posted on January 23, 2001 10:58:38 PM
Has anyone run into this, I had a small sale (under $10.00) sent out the standard end of auction email that has all the information necessary for payment (address, amount, item #, description, forms of payment accepted etc) and I later get in return email a request that I write or call (long distance) the person to discuss payment terms. I email back all the information that I sent in the first email and again I get this email:
hi, my name is XXXXXX, i live at XXXXX my phone is XXXXXX please call or write to discuss payment process. thank you. >>
I email the information again, get back a "got it! Happy New Year!" Message and assume all is well, 10 days later and still no payment arrives, I initiate a Non Paying Bidder Request with eBay and send a "perhaps you have forgotten to send Payment" email to the buyer and again he sends the "hi, my name is XXXXXX, i live at XXXXX my phone is XXXXXX please call or write to discuss payment process. thank you. "
I email back strongly suggesting that I am not about to make a long distance phone call, that I have emailed all the necessary information several times and that I expect the payment to be sent promptly.
Within a short while I get a Paypal email supposedly from the buyers "granddaughter" in the correct amount that says she is helping her Grandfather out with his paypals, later I get an email from "Grandpa" saying he is running out to the post office to send payment, I email Grandpa and ask about the email from his Grandaughter and he says yes it is from her and asks that I not report them to eBay. Both Grandpa and Granddaughter have valid ebay accounts with significant positive feedback and no negatives, does anyone have a clue about what is going on here? I am stumped!
posted on January 23, 2001 11:22:30 PM
Sounds like grandpa is trying to get the hang of computing and eBay, and is rescued on a regular basis by granddaughter. My advice is to have patience with the elders...they come from a slower-paced era--and we will be in their shoes one day!
posted on January 23, 2001 11:51:22 PM
I had a similiar experience woman emailed me on 1/4 demanding I send refund on item that closed 12/30 stating she had cashed check and no item.
I had not received check not to mention waited for it to clear.
She then sends me 6 full page emails (in a 2 hour period) stating that even though I sell several hundred items a month she feels abandoned by me.
Not sure what that meant.
I then tell her to send scan or copy of check
(I do once in a while make a mistake)
She refuses and leaves negative feedback and I reciprocate.
I relisted the item and considered it a wash.
2 days later her "daughter" emails me stating that her mother has failing memory and gets confused.
I explain the situation and the daughter sends a check priority mail for more then the item with an apology card.
When I expolain I relisted item daughter tells me to not worry about shipping the item and keep the check.
The emails Mom sent were totally irrational and just ranted and raved.
just as in Brick and Mortar selling some customers are not 100% with it.
Ebay person has since had account canceled
Just a similiar story
Joe B
Ebay Seller JRB3
posted on January 24, 2001 02:41:17 AM
JRB3, It sounds as though your bidder may have altzheimers. My grandfather did and this would be the type of thing he would do, not on computer of course. She may not have even remembered her first email in that short timespan, when she sent the next one.
They can even get violent over things that never really happened, only in their minds.
A very sad disease indeed.
posted on January 24, 2001 06:26:14 AM
My Mother-in-Law has Alzhiemer's and we had a sign taped over the phone for her not to answer it but she would anyway. If it was someone calling with a business question or a credit card number she would write everything down in scratches that are nothing resembling writing. The cumpulsion to answer the phone is deep. It is as ingrained as flushing the toilet.
What amazes me is that we will see her speak with people giving totally unrelated mixed up respomses to what they say and the people come away seemingly unaware that she has dementia so bad she can't tell if it is day or night and can't read a clock.
posted on January 24, 2001 07:44:43 AM
You are all very polite and recognize what is happening to these souls and for that I thank you. I recently took a poster to task on a forum because he referred to ex-President Reagan as "losing it."
I watched my former father-in-law, a brilliant man with a PhD, digress to "see the little birdie flying" to his wife being his mother, to not knowing his son or daughter, and certainly not the grandchildren, to not talking at all, to dying. It is an awful disease and hard on the care givers. "There but by the Grace of God go I."
posted on January 24, 2001 08:18:38 AM
Please be patient with the old fellow. I watched my proud, stoic grandfather go through the stages of dementia and it is terrible. Perhaps, you could email the granddaughter directly and deal with her, would probably save you some time. I think you will end up with a completed transaction, and you will have a nice warm feeling about yourself when it is all over.
posted on January 24, 2001 12:19:46 PM
Remember, if you live long enough, you will be OLD too someday. We need all the love and understanding you young folks can spare. We are still taking care of Tattoogranpa's Mother and Father while dealing with our own problems. We also have grown children and a Tattoograndson with ADHD age 6 that I keep every afternoon and Saturdays. Please, If I forget to pay anybody or send you an after auction response, please be patient and remind me.
Thanks, Tattoonana
