Back in 2006, eBay implemented the infamous Yellow Button debacle that I hate with such passion, I can’t discuss anymore and refer you here for details. Now I’m hearing from sellers that eBay recently updated the way invoicing works and there is much concern this will become YB2.0.
- A buyer wins/bin’s an item.
- Frequently the seller needs to send an invoice manually to the buyer to specify shipping or do combined shipping and what not.
- The buyer receives the invoice
- Frequently buyers will have a question and reply to the invoice
- The seller updates the invoice or answers Q and sends final invoice
- Transaction is consumated when the buyer pays the final invoice.
That’s how it used to work. Now eBay has evidently changed the system so that at step 3 above, instead of the email that goes to the buyer coming from the seller’s email address, it has been replaced with: “ebay@ebay.com” as the reply-to address.
“Hey, i’m really excited to get this item, but I’d like insurance, do you offer that?”
“I emailed 2 days ago about the item, I want to get it here quickly, but would like insurance.”
“HELLO, DO YOU OFFER INSURANCE”
“Please cancel my order your customer service stinks.”
“CANCEL ORDER”
“*C*A*N*C*E*L******”
(seller then files UPI, believing the buyer isn’t paying, buyer promptly leaves seller neg, all 1’s on DSR and orders the item somewhere else online because of frustration shopping on eBay.)
