parkman
|
posted on December 19, 2006 06:45:42 PM new
I sold an item (fairly inexpensive) to a newbie...no feedback. She first emailed and asked me to ship it to a friend for a gift. I told her I would be glad to ship it to her friend once I received payment. Today I received an email with "please note that I have marked payment sent". Have you sent the item or when do you plan to send it? Would you take her at her word that she has sent the payment (money order)and go ahead and ship or would you wait until you had the payment in hand first. I feel bad since it is probably a Christmas present but am not sure I am not being taken for a ride.
|
max40
|
posted on December 19, 2006 06:56:23 PM new
No way. If it was a repeat customer, I'd take a chance, but not a zero feedback newbie.
Could be a throw away user name, but most likely another "I want it now" spoiled brat.
|
merrie
|
posted on December 19, 2006 07:11:00 PM new
Never send before receipt of payment. Don't let her guilt you into it. You do not know this person. If she wanted it sooner, she could have paid via PayPal.
|
classicrock000
|
posted on December 19, 2006 08:04:41 PM new
"Today I received an email with "please note that I have marked payment sent". Have you sent the item or when do you plan to send it? Would you take her at her word that she has sent the payment (money order)and go ahead and ship or would you wait until you had the payment in hand first."
just curious Parkman are you a newbie seller?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If you dont want to hear the truth....dont ask the question.
|
ST0NEC0LD613
|
posted on December 19, 2006 09:38:13 PM new
Are you >>>
 ?
Don't send a thing until payment is in hand. I would be tempted to deposit this on the wait a week or two.
[ edited by ST0NEC0LD613 on Dec 19, 2006 09:39 PM ]
|
roadsmith
|
posted on December 19, 2006 10:11:39 PM new
Usually, I'd say no. But on the other hand, three times in the last 8 years I've sent an item on a promise from the buyer that the check is in the mail. Never been hoodwinked or cheated. I think you have to use your judgment on such a decision! If it's a relatively inexpensive item, you could take the chance. If it works out, you'd feel really good about it. If it doesn't, you tried to do something nice for someone. Sometimes our hunches are valid.
|
pixiamom
|
posted on December 19, 2006 10:17:03 PM new
For low cost items- I often ship when they mark payment sent before I receive it. Depends on your market - how honest are your regular buyers?
|
alldings
|
posted on December 20, 2006 03:36:21 AM new
Did it once almost got stiffed,took a bunch of emails & a neg to get my money. Never again and never with a newbie. Thats me,
As road and others say depends on what you sell and how much its worth.
|
parkman
|
posted on December 20, 2006 04:34:41 AM new
Hi--Thanks everyone!!
Stone..cute
Classic--no I am far from a newbie but guess I felt bad for this newbie..she hasn't said it but think she thought when you won the seller would just ship before payment or she may be scamming me.
pixiamon-- Most of the time my sellers are honest. I sell collectibles (dept 56, precious moments etc).
Whoops..just looked at her auctions she had bid on..5 corvettes (2 ended without reserve met..3 still going). She won a Monte Carlo..has bids on a harley and a toyota tacoma. She had also won 2 more precious moments. My auction ended on the 15th so if she had mailed the mo the next day I should have it today.
|
classicrock000
|
posted on December 20, 2006 04:35:33 AM new
"Usually, I'd say no. But on the other hand, three times in the last 8 years I've sent an item on a promise from the buyer that the check is in the mail"
da check is in da mail....where have I heard that expression before? LOL
Rhoadie-did you did this with someone who had zero feedback??
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If you dont want to hear the truth....dont ask the question.
|
classicrock000
|
posted on December 20, 2006 04:43:33 AM new
"Whoops..just looked at her auctions she had bid on..5 corvettes (2 ended without reserve met..3 still going). She won a Monte Carlo..has bids on a harley and a toyota tacoma."
WOW This chick must have money! 
"Classic--no I am far from a newbie but guess I felt bad for this newbie..she hasn't said it but think she thought when you won the seller would just ship before payment or she may be scamming me."
If shes a newbie that might be the case.I remember when I first came on Ebay in 1999,I never bid on auction where I had to send a check or money to a P.O.Box number instead of a street address.I figured if I was being scammed there was no way to contact the seller-paranoia I guess.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If you dont want to hear the truth....dont ask the question.
[ edited by classicrock000 on Dec 20, 2006 04:49 AM ]
|
parkman
|
posted on December 20, 2006 04:44:56 AM new
Just hope she sends my little payment (hope she has some left after the corvettes).
|
amber
|
posted on December 20, 2006 05:18:13 AM new
In the early days of selling on eBay about 9 years ago, I had a buyer that I became really friendly with. I sold her quite a few auctions of yarn, we exchanged photos of kids, and even Christmas gifts. Someone I felt I could completely trust. She needed a large order of yarn quickly, and I had no problem at all mailing it before her payment arrived. Well, I never heard from her again! That was the last time I sent anything before payment, cleared checks etc.
|
neglus
|
posted on December 20, 2006 05:22:46 AM new
Before I went on vacation in November I sent out over 100 items before I received payment. I did this because it was more convenient for me and I didn't want to stop listing auctions until I absolutely had to. All of the buyers (100%) sent in their payments! I received many notes from buyers thanking me for the trust I placed in them. I even sent out a postcard that sold for over $100!
At the same time, none of these people ASKED or EXPECTED me to send their items before payment. If you do, I would make sure the newbie knows that you are doing it because you are a nice guy and that she should never expect similar treatment from other sellers who often hold checks for 10 days or until they clear. If she wins the corvettes and all the other vehicles (or were they Matchboxes?)I'd expect that this disposable id will be NARU in no time.
-------------------------------------
http://stores.ebay.com/Moody-Mommys-Marvelous-Postcards?refid=store
|
merrie
|
posted on December 20, 2006 05:23:25 AM new
This time of year I will be kind and ship an item after check is received, before it clears. I figure if they took the effort to mail the check it is probably good. Got burned twice, once was a "mistake," stolen purse, etc. They made good on the check. The other one was a large amount and never recovered the money. So, it is prudent to be careful. People take advantage if they get the opportunity especially at this time of year when we are feeling generous.
|
merrie
|
posted on December 20, 2006 05:29:03 AM new
In the early days of Ebay, I once has a seller send me an item before I had sent payment. I never asked for this treatment, it was the way he did business "back in the day." I sent him his money and thanked him for his trust, etc. (I was not a newbie even then) He is still on Ebay, but his policies have changed. He waits for checks to clear, etc. It is a different world from 8-9 years ago.
|
merrie
|
posted on December 20, 2006 05:36:14 AM new
I just had to add this, I looked up the person I was talking about in my last post. Great guy and seller, wanted to see what he was up to. Will not reveal his identity, but to show how times have changed, here is part of his TOS.
"I am not a professional photographer, but have done my best to photo my auctions for you, prior to your bidding. Should there be any, I will try to disclose any imperfections, infractions, or flaws to the best of my ability, as I see them. I am not infallible, just human and not here to deceive you. We all have a different take on imperfections, therefore, before placing a bid, please ask questions. Sales are final. If you are OC, consider going directly to a retail store or attend a live auction to purchase the item so that you may examine it personally. Items on auction are not being sold on your approval."
I especially like the last line. And the OC mention! Times sure have changed for everyone!!
|
bjboswell
|
posted on December 20, 2006 06:11:41 AM new
QUESTION ... IS OC SOMETHING LIKE AR?
|
merrie
|
posted on December 20, 2006 06:21:18 AM new
BJ- exactly!!
Obsessive / compulsive synonym for anal retentive
|
digitalbruce
|
posted on December 20, 2006 07:06:37 AM new
no way, not on a newbie. We all have been taken for rides by customers. If she wanted that bad she would have chose another means of paying you more quickly..like paypal..or even sending her money order express. I am sorry but that really would not be a smart business move.
|
roadsmith
|
posted on December 20, 2006 10:06:46 AM new
Classic: No, none of those shipments-before-getting-payment were to newbies. Two were to buyers with low feedback, though. All of the items were unique books that the buyers had discussed with me before bidding. (If they'd shown any signs of being young careless people, I wouldn't have accommodated them, but such people usually don't buy the books I sell!)
|
ebabestreasures
|
posted on December 20, 2006 10:35:40 AM new
I think I would wait - I'd be concerned about the 5 corvettes - what if she only wants one and just bids on 5 to be sure she gets at least one. Sounds like she may be a non-payer on one of them if she wins both. Bet she won't ask them to ship before payment is received.
|
parkman
|
posted on December 20, 2006 10:38:12 AM new
Well..the mail has been and no money order. I realize it has only been 5 days but I bought something on the 16th (and paid with paypal and it was delivered today. I have told her it would be shipped when the payment arrives (if it arrives). I will try to ship it the same day. If she gives me a negative I will be curious to see what she uses as a reason.
|
parkman
|
posted on December 20, 2006 10:44:08 AM new
ebabe---I just looked and she won one of the corvettes...1984 corvette for 4350.00..I bet you are right and she won't ask them to ship before payment. Guess my little item ain't squat.
|
ebabestreasures
|
posted on December 20, 2006 10:53:59 AM new
She has won 3 cars and bid on at least 18 since she joined ebay. Unless she has a used car lot there's something rotten in Denmark!!!
|
classicrock000
|
posted on December 20, 2006 11:28:13 AM new
Yes this does sound fishy.I think this is why some sellers wont sell to someone with zero feedback-especially high priced items.
Parkman-you were wise not to ship before receiving payment.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If you dont want to hear the truth....dont ask the question.
|
mingotree
|
posted on December 20, 2006 11:39:04 AM new
No matter how many good experiences a seller has had...that one bad one could cost you money....NEVER send item before receiving payment
unless you're running a charity.
Classic, just because someone bids on an expensive item or 1,000 expensive items doesn't mean they have money !!!!!
...bidding is free.....
|
digitalbruce
|
posted on December 20, 2006 01:13:24 PM new
that is absolutely true..and sometimes I am more suspicious of the people who buy 1,000 really expensive items! It makes me wonder how they pay for it all. Those are the checks and money orders I always wait for to clear the bank. I guess I am just jaded from working in the online business for awhile. It makes you suspicious.
|
sthoemke
|
posted on December 20, 2006 02:14:59 PM new
Sounds like a scam to me.
If she already mailed payment, you should have it soon anyhow.
|
blueyes29
|
posted on December 20, 2006 05:54:03 PM new
Like most on this board, as a general rule, I don't ship before payment is received. However, with low-cost items (and when it's convenient for me in making a post-office run), I have shipped before payment. To date, I have never had a customer not pay and all have expressed delight with speedy shipping. I guess it all depends on your comfort level. Another point...about 6 months ago, my customers were experiencing VERY LONG delivery times for first-class shipping...up to 3 weeks! And this was long before the usual Christmas glut. I just received an e-mail from a current customer who has not received her first-class shipment (mailed 11 December) so maybe there's some snag somewhere with the first-class mail again.
|
