posted on March 16, 2001 05:36:11 PM new
>>She should cut her losses NOW, in my opinion.<<
At this point, there are no losses. Except for the cancelled bid, which was at the seller's discretion.
The issue is not whether the bidder is a flake, the issue is whether to accept a check or not. I accept checks for amounts under $20 and ship without holding. Last week I got a check for $24. Sure, I could have returned it to the buyer, along with a nasty note, but what's the point?
BTW, the seller's refusal to end the auction based on fee avoidance is incorrect. Ending an auction early can never be considered fee avoidance, and I think an honest refusal is better customer service than a made-up story about non-existant eBay rules.
On the other hand, my rule is NO PAYPAL and that rule is written in stone, AFAIC. So do whatever you want!
posted on March 16, 2001 05:38:05 PM new
Okay, 30 emails in two days is over the line. Way over. I'm retracting my suggestion to try to work things out with the bidder. Stick to your terms and get ready for a feedback flamefest.
posted on March 16, 2001 05:53:05 PM newTwinsoft: How is Chepi not willing to accept a personal check different than you not willing to accept a Paypal payment?
posted on March 17, 2001 05:05:58 AM newthe seller's refusal to end the auction based on fee avoidance is incorrect. Ending an auction early can never be considered fee avoidance, and I think an honest refusal is better customer service than a made-up story about non-existant eBay rules. twinfest
If I cancel an auction and sell the widget to one of the bidders, I avoid paying eBay the FVF. It is and always will be considered fee avoidance, not a made up story about a non-existent rule.
From Safe Harbor, regarding fee avoidance:
>>Canceling a listing to sell the item to anyone who contacted the seller through eBay, or became aware of the item through eBay <<
BTW, My decision to not take personal checks has nothing to do with the possibility of the check bouncing (I would not incur a fee for that, anyway).
edited to add:
good morning, missc, I zapped your addy. e-me thanks
[ edited by chepistar on Mar 17, 2001 05:11 AM ]
edited again to delete it!
[ edited by chepistar on Mar 18, 2001 07:04 AM ]
posted on March 17, 2001 10:59:50 AM new
chepistar,
This is a wacko bidder, and in my opinion, not a newbie. Now he says "out until Monday?"
so you can't contact him, and he can say, "gee I didn't know I couldn't bid anymore, etc.etc."
I think two auctions won by him will equal two negatives. 30 emails????? Wacko Wacko Wacko. I would send short professional email: "It has become appart in the more than 30 emails that I have received from you that my continued efforts to work with you within my TOA and ebay's rules has been extremely difficult, if not impossible. Please remit payment for item XXXX. As I have stated in a previous email, please do not bid on any of my future auctions. I am forwarding the 30 emails to Ebay's safeharbor."
I would cancel all his bids, send all emails to safeharbor, and move on. 30 emails is way way excessive. Could be seen as harrassment.
Cut this one loose quick. He's taken way too much of your time and energy already.
If I did smoke, I would have smoked a pack for you by now.
posted on March 17, 2001 11:14:37 AM new
Dear Chepistar: For your sake, I'm glad he got outbid today. By the time he gets back to work on Monday, the auction will be over. Hopefully he will spend the weekend doing non-Ebay related things!
I'll see you in RT later tonight! Have a great and profitable day.
posted on March 17, 2001 02:11:07 PM newkelly
W@W!
efforts to work with you within my TOA and ebay's rules has been extremely difficult, if not impossible
EXCELLENT wording. It doesn't even sound confrontational that way! PERFECT! thank you x 100!!!
missc
I'm glad he was outbid, too. Lucky Me! I'll pop over at the RT for some stress relief in a few hours! See you there! Thanks, again
posted on March 17, 2001 02:26:50 PM new
If sitting here reading this thread and saying to myself...for heaven's sake...take the stupid check...why do sellers insist they will not back down to their TOS?...not even once..."I will NOT bend for HIM"???..then expect another 30 emails in the next 12 hours...seems to me, your making more trouble for yourself by fighting this guy, its not worth it...besides, I have taken checks and only hold over $100.00 or higher and have yet, in 3 YEARS, to have one bounce. Your fighting a lost cause. It's not like your dealing with these types of people all the time, unless your Executive Girl of course.
posted on March 17, 2001 02:39:26 PM new
I, for one, will NOT accept personal checks, under any circumstances. I have been burnt WAY too many times with personal checks.
I have had over 30 bounced checks from ebay buyers. I have had bounced checks from bidders with 300+ feedbacks who had NO NEGS, and then took 2 months to repay - IF they even paid at all. I haven't accepted checks in over a year and I never did get repaid for several of those bounced checks.
I sell clothing and that seems to be where all the wacky, deadbeat, bouncing-check buyers are. Chepi is also a clothing seller and I think she would be crazy to take this guy's check! Geez - everyone here on this thread thinks this guy is a nut - so why should she get in even deeper with this guy??? What sense does it make to accept a personal check from someone who is officially a NUTCASE??
posted on March 17, 2001 02:40:47 PM newbilly
I understand your point, however, my policy of not accepting checks as a form of payment has nothing to do with the check bouncing.
I can not find one good reason to divulge my banking information, especially to someone who has already played these curious games with me.
Do you not see the Big Red Flag here? Anyone who has ever been employed in the operations division of a financial institution will tell you how foolish it is to give out your bank account information ~ it is more dangerous than giving out your credit card numbers. The "payment check" you deposit goes back to the writer with all of your pertinent information. A money order or cashiers check goes back to the financial institution NOT to a wacko bidder.
What an ingenious and profitable way to diversify a check fraud scam untargeted!
The check doesn't bounce, silly. That would let you in on the scandal. The check will clear just fine. The havoc that can happen afterwards is the issue.
JMHO, FMPE. YMMV.
posted on March 17, 2001 03:03:47 PM new
Chepistar I think this is past the point of will I take a check or not. Thirty e mails? If you are not comfy with this, Which you are not by the looks of things. Just cut this whole deal loose. Dont even think about dealing with this anymore, As it will come back to bite you in the a....s. Best of luck.
posted on March 17, 2001 03:22:15 PM new
chepistar,
I am responding with more sarcasm than not..so don't take this the wrong way...
"who has ever been employed in the operations division of a financial institution"...I guess it is important to know where one works now in order to uder stand where they come from? What you say is nothing new to me because, ironically, I have somewhat of the same background as you...but mine was as a Manager for Security Operations/Asset Protection for several years at Sears, Roebuck and Co. I have investigated hundreds of case involving credit card and check fraud...and think I have seen everything under the sun. I have some good stories Is it just the customers on Ebay that you don't trust and are you saying you don't write checks anywhere, anyhow? The person more than likely who would know WHAT TO DO with your "payment check" information is more than likely to work at a financial institution(banks, credit card payments, grocery store, etc.) If people don't write checks, they are either carrying around a lot of cash or would have to be using their credit card/debit card quite a bit. And the nightmares I could tell about about credit card fraud and all the things you can do with those...maybe for another time. My note is nothing personal, and if you've been touched by a situation like this I would whole heartedly understand..I have seen peoples lives literally turned upside down, mostly due to credit card fraud. I know you can reduce the risks, but you can never eliminate them. Checks don't bother me at all since I carry small balance at any given time, and keep my savings elsewhere. But it is the credit cards that is uneasy for me..First Internet Service Provider, Web Hosting, Ebay, now AW...ahhhh.
posted on March 17, 2001 03:31:55 PM new
WOW! I was reading this thread and was thinking about making popcorn and settling in! Then the plot seemed to get familiar and before long I was at the edg of my seat! I had a similar nutcase keep emailing for a total and telling me she had purchased an item on "buy it now" and I kept sending back the auction elling her it was still open. Then I would again get a request for a total...Cancel the bids! Don;t sell to this fruitcake. If there is no transaction there is no feedback and you are courting disaster. On the other hand it is good to know that you think clothing sales gets the most nut cases. I thought it was glassware and china. I had a neg from a woman last month becasue I sold a 9" platter and it was a "9.25" plate" according to the buyer! Who needs it! If there is no transaction there is no feedback. Now Ill finish making the popcorn and hang on 'till Monday to see how many emails come in. Do they take book on this is Vegas?
posted on March 17, 2001 03:41:18 PM newbilly
no offense taken
I spent four years in executive level credit for a specialty retailer, six years as a investment consult/service and control officer for a very well known financial institution. I have seen people's lives absolutely destroyed by seemingly innocent releases of information.
For the record:
I write about six checks a year ~ the kids school pictures and the little league pictures are really about it. I use a direct link to my financial institution for on-line bill payment. Funds are ACH debit/credit without the chance of loss through the mail or "individuals" having contact with my info. I don't carry around a lot of cash, my debit card works just fine in place of checks. I hated carrying around a checkbook.
It is not that I "don't trust people", I just "know enough to know better". I can't see any possible advantage to taking a check from this guy.
I just call them as I see them ~ this one smells.
posted on March 17, 2001 09:42:17 PM new
I can't help but feel for you in this situation. I too have had some strange e-mails from buyers.
I found some information on your buyer--turns out he works for Goodwill in Omaha and he's using his work e-mail address. That explains why he's gone until Monday. A little honesty here wouldn't have hurt!
His full name and telephone number are listed on their site. Weirder even still if you ask me, says he's a Director. But then just about everyone listed is a Director.
Also, if you look at the number of items that he's won compared to the number of feedback (5 pos 1 neg) the numbers don't add up. Also, he's had several bid retractions.
Would I accept a check from him? NO. And to those that would, why be so hard on those who clearly list they won't and then keep their word?
posted on March 17, 2001 11:29:35 PM new
chepistar,
Thanks for the comment on my choice of words.
I don't understand bidders who can't follow the terms of auctions. If a seller says they don't take checks (or paypal, etc) then I would never ask them to do so. There is nothing wrong with standing by your TOA.
It's one thing to ask a seller to bend their TOA, but another to continue to badger the seller to death for not doing giving in.
Who has time to write 30 email? You would think you were auctioning off 10 pounds of gold for 10 bucks.
posted on March 18, 2001 01:40:44 AM new
DO YOU WANT TO END THIS NOW CHEPISTAR ?
Then email the wacko this :
Dear XXXXX,
Your prior emails trying to attempt fee avoidance have been forwarded to safeharbor and your bids have been cancelled. The auction you did win is now VOID due to you not following my terms of sale.
Do NOT bid on anymore of my current or future auctions. Take your personal check, turn it sideways, and SHOVE IT UP YOUR CANDY A$$ !!
Do NOT email me again !
Anymore emails from you will be deemed as harrasment and will be forwarded to your ISP and legal action will be taken.
posted on March 18, 2001 06:34:54 AM new
You Go, CIX!
You play GREAT hardball! (up til the shoving it part, anyway!) It is actually an excellent follow-up to kelly's note. I like it, I like it. I really, really, like it. thanks!
kellyb:
you're welcome
I wish I had the time to send 30 e-mails for every auction I bid on! I bearely have enough time to shop! (and that, of course, is the priority!)
MJ:
W@W! Good detective work! Thanks
It's all so weird ~ what's your opinion of this? Is there a strategy behind it or is it just one of EG's sheep who lost their way?
Why does he have so much time to e-mail me from a work addy? thanks again!
posted on March 18, 2001 06:53:52 AM new
When sellers are confronted with these type of idiots there are only 5 words that can handle this type of situations ;
NIP IT IN THE BUD
Do not waste your time with these idiots (it just isn't worth it). Tell them how it is and how it goes and thats it. if you have TOS, let the TOS speak for themselves.
YOU DO NOT HAVE TO HOLD EVERYONES HAND THAT BIDS ON YOUR AUCTIONS.
Plus, you want to do everything possible to treat these types of buyers like TRASH !!!
This will make them not want to deal with you anymore (like you really want to deal with them again).
posted on March 18, 2001 07:09:35 AM new
>>YOU DO NOT HAVE TO HOLD EVERYONES HAND THAT BIDS ON YOUR AUCTIONS<<
*sigh*
I guess I'm just a hopeless romantic. I'll hold hands, but no kissing.
This one I don't want to touch.
posted on March 18, 2001 10:03:41 AM new
Regarding fee avoidance --
If you cancel all bids, end the auction, and then sell the item to one of the bidders it can be considered fee avoidance.
You can end the auction without cancelling the bids, and then sell to the high bidder at the price the item was at when you ended the auction. eBay would consider this a successfully completed auction and charge fees accordingly.
Not to say that this is my suggestion. Do what you can to shake yourself loose of this nutcase!
posted on March 19, 2001 12:26:34 PM new
So, Chepistar, what's the latest with this guy? Is he going to file fraud charges against you because someone outbid him? LOL!!
I apologize in advance for being so nosey. Today is my cleaning day & I'm procrastinating!
posted on March 19, 2001 01:30:58 PM new
hello there, missc!
Aren't Monday's bad enough without making it a cleaning day, too?
I went out shopping today ~ dealing with two e-mail-a-holics was more than I could handle so I ran away!
Believe it or not, both loonies have left me alone (yay!)
I got this from safeharbor yesterday:
[i]Hello,
Thank you for taking the time to contact us with this information.
I have reviewed the information that you have provided and wanted to let
you know that the member has been warned against any future occurrence
of this type of activity.
I would like to thank you for your help in keeping eBay a fun and safe
place to trade.
Regards,[/i]
Well, actually I got two of those form letters. I guess I may have requested some assistance too many times?!?
thanks!
it worked