posted on February 9, 2001 12:32:47 PM new
I just got an email from a customer that bought a piece of pottery from me. It seems I had only two packages to mail that day and still messed it up.
I sent him the painting and my other customer his pottery.
Well I guess I'm due for at least one neg out of this. Over 300 items sold and this is the first mail mix up.
I offered to pay the shipping back to me and refund the original postage also.
I will be out about 30 bucks when it is over but better that than an unhappy customer.
posted on February 9, 2001 12:35:24 PM new
In my experience, a negative is often avoided as long as you can manage to get both packages back where they belong. Most people understand honest mistakes, and clearly mailing the wrong item to the wrong person is an honest mistake.
Can you have them mail the packages to each other? If they are going to have to mail them anyway, why not cut out the middleman (you) if you can?
posted on February 9, 2001 12:37:49 PM new
Ah, don't feel dumb. It's happened to all of us at one time or the other. In my case, I'd only shipped ONE of the items. The customer to whom it was shipped was a gem, and agreed to forward it when it arrived. I PayPal'ed her the amount of shipping, plus a bit extra for her trouble. I then sent her the correct item. We all left POSITIVE feedback and lived happily ever after. Hopefully, your customers are great people, too!
posted on February 9, 2001 12:52:09 PM new
I agree with the captian a neg is not immenient (sp??). It is an honest mistake and probably happens sooner or later to most of us, in fact when I first started on ebay I got a couple packages mixed up. And wait, it gets better, one package contained a dirty movie and the other contained a lot of boy scout related items, ouch.
I was lucky that the winner of the movie got the boyscout items first so as soon as I could I emailed the guy who would soon receive the porn and explained what happened, I apologized repeatedly and sent postage to both of them and even offered to send back part of their bid amounts, both refused and were very gracious about the whole thing. I got glowing positives from both of them. It could have turned out much worse!!
Most people I have had dealings with on eBay are not militant neg feedback types. Just explain the mistake, offer to correct it and I bet you will be surprised. Most people, I imagine, will be very decent about the screw-up. Good luck!
posted on February 9, 2001 12:55:55 PM new
I wonder if the winner of the boy scout stuff watched the porn movie (a few times?) since this was a golden opportunity..."No dear, I just ordered some scout badges from ebay". He he.
Its like a fantasy come true for many guys..free porn just arrives out of the blue!
posted on February 9, 2001 03:31:41 PM new
This has happened to me twice (no comments!). In both cases, the buyers were not upset in the least bit and left positive feedbacks. Also, in both cases, they mailed the item to each other...but I made a point of asking each if they were willing to share their address (through me) with the other, before I released the addresses. I told each to tell me what it cost (including additional shipping materials, if needed), and then refunded the entire cost with a money order sent the following day. As long as you handle this situation carefully, professionally, and quickly, you should have no problem with feedback...
posted on February 9, 2001 03:52:34 PM new
I just had an auction close with a winning bidder - and a newbie to boot - I get her money, and guess what? I have NO item to send her, and can't get one. I really knew that this would happen one day and today is it! That's what happens when you sell multiples of small items and don't keep good records.
posted on February 9, 2001 06:08:23 PM new
I had a seller send something I bought to another person. The seller emailed and told me what happened. The other person sent it to me and everything was fine. I've bought more from her since. Anyone can make a mistake and I appreciate honesty, most people do.
posted on February 9, 2001 11:06:55 PM new
Thanks guys I feel much better. They haven't emailed me back and I will be on pins and needles until I get this worked out.
cmbtboots The boy scout porn switch really cracked me up.
Nothing like a good laugh to help lighten your mood.
I might try to get them to mail them to each other.
posted on February 10, 2001 06:03:38 AM new
I've been the buyer in a situation like this. Got someone's game and they got my Aurora Model...We just mailed them back to each other and seller paid us the postage. No big deal. I can't imagine a buyer getting upset over an honest mistake, unless the second person refuses to send the item back or they were buying this as a gift and it's time sensitive for them to receive it.
posted on February 10, 2001 02:42:18 PM new
I've done this at least 3 times in past couple of years. Yes, I feel dumb, and yes it costs me money, but I've never gotten negative feedback out of it.
Most times, the buyers have sent the merchandise to the right buyers and I've reimbursed them for the postage.
So, its a lot of work (just when you thought the transaction was over) but it can be salvaged.
posted on February 11, 2001 06:35:02 PM new
Hey, I've got one that's going to make you feel better...
It was December 12th..I remember because I had about 15 auctions end that night, and most paid with Paypal. I remember one guy in particular...he paid with Paypal and hoped I could mail his item right out as a gift for his wife.
No problem I told him. The next day I wrapped everything, all 15 winning items, and called for a USPS pickup.
I even patted myself on the back for being so organized and getting everything out right away.
I was looking for something else to mail around the 10th of January. Imagine my shock when I found the item the man wanted to give his wife for Christmas!! I couldn't believe I missed it! I had marked it in my book as shipped and just assumed he had gotten it.
I wrote to him and he was very nice and I sent it out but boy, I felt just awful!
posted on February 11, 2001 06:42:37 PM new
Well, I hope it helps to know you are not alone! The same thing happened to me recently, and I ended up getting 2 positive feedbacks for it. I had them each mail their package to the other bidder, and since both payed by PayPal, I Paypal-ed each of them the cost of shipping, plus some extra for the sheer pain-in-the-neck of it all. I thought this was going to be my first negative in almost 600 feeback responses, but I was blessed with very understanding bidders! I hope yours will be understanding as well.
I know it makes you feel like an idiot, but you are in very good company, so don't be too hard on yourself!!!
Martiniswiller (not my name on eBay)
posted on February 11, 2001 07:13:27 PM new
I've done it twice too ! ( After the first , you [i]swear[i/] it will be the last! ) .
The first time I agonised , and was sure I'd be negged , and deservedly so I thought , especially as the items were totally unrelated ; and one bidder was a first-time newbie and her husband had warned her not to try ebay , she'd get ripped off ! I felt just awful. As it turned out , they were both sooo.. understanding, and mailed the packages to each other and of course I refunded their postage +. Got pos. FB from both !
The second time was like items , sheep bells , one was for one bell , one for 4. Both bidders had samelast name and almost same first ( one Robert , one Bob ! ) I then worried that the man who received 4 might not want to return them , and would say he didn't receive them etc.... but once again , the bidders came through and were super co-operative and exchanged items ; they even thought it was amusing , bless 'em.! I sent an extra bell to him , and extra $$ to the other. Pos. FB again.
That's why I tend to go easy on some bidders who make "mistakes" and forget they haven't paid me , or get snowbound or flu etc. etc. Most of them are well-intentioned , and if they keep me updated on their dilemnas , I go along with it...and I get paid !
Don't worry , it happens.
posted on February 12, 2001 10:56:44 PM new
I agree with captainkirk. One time I got someone else's package (the seller mixed them up), and she asked me if I'd mind sending it on the the right person and vice versa. Of course I didn't mind. Everything went smoothly and she still got her positive feedback. As long as you are willing to get this straightened out, I'm sure your buyer will still leave you a positive comment
posted on February 13, 2001 04:07:31 PM new
I did that recently myself. I got permission from both the bidders, to give each other their emails, and they exchanged by shipping to each other, and I picked up the tab. I also told them to become VERY GOOD FRIENDS, because if either of them came back again as regular customers, then I would probably wind up mixing them up again when I have a "doofus moment" and they can just switch again, lol. BOth of them DID return as regular customers, and both of them DID wind up being friendly, heh.
(Both bidders have emails and user names similar to each other)
In my case, I'd only shipped ONE of the items. The customer to whom it was shipped was a gem, and agreed to forward it when it arrived. I PayPal'ed her the amount of shipping, plus a bit extra for her trouble. I then sent her the correct item. We all left POSITIVE feedback and lived happily ever after. 
