posted on January 6, 2001 08:59:41 AM new
Well, I'm sure all of you have pondered this situation. I have a buyer who has not responded in close to 2 weeks, but I am afraid to give him the feedback that he has earned in fear of receiving a bad mark myself. I have a relatively low feedback profile and don't need that mark against me as a new seller.
posted on January 6, 2001 09:19:31 AM new
cape: I know this aint what you wanna hear, but all you sellers that DON'T leave NEGATIVE FEEDBACK for the DEADBEATS, are just creating bigger problems.
The reason there ARE so many DEADBEATS, is because they KNOW that sellers are afraid to leave NEGs.
Feedback use to be worth something, but not anymore.
They should just abolish it, becaus it is useless if users do not use it the way it was intended, and they don't.
Hey, I use to be the same way, don't get me wrong, BUT...I came to my senses and decided that since I was such a big complainer about DEADBEATS, that I should do something about it.
If you don't pay me? you get a
BIG GIANT RED SPLOTCH LIKE THIS ON YOUR FEEDBACK
I think it helps to, because this jokers look to see if you NEG, and if you do, they usually think twice.
posted on January 6, 2001 09:29:11 AM new
Cape123 -
Email is not reliable, so make sure it's them and not an email problem first, then follow the steps of escalating:
1. Try making contact by using the "mail this auction to a friend" ... that comes out of eBay's servers and should get to them.
1.5 Check where they are ...
http://cgi3.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?MemberSearchShow has a form for getting the contact info for another user. Remember that parts of the south-central USA had nasty ice storms and rural areas may still be without power or phones. It takes both to make email work.
3. File the NPB alert form
http://cgi3.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?NPBComplaintForm
4. File for FVF 10 days after the NPB form unless it kickes them into action ...
http://cgi3.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?CreditRequest
5. Leave a factual negative as soon as you file the FVF: "XX days no response to emails or NPB"
IF they retaliate, just leave a FACTUAL reply saying "Retaliation: XX days no response to emails or NPB" and buyers will nkow what happened.
EDITED TO ADD:
I agree with Pocono ... it's chicken-hearted buyers and sellers who are too concerned with protecting their virginal feedback that let the bad buyers and sellers stay in business. I'm not at all reluctant to leave negatives for buyers OR sellers ... but I don't retaliate if I know I deserved one.
[ edited by abacaxi on Jan 6, 2001 09:37 AM ]
posted on January 6, 2001 09:36:11 AM new
I can understand your reluctance to give a negative is you haven't yet build up a good reputation with positive feedback.
A negative alerts other sellers of a potential bad buyer.
HOWEVER, a record with eBay of 4 non-payments gets the bidder kicked off eBay indefinitely - a much more serious consequence. See this link: http://pages.ebay.com/help/community/npb.html
The chances are that your deadbeat bidder has or will renege on other transactions.
My recommendation is to file a non paying bidder alert and then follow through.
Irene
[ edited by stockticker on Jan 6, 2001 09:37 AM ]
posted on January 6, 2001 09:57:49 AM new
Oh, I have already filed an NPB (3-4 days ago)
I thank you for all your suggestions. I will now reconsider my position. But I also think that I would not have such a problem leaving neg feed if I had 100+ positive feed. But you must understand, that my low # of positives is whats keeping me from leaving a neg. Believe me, I feel the same way all of you do and this is not the only time I've had a deadbeat. I think I've had 5 so far and have left no feedback for any of them because my feedback was so low.
Also, I sent him emails from 3 different servers ( one of which was auctionwatch) STILL NO RESPONSE. What bugs me the most about THIS auction is that the final price was fairly high and this guy has 0 feedback with shades. I'm wondering whether or not he is just setting up multiple accounts. If so, what good will a neg actually do to someone like that. On the otherhand, a neg would affect me greatly since I am trying to build a reputation.
Anyway, I could go on and on.
Please keep posting. I know you guys have much mor experience than me and I value your comments greatly.
Also, does anyone recommend that I CALL him? I've heard differing opinions on this.
posted on January 6, 2001 10:14:21 AM new
Although 100% Positive feedback is the ideal thing.. but in real life..you can please some of the people some of the time but you will never be able to please all of the people all of the time.. you can expect to get a few bumps and bruises on your feedback along the way of being a seller. so you shouldn't fear placing a bad remark on his profile and if he leaves on back on you... you can always reply to it but stating that he left the neg in retaliation.. other than that.. overall seller prefromance is what will get you through.. so you just have to do the best that you can with what you have to work with.. and i agree that by not posting the remark will cause ebay to be more like yahoo with 80% of the bidders being deadbeats.
[ edited by preciousminutes on Jan 6, 2001 10:16 AM ]
I used to feel the same way. Now I give Negs. whenever it's deserved. If more people left negs when they should then all the Deadbeats would mostly be weeded out or reform. I have 2 negs (Non Retaliation) and can say I have roughly handed out a few dozen over the years and received no retaliation, and wouldn't care if I did.
My 2 Negs did not affect my sales in any way. I also buy from sellers with negs as long as they aren't excessive and I never had a problem. Most people, I for one understand that you can't please anyone.
Also your mail must be getting through or it would most likely bounce. I have sold 1000's of things and havn't once have an eMail "not get through"
Don't forget you can always explain your side in the feedback they leave you.
posted on January 6, 2001 10:37:58 AM new
cape123- Don't feel that way! Leave the neg. I did one today, and got pay pal'd 8 hours later. Every deadbeat that you leave on the site is one more that other sellers have to contend with. If it takes a village to raise a child, why not just get rid of that child and cut down the workload...
I used to feel the same way. Now I give Negs. whenever it's deserved. If more people left negs when they should then all the Deadbeats would mostly be weeded out or reform. I have 2 negs (Non Retaliation) and can say I have roughly handed out a few dozen over the years and received no retaliation, and wouldn't care if I did.
My 2 Negs did not affect my sales in any way. I also buy from sellers with negs as long as they aren't excessive and I never had a problem. Most people, I for one understand that you can't please anyone.
Also your mail must be getting through or it would most likely bounce. I have sold 1000's of things and havn't once have an eMail "not get through"
Don't forget you can always explain your side in the feedback they leave you.
posted on January 6, 2001 10:53:10 AM new
Interesting...
So if I leave a negative remark, can I have ebay remove it if the buyer decides to complete the transaction?
Also, no one has given me advice on whether or not I should call this person. I just don't know if it is appropriate or not. Do any of you call your buyers/sellers?
posted on January 6, 2001 11:09:40 AM new
If you think by calling him will help solve the problem then go ahead and do so.. but personal experience that i have had is no matter how nice you try to be when you call them.. you often seem to get an ear full of vulgar language!! and since i have strong ears if you would like email me all the auction info and also request his ebay info and send to me and i'll be more than happy to call him for you <devilish grin>
[email protected]
posted on January 6, 2001 11:10:33 AM new
You certainly can reply to the neg on your own feedback. If there is a pattern with this buyer, list check his feedback.
I had my first negative recently - thought I would die but didn't. People look at the overall, not just 1. Lots of positives far outweight a small amount of negatives and are a part of business.
It is your duty as a seller to leave this jerk a negative feedback.
You have already tried to contact via email, that is good enough. You can call if you want, I would (and I usually do).
By not leaving this jerk a negative you are leaving the rest of us wide open in accepting a bid from this deabeat !
I always (I MEAN ALWAYS !) neg a deadbeat. I do this to help you and all the other sellers out there !
Do not give me the "my feedback is to low and I want to build my rep up". You said yourself you have let 5 others go without leaving them negs, and probably one of those deadbeats will bid on my auction ! Without the negative feedback in their rating, how am I supposed to know they are deadbeats ?
If you want a good rep as a seller, do not worry about your feedback. If this jerk leaves you a retallitory negative, simply reply to it and state he is a deadbeat and did not pay for the auction. Most buyers see this as an acceptable negative, a "battle scar" if you will.
Do your duty. Leave him a negative and helps us all.
