Set Realistic Expectations for your eBay customers

I believe that the one thing that makes a difference between a good and bad experience for buyers on eBay is the expectation set by the seller. When a buyer makes a purchase on eBay, they have nothing to go on for expectations except what you've told them in your descriptions and their past experiences buying online. And yes, I said 'online', not just eBay. As a seller, you don't know if your customers' past experiences were great and they have set high expectations for you, or whether they have had nothing but bad experiences and you can very easily wow them with a simple 'thank you'. So, being that the only factor that you have control over is what you are telling your customers, you simply must be very clear and realistic when telling your customers what to expect from you.

For example, if you only ship on the weekends, make sure this is stated plainly and clearly for the buyer. If they give you their money on Monday, and don't fully understand your policy, they will be upset that you didn't put their item in the mail until Saturday. Bitch and moan all you want after the fact about your "policy" but in the end it is your DSRs that are on the line. In a case like this, your best bet would be to, not only to have it in your description, but make sure to set up an automated response thanking them for their quick payment and that their item will be shipped out first thing on Saturday morning. This way they know exactly what to expect.

Example #2; If an item is used and is anything less than perfect condition, point out every flaw. Describe it accurately. Do not try to make it sound better than it really is because your customer will be let down when they open the package.

I'm sure I could go on and on here with examples, but it all boils back down to being realistic and clear about what your customers are expecting from you. If you tell them that you are going to give them the world... than you better have a plan to deliver.

---

Shameless self promotion:

Items for sale on eBay under user id Shelley-Faye

Items for sale on eBay under user id Love2DressUp

Items for sale on Etsy under user id KitschyAprons

One more for the "what not to do" list, this time from Amazon

I made my very first purchase on Amazon last month on the 12th. I bought a 'How to' book about re-constructing t-shirts. I was super excited for this book and have a stack of T-shirts that I want to work with. When shopping online, eBay is always my first stop but I couldn't find a copy of this particular book from a seller with a reputation that I was comfortable with so, I ventured off the site.
I quickly found the book I was looking for and found it at a reasonable price, so I bought it.
On Thursday, I'm staring at this pile of t-shirts wondering where my book is since it had been 14 business days.
I look up the tracking and it tells me that I shouldn't panic yet because it is still within the "window" of time for delivery. Apparently, 16 business days is the time it should take to deliver a book.
So, I click out and find something else to do. No big deal.
The next day I get an email from the seller I purchased from on Amazon:
"I received your book back to me. The address was slightly wrong. I'm sending it again but this time priority"
Maybe I'm too nit-picky, but shouldn't I have gotten an apology? or at least an admission of making a mistake? "the address was slightly wrong"? What does that mean? My address isn't wrong. The seller made a mistake labeling it.

Please, people, we are all human. We make mistakes. Just like we tell our kids, tell the truth and own up to your mistakes. Say you are sorry if you need to.

Here is the Book I'm still waiting to get. Even though I'm annoyed, I'm still very very excited to get it! :)