posted on November 3, 2000 08:34:52 AM new
After over 3 years on ebay, I finally have a winner I feel very worried about.
Started out pretty normal, this is the first response from my winner's notice.
<<i am shipping your money via money order. it is going in the mail today.
(thursday, october 26) with such a fast payment, i hope to receive the
merchandise just as fast. positive feedback would be nice too! take care
and it was nice doing business with you...>>>
Last night I received this e mail
<< are you gonna send that lighter or am i going to have to take proper
steps? you jewed me for my money. i even over paid you. i am giving you till
monday november 6th. i paid for that 2 weeks ago. and believe me....i
can
still get my money back from that money order from you>>
He signed his name, so I checked my records.
Auction ended on Oct 25, he mailed payment on Oct 26, (for correct amount), I received it on Oct 30 and mailed item priority on Oct 31.
Yesterday was only Nov 2, only 8 days after auction end.
I replied with this:
<<Are you sure you don't have me confused with another seller? Your auction
XXXXXXX ended with me ended Oct. 25th. It was for the XXXXX . Your payment arrived promptly on Oct 30th (for the correct
amount of $18.99) & I shipped your XXX via priority mail the next day
(Oct.31 ST). You should receive your lighter shortly. Thanks.>>
He replied:
<<i did not get you confused with ANYONE ELSE. that lighter is still not
here. as i said before, you have until monday. you only live in XXXX (one state away)
if i remember right. that only takes 3 days tops (post office)>>>
I feel like, since I mailed it the day after I received payment, and it was only mailed 2 days ago, and I can't control how fast the PO processes it, that he is being a little, ( maybe very?) unreasonable.
And although he never really threatens, I feel threatened.
I never responded to the second e mail, how can I calm this guy down?
~Not barrelracer on ebay, don't pick on them!~
posted on November 3, 2000 08:43:38 AM new
No, I didn't get either.
I mail right from the ranch, using stamps unless the item is large or customer asks.
I have a small "insurance fee" built in every bid to cover the losses I have had.
He has 7 feedback, 4 for positive buying and 3 for negative selling.
(He's a great buyer but bad seller.)
Actually I haven't even deposited the MO yet,
if he says he didn't get it I am just going to VOID it and send it to him, right now I feel like I just want this idiot out of my life.
~Not barrelracer on ebay, don't pick on them!~
posted on November 3, 2000 08:48:35 AM new
Phooey. Well, I always feel it's safer not to argue with the customers...especially if they're a little...um...off. I'd just say something like...
Thank you for your response. Your lighter is on it's way, and should arrive shortly.
posted on November 3, 2000 08:49:54 AM new
I'm sorry to hear that you're having to deal with a wacko. This is why I always use delivery confirmation. Good luck...
posted on November 3, 2000 08:59:39 AM new
You should have used Delivery Confirmation. Many will tell you its a waste of time & effort. In this case, what if the buyer after say 10 days still insist that lighter is not in his hands.
Charge your customers for insurance or delivery confirmation (or whatever it takes). Most buyers will pay for that extra precaution. Don't even make it an option for higher end items.
There are a lot of what if's out there & yes people will tell you that DC is perfect either...what is but at least in most cases it will provide adequate proof of delivery.
posted on November 3, 2000 09:00:07 AM new
Barrelracer:
I've had a few customers where it took a few weeks to a month for my customers to get their items. All the items were shipped by Priority Mail and they lived in the US. The post office has been VERY slow lately. Tell him there have been many complaints about how the post office is taking several weeks for some Priority Mail packages and that the post office does not consider something actually "lost" until at least 30 days have passed. Tell him Priority Mail does NOT GUARANTEE that the package will be delivered in 3 days and you're sure he will receive his package, that once you drop it off at the post office you have no control over how long it takes to get delivered.
I don't understand how people can be so unreasonable about something like this!
posted on November 3, 2000 09:14:19 AM new
I don't think delivery confirmation is a waste of money, and I have used it, especially when the item is shipped to an apartment, business or college.
I wasn't aware though, that the mailman won't leave it unless someone is home? Mine has left my packages with DC in my box, maybe because of where I live.
Just this past month though, 2 bidders complained because they had to go to the PO to pick up the package because it had DC.
Anyway, yes, I might have to rethink my whole operation, rent a PO box in town, and only ship 3 days a week, using tracking means. The PO is too far away for an everyday trip.
It seems like lately there is a different class of bidders out there. I can handle a customer dissappointed with what they won, or never getting their item, (after the reasonable amount of time), but I find irational people very hard to deal with, which is why I live way far from town and work over the internet I guess!
I remember waiting a week for film developing and over a week for my hated glasses when I was growing up. Now everyone wants it NOW.
~Not barrelracer on ebay, don't pick on them!~
posted on November 3, 2000 09:21:27 AM new
Yeah, DC isn't perfect. The most important point to me is...you have proof you mailed it. They can't do the "seller is scamming me" bit.
Yes, I agree. Proof of mailing would have helped my case.
But he started off so bent out of shape, and so far off the mark with his 2 weeks and overpayment (both false) that I don't think much would have helped persuade this guy.
Although at this point I do have some "bull persuaders" handy I might cheerfully use.
posted on November 3, 2000 09:27:04 AM new
As an Irish-Jew (just like Han Solo!) I deeply resent this BOZO's email! I would have shot it right over to Safe-Harbor faster than a Monkey goes through the PORN!
I INSIST on DC for every package, both Priority and Rook-Rate! It has saved my considerable BUTT several times!
posted on November 3, 2000 09:30:16 AM newYeah, DC isn't perfect. The most important point to me is...you have proof you mailed it. They can't do the "seller is scamming me" bit.
This is the way to look at delivery confirmation. It is pretty unreliable for proving that the recipient actually received the item. But you can prove that you mailed it.
posted on November 3, 2000 09:32:32 AM new
tomwiii,
That was one of the reasons I came here. I thought safeharbor was just for threatening e mails, and while I felt his tone is a little threatening, I was wondering how others felt about his e mails.
I know this isn't the biggest thing in the world, and others have received a lot worse. But I would like others opinions.
posted on November 3, 2000 09:57:59 AM new
Why is it that when they feel slighted, people resort to slurs....hmmmm...Like tomwiii, I resent the derogatory word used in the Email.
That said, you need to persuade him that occasionally even priority mail takes a little longer than 3 days tops...Can't you track the item?
I know, an ounce of prevention,,,,etc....But Insurance and DC or Return Receipt (for over 51.00) is a must....
posted on November 3, 2000 10:29:39 AM new
Hi shoshanah,
I don't think this one can be persuaded. Notice the lies also in the email. When corrected on that he just ignores it.
I don't think he wants to be reasonable either, otherwise he wouldn't have even inquired yet.
It snowed where he lives, maybe he's bored.
I used to try to justify the extra time and gas spent going to the post office, verses the ease of mailing from home, verses the cost of replacing the lost items.
It is a good record, over 2000 shipped this year and loss of 3. Usually most of my stuff sells for under $30.00. Don't get me wrong, I don't like reshipping, but I just figure it is the cost of business. Like I said, if that keeps up I might rethink and use DC on everything. It is nice when you can track the shipment.
posted on November 3, 2000 11:01:57 AM new
I wouldn't pay this guy any more attention than his racist remarks deserve. People who do this sort of thing are really trying to pick a fight. Don't give him one. Arguing with a fool is an exercise in futility.
posted on November 3, 2000 11:05:59 AM new
Just another angle, this guy COULD be just pulling your leg. I've known guys whose sense of humor was just this mean-spirited.
One thing I've started doing (and it's not fun) is keeping copies of all incoming and outgoing mail, and requesting mail receipts (Outlook Express) in order to get e-mail verification. This would be a nightmare for powersellers, but is a good thing for smaller sellers such as myself.
posted on November 3, 2000 11:08:32 AM new
There is a surprisingly a lot of people who use the word 'Jewed' or 'gyped' one referring to Jewish people the other refering to Gypsies....and whenever I have heard the words used and questioned the person using them if they were aware that they was derogatory---in most cases they have not.
They are words that should NOT be used and offence should be taken---but not all users are aware of the offence. I would not look at the use of the word in this case as a threat---though offensive it is.
In the case of your buyer --who is already quite defensive, you shouldn't educate them on their linguistics--but I have no problem in my everyday life to do so when I hear them being used.
posted on November 3, 2000 11:08:40 AM new
I agree with mballai, ignore the person - at least don't argue or feed his desire to argue.
On the other hand, they sound like trouble to me also - of course this is another good example of why we NEVER ship without insurance - we don't give a buyer a choice - we just won't ship without insurance...and if I am suspicious of a buyer, I use delivery confirmation also -
posted on November 3, 2000 11:18:39 AM new
This fine gentleman (ha!) who is giving you a hard time has THREE negs, out of 7 FB? And we're wondering if perhaps there's a problem here? I'd say so...big time!
I wonder if this isn't a regular stunt this person plays with buyers, trying to get them to refund just to get him out of their hair. Send the $ off right away, wait for the pos FB, and then turn into Mr. Hyde. Maybe he'll get to keep the merchandise, the good feedback, AND get his money back.
If this were me, I'd contact a couple of the previous sellers and see what they have to say about this person. And I'd send the letter off to safeharbor.
posted on November 3, 2000 11:26:15 AM new
barkrock,
What a good point. I certainly could see where he could be doing this.
I checked last night and it appeared he left no feedback at all for the sellers that left positive feedback for him. It could be, if he left them negative feedback, or any feedback, then they would be able to respond and he doesn't want his pattern to show.
posted on November 3, 2000 11:30:00 AM new
Sounds to me like you have come across one of the many "people" on eBay who have an elevator that does not go to the top floor.
Do not leave negative feedback. that will only get them further into the blackness. Also don't ask eBay for help. It might impinge on their integrity. Not that they really have any. They got to charge you for your listing and sale. That is the total extent of their interest. If the nutcase leaves you a neg. that will be "Just too bad" as far as eBay is concerned. I would just ignore any more mail from this guy. Also look for an auction site with a little more guts and integrity than eBay has. I have quit using them. I wish more people would.
posted on November 3, 2000 11:32:37 AM new
craig42---what site do you use now?? and what would their response be if you contacted them with a letter such as this??
