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The Tech Wiz on Customer service…

I have been shipping and selling online for many years. I started on the AOL forums. From there I moved to Yahoo auctions and then eBay. I am frustrated now with the level of fees and the horrible customer service that eBay provides sellers. It is one of those things. If the service is free and I don’t pay a fee, then it would be acceptable. Since I pay for the service, it isn’t acceptable. One of the things, however,r that has changed since I started is the ease of shipping. When I was first shipping things post an online sale, it was often a trip to the post office. That meant waiting in line, and then once the next thing sold repeating the process. The rise of postal scales and printable postage is a huge benefit!

I don’t sell year-round on eBay because of the frustration with their customer service. I do understand the complexity of technology and systems built around solving problems. But when I have an issue, I would prefer not to waste my time trying to solve it. Since I pay a rather large percentage of every sale to eBay for customer service, I would like the customer service, please. It is my rule, and the reason I started this blog 15 years ago. I ran into a really poor company service situation with Vonage. In fact, I will never deal with that company again. They attempted to charge me for something I had canceled. That happens from time to time when I called they said and notified me an email that all services were shut off. A year later I got a collection call telling me I owd Vonage more than 300 dollars.

What happened next? I sent Vonage the email they sent me notifying me that my entire account had been paid in full and shut off. Suddenly the collection bill went away. But this was born my customer service blog. Vonage and Noah’s Properties of Gaithersburg are the only two companies that remain on my list, of horrific customer service, which never tried to get off. There have been other companies, but in most cases, they have reached out and tried to get off that list. Noah’s and Vonage get the record for least effort made to at least get me too sad, from completely infuriated. Sad and I might at least say they tried to solve the mutual problem. Infuriated and I post blogs and Yelp reviews. Overall I don’t forget poor customer service.

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What do you think?

Written by DocAndersen

One fan, One team and a long time dream Go Cubs!!!!!!!!!!!!!

12 Comments

  1. Once upon a time that was the dream of eBay. No longer, but it once was. Not sure where one could sell works of art, however, there might actually be good places for that. I’ve honestly never looked, I do not often create art.

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  2. The case you’ve described was the original way eBay was. It isn’t anymore but it was like that 10 years ago.

    I really don’t have a recommendation, sorry.

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    • eBay is more than the US, but it is less than it used to be. There are a number of sites like GoFundme and others that support artists – you may want to check those out…

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  3. I cannot seem to take all my stuff off of ebay, I really want it all off the selling list. I agree they charge to much. with shipping and the fee I don`t make enough for my trouble.

    I pinned this one.

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    • They used to be seller focused and a great place to be. There are so many scams on both sides (selling and buying) they seem to have forgotten that without sellers there truly are no auctions.

  4. I sympathize with you. Customer service should be a paramount thing for every company. I do not have a blog, or sell on eBay etc. But sometimes i have to deal with for example a resident telephone company (ie: Bell) which uses outside people in their help desk. Unfortunately, even though these persons speak English, I cannot understand them because of their accent. It is very frustrating. I would much rather deal with an online chat type help desk. But there is no escaping some bad day on the phone or the internet in this day or age.

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  5. Sounds like you and Albert need to get together. His computer is in the hospital and he is very frustrated. I can only imagine dealing with customer service.

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    • If you are selling items purchased with already taxed money (net income) for less than you paid for them there is no tax. Or you can take depreciation on larger items and make the tax non-existent. But I wouldn’t sell on eBay if I wasn’t committed there at this point.