loosecannon
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posted on September 15, 2000 06:35:14 AM
I've got 8 no payers right now and it's beginning to look like a 9th on an over 400.00 auction (not one email from him since he won 8 days ago). Some of the auctions are nearly a month old. This is most unusual for me; I've never had this many at the same time. If the guy on the over 400.00 flakes this stuff is going to total up to around 650.00 in lost sales. I've still got the merchandise of course, but the over 400.00 sale was a back-to-school thing and I've all but missed my window to sell the thing (for decent money that is) if I have to list it again. Yes, I'm getting very concerned...
The weird thing is some of them have good feedback but they are not responding to emails any longer. I filed NPB alerts on the "older" ones and that didn't even wake them up.
Sorry for the griping.
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HartCottageQuilts
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posted on September 15, 2000 06:43:56 AM
It's a lot harder (and more frustrating) to change people's behavior than it is to change your reaction to it.
With that in mind, it looks like your best option is to change your practice regarding NPBs. If you haven't already,set a reasonable payment time limit - and stick to it. File the NPB, and if after x days (whatever you're comfortable with) you haven't heard from the bidder, relist the item or offer it to #2. If you do hear from the bidder and after x additional days you don't receive payment, again, relist the item or offer to #2. And move on.
There's no reason you should have to sit on merchandise for a month, particularly when you're getting no response whatsoever. Some folks will say "Hey, what's the big deal?" The "big deal" is that, as you've had the misfortune to experience, the window of best opportunity for seasonal sales is not that wide. Sitting around waiting for the high bidder to someday come across can be suicidal for a seller with ANY merchandise, let alone that which is time-sensitive.
My sympathies.
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pickersangel
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posted on September 15, 2000 06:46:52 AM
Something is strange, but I can't put my finger on it. I'm wondering if there's just been a huge influx of new users, although some of the flakiness involves users with feedback ratings in two or three digits. I've been selling regularly for about 2 months now (after a lot of time on Ebay as a buyer), and I'm noticing a definite change in bidding/response/payment patterns. Almost everything is sniped now, except for the items with obviously underpriced starting bids. (I suspect part of this is that everyone has finally figured out the "Watch" feature.) Bidder contact either arrives before I've even sent out the EOA or 2-3 days afterward, rather than within 24 hours after EOA. Payment is either by PayPal or flirts with the 10 day limit, rather than arriving within 7 days. I have my first potential deadbeat on my hands--almost 3 weeks post auction, no payment but 2 "the check's in the mail" responses to inquiry. Maybe it's just one of those cyclical patterns that occurs on Ebay.
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toolhound
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posted on September 15, 2000 06:52:29 AM
On the last 25 auctions I ran I have 6 deadbeats 1 of these with over 100 feedback. Also got a check($120.00) back from the bank for NSF on a bidder with over 100 feedback that I can not find and yes i sent the item to him before the check came back.
If my results do not start getting better I will be selling my stuff at shows and flea markets soon.
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loosecannon
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posted on September 15, 2000 06:53:23 AM
Very good advice HCQ
I've always resisted putting "demands" on the bidders, but I've never had a significant problem with NPB's before. Just a deadbeat every now and then. Nothing like now.
[ edited by loosecannon on Sep 15, 2000 06:54 AM ]
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RB
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posted on September 15, 2000 06:53:31 AM
And, to add a little insult to injury, you're going to have to play eBay's double waiting game and jump through all their hoops to get listing and selling credits 
I hope these folks come through and complete their obligations. Back-to-School can be incredibly expensive, especially when you have 2 live-at-homes both going to University.
Good luck 
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imabrit
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posted on September 15, 2000 07:06:17 AM
This is what I have noticed in the last 3 years at this time.The labour day weekend seem to mess up peoples minds as to payments.
I have a bunch outstanding too and good feedback as well.But it was like that the first week or two after labour day the last 2 years.It did catch up.
So we will wait and see.
Adrian
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loosecannon
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posted on September 15, 2000 07:23:54 AM
Well crud.
I just discovered that I didn't complete the NPB Alert forms. I had one more submit button to hit to finish the job. How stupid of me. Now it's two more days behind. No wonder none of the bidders "woke up".
Also, just checked my mail. Not one of these people had a check in my mailbox this morning. That's not really a surprise.
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DrTrooth
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posted on September 15, 2000 07:28:38 AM
As in all manners of things, as the # of participants grows the likelihood of the Newer ones being less than quality increases. The Fresh Meat that is being attracted is likely those with less seriousness of intent and onsider the process more of a game. Sad to say, but that is the way of the world. The only defense is to tighten the Terms of Sale, stick to deadlines, use the User ID Feature quickly and regularly and get ready to move on at the drop of a hat. Whats else can 1 do?
Dr. Trooth
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yisgood
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posted on September 15, 2000 07:32:20 AM
But some of the deadbeats are not newbies. That's the problem. I think it's because people have realized that sites are doing nothing about it. Did you read the Who's Who article? Ebay, Amazon and Yahoo state that multple auction IDs are not a significant problem. Until greedbay, yahoo etc start realizing that there has to be real user verification and real penalties for this behavior, it will only get worse. Right now it seems only sellers ever get "punished."
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portercm
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posted on September 15, 2000 11:34:27 AM
Hi. I have three sellers I promised to pay by paypal today. I tried for 4 hours to get to paypal but keep getting error messages. Both ebay and paypal. I think it is my ISP server right now. I emailed my sellers to let them know I will try again later today or tomorrow morning. I hope they will believe me because I told them I want the items and will send them a check if need be by tomorrow. I usually pay by paypal because I don't like buying money orders and checks take awhile to clear unless the seller takes a chance and ships after they receive it. They could cash the check right away with me if they want, I have never bounced a check but I won't demand them to since they haven't dealt with me before. I just dont want to wait almost 2 weeks to get the items. U know 10 day hold on a check. Here is the email I sent to my 3 sellers.
[br]Hi,
I recently won *the item* from you. I told you I would pay you today with paypal, but I cannot get into paypal from here in Maryland, probably my ISP. If you would like I can try again tonight or try it tomorrow morning. If I still cannot pay you through paypal would sending you a check be ok? I don't want to send a check since I would have to wait the 10 days for it to clear, that's why I was going to use paypal. I know that if you tried paypal it would probably work for you but it is not for me. Please let me know. Beleive me I really do want this beanie baby. I can't even get into ebay. I just wanted to let you know so you wouldn't think I was trying to deadbeat you. I have your mailing address so will do the check thing. Just let me know.
Thank you in advance for your time and patience,
Christine Porter
user id-portercm[/br]
[br]I am a bit worried they wouldn't believe me. [/br]
I AM SCI-FI.
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Shoshanah
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posted on September 15, 2000 11:47:26 AM
Why a check? Why not money order???Much faster, as far as shipping purpose...
It cost a little more, but is well worth the peace of mind...
********************
Shosh
http://www.oldandsold.com/cgi-bin/auction.cgi?justdisp&Rifkah
http://members.ebay.com/aboutme/rifkah/
[ edited by Shoshanah on Sep 15, 2000 11:49 AM ]
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Shoshanah
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posted on September 15, 2000 11:50:29 AM
porter AND the will believe you even more redily, if you send a Money Order
********************
Shosh
http://www.oldandsold.com/cgi-bin/auction.cgi?justdisp&Rifkah
http://members.ebay.com/aboutme/rifkah/
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portercm
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posted on September 15, 2000 11:54:53 AM
Shoshanah, oh I just use checks cause I can keep track of them better. I have paid by money order before but with me, I have to go to ATM take x amount of money out, get a fee charged, (in military so bank is in another state), go to the exchange and buy a money order than, fill it out and mail it. Yes I know I have to fill checks out too, but no fee charged. If the sellers say money order than money order it is. I prefer paypal or check. But I will pay anyway that my sellers wish or I shouldn't of bid. Right? Just hoping Erols will fix themselves tonight or tomorrow so no hassles for me or sellers. Thanks for helping me though, it's appreciated. (Edited cause I can't spell. )
I AM SCI-FI.
[ edited by portercm on Sep 15, 2000 11:57 AM ]
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loosecannon
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posted on September 15, 2000 12:02:29 PM
A bit of brightness here. Two of the winners including the one for the 400.00 item has emailed me back and both said they mailed payment earlier this week. That would be fantastic as it was the big item that had me worried the most.
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Shoshanah
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posted on September 15, 2000 12:11:23 PM
Porter...Oh! Sorry about that!...Hope you can get it resolved amicably...and fast...
L.C....Yea...... Glad to hear it...
********************
Shosh
http://www.oldandsold.com/cgi-bin/auction.cgi?justdisp&Rifkah
http://members.ebay.com/aboutme/rifkah/
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oddish4
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posted on September 15, 2000 12:22:55 PM
So this is where you've been hiding loosecannon
I actually haven't had a deadbeat in 2 months. What are the odds of that? This is one trend I sure hope keeps going.
Oddish~ The Odd One
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portercm
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posted on September 15, 2000 02:04:02 PM
Shoshanah, guess what? I am now able to get into ebay and paypal again! Woohoo! Thank goodness too. I was getting worried there for a minute. LOL Hey thanks to all who have helped me.
I AM SCI-FI.
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mballai
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posted on September 15, 2000 02:09:13 PM
I have had about 10 deadbeats in 600 auctions. I think I make it clear in my auctions that I run a tight ship--most of my bidders don't jerk me around. I mention NPB and feedback and that payment is expected promptly.
I believe a lot of the deadbeats come in certain areas of merchandise and the summer is definitely a factor. Sellers who are too lenient make it worse.
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chiphead
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posted on September 15, 2000 08:45:47 PM
Do any of you guys/gals cancel bids on your auctions when the bidder looks "iffy" (has any neg. feedback for non-payment, for example)?
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mybiddness
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posted on September 15, 2000 09:07:11 PM
I'm glad they finally notified you - hope the $$ come in. I very seldom have a slow pay (which I consider to be over two weeks) and have only one that never paid. With over 500 transactions - I'd say I'm lucky. But, for a while last month it seemed like I'd entered the twilight zone with bidders either not responding to emails or not sending timely payments. Eventually all but one came in.
Chiphead I haven't cancelled an auction yet but if the feedback was bad enough I'm sure I would. Just a case by case decision.
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mballai
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posted on September 15, 2000 09:16:14 PM
I haven't cancelled a bid yet. What might make me consider it is if the bidder has a negative rating. That's a definite tipoff. However I rarely have a big ticket item, so if I must help give someone a one-way ticket to NARU land, I will.
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pickersangel
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posted on September 15, 2000 09:26:14 PM
The only bid I've ever cancelled was for a user with a low feedback rating that, when examined, was due to a history of negatives for a bad email address. When emails sent from 3 different addresses all bounced back as "user unknown", I cancelled the bid. No point in selling to someone you can't contact.
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