posted on March 11, 2001 10:51:24 PM
This is a first. My auctions state that residents from my home state needs to pay x.50% sales tax." I sent out my notices, and I receive an email back stating, "The sales tax here is x%." This comes out to 6 cents less!!
The tax that I state is correct. I wrote a nice, friendly email explaining that the Board of Equalization has set the amount to collect for sales tax. We will see if I receive my full 6 cents.
I know that it is only 6 cents, but I am tired of receiving payments for less than what they should be. I don't know how many times I receive payments that are short.
posted on March 11, 2001 11:07:35 PM
How about raising your shipping fee on everything a dime for a month or two and put the excess in "petty cash" that you can dip into for the odd pennies that thoughtless and unobservant buyers stiff you for. Repeat the shipping increase whenever your petty cash gets low. If it's over a dollar, make them mail you extra money before you ship.
Would it help to include the Board of Equalization reference in your EOA? That might make it look official enough that they'll pay more attention.
Without eBay, I might have a real life...
(edited 'cause I thought of something else)
[ edited by mcbrunnhilde on Mar 11, 2001 11:12 PM ]
posted on March 12, 2001 12:38:54 AM
It's 3:34 in Michigan, and I'm watching Married with Children on the local Fox Network. That Kelly Bundy is a barrel of laughs. I bust a gut every time I was this show!
The fact that this person would take the time to write to you regarding SIX CENTS should tell you what kind of person you are dealing with.
While it is frustrating, it is just not worth getting any deeper in the morass with this person.
I build enough into my prices/shipping to “handle” an occasional problem, and when a dispute like this comes up I just tell the buyer that the difference is my gift to them.
Then I hope that they never bid on one of my auctions again!
posted on March 12, 2001 09:07:53 PM
Thanks to everyone for their input. The tax in my state is based on where my internet business is located, not the destination.
I received an email from the bidder who said that they would pay the full tax, and that they didn't know the tax rate worked this way.
posted on March 13, 2001 07:43:02 AMkellyb1 I understand your frustration! When my customers question me about tax, I send them a friendly email explaining that I understand their concerns. I then send them a link for the tax from this state. I think some people don't believe it, unless they read it for themselves.
I have always received the tax.
Try sending them the link. I hope that will help!
posted on March 13, 2001 09:21:34 AM
I have a special fee for people like this...
Annoyance Fee
Annoyance Fee = 2.74583928774% of the sale price minus eBay fees, plus handling, minus actually shipping, and calculated the cost of living and the fed rate hike or decrease. This is payable in a single installment, or can be broken down with an interest rate of 36% per month over 5 years.
Oh, and, btw, I make the customer calculate it for me.
