ExecutiveGirl
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posted on March 3, 2001 06:33:12 PM new
Auction ends over 3 weeks ago. I received her payment and shipped out the item. She emails me the day she received the suit and tells me:
I received the above referenced item. The jacket is a tad roomy, but I think it will be great once I have it cleaned and pressed. Thank you, XXXXXXXXX
Ok, great! Right?
The item was shipped out 3 weeks ago by Priority Mail. Tonight I get this email from her:
I was just showing this suit I bought from you in Feb to my sister and noticed two tiny holes near the kick pleat. Please advise.
I basically tell her that I'm very sorry, but she's had the item for at least 2 weeks, and that she had already emailed me when she recieved it that she was happy with the suit, and that I don't really feel that 2 weeks after she's had the item qualifies for a refund.
She responds telling me that when she got the suit in the mail she did look it over and didn't see any holes (otherwise she would have emailed me sooner), and that she brought it to the cleaners and put it in her closet when she got it back. Today she happened to take it out and found 2 "tiny" holes. She then proceeds to tell me that I misrepresented the item, and that I sell "faulty" merchandise.
I don't get it! I didn't see ANY holes in it when:
(1) I took pictures - including closeup details of the suit
(2) Listed & Described the suit including all details and measurements
(3) Packaged the suit
THEN... SHE admits she did not see any holes when she received the suit, or at any time BEFORE she brought it to the cleaners. But now, after it's been to the cleaners and just hanging "in her closet", she sees 2 tiny holes and I'm the one at fault?
How can she tell ME that I misrepresented an item when SHE didn't even see any flaws in it when she received it?!
Would you refund under these circumstances?
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Baileejean
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posted on March 3, 2001 06:43:40 PM new
No chance! Tell her to go bother the cleaners, they handled it, applied chemicals to it, and God knows what else. Looks to me like you both agree that there was no damage before it went to the cleaners, so..."Tag, they're it!" 
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tomwiii
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posted on March 3, 2001 06:45:26 PM new
A POLITE QUESTION: how come you get SO many whacked buyers? This is a truly serious non-nasty nice sweet very curious question!
We members of the MONKEY-PORN GUILD have had over 700 successful auctions X 4/2000 -- have never had anybody even remotely NUTSO like you get. Is it the CLOTHES CATEGORY do ya think?
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gravid
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posted on March 3, 2001 06:46:31 PM new
Tag indead - with a pin or a staple!
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chepistar
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posted on March 3, 2001 06:46:54 PM new
How can she tell ME that I misrepresented an item
only you, EG, only you.
LMAO ~ you really seem to be a magnet for this stuff!
Sorry that another one crawled out of the woodwork, but as far as the refund goes, IMHO, probably no refund.
I think it really depends on how good you check your goodies out ~
when I sell my own items, I am totally aware of their condition so anything that could crop up I can say "oh yeah, I forget that there was an inseam opening..." (= refund or $ to have it fixed)
If it is something that I purchased used, my skills aren't as good as yours, I could very well have overlooked a flaw ~ that dam human error thing creeping up on me!
BUT
maybe it didn't fit
OR
maybe when she showed "her sister", the comment was "You're kidding, right?"
OR
maybe she is having buyers remorse
OR
maybe she's looking for a little discount?
OR
maybe the dry cleaner did it if anything was done, at all.
hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
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auctionqueenie
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posted on March 3, 2001 06:47:33 PM new
No.
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shaani
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posted on March 3, 2001 06:48:04 PM new
Maybe she has moths in her closet.
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ExecutiveGirl
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posted on March 3, 2001 06:52:06 PM new
Thanks guys! I didn't feel she deserved a refund either.
Tomwii: <sigh> Your guess is as good as mine! It could be the clothing category - because not only do I get these kinds of buyers, but I get a lot of deadbeats too! But I sell on a very large basis also - several hundreds of items per week - so really, it's only a very small percentage of problem customers. Luckily the huge majority of my customers are wonderful. And it's a good thing because they pay all my bills!
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ExecutiveGirl
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posted on March 3, 2001 07:02:59 PM new
Hey CHEAPSTAR Long time no see, huh!?
Well, in her first email to me she had said the TOP was a bit "roomy". So I'm thinking maybe it's a case of buyer's remorse. (even though I give VERY specific measurements in every single one of my auctions).
It's not the kind of suit someone would look at and say "you're kidding, right?" It was a beautiful, professional business suit and a high quality brand name suit, and she got a STEAL on it.
I suppose the cleaner's COULD have done something to it.
She didn't really say WHAT she wanted (a total refund or just a discount) - she just said "please advise". Ugh.
Shaani: LOL at the moths comment!
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busybiddy
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posted on March 3, 2001 07:15:28 PM new
You know, it is quite possible that the dry cleaners DID damage the fabric on the suit. Many fabrics require different chemical cleaners, or special handling, and a lot of cleaners are not that meticulous in following the directions on the care tag.
I think I would politely suggest that she return the suit to the cleaners and ask what could be done about the hole that wasn't there until they got hold of the suit. I've had many items damaged over the years and in each case I got the store to reimburse me for the item they ruined.
Other than that, I wouldn't feel compelled to refund after 3 weeks and a trip through the cleaners.
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sulyn1950
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posted on March 3, 2001 07:17:46 PM new
Well, since she asked you to ADVISE her:
I would quickly let her know that there was NO damage when the item went out and that her original emails to you ALSO stated no noticeable "holes" so the problem is MOST probably the cleaners. Then tell her you'll be glad to support her with a written statement there was no damage BEFORE the item went to the cleaners and she should DEFINETLY complain to the cleaner and perhaps look around for another one! 
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shaani
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posted on March 3, 2001 07:41:48 PM new
A few months ago I had a buyer who had an item for 3 wks and then the e-mails started.
I tried to deal with it but to no avail.
It is a long story but I felt I was in the right and I took my first neg and I moved on.
I guess you could suggest that she take it back to the cleaners and see how it goes from there.
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ExecutiveGirl
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posted on March 3, 2001 08:21:15 PM new
I did tell her that it sounded to me like the drycleaner's is to blame here. Neither of us saw any flaws in the suit at all until AFTER she brought it to the cleaners.
I also forgot to mention - she also made the comment tonight that the suit was wrinkled when she got it. I told her that just about any clothing is going to get wrinkled through the mail.
What did she want me to do, hand deliver it hanging in a garment bag?
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misscandle
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posted on March 3, 2001 08:47:41 PM new
She's not from Florida, by any chance?
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rampaged
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posted on March 3, 2001 09:48:33 PM new
misscandle
LMAO, Best laugh i've had in a long time. I lived in Florida for 26 years and I know where you're coming from.
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lattefor2
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posted on March 4, 2001 06:27:25 AM new
I would ask to see her receipt from cleaners. If she produces one, then I would question where it was put on the garment. Usually cleaners examine garment before accepting the mdse. to be cleaned they usually point out spots that they can not guatantee removing, rips, tears, holes etc. Looks like the cleaners missed it also.
Latte
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ExecutiveGirl
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posted on March 4, 2001 07:18:46 AM new
Good morning, everyone.
Just woke up this morning to this email:
The holes are the type that are made with electronic theft prevention devices. That you imply that I am somehow to blame for the holes or that I am to blame because I did not immediately notice them is placing the responsibility where it clearly does not belong. Ridiculous. But I am not going to argue either. I am just going to leave negative feedback. Successful businesses understamd that the customer is always right.
latte2for: Thanks for that tip - I just emailed her and told her about that... we'll have to see what she says about this one. I REALLY don't want a negative out of this. She has 32 feedbacks, no negs and has never left any negs.
ugh.
[ edited by ExecutiveGirl on Mar 4, 2001 07:24 AM ]
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ExecutiveGirl
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posted on March 4, 2001 07:22:17 AM new
misscandle: I just had to check to see where she was from! I was beginning to think it WAS Florida! But nope.. this is a fellow New Yorker....
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lattefor2
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posted on March 4, 2001 07:38:31 AM new
ro executive girl, and miss candle, I happen to be an ex New yorker now living in Florida. I guess I picked the 2 states that kind of carry a personna all their own, lol.
I believe from reading on this board a buyer threatning negative feedback is not permissable and can be forwarded onto safeharbor. Also, excecutive girl. was this a vintage item? Remeber the stores instituting these type of security devices were not until much later on, they were first used with hard knobbed plastic and then twisted off by the salesperson, called sensamatic or something along these lines. If these devices caused such damage to occur the retail stores would be filled with returns and believe me this problem would have been rectified. I would stick to my guns with this one. I think the give away was when she showed it to her sister and all at once the story changed.
Just my opinion.
Latte
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ExecutiveGirl
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posted on March 4, 2001 07:44:59 AM new
lattefor2:
Actually, the "Florida" comment was actually directed at another problem bidder I had a while back. So it wasn't against just anyone in Florida... an inside joke kinda thing
And no, this was definitely not a vintage item. This was probably bought brand new from the store within the last year. I completely see what you are saying about how the store would be flooded with returns - I actually thought about that too when she mentioned it in her email. Looks like she's just looking for ANY way to make it sound like it was there before she brought it to the cleaners...
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lattefor2
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posted on March 4, 2001 07:53:54 AM new
Executive Girl, I've been folowing your threads, I just could not resist the response coming from both states. I thought it humorous, no offense at all taken, .
Hope you come out smelling like a rose on this one.
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ExecutiveGirl
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posted on March 4, 2001 09:25:38 AM new
I was just thinking... this is a very good reason not to leave feedback until it's left for you....
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shaani
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posted on March 4, 2001 10:43:11 AM new
Hi ExecutiveGirl,
Sorry that this isn't getting any better today. It seems strange that you missed the holes when you listed it and sent it and that she didn't see them when she got it and then the drycleaners missed them also.
Maybe this item has never even been to the cleaners? Or maybe the holes were just missed by everyone to begin with? In situations like this it is always hard to judge what is really going on.
You will have to decide whether it is easier for you to accept the item back or get a negative feedback.
I am guessing that this is not a good time to e-mail her and suggest that she check for moths in her closet? 
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auctionqueenie
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posted on March 4, 2001 10:46:39 AM new
With this one, she might give negative no matter what you do. Actions based upon fear of negative feeback fall along the same lines as blackmail.
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chepistar
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posted on March 4, 2001 05:00:13 PM new
sorry, EG, my money's with auctionqueenie on this one ~ expect the neg and be pleasantly surprised if it doesn't come. I would go ahead with the "feedback extortion" stuff ~ if this is a habit for her, even with only 30 auctions under her belt, she may be NARU'ed before she can post FB.
It's not the kind of suit someone would look at and say "you're kidding, right?" It was a beautiful, professional business suit and a high quality brand name suit
once again, LMAO! I'm sure that the suit was stunning. I just meant that the "you're kidding" could come from a tobacco spittin hog ridin 3 toothed sister!! You have to remember, I'm a resident of that "F" word state so I have problems selecting words, counting, and sending PayPal payments!
keep us posted on this saga...I learn so much from you
chepi*
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ExecutiveGirl
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posted on March 5, 2001 08:53:34 AM new
Well, it's been 24 hours since she emailed me her threat of negative feedback yesterday morning and STILL NO NEG!! It's been driving me crazy, too! Every few minutes yesterday I kept checking to see if I was negged yet. Pretty nerve-wracking!
She has never received a neg, so do you think maybe she's afraid that if she negs me I'll neg her back? I have not left feedback yet on the transaction.
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shaani
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posted on March 5, 2001 10:13:00 AM new
Hopefully you will get lucky and probably only because you have not left feedback yet. My buyer finally left me a negative about two weeks after her last e-mail to me. So I do know what you mean by nerve-wracking. I was very relieved when it was over.
I always left feedback first as I was confident in my descriptions and the fact that I was paid. But some bidders are just too hard to please no matter what you do. I have been "held hostage" on several items where I left feedback first. After I got my negative I said "no more".
I haven't had any complaints since and I am getting more feedback now also. Some people may disagree with my system but so far it is working for me.
My husband and I used to disagree on the feedback issue. I am now doing it "his way" so that is another problem out of my life.
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ExecutiveGirl
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posted on March 5, 2001 10:28:36 AM new
Shaani: I used to leave feedback as soon as I received their payment or shipped out their item. But like you, after a few problems with customers holding the negative feedback over my head I also no longer leave feedback first.
My new rule is as a SELLER - I'll leave feedback after it's left for me.
As a BUYER, I ALWAYS leave feedback as soon as I receive the item, regardless of whether feedback has been left for me or not.
On my seller's ID, I've also left almost 2000 more feedbacks than I've received in return.
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act2auctions
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posted on March 5, 2001 10:37:06 AM new
And this is exactly why I no longer selling clothing on eBay. From time to time, I may sell one or two small pieces but never the quantity I used to sell. Simply because a majority of the whackos shop the clothing category -not trying to offend anyone!
Anything I do sell gets checked, rechecked, and checked again in hopes of saving myself a hassle. Clothes shopper are many women who are (I can say this because I am one!) hard to please. LOL
ExecutiveGirl, tell her go to her cleaners! It's not your problem any more!
Kim
----------VV----------
http://members.ebay.com/aboutme/act2auctions
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shaani
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posted on March 5, 2001 12:11:46 PM new
I don't sell clothing and I have to admire anyone who does, especially with all the measuring that has to be done and trying to meet everyone's expectations.
I was enjoying selling on ebay until I had a nasty & threatening transaction with a "newbie" buyer. He finally made the mistake of e-mailing me from his seller's ID & I realized he was shilling his own auctions. I turned the whole mess over to safeharbor and he was NARU within hours. But it took the fun out of it for me and left me with a chill.
Another person bought something from me and tried to resell it in her shop and when it didn't sell for a profit it was my fault.
Then another buyer threatened me because the plate I sold him didn't have gold on it. It was never made with gold and luckily I had an exact picture in a collector's book and I scanned it and sent it to him.
A couple of other buyers have made veiled threats about feedback and I was dumb enough to let them keep the item and I returned the money. Never again. I have learned lots from reading the boards.
[ edited by shaani on Mar 5, 2001 01:07 PM ]
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