why do so many people always think everything on the internet is about THEM? Is this what social media is doing to people? He wasn't calling anyone out but Idiots. Lately, all over the internet, I've been seeing so many people get offended by insults that aren't even directed at them, to me it highlights the pansification of America.

So, if your offended, (serious question)are you identifing yourself as one? He didn't type, " Hey _____, idiot, read the ad!" Or " all of you are idiots, so read the ad!"

Its just a guy fed up with stupid people asking stupid questions. I'd say 90% of questions I have ever received on eBay(sold 100~ things ranging from a few bucks to a car) are already answered in the ad.

So,

I'm thinking he's only asking for idiots to read the description, maybe he needs to learn how to use a comma. "IDIOTS, PLEASE READ AD".

Doug_Scott · March 9, 2015

I can kind of understand when someone goes public on a deal gone bad and they want to warn others that may also fall for the same scam they did, but, this is clearly not that. The eBay listing is very clear in what you will get, what you won't get, and even complete terms of the warranty. I don't see the issue here at all. Think about it, anyone that chooses to deal with this guy is clearly an idiot for not seeing all the full disclosure warnings.

That sort of means that the listing is 100% accurate in calling people reading the listing idiots.

rjdjbd · March 18, 2015

As Caryln once said:

"Think of how dumb the average person is. Now realize half of all people are dumber than that."

Seems like people are misunderstanding the intent from lack of eBay experience.

I sold something on eBay recently, I had a TWO sentence description. The first sentence directed to the PICTURED damage on the collectable.

The guy got it, said he didn't know it was damaged.

Yes, a lot of idiots on eBay.

To the ad in question.

Why do so many people always think everything on the internet is about THEM? Is this what social media is doing to people? He wasn't calling anyone out but Idiots. Lately, all over the internet, I've been seeing so many people get offended by insults that aren't even directed at them, to me it highlights the pansification of America.

So, if your offended, (serious question)are you identifing yourself as one? He didn't type, " Hey _____, idiot, read the ad!" Or " all of you are idiots, so read the ad!"

Its just a guy fed up with stupid people asking stupid questions. I'd say 90% of questions I have ever received on eBay(sold 100~ things ranging from a few bucks to a car) are already answered in the ad.

So,

I'm thinking he's only asking for idiots to read the description, maybe he needs to learn how to use a comma. "IDIOTS, PLEASE READ AD".

So, how do people know when they come across the listing if they are 'supposed' to read that section? Do you actually think that the typical 'eBay idiot' knows and acknowledges that they are an in fact an idiot? Seems like you've come up with a pretty silly assessment of who is supposed to read that section. Any seller with ban attitude and clear disdain for buyers, well, buy from him, and you are an idiot, and deserve whatever you get.

If the guy doesn't want to answer clarifying questions, which eBay encourages BEFORE bidding or buying, then the guy should get out of the retail business.

rjdjbd · March 18, 2015

"That sort of means that the listing is 100% accurate in calling people reading the listing idiots."

So hopefully you didn't go to the eBay ad and read it; if you did, then you are saying you're an idiot. As an eBay user, I'd give you more of the benefit of doubt and see you in a more positive manner but maybe that's just me. Remember, this particular seller has his listing set-up so that you can't even send him your cluster to be repaired until AFTER you pay and AFTER he contacts you, sending you his shipping address. I'd say it's pretty 'idiot proof' and the listing doesn't need to call anyone who happens to come across it an 'idiot'. Again, I guess it's just me...

crafferty · March 18, 2015

One of my responsibilities at work is overseeing our eBay department which I started and ran for a few months myself. I can tell you that working with some of these eBay or Amazon buyers can be extremely frustrating so I can understand the sellers "Disclaimer" lol. But at the same time I would never publicly post on my page where I am trying to turn a profit. Just the other week I had a buyer call me because he needed to return a defective item. No problem at all I said as we have tons of this item in stock. I just told him he would need to follow eBay's return policy and open up a return on eBay. After 45 minutes of being on the phone with the guy he can't figure out how to get to the return or even see our transaction. So then he puts his wife on the phone and it turns out he makes a new account every time he makes a purchase on eBay, thus he doesn't remember his user names or login and doesn't even know how to access his email. End of story they go to paypal, file a claim against my eBay store and get all there money without even sending me the product. Cases like this are the seller in discussion here is pissed off.

darkfox1 · March 18, 2015

One of my responsibilities at work is overseeing our eBay department which I started and ran for a few months myself. I can tell you that working with some of these eBay or Amazon buyers can be extremely frustrating so I can understand the sellers "Disclaimer" lol. But at the same time I would never publicly post on my page where I am trying to turn a profit. Just the other week I had a buyer call me because he needed to return a defective item. No problem at all I said as we have tons of this item in stock. I just told him he would need to follow eBay's return policy and open up a return on eBay. After 45 minutes of being on the phone with the guy he can't figure out how to get to the return or even see our transaction. So then he puts his wife on the phone and it turns out he makes a new account every time he makes a purchase on eBay, thus he doesn't remember his user names or login and doesn't even know how to access his email. End of story they go to paypal, file a claim against my eBay store and get all there money without even sending me the product. Cases like this are the seller in discussion here is pissed off.

Holy crap..

as an IT guy.. you just reminded me of my years doing home user support..Guh..

And of COURSE their lack of knowledge is your companies fault! You should have just "fixed it!" Wave your magic wand.

In response to op though, yea.. if I saw an ad like that it'd make me laugh and move on. A guy thats rude up front is gonna be rude about returns/issues too, so unless you're SURE you're gonna get a good product from em or a good deal.. I don't deal with em.

I once used junkyarddog.com to fnid a yard up in new york, trying to buy a part for my car. The guy was belligerent on the phone.I gave him the part number I needed. He said he had it. I asked if he could put his hands on it, he said "look buddy I don't have time for that ya gonna buy it or not?"

I bought it.. (cos the part was hard to find.)

3 weeks later I learn the guy's not a junk yard but a guy who pretends to be one out of his home, then sources the parts from local yards and upsells. He was on the BBB with an F and had several things filed against him.

Anyway.. "it" arrived.. and by "it" I mean the wrong part. Guy musta had caller ID cos he never would answer his phone after that.

Point is.. if someone gives you an indication that they're gonna be difficult to deal with.. don't.. unless you have no other option.

crafferty · March 18, 2015

Holy crap..

as an IT guy.. you just reminded me of my years doing home user support..Guh..

And of COURSE their lack of knowledge is your companies fault! You should have just "fixed it!" Wave your magic wand.

In response to op though, yea.. if I saw an ad like that it'd make me laugh and move on. A guy thats rude up front is gonna be rude about returns/issues too, so unless you're SURE you're gonna get a good product from em or a good deal.. I don't deal with em.

I once used junkyarddog.com to fnid a yard up in new york, trying to buy a part for my car. The guy was belligerent on the phone.I gave him the part number I needed. He said he had it. I asked if he could put his hands on it, he said "look buddy I don't have time for that ya gonna buy it or not?"

I bought it.. (cos the part was hard to find.)

3 weeks later I learn the guy's not a junk yard but a guy who pretends to be one out of his home, then sources the parts from local yards and upsells. He was on the BBB with an F and had several things filed against him.

Anyway.. "it" arrived.. and by "it" I mean the wrong part. Guy musta had caller ID cos he never would answer his phone after that.

Point is.. if someone gives you an indication that they're gonna be difficult to deal with.. don't.. unless you have no other option.