We sold items on Amazon that were computer parts at wholesale prices. They were the parts only, the items required software. Computer part with software would go from $39.99 to $59.99 depending on the software you bought. Basically, all parts are the same but you pay for software, some are better than others and cost more.
We sold the computer items only, we stated that the items came with their correct drivers but because we sold them between $6.99 - $9.99 for the part, we stated that the item was as is and that it required software and this was up to the customer to provide software. They have options from 7 companies that had online software available from $24.99 - $39.99 to work with the hardware for example. We even gave links to some free open source software that would work.
To finish our case, we had MANY MANY customers write that the hardware we sold did NOT work because they did not have software. Or that the cd we sold (which had drivers only) would not work with the cable. This was true because to use the cable the customer would need software.
What happened is that even though the item title and description said that software was required and not included, we were getting the blame for customers incompetence. Customers would leave negative feedback stating over and over that the supplied software, or the lack of software would not work with the item. This contradicts the first line and title of the item.
So, Amazon banned us with over $12,400 in the account because of bad seller performace. It was due to a rash of negatives being left within a week during the pre-christmas rush of 2007. What happened is more people thought they were buying a $50 (average) kit for $7 and were upset it still required software and felt ripped off.
All appeals to Amazon went unheard and we were told to state that items did not include software, also Amazon violated their own contract because they let sellers leave us dozens of negative feedbacks for an item bought outside of the auction and our sale with them. This item was software, yet all feedbacks state that the item did not come with software and that the free software links provided did not work. They refused to acknowledge this and base our rating off of the false feedbacks.
We filed suite against Amazon for the amount owed plus the amount lost each day in sales ($1200 average of a 5 month period). That amount keeps adding up each day. We'll see where it goes.
Advice to others, sell on Amazon, use it as much as you can, but be prepared for them to ban you and steal everything you have at any point.
0 comments