posted on September 25, 2000 07:37:21 AM
I have a repeat customer who has bid on and paid for several of my auctions in the past. Now here is the problem...she currently owes me $370.00....and still keeps bidding on my auctions! I sent an invoice when she owed $140. and she hasn't paid, but still keeps bidding....she has 51 feedbacks, 8 negs...apparently sometimes she pays very very fast and sometimes not at all. She is very very friendly etc. but I need payment. How do I stop someone from bidding more but not alienate them so much they deadbeat me?? In 18 months of ebay I haven't had a case like this one!! Can't figure unless bipolar!!!
posted on September 25, 2000 08:29:08 AM
I would just send a nice email saying;
"I see you are bidding on my auctions, however you still owe me $370.00 from the previous auctions. I am sure you will understand that until this balance is paid I will have to cancel any future bidding on my auctions. I have enjoyed doing business with you, and would like to continue to do so once the balance is paid." Thank-you, xxx
You can't keep letting that kind a balance build up. You may be as nice as can be and they still might neg., but I would rather have a neg than loose anymore money! And if they have 8 negs, I think that speaks for itself!
posted on September 25, 2000 09:11:12 AM
I have to agree with the advice in the previous post. Apparently your bidder has no intention of waiting to bid on additional auctions until the balance is paid, so you'll have to take the bull by the horns and make that decision for her. I have a bad feeling you may have a deadbeat on your hands anyway. Be sure that you don't let the earlier balances go so long that you can't file for FVF. If it's time, file the NPB alert in addition to notifying the bidder by email that you will cancel any outstanding/future bids she has on your auctions, until you receive payment. Maybe she just needs a good "kick in the pants" to get her moving.
posted on September 25, 2000 09:57:38 AM
You sent an invoice when she owed $140 ... and now the balance is up to $370? How long has the balance been outstanding?
Have you communicated with her at all in the interim? Was there any response to your invoice? Did you provide a deadline when you expected payment?
Communication is vital. She may be bidding on multiples to reduce shipping costs. Or she may be joy-bidding. One thing's certain: You won't know 'til you ask!
Unless you're reasonably certain (based on an actual dialogue and not on clairvoyance)she's going to stiff you, I wouldn't risk alienating a buyer who's potentially your best customer!
posted on September 25, 2000 10:08:51 AM
Thanks for the quick advice...I just emailed her and let her know that I am cancelling bids (she has already bid on THREE of my auctions this morning despite saying she has the flu) until the balance is paid. She is very very friendly, just keeps bidding and stringing it along. Awhile back her mother? emailed me that she was in the hospital and would pay when she returned. That was the beginning of it all..when she returned she bid on 2 things of mine, paid promptly cia paypal, didn't pay for the old auctions and kept bidding and bidding and bidding. She has bids on auctions (mine and others) now totaling over $1200. I am now going to ebay to cancel the last 3 bids. Question, there are some auctions that she won where she bid up the item...how/when do I contact the next highest bidder re these items. I am usually coldblooded about these things..this is the first and I feel taken big time!!!
posted on September 25, 2000 01:14:22 PM
SUSIEGIRL- I have had an auction or two where someone bid it up, and then did not pay. I did not feel right offering the second bidder the item for the same price, so I offered it to them at their high bid. I have found though that in cases where I have contacted the second high bidder, they never respond.
If the second bidders high is something you can live with, I would offer it to them. If not, relist it. I would probably be more inclined to relist, usually seems everything I relist gets a higher price the second time around. Hope that helps!
