posted on July 4, 2007 02:55:38 PM new
Yes, he does sound sincere. Now. . . I heard from the second-highest bidder within a few hours of the auction's close, Monday evening, begging to be told if this sale isn't completed. Light at the end of the tunnel, I guess.
But how could he not have known the auction *could go* that high? He must have put in a high proxy, right? He's in France. I have to hope he gets all the money he's counting on. This was the Christmas card from Martin and Lewis, pop-up, with a tree hanger and their cartoony faces on it. I can see why a collector would want it.
_____________________
There is more to life than increasing its speed. --Mahatma Gandhi
posted on July 4, 2007 03:31:30 PM new
Hate to say it, but I would go with the second bidder, especially if he was from the US. Too risky to wait over 3 weeks.
posted on July 4, 2007 04:21:19 PM new
I'd go with the second bidder too; perhaps the French bidder got confused on the currency exchange?
Relisting when you've got a person waiting in the wings would be more of a risk than I'd be willing to take, but I'm old and cautious. Whatever you do, best of luck with this, and congrats on your happy dance -- may there be many more!
posted on July 5, 2007 06:19:17 AM new
Do you post a pay by date on your auction? Must pay within 10 days of close of auction? If so, I would sell to #2. That's an awful big number to play "oh, I trust you.... what's your name again?"
posted on July 5, 2007 06:38:19 AM new
in order to keep the happy dance in a rhythm you are comfortable with....
go for the underbidder if his feedback is good.
Take the money and run ~
waiting so long for payment for someone who 'didn't know it would go that high' is like slipping on a banana on the dance floor...
posted on July 5, 2007 07:57:33 AM new
Update: Thanks for your good advice, and, yes, I do tell the buyers they have 10 days to pay. I took everyone's advice here, offered it to the next highest bidder, and he was ecstatic. Has paid this morning. Instead of $931 I've gotten $921, a very small price to pay for peace of mind!
Now. I was looking on my feedback page last evening and noted that he AND the 2nd bidder will both have a chance to leave feedback for me. I went to the eBay feedback forum to ask about this. They all said yes, that's true, and scolded me for not doing things "by the book," so to speak. Said I should have filed UPI dispute first, etc. etc. Said I have to hope he doesn't leave a neg before I can file UPI in a few days, etc. They were unanimous about that. Okay. I'll take my chances on a neg; the money is worth it.
_____________________
There is more to life than increasing its speed. --Mahatma Gandhi
posted on July 5, 2007 08:27:08 AM new
Niel: Evidently yes he can. What tipped me off was in my own "feedback to be left," there were two for this same item. That's why I went to the message board to clarify. Since he's so new, what I have to hope is that he doesn't try to leave a neg until I've had a chance to file UPI. It's still worth it, but I haven't gotten a neg in so long that it would sting a bit. Of course I could leave him a neg in return!
Today one of the people on that message board said he can still leave feedback, even after the 7-day deadline, but only the text of his feedback would be visible; he couldn't rate me positive, neutral, or negative. Hope that's true.
_____________________
There is more to life than increasing its speed. --Mahatma Gandhi
posted on July 5, 2007 08:37:19 AM new
To me the piece of mind would still be worth it. Ebay lets you offer a second chance and lists one of the reasons that the high bidder was not going to complete the deal. Since this deal was not going to be completed according to your TOS, you had every right to go to the second bidder. I have had this before when the auction gets high the bidders get buyer's remorse and they get more and more remorseful as time goes by even if it is a unique item without competitive equals.I doubt you would ever have gotten paid by your high bidder.
As to the difference in price, if the French bidder was paying via PayPal you have higher fees for cross-border payments.
As to the neg, it will sting the bidder more since he/she only has 2 feedbacks.
posted on July 5, 2007 09:08:02 AM new
You might want to head off the neg with a "kind" e-mail to the first bidder, letting him know the wait would be too long and let him know you are "going to allow HIM to back out of the deal."
It will all be in how you word it for them - make it sound like it was his decision, but because you are understanding of his position, you will enable him to back out of the deal that he made - maybe hinting at the requirement for the payment to be made in 10 days, etc.
What do you think?
Wayne
Never explain -- Your friends do not need it and your enemies will not believe you anyway.
~ Elbert Hubbard
posted on July 5, 2007 10:40:56 AM new
I could be wrong, and have been many times before, but I think the French bidder will be relieved that you passed him by.
Exactly what I would have done since you have the 10 day payment in your TOS.
posted on July 5, 2007 11:08:52 AM new
Great job on the underbidder!
I'm not sure what wasn't 'by the book' (other than in eBaY's mind). If you waited the extra time, you take a chance of losing the underbidders interest and eBaY loses out on their share of the fvf!
Why not send the 'first' winner an understanding note relating to how the bidding got 'so high' and you can understand their situation. They too, should understand your position. You can also explain that you will NOT file an npb, only a mutual agreement to not complete the transaction, so that you can recoup partial fees.
They should be relieved to be off the hook and the added info of how their inexperience will cost you $$ can lessen the chance of you getting a neg.
I think they'll be happy to get out of it ~ the 'educational info' you write can add to that.
(hopefully)
posted on July 5, 2007 03:09:52 PM new
I've got nothing against the French (my mother was French, I worked at a French bank for 6 years, I like the food, I like the sex, etc.), but I'm batting 0 for 3 with French eBay buyers.
Since he was staying with the auction to be honorable, and understood that you might not want to wait that long for payment, I don't think he'll leave a negative. If he does, zing him back (fairly; he wasn't willing to live up to the TOS), and then forget about it. If it makes you happy, file for a mutual retraction.
posted on July 5, 2007 03:13:08 PM new
I am with cash, I am 0 for 2 with French buyers. All I got were promises, promises, then apologies, but never a payment.
posted on July 5, 2007 03:36:28 PM new
First, congrats on a great find. You must have listed them right to get such nice results. If you hadn't been contacted by the 2nd highest bidder, I would have suggested waiting for the high bidder, risky as it was, because he clearly showed intent to pay and notified you in advance of delay. That said, I would have grabbed the chance to offer it to someone who was willing to pay immediately for $10 less. An email to the high bidder explaining that your circumstances won't allow you to wait for payment, you understand his dilemma and are letting him out of his obligation without penalty might be welcome news.
posted on July 5, 2007 06:43:09 PM new
I've had no payment problems whatsoever with French customers. They can send me a paper cheque (as many still prefer to do) or do a free bank transfer (Transfert bancaire) in Euros. Most bank transfers only take a few hours to a day to be confirmed and I usually ship the next business day.
Works for me (and I'm in far off Nouvelle Zélande)
posted on July 13, 2007 05:41:38 AM new
c'mon, adele... waiting to watch you happy dance some more with this bag o' goodies you've got. when are you going to list some more of them?
posted on July 13, 2007 08:02:58 AM new
Update for everyone: All of the bidders for these initial items I listed have now paid, and two have left +feedbacks. There've been no complaints from that poor French mope who didn't have the money - yet - but his birthday was coming up, and he didn't realize the bidding would go so high. (And I want to thank those of you who told me to run, not walk, to the second highest bidder!)
Aintrich: For anyone who watches Jeopardy--last evening there was a question about a Christmas card from Elvis and his manager, 1958, with the manager dressed up as Santa. I went to my pile, and not only do I have that card, but I have the envelope it came in, with the Graceland return address and the manager's card superimposed on it. The other Elvis card I have shows him in an army uniform and his manager as well. I'm listing the first one this coming Monday, along with several others. There's a card from the Mickey Hargitay family, probably early 60s, showing Jayne Mansfield and, among the children, Mariska Hargitay (Law & Order gal). I'll post a message here when they're up. ~Adele
_____________________
There is more to life than increasing its speed. --Mahatma Gandhi
posted on July 13, 2007 08:08:14 AM new
Wow to the Elvis Christmas Card! Maybe you can retire on it! Why was that card on Jeopardy? Is it particularly famous or were there a lot of them?
-------------------------------------
posted on July 13, 2007 08:19:50 AM new
Neglus: I think the mention of the card (and they said 1958, which is the postmark on the envelope) was in a 1958 category, but I could be wrong. I always watch Jeopardy, and when that question came up I nearly fell over. Went immediately to my stack-to-be-listed this week, and there it was.
Y'know, when I'm "talking" with you and Pixi, I'm always aware that it's a three-way conversation among three preacher's kids! Weren't we lucky to be immersed in good English, often against our will, I'm sure, and in the beautiful King James English?!
_____________________
There is more to life than increasing its speed. --Mahatma Gandhi
posted on July 13, 2007 08:42:57 AM new
LOL I was the one (according to my mother) to introduce "sorority talk" (translate swear words like "pissed off", "crap" and the "sh** word" to the family during summer vacations from college. Pixia would sit at the table while I was being chastised with a smirk on her face and her golden halo hanging above her head. I do love King James/ Elizabethan English, but sometimes the F*** word just says it best!
-------------------------------------
posted on July 13, 2007 08:49:45 AM new
Funny. I was a decade or more ahead of you, and my mother was so strict that I had to battle her for the privilege of wearing lipstick. Ditto nail polish. So I took "natural" nail polish and put about 10 coats on my toenails--and she just caved. My way of rebelling was to date a couple of boys who smoked.
We could write a book, I think. And I've never seen a good one written yet about PKs.
_____________________
There is more to life than increasing its speed. --Mahatma Gandhi
to the family during summer vacations from college. Pixia would sit at the table while I was being chastised with a smirk on her face and her golden halo hanging above her head. I do love King James/ Elizabethan English, but sometimes the F*** word just says it best!