My Holiday Ebay Rant

Ahh, another Christmas is complete, my holiday shopping is nearly done and as I sit here and nastalgitate, I'm left feeling bitter (yet again) about my Ebay shopping experience. Sure, I got those hard to find items that were sold out and I even found a couple of things that I didn't even know existed but, really, I feel like Ebay doesn't give a shit about the holiday consumer. Specifically, I take into question this whole antiquated positive ranking system by which we judge whether or not we should purchase an item from a seller. For instance, if I buy from a seller and immediately pay with PayPal that seller has no obligation to give me a positive feedback...they have my money in their account and yet there is no requirement to give me a positive rating on the transaction. I've bought over sixty things on Ebay and about half have given me any rating at all and none, not a single one, has given me a rating before I gave them one. Sixteen transactions using PayPal, which is instantaneous money into each seller's account, and everyone of them (every damn one!) has waited for me to give them positive feedback before they gave it to me. That's insane. Ebay promotes the fact that you can haggle the price and WIN an item but nowhere do they say you have to compliment the seller before you deserve the same (and oftentimes that won't compliment you back although you gave them the money days before they gave you the item. I know I already said that but I'm ranting!). Let's take this situation to the real word and since it's the holidays let's shop at a store we only go into when it's near Christmas time: Radio Shack.

Radio Shack dude: Hello, sir, my name is Derek. can I help you find something?

Customer: Yes, Derek, I'm actually looking for a game chair.

Derek: A game chair? Do you mean a chair game?

Customer: No, it's a chair that plugs into your Xbox or something.....I don't know my sister....

Derek: Oh, well, we have some Xbox stuff over here....but nothing about chairs I don't think.

Customer: No, this is a real chair that plugs into your game thingey and plays the sound I guess.

Derek: Oh, ahhhh, let me get Todd. He's the manager.

Customer's Wife: Let's just go to Sears and pay the eighty dollars.

Customer: No, no, he's getting Todd. Todd's the manager.

Todd: Sir, I'm Todd, the store manager, and we don't have what you want in stock but if you give me a second I think we can order it for you.

Customer: That's fine but I don't want to pay more tha sixty dollars, Todd, and I want free shipping?

Customer's Wife: Free shipping? Why do you want free shipping?

Customer: Shut up! I'm caught up in the moment here!

Todd: Sir, if you would just give me a second.

Customer: Alright, Todd, but time is running out because Sears closes in twenty minutes.

Ten minutes later.

Todd: Sir, you have your chair! There was only one left and I got it for fifty dollars and with free shipping! How would you like to pay?

Customer: Very good! Just put it on my card, Todd, my boy!

Todd swipes the card and places the order.

Todd: Alright, sir, if you would just fill out this survey stating that you had an absolutely fabulous experience at Radio Shack today I can complete this transaction.

Customer: Survey? But I just completed the transaction. I paid for the item.

Todd: Yes, sir, you did.....but you still need to complete the survey. Just answer "absolutely fabulous" to everything and all will just be fine.

Customer: Oh, alright.

Customer fills out survey and gets to the comment line.

Customer: Should I put something here Todd?

Todd: You don't have to but I would recommend: Great seller!! Super communication!! Buy with confidence!! A++++++++++

Customer's Wife: We should have just gotten it at Sears.