Question:
Does anyone know how this mediation service works? I have a bidder who insists I owe them merchandise, and the next thing I know I got an e-mail from Square Trade saying he had contacted them and they were contacting me to see if we could reach a resolution. I’m wondering if they are above board or not. My position is unyielding regarding the merchandise, but I’m considering participating anyway just to placate the guy so I can try preserve my spotless feedback rating. But what I can’t figure out is a) what, if anything, does the Square Trade service cost and b) does merely replying with my point of view obligate me to anything? I’d appreciate any help you guys could provide. Thanks.
Response:
I can’t answer your questions, but I do remember that a poster to this newsgroup had a negative experience working with Square Trade. He had sold an antique sword to someone who was not satisfied with it. He agreed to accept the return but upon receipt, saw that the buyer had ruined the sword by polishing it and "restoring" it in an amateurish fashion. He refused to refund the person’s money as the sword had been made worthless. The Square Trade "mediator" (I use this term loosely, as I am a trained mediator for my workplace and mediators are not supposed to take sides)basically insisted that the seller refund the money. The seller refused repeatedly (I think 3 times) to refund the money before the Square Trade "mediator" finally backed down. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Does anyone know how this mediation service works? I have a bidder who insists I owe them merchandise, and the next thing I know I got an e-mail from Square Trade saying he had contacted them and they were contacting me to see if we could reach a resolution. I’m wondering if they are above board or not. My position is unyielding regarding the merchandise, but I’m considering participating anyway just to placate the guy so I can try preserve my spotless feedback rating. But what I can’t figure out is a) what, if anything, does the Square Trade service cost and b) does merely replying with my point of view obligate me to anything? I’d appreciate any help you guys could provide. Thanks.
Response:
Had some buyer use it on me. Refuse to deal with any 3rd party. Also these fools sold my email for spam purposes. Do not recommend. says… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Does anyone know how this mediation service works? I have a bidder who insists I owe them merchandise, and the next thing I know I got an e-mail from Square Trade saying he had contacted them and they were contacting me to see if we could reach a resolution. I’m wondering if they are above board or not. My position is unyielding regarding the merchandise, but I’m considering participating anyway just to placate the guy so I can try preserve my spotless feedback rating. But what I can’t figure out is a) what, if anything, does the Square Trade service cost and b) does merely replying with my point of view obligate me to anything? I’d appreciate any help you guys could provide. Thanks.
Response:
Also these fools sold my email for spam purposes.
OMG. Talk about adding insult to injury. — "…. And the facts are that thousands of small businesses–Hispanically owned or otherwise–pay taxes at the highest marginal rate."– your President, to the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce; Washington, D.C.; March 19, 2001 – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Had some buyer use it on me. Refuse to deal with any 3rd party. Do not recommend. says… Does anyone know how this mediation service works? I have a bidder who insists I owe them merchandise, and the next thing I know I got an e-mail from Square Trade saying he had contacted them and they were contacting me to see if we could reach a resolution. I’m wondering if they are above board or not. My position is unyielding regarding the merchandise, but I’m considering participating anyway just to placate the guy so I can try preserve my spotless feedback rating. But what I can’t figure out is a) what, if anything, does the Square Trade service cost and b) does merely replying with my point of view obligate me to anything? I’d appreciate any help you guys could provide. Thanks.
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Had some buyer use it on me. Refuse to deal with any 3rd party. Also these fools sold my email for spam purposes. Do not recommend. says… Does anyone know how this mediation service works? I have a bidder who insists I owe them merchandise, and the next thing I know I got an e-mail from Square Trade saying he had contacted them and they were contacting me to see if we could reach a resolution. I’m wondering if they are above board or not. My position is unyielding regarding the merchandise, but I’m considering participating anyway just to placate the guy so I can try preserve my spotless feedback rating. But what I can’t figure out is a) what, if anything, does the Square Trade service cost and b) does merely replying with my point of view obligate me to anything? I’d appreciate any help you guys could provide. Thanks.
I had an experience with them. A buyer contacted them 5 days after his payment was received, claiming I didnt deliver. He refused to believe his payment was postmarked quite some time after he claimed he mailed it. NOthing would convince him. They will take any case, they dont seem to weed out obvious frivilous stuff. Also, you must open an account, etc. thus the sale of email etc. I wouldnt let some stranger in on my deals either. When you are in the right, why complicate the matter. If you are in the wrong, you dont need somebody to tell you. For the grey areas, follow your own conscience. Oh yes, the buyer did get his stuff and went oddly silent, no apology, no acknowlegement, no brains.
Response:
"JK" wrote Please educate me about all this. Is this the only way to get a neg removed?
Nope. http://pages.ebay.com/help/community/fbremove.html
Response:
Please educate me about all this. Is this the only way to get a neg removed? Do you have to pay $20 bucks to join, or is it $20 bucks for each case? Thanks It’s twenty bucks for each case, and it doesn’t work if the person who left the neg contests its removal, and as it’s technically mediation they are contacted about the matter. What happens if they have dropped off the face of the earth and eBay NARUd them becuase the email contact bounced? Does that count as "not contesting"?
Dunno–they just changed their policy on this and I’m not quite clear on it. Check it out and see what you think. How about using Sqaure Trade to remove a neg that I sent and now regret?
How about it? I imagine that if you pay $20 to remove your own neg, the recipient’s pretty likely to agree, don’t you? Deborah Stevenson
Response:
How about using Sqaure Trade to remove a neg that I sent and now regret? How about it? I imagine that if you pay $20 to remove your own neg, the recipient’s pretty likely to agree, don’t you?
Sorry, this came out sounding snide and I didn’t mean it that way. I suspect that the other part would be thrilled, and I think it’s very classy of you to explore the option. Deborah Stevenson
Response:
So it cost me 20 bux to get it removed. We pay for the buyers stupidity.
Sorry, but anyone who would pay SquareTrade $20 to remove a neg is the stupid one. What a ripoff. If you get an unfair neg you can always respond and let people know your side of the story. A good response can turn a neg into a positive.
Response:
Please educate me about all this. Is this the only way to get a neg removed? Do you have to pay $20 bucks to join, or is it $20 bucks for each case? Thanks
It’s twenty bucks for each case, and it doesn’t work if the person who left the neg contests its removal, and as it’s technically mediation they are contacted about the matter. There are a few grounds for getting a neg removed just by request (personal information included in the neg, that kind of thing), but not many. Deborah Stevenson
Response:
Please educate me about all this. Is this the only way to get a neg removed? Do you have to pay $20 bucks to join, or is it $20 bucks for each case? Thanks
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m paying the $20 to get that neg removed that a bidder gave me because he had a problem that he never bothered to tell me about. It went something like this. E-mail from me to bidder. "Why do you neg me" Reply: I didn’t want to bother with a e-mail and I cleaned up the item anyway. Me: "Would you be willing to remove the feedback ?" Reply: "Sure" Contact Square Trade and file a case, they contact the bidder. He says: "I’m cool, remove the negative" Square Trade says: $20 please for a mediator so we can remove the feedback. . All the mediator has to do is read the case file and he’s done, what a bargain. <g — Studebaker On the Net http://stude.com 58 Transtar Pickup 64 R1 GT Hawk 63 R2 GT Hawk/4 speed 63 R1 GT Hawk/4 speed 63 Avanti R3 clone 62 Lark 4 door 62 Daytonas HT/4 speed 56 Golden Hawk 55 President Speedster
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m paying the $20 to get that neg removed that a bidder gave me because he had a problem that he never bothered to tell me about. It went something like this. E-mail from me to bidder. "Why do you neg me" Reply: I didn’t want to bother with a e-mail and I cleaned up the item anyway. Me: "Would you be willing to remove the feedback ?" Reply: "Sure" Contact Square Trade and file a case, they contact the bidder. He says: "I’m cool, remove the negative" Square Trade says: $20 please for a mediator so we can remove the feedback. . All the mediator has to do is read the case file and he’s done, what a bargain. <g — Studebaker On the Net http://stude.com 58 Transtar Pickup 64 R1 GT Hawk 63 R2 GT Hawk/4 speed 63 R1 GT Hawk/4 speed 63 Avanti R3 clone 62 Lark 4 door 62 Daytonas HT/4 speed 56 Golden Hawk 55 President Speedster I know I had to do it also. Instead of the dude telling me that 1 battery was bad in an item, he negs me, I would have mailed him new batteries no prob if he asked, So it cost me 20 bux to get it removed. We pay for the buyers stupidity. What about sellers that don’t check the batteries before sending items to the buyers????
Normally I do, but this product was bubble wrapped and I know people dont like getting "open" items, kind of defeats the "new in package" logo. But Since I just mail out new batteries with each one now.
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m paying the $20 to get that neg removed that a bidder gave me because he had a problem that he never bothered to tell me about. It went something like this. E-mail from me to bidder. "Why do you neg me" Reply: I didn’t want to bother with a e-mail and I cleaned up the item anyway. Me: "Would you be willing to remove the feedback ?" Reply: "Sure" Contact Square Trade and file a case, they contact the bidder. He says: "I’m cool, remove the negative" Square Trade says: $20 please for a mediator so we can remove the feedback. . All the mediator has to do is read the case file and he’s done, what a bargain. <g — Studebaker On the Net http://stude.com 58 Transtar Pickup 64 R1 GT Hawk 63 R2 GT Hawk/4 speed 63 R1 GT Hawk/4 speed 63 Avanti R3 clone 62 Lark 4 door 62 Daytonas HT/4 speed 56 Golden Hawk 55 President Speedster I know I had to do it also. Instead of the dude telling me that 1 battery was bad in an item, he negs me, I would have mailed him new batteries no prob if he asked, So it cost me 20 bux to get it removed. We pay for the buyers stupidity.
What about sellers that don’t check the batteries before sending items to the buyers????
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m paying the $20 to get that neg removed that a bidder gave me because he had a problem that he never bothered to tell me about. It went something like this. E-mail from me to bidder. "Why do you neg me" Reply: I didn’t want to bother with a e-mail and I cleaned up the item anyway. Me: "Would you be willing to remove the feedback ?" Reply: "Sure" Contact Square Trade and file a case, they contact the bidder. He says: "I’m cool, remove the negative" Square Trade says: $20 please for a mediator so we can remove the feedback. . All the mediator has to do is read the case file and he’s done, what a bargain. <g — Studebaker On the Net http://stude.com 58 Transtar Pickup 64 R1 GT Hawk 63 R2 GT Hawk/4 speed 63 R1 GT Hawk/4 speed 63 Avanti R3 clone 62 Lark 4 door 62 Daytonas HT/4 speed 56 Golden Hawk 55 President Speedster
Bargain? No, I’d call it a scam. What a scam! Scott
Response:
Although, I understand your situation with buyers quick to neg instead of ask for assistance. I find Square Trade an unnecessary business (ripe off service) and will never deal with them. If you ever us them to complain about someone, Square Trade will tell them that they have to signup to defend themselves. Many will choose not to join and ignore you. Square Trade does not have any power, it’s just there to sell reverse negatives.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m paying the $20 to get that neg removed that a bidder gave me because he had a problem that he never bothered to tell me about. It went something like this. E-mail from me to bidder. "Why do you neg me" Reply: I didn’t want to bother with a e-mail and I cleaned up the item anyway. Me: "Would you be willing to remove the feedback ?" Reply: "Sure" Contact Square Trade and file a case, they contact the bidder. He says: "I’m cool, remove the negative" Square Trade says: $20 please for a mediator so we can remove the feedback. . All the mediator has to do is read the case file and he’s done, what a bargain. <g — Studebaker On the Net http://stude.com 58 Transtar Pickup 64 R1 GT Hawk 63 R2 GT Hawk/4 speed 63 R1 GT Hawk/4 speed 63 Avanti R3 clone 62 Lark 4 door 62 Daytonas HT/4 speed 56 Golden Hawk 55 President Speedster
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m paying the $20 to get that neg removed that a bidder gave me because he had a problem that he never bothered to tell me about. It went something like this. E-mail from me to bidder. "Why do you neg me" Reply: I didn’t want to bother with a e-mail and I cleaned up the item anyway. Me: "Would you be willing to remove the feedback ?" Reply: "Sure" Contact Square Trade and file a case, they contact the bidder. He says: "I’m cool, remove the negative" Square Trade says: $20 please for a mediator so we can remove the feedback. . All the mediator has to do is read the case file and he’s done, what a bargain. <g — Studebaker On the Net http://stude.com 58 Transtar Pickup 64 R1 GT Hawk 63 R2 GT Hawk/4 speed 63 R1 GT Hawk/4 speed 63 Avanti R3 clone 62 Lark 4 door 62 Daytonas HT/4 speed 56 Golden Hawk 55 President Speedster
I know I had to do it also. Instead of the dude telling me that 1 battery was bad in an item, he negs me, I would have mailed him new batteries no prob if he asked, So it cost me 20 bux to get it removed. We pay for the buyers stupidity.
Response:
I’m paying the $20 to get that neg removed that a bidder gave me because he had a problem that he never bothered to tell me about. It went something like this. E-mail from me to bidder. "Why do you neg me" Reply: I didn’t want to bother with a e-mail and I cleaned up the item anyway. Me: "Would you be willing to remove the feedback ?" Reply: "Sure" Contact Square Trade and file a case, they contact the bidder. He says: "I’m cool, remove the negative" Square Trade says: $20 please for a mediator so we can remove the feedback. . All the mediator has to do is read the case file and he’s done, what a bargain. <g — Studebaker On the Net http://stude.com 58 Transtar Pickup 64 R1 GT Hawk 63 R2 GT Hawk/4 speed 63 R1 GT Hawk/4 speed 63 Avanti R3 clone 62 Lark 4 door 62 Daytonas HT/4 speed 56 Golden Hawk 55 President Speedster
Response:
Its coming to the end of my membership with Square Trade and soon I’ll have to pay another $75 or whatever it was for another year. What I want to know is, does anyone think Square Trade is worth it? Does it really increase bids? Mike
Response:
NO
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Its coming to the end of my membership with Square Trade and soon I’ll have to pay another $75 or whatever it was for another year. What I want to know is, does anyone think Square Trade is worth it? Does it really increase bids? Mike
Response:
Its coming to the end of my membership with Square Trade and soon I’ll have to pay another $75 or whatever it was for another year. What I want to know is, does anyone think Square Trade is worth it? Does it really increase bids? Mike
And in case you missed that last one NO! You can send me $50 if you like and I will make you a logo for "round trade, protect yourself as a bidder with round trade" and I will do exactly what square trade does… NOTHING!
Response:
Its coming to the end of my membership with Square Trade and soon I’ll have to pay another $75 or whatever it was for another year. What I want to know is, does anyone think Square Trade is worth it? Does it really increase bids?
It’s actually a negative indicator to me … I figger if a seller signs up for SquareTrade it probably means that they’ve had problem transactionss in the past that have required arbitration to resolve. I’d rather deal with sellers who resolve problems without having to resort to arbitration … For the record, I’ve never used ST as either a buyer or a seller, and hope never to have to do so … — P. O. Box 32541 website: http://www.kenbarr.com San Jose, CA 95152 (souvenir cards, MPC, Hickey Bros tokens) 408-272-3247 Next show: ANA Baltimore 7/30 – 8/3 Table #1626 w/ FCG ADVANCED NOTICE: ANA World’s Fair of Money, San Jose, CA 7/27-31/2005
Response:
It’s actually a negative indicator to me … I figger if a seller signs up for SquareTrade it probably means that they’ve had problem transactionss in the past that have required arbitration to resolve. I’d rather deal with sellers who resolve problems without having to resort to arbitration … For the record, I’ve never used ST as either a buyer or a seller, and hope never to have to do so …
I never thought about it like that and I have never used it either, I have once had someone start a square trade transaction with me so I called him up and asked what the problem was and resolved it within a minute or two. If you want to spend $75 a year get a toll free number, I have one and the service is generally free and the only cost is the minutes (I pay $.07 minute CAN, about $.05 US) which at $75 is 1500 minutes (300 5 minute calls!) and it also instills a lot of confidence in buyers when they see that you have a toll free number listed on every one of your auctions and they can call you anytime. I use much more than 1500 minutes a year but I also have over 1000 items up at any given time and do a lot of non-ebay sales through it as well. later d
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Its coming to the end of my membership with Square Trade and soon I’ll have to pay another $75 or whatever it was for another year. What I want to know is, does anyone think Square Trade is worth it? Does it really increase bids? It’s actually a negative indicator to me … I figger if a seller signs up for SquareTrade it probably means that they’ve had problem transactionss in the past that have required arbitration to resolve. I’d rather deal with sellers who resolve problems without having to resort to arbitration …
Yeah… I’m more worried when I see the logo than when I don’t. For the reason above…. AND I tend to feel that if someone feels they have to use Square Trade to make themselves look legit, there may be something fishy. For the record, I’ve never used ST as either a buyer or a seller, and hope never to have to do so …
Same here. Mike, save your money. Things that increase bids are: good merchandise good & accurate descriptions letting bidders know shipping costs up front good pictures good feedback friendly terms (i.e. avoid threats about deadbeat bidders and the like.) several payment options Cynthia
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Its coming to the end of my membership with Square Trade and soon I’ll have to pay another $75 or whatever it was for another year. What I want to know is, does anyone think Square Trade is worth it? Does it really increase bids? Mike
Squaretrade (in my humble opinion) is one big fat joke. Their concept is great; however, they really are never there when the buyer or seller needs them. The mediation program sucks all-together. Put your $75 toward some more listings; I GUARANTEE you that $75 worth of listings are going to have a greater return-on-investment than the $75 paid to Squaretrade. Think about it… No, they do NOT increase bids. Been there, done that….
Response:
I feel its worthless since they took away the "$750 Buyer Protection" and watered down the text below the logo. I probably won’t renew. Steve
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Its coming to the end of my membership with Square Trade and soon I’ll have to pay another $75 or whatever it was for another year. What I want to know is, does anyone think Square Trade is worth it? Does it really increase bids? Mike
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