I’m not certain what gets into some people, talking down to us as if we were misbehaving junkyard dogs for not listening to or acceding to their demands. Its something we’ve had to deal with ever since our inception — instances where a customer feels as if they are in the right despite what they are being told, shown or provided. I don’t think its a generational thing, since it emanates from every quarter and every demographic, nor do I think its directed at us personally, even though I sometimes have my doubts. In any event, their behavior is so abhorrent and/or despicable that we either have to close out their account with us on the web site or permanently block them from making any further purchases on our marketplace sites. Its sad, but I hear this type of behavior occurs with other dealers.

That said, once a year, usually on Thanksgiving, we temporarily remove any account blocks and permit these very same people from making another purchase from us. Mind you, if we still get an earful of ridiculous comments or they take unwarranted action such as cancelling the sale moments after they make it, they go right back on our “Naughty List” and are blocked from both communicating with us or making any additional purchases for an entire year. “Amnesty Day”, as we’ve come to call it, is our way of rolling out the welcome mat all over again to those individuals that, for whatever reason, go off on a tangent, rant or any other type of misguided attack but have promised to behave and follow the rules.

So, on November 27th, Thanksgiving Day, anyone that landed on our blocked buyer list can purchase an item(s) on eBay without any strings attached. Should that same person decide to unload on us all over again, then the sale is cancelled and their account is once again blocked. If the purchase goes through without any hitches, then they can resume purchasing from us after Amnesty Day, unless, of course, they decide to blow up all over again.

Takeaway: Amnesty Day falls on Thanksgiving. Anyone that may be on our blocked buyer list on eBay can make a purchase from us and demonstrate that they have things under control, thereby enabling them to make further purchases on eBay. Blow it, and you’re back on our Naughty List. In short, you can save the drama for your mama….