The Telephone Table - Part IV

Oh my goodness!

I never expected such an outpouring of love and support all because eBay kicked me to the curb.  I’m an outcast; an eBay leper and you still love me.    

I can’t thank you enough.

And my telephone table, well let’s just say my elbow was just on the mend when I turned the telephone table over while painting it and found a whole other panel of furniture staples. 

Pick, pick, pick.

One by one, I pull them out and it gives me more time to reflect on my eBay woes.

When I realized my store had been shut down, I was certain there was some mistake. 

Still, I had a feeling who had given me low ratings on the star system and I was certain this had contributed to my demise.

I had been in contact with a seller who had purchased a pair of Gap jeans from me.  These jeans were typical, nothing written inside the tag other then the size and material.

However, the customer emailed me when she received her package, outraged I had sent her a pair of Gap ankle jeans.  I emailed her back, groveling in the way us sellers do when we’re questioned about something we’ve sold and I offered her a full refund, including shipping costs.

Why did I offer her everything back?

Why was I so wimpy?

Because of eBay’s policies, I know I have no ground to stand on.  I’m literally teetering on a sinking ship.  If I refuse a refund to this customer, I’d receive negative feedback.  If I refuse to return shipping costs, I’d receive negative feedback.  I had learned it’s just easier to refund a customers money then to question/justify why their request isn't valid.

So I never questioned her supposed Ankle jeans, I didn’t even go there.

I refunded her money and although she left positive feedback, she left a low ranking on the star system for “item as described”.

I was kicked off eBay because of a pair of ankle jeans.

ANKLE JEANS!

Does anyone know what ankle jeans are?

I’d had 3 other instances like this one.

I’d sold a pair of Girl’s XL (size 16) overalls.  The customer was certain they would fit her toddler and when they didn’t she wanted a full refund, plus shipping.  I refunded all her money, but she left me poor star ratings.

I sold a blue cocktail dress.  The seller received it and said it was more navy then blue.

She left me poor star ratings.

Out of 563 sales in December, I had 7 poor ratings, note all were positive feedbacks, but the 8^th one pushed me into the point of no return.

Ankle Jeans strike me down!

Did I call eBay?

Did they listen to my concern?

It’s not like I was selling cats and sending out dogs.

I was selling Gap jeans that a customer interpreted as Ankle jeans.

“What I sell is so subjective,” I told the manager, certain he’d look through me emails, see all the money I’d refunded, recognize that I work with my customers in a professional way, but he didn’t do any of that.

He simply said because I’d preformed below standard, I could never sell on eBay again.

“Never,” I said, certain he’d misinformed me.

“Never,” he said.  “You’ll have to find some other venue to sell on.”

“What other venue?” I asked, knowing all too well there is no other website in the world like eBay.

“I can’t answer that,” he said, “But in this economy, eBay has to stay competitive with other on-line bidding sites.”

“I’ve never heard of any other on-line bidding sites,” I said, unsure what site could be giving eBay, a billion dollar company, a run for its money.

“eBay is getting strict and we only want the best of the best selling.  It sucks to be a manager because I’ve shut done thousands of accounts like yours because of this new star system, but this is the way it is.  And don't even think about opening another account.  If we find you, we'll shut you down again.”
I didn't realize eBay had it's own internal mofia?

I went around and around with this manager. 

I tried the “Please help me, I’m just a stay-at-home mom who’s making extra money for my family” card, the “I don’t understand, this is so confusing to me” card, the “I’ll report this to your supervisor” card, the “My mom’s a journalist and she’ll write about this injustice in the New York Times” card and nothing worked.

It was like dealing with the federal government.

My case was not looked at individually, basically a computer kicked me off because of one too many strikes.

Justice?

What would justify kicking someone off eBay.

Maybe if that person is a terrorist?

Yes, I can see kicking them off.

Embezzling money?

Stealing identification?

Hacking into other peoples accounts?

Selling drugs?

Auctioning off their toe nail clippings?

After my call with the manager, I was left wondering what happened.

I haven’t had a traffic ticket since I was 17.

I graduated Magna Cum Laude.

I qualify for a home loan.

I pay my taxes!

And I’m not just kicked off eBay for a time, but told I can never, ever sell on eBay again.

A part of my credibility is gone, forever!

“Where do I go from here,” I said to the counselor that night after I told him my sad story, my eBay gone wrong narrative, my account of belly-up trash.

“You always find a way,” he said, my own 6’5 Polish cheerleader.

“But honey, I write about eBay on my blog.  Kelly and I are finishing up the book My Dear Trash.  How can I possible do this if I’m banned from eBay?”

“You still have a story to tell and you still have other outlets to sell.”
Really?
Where else can I sell $1.00 day overalls for $40.00?

But, I know my husband is right and now I have to see which direction God wants me to go.

Maybe I’m staring at it in this telephone table.

Maybe I’m staring at it in my manuscript.

And maybe it’s staring back at me in 5 beautiful little faces.

It’s important to keep things in perspective.

Next week, I’ll share what I’ve learned and how you can protect yourself from eBay.

And, I’ll feature my telephone table because it’s just about done.