Reading comprehension

cosmicray · Posts: 7286

When the listing says ...

FoxAndFish · Posts: 1585

school-yearbooks · Posts: 2477

.
I don't know what your item actually was but as an example I'll use books ...

EB has 5 different item conditions for books ... BRAND NEW, LIKE NEW, VERY GOOD, GOOD, and ACCEPTABLE

Brand New

A new, unread, unused book in perfect condition with no missing or damaged pages. See the seller's listing for full details.

Like New

A book that looks new but has been read. Cover has no visible wear, and the dust jacket (if applicable) is included for hard covers. No missing or damaged pages, no creases or tears, and no underlining/highlighting of text or writing in the margins. May have very minimal identifying marks on the inside cover. Very minimal wear and tear. See the seller’s listing for full details and description of any imperfections.

Many buyers confuse the LIKE NEW and BRAND NEW descriptions. It's always better to describe slightly iffy items as 'like new' as opposed to 'brand new'. Otherwise you're open for some buyers to want a refund.

We discussed a similar item and item description here recently .. a pair of red suede boots that the seller insisted to list as new but the boots had a stain of some sort.

.

cosmicray · Posts: 7286

@FoxAndFish

The buyer already placed the order (I should have been more clear about this). They put the above requirement in the notes section of the order. There was no communication prior to placing the order.

The notation I have on the listing is to communicate to the buyers not to expect a sealed box.

About a month back, I had an order for one of these. The listing used to say "New & sealed". When I filled that order, I had to look thru several to find a sealed copy. Following that order, and knowing that I have some with failed seals, I changed the listing to reflect this.

From my perspective, the customer is trying to upgrade from what was offered to best possible condition (i.e. cherry picking the remaining inventory). I have an FAQ item that speaks to this situation.

@school-yearbooks

The item is a LEGO set, about 15 years since it was issued. The more years that pass (since issued) the more buyers seem to think they need perfect condition boxes.

ETA: unlike books, LEGO set boxes do not necessarily age well. The factory never envisioned that they would be held this long. Some of the older ones have a plastic seal over the flap. The seals deteriorate with age and handling. In some cases, the adhesive on the seal stops sticking. Other sets had a glued seal. I have seen those fail as well.

school-yearbooks · Posts: 2477

.

Maybe sellers can minimize item description errors and customer cherry-picking if they do not elude to a quantity of more than one item availble for sale in the listing? I suppose the problem with that tactic has a flaw as a buyer may want more than one set/box of same Legos.

When creating item descriptions sometimes it's best to gear them to the buyers that only scan the descriptions. By placing the description of the condition in more place in the ad seems to help reduce the amount of misunderstood buyers. Maybe you do that already.

Selling online is a real pain.

.

FoxAndFish · Posts: 1585

MaggietheCatsMeows · Posts: 2853

I would take a photo of the seal and send it to the buyer for approval. That way you do not have to worry about future aggravation. That also gives the buyer the option to back out of the deal if the seal does not meet their criteria.

Otherwise I agree with other posters that you indicate in the listing that you have some perfectly sealed boxes. They have requested a perfectly sealed box and if you have it you should send it.

I really don't understand the collector mentality of buying mint in sealed box items and stacking them on a shelf and the only satisfaction they get from ownership is knowing they have it. It's sort of akin to getting a large perfect diamond as an engagement ring and putting it in a safe deposit box in the bank or people who buy stolen old masters and hide them so no one else can ever see them or even know they have them.

AtMemoryLane · Posts: 510

Some people that collect xyz, actually value the box of the xyz more than the actual item. It is crazy...but everyone collects something. I know of people that ONLY collect the boxes of xyz. In fact, they have no desire for the actual item whatsoever.

Each to his own, I guess.

Either way, Cosmic. I think you got yourself in a bit of sticky situation....and like others have said, you may have created the problem yourself. I am sorry, you find yourself in this predicament. It kind of stinks.

Good Luck!

MoonwishesStore · moderator Posts: 17389

I find myself in this type of situation since I source inventory from many places including the factory to a yard sale/thrift stores. At times that means I may have several of the same items in the same size but perhaps different envelope conditions. As I only sell new, unused patterns as most of my customers are wanting the pattern for what is inside the envelope, not the envelope itself. So I have taken to saying (don't have the exact script in front of me right now) that my items comes from many sources and the while most are in pristine condition, some envelopes may have tears, marks, etc. but I will send the BEST condition item when they buy. Since I'm the only one that is into my inventory I can arrange that, but if I notice that the last remaining pattern has a really messy envelope I will change the listing to indicate what condition it is in. But in the meantime I always cherry pick the BEST pattern for a current buyer.

I would think all of us would or would want to do that when we have duplicate items. It is hard to know how to handle having the same thing in multiple different conditions that affect the value of what you are selling such as books. If nothing else and you don't want two listings for sealed and not sealed, then if possible list the sealed until they are gone and then change the listing to unsealed. If you have a database of your products, you should be able to leave yourself a note so you can relist items when you are out of the sealed (or whatever condition problem) are gone and the others can now be listed. Or Post it notes might work.

dccollectibles · Posts: 2760

Are all the non-sealed boxes in the same condition as the sealed? If so and they're asking for sealed, i would honor the request. if not, i would inform them of the diff. What they say next will tell you if they're a box collector or just want to be the first to open. Don't get me started on the AFA grading madness.

theartsandlettersofmaggiethecat · Posts: 2099

Moonwishes I've been told that some people who buy vintage patterns don't even want the pattern. They just want the envelopes.

MoonwishesStore · moderator Posts: 17389

Never heard of anyone collecting envelopes, but if they do I suspect it would be for the much older ones (vintage) than what I usually sell. Those vintage patterns that came cut, to be sure they haven't been used and are all there means you have to take everything out and then do a piece count and then manage to get them all folded back up looking like it is still in factory folds. In the amount of time it takes me to do that, I can list several other patterns. I have a box of vintage ones to list for when I finish listing all my 1000's of patterns in my backlog. That being said all my listings say (or should say, I might have missed some) that there might be wear and tear on the envelope. Plus I might get even more specific. I've yet to have anyone ask about an envelope or complain about them. I do hear from them if a piece or they think a piece is missing! See the giggle thread.

Zonkers-Collection · Posts: 25

How about:
"New, Unopened. But due to age, box seals are drying-out, or brittle"
This would imply they may fail at any time, or may during shipment.

I would cancel this transaction as this customer sounds like a problem... er.. i mean "high maintainence".

Zonkers-Collection · Posts: 25

I know of some cerial box collecters who prefer flat, empty boxes, rather than the posability of rotting cerial degrading the box,

I collected a few for the holograms.
I got bitched at by a few potential buyers for having kept them unopened for 20+ years. But they got bought by folks who appreciated the MINT condition.
Go figure.

tigercreekgifts · Posts: 6293