eBay: The Missing Manual

Common Problems

If you sell on eBay, be prepared to deal with the problems that come with the territory. Most transactions go smoothly, but there are a few common problems that, sooner or later, all eBay sellers face. Knowing about them ahead of time will help you deal with them better.

Miscommunication

One of the biggest causes of negative feedback is miscommunication. Over and over again, those little red circles indicating negative feedback precede comments like "Never answered emails." So a simple way to avoid negs is to do your best to be in touch with your buyer every step of the way. Good communication assures both sides that a transaction is going smoothly.

What if you're communicating but the buyer isn't answering? Your email, or the buyer's, may be getting stuck in a spam filter. Spam filters are great at cutting down on electronic junk mail, but they sometimes catch emails you want to read. Check your spam filter regularly before you toss the accumulated junk mail. You might find a note from your buyer.

If you suspect that your emails are getting trapped in the buyer's spam filter, try sending a message through eBay. On your My eBay page, click the buyer's ID to go to their member profile. Click the Contact Member button, and then send a message. Sometimes, messages that go through eBay escape the spam filter that traps other emails. Messages sent through eBay will also appear in the My Messages section of the recipient's My eBay page.

If you still can't get an answer, the ...