Buyer demands partial refund

yankee · #1 10-22-2015

I have some new items that have a very different type of buyer than I am used to so I am running into new situations weekly.

I have a buyer who purchased a household item.
She is requesting a partial refund because the price is now lower that when she purchased four days ago.

How do you all handle this? What happens a month from now if the price possible dips further?

Thanks in advance for your experience!

ovidiu · #2 10-22-2015

You're not required to price match, even though Amazon itself will usually do it from what I remember.

RosieTosie · #3 10-22-2015

Well over here Amazon recommend or suggest that you match the price, more often than not the other seller just keeps dropping the price though if you go that route.

Gamefreak · #4 10-22-2015

tell her you do not price match but you will make a one time exception for her, to get her off your back of course... u don't want to piss off customers right before holiday season starts thats a big no no to amazon and they will ban you fast for stupid things.

yankee · #5 10-23-2015

Thanks guys. I appreciate it.

Taking The Micky · #6 10-23-2015

My take, sorry I don't price match but if you are not happy with your purchase you are more than welcome to return your item. This looks good for amazon, and off course the item won't be returned as they will have to pay for this.

yankee · #7 10-23-2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taking The Micky

My take, sorry I don't price match but if you are not happy with your purchase you are more than welcome to return your item. This looks good for amazon, and off course the item won't be returned as they will have to pay for this.

That was my approach.
I do not like to deal with people like this, next time, it will be worse, etc...

rsot · #8 10-23-2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by yankee

That was my approach.
I do not like to deal with people like this, next time, it will be worse, etc...

yankee is right - block this bidder also moving forward....why bother with a potential repeat offender

yankee · #9 10-23-2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by rsot

yankee is right - block this bidder also moving forward....why bother with a potential repeat offender

Can not block buyers on Amazon as far as I am aware.

Taking The Micky · #10 10-23-2015

You can't block buyer's on amazon. I guess RSOT has not had his morning coffee.

Kristy · #11 10-26-2015

Partial refund her fast!
Losing a few bucks is alot better than getting a nasty feedback that never goes away.
Having this may put your account under Amazon's microscope; no stealth account needs that.

newjerseymax · #12 10-26-2015

I always say:

"We lower our prices when suppliers lower prices to pass on those savings to you! Unfortunately at your time of purchase our cost was higher. However if you like to keep us on your watch list you can see further discounts in the future. Additionally if you like to purchase another one as a gift for friend or family we will of course honor the current price"... They usually say "Thank you!"

newjerseymax · #13 10-26-2015

As a side note: If I know this item sold in last 2-3 days I wont lower it because of that reason.

WarriorGoddess · #14 10-26-2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kristy

Partial refund her fast!
Losing a few bucks is alot better than getting a nasty feedback that never goes away.
Having this may put your account under Amazon's microscope; no stealth account needs that.

Make that customer happy.
It's better to lose a few bucks than to be "right".

mhhbizz · #15 10-26-2015

yes. its not worth it of having that negative feedback i dont think. especially if your stealth is new and requires a lot of feedback. unless you are a veteran and one negative doesnt affect you at all.

yankee · #16 10-26-2015

I could not care less about feedback per say. I will take a negative and a return if it came to that compared to dealing with someone who takes the extortion route.

I dont like dealing with these type of buyers at all and I discourage them from buying from me as nicely as I can.

Long story short, buyer has not requested a return and feedback is wonderful.

bjammin · #17 10-26-2015

Sometimes, you gotta keep your self respect and not let people take advantage of you. You are yankee, not walmart, despite her walmart mentality.

ovidiu · #18 10-26-2015

Absolutely. Too many people trying to copy Walmart or Amazon with their race to the bottom mentality (more Amazon's forte, however) without an inkling of the back end support it takes to drive such an organization. I am currently selling an item that retails for 280.00 on the manufacturer's website, but due to a lowballer on Amazon, I am struggling to sell these units at 140.00 each. Why throw away all that profit for nothing? Being the lowest price only attracts the nasty, sociopathic buyers who you don't want in the first place. Ironically, I've noticed a trend on both eBay and Amazon: those sellers with higher prices tend to have better feedback! The higher price paid for the item gives the buyer an emotional & personal commitment to the transaction and often makes them more amenable to working out problems amicably before resorting to scorched earth tactics.

Lowballing and gratuitous discounts / throwing cash at buyers left and right doesn't help anyone, in the end. It's a cheap, idiotic tactic because any moron can lower a price, but only smart sellers/suppliers can raise prices and create a support system of loyal buyers who keep the business happily afloat.

GhostOfAmazon · #19 10-30-2015

Just wanted to say:

I have a lot of respect for your viewpoint yankee. I'm glad I'm not the only one who's willing to take a hit for principles. I hate people who try to extort me. Back when I had only one account, my original, I would bend over backwards all the time for extortioners like this, but now that I have 7 different accounts running, I more or less tell people where they can shove it (nicely and professionally, as two of our members mention above).

Amazon can afford to kiss ass like this, because they sell pretty much every product that exists. Unless you have a comparable inventory, it's very unlikely this buyer will ever buy from you again, so who cares if she has a bad experience? Just my 2 cents.

Taking The Micky · #20 10-30-2015

One question, would amazon give a refund, No,No,No. Just act like amazon, they would offer a return at the best

yankee · #21 10-30-2015

I hoped she would return the item. I would charge the 20% restocking fee and make more profit. If it was opened I would charge Amazon's 50% suggested restocking fee and resell in 10 minutes as refurb.

I hate these type of buyers. I get a lot more of these selling in this new category. All is good though. Nothing personal and the bank accounts like it even when ripped off from time to time.