posted on March 8, 2001 02:04:59 PM
Having been on eBay for 20 months or so, this is my first bad transaction.
I know, we've all heard it before. Buyer wins auction on one of my used CDs, only $2.50. Payment doesn't arrive. E-mails go back and forth, buyer always promises, "I'll send payment immediately". Finally, 30 days after the auction ends, I file for FVF, wait another 10 days, hear nothing from him, and neg the buyer. Currently, he has 7 positives and my 1 neg.
Today, a month and a half after the auction ends, I get an e-mail, buyer apologizing profusely and claiming his mail server was down (I wonder, it's through a well known and rather large Texas university). He promises to send payment immediately(!) if I just give him my address again. In the meantime, I've relisted the item on eBay.
Now, should I be foolish and bighearted, cancel my auction, and wait again, or should I just tell him to bid again? Or should I tell him to take a very long hike?
If this were a high dollar transaction I'd veto him in a heartbeat, but at $2.50, it would almost be amusing to see what happens.
posted on March 8, 2001 02:32:13 PM
Boy, that's a lot of frustration for $2.50 and 1 or 2 months waiting is not good! This is what I would do. I would give him a window and cutoff date as to when his funds can be accepted. If the payment meets your criteria then your ahead ($2.50 worth). If he misses your deadline repost. If the check does come in after your stated cutoff date, ask him how he wants to handle the return of his check. Make it plain to him you will not except his funds for an item gone back into auction. I have a bidder that said he sent payment almost 1 month ago. I've emailed him that I never received it but he's been strangely silent. Fortunately, I still have the item.
posted on March 8, 2001 03:34:39 PM
I was going to come here and share this story about my "check's in the mail" bidder and saw yours.
Mine:
Auction ends 2/23 and winning bidder notice goes out promptly with no response from winner. On 3/2, I e-mail a gentle reminder that I have not had an acknowledgement from them nor received payment. They immediately shot off an indignent response that they "sent it several days ago and sorry I was not prompt enough for you." Today (3/8) I receive the payment and the letter is postmarked 3/3 which is the day after I e-mailed them the reminder. Do they think we are blind or cannot read?
Yours:
I would not give them another opportunity to buy and item from you and leave you feedback. I would simply let them know that the sale has long ago been considered null and void.
