posted on November 25, 2000 07:51:53 PM
Uh-oh. I'm getting a little queasy. Here's the deal: I had a couple of auctions end last Sunday, and because the buyers had solid feedback (no negs), I took a chance and shipped the items before I received their checks in the mail. I was anxious to take care of all my eBay business so I could be away from it for a holiday break. They both told me Monday they'd be sending their checks by Tuesday, but nothing had come in the mail as of Saturday. One buyer lives only 50 miles from me, the other about 200, so first-class snail mail should have reached me by now. Both buyers received their items on Wednesday, and acknowledged same with feedback to me. I'm probably worrying too much, and the money (less than $50) may well arrive Monday... but still... I have this queasy feeling. Anyone ever get burned being magnanimous like this? Or am I the only (potential) fool who ships before payment is received?
posted on November 25, 2000 08:01:26 PM
Personaly I have never shipped until I received payment on my items. Hopefully you won't get burnt...but if you do you can always chalk it up to experience. There really isn't much you can do other than hope your dealing with honest people. If not...SOL comes to mind.
posted on November 25, 2000 08:02:15 PM
I find it hard to believe that a "Buyer" would do such a thing...
Why...thay're SAINTS!
It's only us SELLERS that are Crooks, Scammers, Weasels, Snakes, RipOffs, and Criminals.
For shame that you would think such a thing!
Really though, the mail is slow right now, and besides, I think they would have held your feedback "hostage" if they were gonna stiff ya. (for retaliatory reasons)
Relax, Have a left over turkey sandwich and some nog, and Monday you can go deposit your checks
posted on November 25, 2000 08:07:24 PM
Thanks, folks! I feel better already. My only trouble is that the in-laws decided to break with tradition and serve roast beef on T-day! Even though we were looking forward to a traditional turkey-fest, they were "sick of turkey because we had it two weeks ago!"
But that's a whole'nother topic! Time to take another swig of cough syrup. Whooooaaa... thats good stuff!
posted on November 25, 2000 08:10:57 PM
You'll likely get at least one of the two checks I would think. Most Sellers start out with a big heart and eventually learn as you did that you must be both wise and frugal in your online dealings. Imagine that its not your item , but your child's, that you are selling for her. Would you ship off HER item without her having the $ first? Probably not, as we are all protective of our children and would not want to allow any chance of them getting "burned". So in the future, ask yourself if you would do this if it belonged to (Fill in the blank with someone you deeply care about). Or imagine that you are an employee of a large company - What would their policy be?
posted on November 25, 2000 08:11:39 PM
I did it once, and never again. It was only for $3.00 plus postage so I am not out a lot. The buyer emailed me twice then I was leaving town so I thought it would be okay well when I returned and not a check in site I checked and sure enough she was NARU. I now am leary of shades after a user name.
posted on November 25, 2000 08:23:47 PM
Show me the money. I don't wait for checks to clear, but I do wait for at least the check to arrive. If they aren't using an online payment, they can wait until the snails show up with their dough before I ship. I won't even change my policy for a repeat buyer, not because I don't trust them, but because buyers are often very cavalier about payment.
posted on November 25, 2000 08:30:07 PM
Pocono:
You are the greatest, dude! Thanks for making another scamming, cheating, lying seller like yourself LOL! If they ever have an AW convention, I'll buy you at least two rounds of your favorite adult beverage!
posted on November 25, 2000 11:13:57 PMPocono: ROFLMAO!
BBLean: I only have one repeat customer that I do that for. This guys has always paid quick, and in full without complaints. He has ran the price up on several of the auctions he won way above my expectations, so I ship his items the next day after I send the EOA.
posted on November 26, 2000 05:55:50 AM
I've done it dozens of times and not been burned. Trust your gut, odds are very good that you will be paid, and then don't do it again.
posted on November 26, 2000 05:58:49 AM
I have only done this twice. Both times on auctions of clothing lots and on auctions that ended in the same time frame. Both bidders had over 100 feedbacks, all positive. I had in my auction that bidders paid actual shipping. So instead of lugging the boxes to the post office to find out the shipping then bring them back home, I sent them, told the bidders the total amount they owed (before I did so, I asked if they would be paying by Paypal and if so, then I would ship the item first if they promised to pay promptly!) then they could pay me. The first bidder paid within the hour. The second paid the same day but I do have to admit, I was quite nervous waiting! I doubt I do that again but at the time it was much more convenient!
posted on November 26, 2000 07:09:12 AM
"What if it belonged to Jesus?"
But wasn't Jesus the one who said "If any man asketh of you, give it to him"? ... so you would have the employees handing over the merchandise to anyone who asked, and not collecting.
posted on November 26, 2000 07:21:46 AM
Darned good point! But Jesus also told the parable of the the three slaves, each of which was given one golden shekel to invest while the master was away on a long trip. When the master returned, one slave had now had 10 shekels, one had 5, and one had only the original 1 shekel. The master greatly rewarded the first two slaves, then asked the third what had happened. He replied "I buried the money for fear you be mad if I lost it" The master severely punished this slave.
posted on November 26, 2000 07:27:32 AM
I would think positively because to worry about it will get you nothing..... the eternal optomist, that's me!!!!
posted on November 26, 2000 07:45:43 AM
Yup this is a fact worry dont help nothing, In fact if worry really worked how many auction do you think there would be on ebay for this service.
Peoblems worried about starting bid $10 an hour buy it now priced one day of worrying about your problems for $240.00 we Accept paypal for an extra $15 we will worry paypal dont rip you off till the payment gets to us. http://www.Dman-N-Company.com
posted on November 26, 2000 10:37:41 AM
I wouldn't sweat it, I've shipped scores of items out before receiving the funds.
Last year I shipped $700 worth of items out because I was leaving town & wanted to make sure everyone got their items without having to wait for my return. When I returned home, every last bidder had sent the $$ in.
posted on November 26, 2000 11:56:36 AM
hmmmm.....I did that... Totally my fault! Was brand new on Ebay...Potential bidder Emails about a piece...was prepared to pay XXX amount for a very high end item...I give her a little lesson on Art Glass, and offer to introduce her to that type of artistry. Tell her...duh!! don't laugh... : "I will send a small piece (low cost to me), and if she really still enjoys the work of that maker, to send me 100.00 plus shipping"...Well....eeeeheeee
The irony of it is that she was a Law Student, who could not afford much...
On the positive side, yes, I did ship once prior to receiving payment for sterling item..No problem.
So, it can go either way...
******************** Gosh Shosh!
posted on November 26, 2000 11:59:11 AM
Well I never ship anyone's item before they send payment (saves me anger, nervousness, and frustration) which has no price tag !!
Yet, even I in my relentless pursuit of not getting ripped off, I GOT BIT IN THE BUTT LAST YEAR !!!!
I accept checks and I always stated in my auctions that I hold checks for 10-14 days (but I used to never do it). A buyer sent me payment by personal check and I sent their item right out and deposited their check.
Well, 1 week later I get the check back from the bank "Insufficient Funds" ! It even cost me an additional $5.00 for the check being returned to me ! I was never able to contact the buyer and she was NARU within a week.
So it just goes to show that sometimes you do something careless (like send out an item before recieving actual funds) and get ripped off.
Because of this one buyer, all of my buyers who pay by check now have to wait until their checks clear. It is unforunate, but it is exactly as the old saying goes, "One rotten apple can spoil the whole bunch"
posted on November 26, 2000 12:01:59 PMabacaxi...eeeeeheeee...I just now saw your post about "Jesus"....Dang! All this time I thought I was Jewish....
******************** Gosh Shosh!
posted on November 26, 2000 12:54:08 PM
The mail is VERY slow this time of year. Especially over a holiday weekend! Plus, this is a very busy week and it's likely that the buyers might be a couple of days late in getting payments in the mail. I would say that it's a better idea not to send out the stuff til you get the money but at the same time, don't freak out because a piece of mail didn't arrive within 4 days. I mailed a check on the 30th of Oct and believe it or not it took two weeks for the seller to get it. The fault of the USPS.
________
I never had one, and I didn't want one, and I don't, so now I do...
Totally my fault! Was brand new on Ebay...Potential bidder Emails about a piece...was prepared to pay XXX amount for a very high end item...I give her a little lesson on Art Glass, and offer to introduce her to that type of artistry. Tell her...duh!! don't laugh...