posted on September 14, 2000 05:16:58 AM
Is it just me or does this letter NOT have the ring of truth? This was a book that closed at $100 after a fairly vigorous bidding war, so I have to assume that Buyer's Remorse is a likely possibility. Anyway, third time this week for being screwed. Are the planets misaligned?
"I have received some terrible news. There has been a tragedy in my family.
I can't imagine what I am going to do. I have to leave town tomorrow
morning. I can't buy the book now, because I need every penny I have just to
get through the next few weeks. I'm so sorry. I hope you can understand.
I'm sorry I didn't let you know sooner, but I've been so upset. You just
can't imagine what I'm going through. I couldn't even look at this book now.
It was for my granddaughter.
posted on September 14, 2000 05:48:08 AM
Indeed, eventer. I have just returned from a research expedition, and what do you know? Approximately seven hours after sending me this email, the buyer mustered enough presence of mind (perhaps to mitigate the deep pain he must've been experiencing from this untimely tragedy) to bid on another item. No doubt, also, he delayed his travel plans in order to secure the aforementioned trinket (for which he placed a hearty bid of $1 on). Meanwhile, I'm out $7.13 in fees and, the funny thing is, I would've cheerfully let him out of this transaction if he'd only approached me honestly. God, what a world we live in.
Did they place a new bid in a new auction or could it be a proxy amount kicking in?
If it's a new bid in a new auction, I'd email them telling them I'll let them out but will be filing the NPB which will get a warning placed on their account & see what they do.
posted on September 14, 2000 06:03:16 AM
It would be one thing if they asked you to wait. Stuff sometimes does happen and I'd give someone a bit of time if they really gave me no reason to doubt them. File an NPB and leave a negative if you don't get your money.
posted on September 14, 2000 06:21:50 AM
Send them a warm email of condolences, and tell them it is NOT too late to save those pennies for this catastrophe by cancelling the bid they just placed (give them the link to the bid retraction page)
Let them know that you will be filing a NPB warning and requesting FVF return because your business also needs to watch its pennies. Apologize porfoundly for the black mark it will leave on their eBay record, but do it.
posted on September 14, 2000 07:00:33 AM
Can't you just email the second highest bidder and see if they are still interested? I have done that more than once and everything went fine. Item still sold and I didn't have to relist. Things do happen and we have all told little fibs to save ourselves embarrassment before. Maybe he just doesn't have the money and doesn't want to admit he got carried away.
posted on September 14, 2000 08:32:47 AM
Yes, rarriffle, I emailed the second highest bidder, offered the book at a small discount, and am waiting to hear back. To tell you the truth, I wouldn't have minded a white lie, you know, provided the bidder had offered to compensate me for my expenses. $100 one way or the other isn't going to rock the boat much here. But to come at me with this major tragedy yarn and claim that every penny was important (including those that might've paid for my fees) is in my opinion a clearly immoral act. Call this harsh, if you will, but there are times when I'm pretty much disgusted living in a society that soft-pedals nearly all forms of evil--and, as I mentioned in my first post, this is the third time this week somebody has tried to take me for a fool. Three times, and I get testy <s>.
posted on September 14, 2000 10:36:31 AM
I don't understand why someone would bid at all, only to follow up with a story of unspecified tragedy and dismay which renders them unable to complete the transaction.
That aside, calling this person on the (presumed) lie would only make the situation more difficult for you, so I'd write a kind note back expressing my sympathies and explaining the need to file an NPB alert and the subsequent FVF credit. That way the bidder will expect to receive notification from eBay that you've filed for a refund of fees, and you'll get your fees back without too much seller/bidder friction.
