Every now and then, it happens. I complain about eBay on Twitter and I get the inevitable tweet from someone random telling me that they are boycotting either buying, selling or both on eBay. Ditto to some random blog post. I’ll be reading and some person will end their comment with something like, I’m boycotting eBay!
I try to be nice but I am mentally going, um. . . congratulations?
Why do they think I (or anyone else) care? I guess that they are assuming that, if I am complaining about eBay, I must be boycotting it as well and they are looking to commiserate.
Are they looking for attention? A fight? I’m not talking about an exchange like this Person 1: “Well, why don’t you buy it on eBay”, Person 2: “Oh, I don’t like to shop on eBay.” That is the relevant exchange of information. I’m talking about people who just have to do the internet equivalent of running up to a stranger and doing the grade school, “I’m not touching you.”
Are they trying to make it seem like everyone is boycotting eBay? Like if they say it enough, I’ll be totally brainwashed and be like, OMG these sales I am making must be imaginary, let me quit eBay right now! Because a random person telling me they are boycotting eBay convinces me of nothing other than I feel a little bit bad for them that they felt the need to write to a stranger and tell them that. You cannot start a rumor with a few bitter berries. We can tell they are bitter berries, there is nothing wrong with our taste buds.
Let’s talk about my husband and McDonalds for a minute. There was a McDonalds right next to his apartment before we were married and he would eat there whenever he got home from a very late night at work as they were the only place open. He rather enjoyed eating there and they were cheap. He was a single guy, this is how they survive in the wild, as I understand it. (He’s really skinny too, it’s massively annoying.)
One day he went to the drive-thru and they said, Sorry, sir, but we are out of buns. They offered him fries and other items but informed him that he could not have a sandwich. He drove off in a fit and proceeded to boycott them for months. Seriously, months. He would drive out of his way to go to other fast food chains. He would tell anyone that asked about the boycott. He was really, legitimately mad at McDonalds. For being out of buns. That ONE time.
And that is why, today, McDonalds is out of business.
Oh wait, you mean they aren’t out of business?
Seriously, people telling me they are boycotting eBay is just like my husband’s bun-less trip to McDonalds. I get it. It was the principle of the thing. He wanted a burger, they had no buns. You wanted eBay to be free and mail you chocolate every day, they didn’t (or whatever you are mad at eBay for). If it is something you want to do to as an exercise for your own reasons, more power to you.
I totally 100% support your decision to shop or sell elsewhere. Different strokes for different folks, as they say. But running around telling people about it just wrecks of pathetic attention seeking.
Yes, dear, I get it. McDonalds was out of buns that one time so they are the devil. No, you don’t sound insane at all harping about this all the time.
PS: I was proof-reading this email and my husband came in and was reading it over my shoulder. As he read the part about himself, he started to rant, “But seriously, why were they open if they had no buns?” LOL
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Totally agree. People should promote the venue they're selling on, and stop acting like a bad ex-spouse stalker. Let the healing begin! LOL!
🙂 Absolutely right!
p.s. what's wrong with a MacBurger without the bun? the bun is like polystyrene anyway… sorry, I do KNOW this isn't the purpose of the post, but like, well, could you ask your old man what the fun of the bun is?
I agree with your views and your sentiment…it is nerve racking. HOWEVER do not miss the BIG PICTURE here and the lesson learned….
It only took 1 bad incident to cause your husband to tell anyone that listens that he is NOT doing business with Micky D's. After years of great service and a full belly, one transaction and suddenly they were the devil.
Keep this in mind for your customers as a vendor. We small vendors, don't have billions served and that one unsatisfied customer can really do harm to our small operations. SO in the shadow of a HUGH conglomerate like eBay or Mc Donalds that seems frivolous. But it is really the determination of a mistreated customer that is the REAL lesson here.
A satisfied customer will return and might tell nobody….an unsatisfied customer will never return and tell EVERYBODY. That is what is really going on. They actually “care” enough to tell others about their negative experience. This is why “bad news travels fast”, it has willing carriers 🙂
John (ColderICE)
http://www.ColderICE.com
PMSL @ your husband and the buns.
You make me recall a conversation I had with another seller:
Them: … and I'm joining the seller strike on such a day. We all need to stand together and tell eBay their fees are too high.
Me: I think self-employed people striking is crazy. eBay won't care, the only people who will lose out are ourselves.
Them: Oh, I won't lose out, I'll just list twice as much the day before.
Riiiiiight.
The point of the McDonalds story was that his so called boycott lasted for a short time and then he went right back.
But that is the point of this whole post. I understand if unhappy sellers are trying to get the word out about the fact that they are unhappy but telling me, a satisfied seller, is pointless. Tell eBay. Tell people who are thinking of selling on eBay.
Telling someone who is succeeding on eBay that you aren't is just dumb.
Don't forget how I started the comment 🙂 I agree with your views and your sentiment…it is nerve racking.
Don’t forget how I started the comment 🙂 I agree with your views and your sentiment…it is nerve racking.