posted on January 16, 2001 11:56:50 AM
Sale ended Dec 26, 2000. I emailed the bidder with the total due, along with my initial reminder that payment is due within 10 days of auction ending. This was BEFORE the rate hike took effect. I filed a NPB form on 1/5. Finally, on 1/8, it arrived. Rate hike was now in affect. I went ahead and shipped anyway, and afterwards, I emailed the man and asked if he would be so kind as to send the difference (to the tune of about 10 bucks...it was a heavy item). No reply. I then emailed again a few days later, reminding him that his payment was late, the rate hike was now in effect and I shipped anyway, believing he would send the difference. No reply. I wound up losing money on this item. Didnt even break even. My question is, should I state it in a feedback? He was late, I filed a NPB form, payment finally arrived, I sent it, hes a happy camper and Im in the hole. My fault for believing in his sense of fairness, or his for seeing an opportunity and running with it or both? And, should I mention it in fb? Like "Pymnt late,sent after rate hike,asked reimb, no rply"...or just bonk my head on yon wall and chant "Imanidiot, Imanidiot"?
posted on January 16, 2001 12:08:14 PM
I don't thank that there is much you can do. If you didn't specifically state in your description that payments received after rate hike will have additional shipping charges, then you're just kinda SOL. The most you can do is ask, but he doesn't have to reply.
However, if he took longer to pay than your 10 days required in your TOS, then you can leave a neutral feedback referring to that. I would. But I wouldn't say anything about the extra $ you paid. I don't really think that it would help anything.
posted on January 16, 2001 12:28:55 PM
Considering all the severe winter weather in places and the fact that there was a holiday between the end of auction and receipt of payment, I wouldn't consider January 8th as being very late at all. If I were going to try to get the buyer to pay the extra postage, I would definitely have done that before I shipped the item. Basically, since you decided to go ahead and ship, you made the decision to potentially have to absorb the extra postage expense yourself.
I don't think I would mention anything about it in feedback. Just proceed with the head bonking...
posted on January 16, 2001 01:13:27 PM
Thanks for the advice. Pecan, his payment was way past the 10 day time frame. If he would have been prompt in paying, it would have arrived before the rate hike. Date on check was on the 8th day after auction ended. I didnt mention the rate hike, because my TOS states 10 days, no exceptions. However, because it was the holidays, I assumed he had the same "consideration" that I showed him, and put my own values on him also. Big mistake on my part. It bugs me that I read him wrong and was so naive. But, I have been selling for some time, and have had checks bounce and the bidder told me before I even knew it would and replaced it; bidders have noted the shipping fees paid on the box and sent reimbursement because I didnt charge enough, without me even noticing my error; bidders going out of their way to be honorable, and me do the same to them. Maybe it bugs me too, because he only gave a PO address, and when I said it was cheaper UPS if he would give a street address, he responded that he only had a PO addy. I came up with the idea of him having a neighbor claim it for him, to save on shipping and using UPS, and he responded with thanks, and the address of a local attorney who was his friend and would accept it at his office. Again, I assumed that since I was busting hiney to save him some money, and once he found out I had to eat the difference due to payment being late, he would show honor by working with ME. That didnt turn out to be the case, so now, it bugs me that I made an error in my judgment of his character. Guess I will go find a soft wall, and begin to chant
posted on January 16, 2001 01:27:32 PM
Sort of along the same lines. I was going on holidays on December 21, and planned to return on Janaury 4th. There were about 20 items that I had not received payment for, so I emailed those buyers who's addresses I did not have so I could send their items early since I was going away.
I was wondering if I was making a big mistake. I wasn't plannig on going away until the last minute. If I had, I would have made better arrangements.
I went ahead and mailed 20 items, partly to save on the postage increase, (postal rates went up on Jan, 1 in Canada too).
I'm happy to say that most people did mail the money, or pay by PayPal. There were 4 outstanding payments, one was just a few days late, another forgot and appologized and sent payment right away. But, there is one I have not heard from. I've filed a NPB alert last week for her.
