posted on March 16, 2001 06:46:41 AM
Thanks in advance!
Can you help me on how to proceed?
In A Nutshell:
isn't that "contact seller button" great? NOT!
First contact from bidder:
I would like to use Buy It Now for three of your auctions.(all 3 in question have been under way for 3 days and have bids on them)
My Response:
Buy It Now is only available for items PRIOR to a bid being placed.
Second Contact from bidder:
hello, I am currently and have been the high bidder on the following items. xxx, xxx, xxx, and xxx.I would like to buy all three items now, and save on shipping. what price would you take for all three to ship now. thank you
My Response:
I appreciate your offer to buy all items now, however, it is against eBay's policy for me to end these auctions early(it is considered fee avoidance and can be grounds for suspension). I'm sorry but I do not end auctions prior to their scheduled closing! My auctions stay open to all bidders for the prescheduled time with the exception of "Buy It Now", which is unequivocally offered to all bidders.
Best of Luck!
note:
Bidder wins one of three closed auctions, I send EOA clearly stating, as do all of my auctions, that I do not accept personal checks.
Third contact from bidder:
i prefer to pay witth personal check and you are welcome to hold for your clearance. also i would liek to combine this with the xx from luckybrnad.(notice the spelling decline?)
My Response:
Hi again! As stated in my auctions as well as my end of auction notification, I do not accept personal checks. I welcome PayPal, BidPay, BillPoint, Money Orders, or Cashiers Checks. Please let me know what method you will be using when you provide me with your address.
Best Regards,
Fourth contact from bidder:
well we may have an issue then, i do not use credit cards, and my checks are very good, i have used them to buy 18 items on ebay, and i have no problem waiting for them to clear. thank you
note:
bidder has a FB of 4 with one neg
NOW
Unsure of how to respond without blowing a "bidders don't read" gasket, I decide to chill for two minutes and cancel final bid for still open fourth auction.
As I try to regain my composure, do you have any input for How I Should I Proceed??
Thanks again!
posted on March 16, 2001 06:52:12 AM
First, go outside & scream.
When you return, tell them in a professional but firm way that you understand their reluctance to use credit cards but you do not accept personal checks & that you will gladly accept a money order.
posted on March 16, 2001 06:53:31 AM
Don't let this bidder draw you into a long drawn out email discussion. Reply with your terms once more, with a business like tone.
Dear Bidder,
As stated in my auctions as well as my end of auction notification, I do not accept personal checks. I welcome PayPal, BidPay, BillPoint, Money Orders, or Cashiers Checks. Please let me know what method you will be using when you provide me with your address. Best Regards
Perhaps a reminder that by bidding on your auctions, he/she was agreeing to the terms you had set forth in those auctions. Explain that if you receive a personal check from them, you will send it back, file for your FVF's on the auctions and relist the items.
edited trying to fix UBB
[ edited by Meya on Mar 16, 2001 06:54 AM ]
Don't you love the bidders that don't read your terms of sale? Personally, I would try one more e-mail to him before filing a NPB report. Try something very politely phrased like this:
Dear sir:
Thank you for your prompt and courteous e-mail correspondance. I can understand your reluctance to use credit cards on the internet. Many people do not feel secure disclosing that information on the internet. That is why I provide the option to have payment sent by money orders or cashier checks. I simply can not accept personal checks as I have had several bounce in my account before. Money orders are easily obtainable at your local postal office for reasonable rates. I look forward to receiving your payment soon. It is truly a pleasure doing business with you.
Ok... I admit... it's the "kill with kindness" technique... but it's the only way to deal with some of these bidders! Also... I think I would have tried this before cancelling his other bid... but I can certainly understand why you did that! However, just remember that by doing that, you've already started to alienate him a little bit. Good luck dealing with him!
posted on March 16, 2001 07:23:36 AMeauction
I know I alienated him a bit with the withdrawal ~ knee jerk (no pun intended) reaction. I also found 2 previous contacts from him in my deleted mail ~ the xxx is for my wife, I cannot afford it in the stores ~ please reconsider. The xxx is a gift ~ please reconsider ending the auction. I knew I had reacted fast for a reason! My boo boo. I like your e-mail ~ I'm going to try it!
eventer
Tried screaming but when I got outside, all I wanted to do was smoke! I will not go there for this wacko! meya
always the voice of reason! I've been dragged in yet again! After over 1200 transactionss, please tell me, when will I learn??
This is what has since transpired:
him:
do you feel everyone is untrustworthy? I will pray that you will not be so judgemental of peoples morals from this day forward have a good day, and i will report negative feedback. i have not written a bad check in the 21 years of having a checking account.
(notice how the spelling improved?)
(is this a FB extortion threat? how can he leave me a neg for him not following my TOS?)
me:
Hi again! It is clearly stated in my auctions that I do not accept personal checks from bidders with less than 100 feedback. (ed note: I d make exceptions for bidders with over 25 ~ I state it so the decision is mine) According to eBay records, you have only won 8 auctions, in total, not 18 and no where near 100. These are the terms of my auctions. When you chose to bid, you entered a legal contract to abide by those terms.
You have thus far asked me to violate eBay regulations by ending my auctions early and refused to follow the terms stated in my auctions. With all due respect, consider these auctions void and please do not bid on any of my future auctions. A copy of this and all correspondence is being sent to eBay's Safe Harbor.
Best Regards,
oops! Gotta go check my mail again ~ when can I start to ignore this guy? I think he's up to about 15 e-mails now ~ i don't want to waste any more time.
Thanks again!
posted on March 16, 2001 07:28:59 AM
okay ~ is paranoia setting in?
him:
so would you at least give me a chance, i would really appreciate being able to get those shirts for my little girl for easter. and you could combine shipping with the cologne also.
none of the auctions were for shirts ~ nor are any of my items "Easter appropriate" right now ~ all super casual stuff.
Is he playing this game with more sellers than just me?
hmmmmmm...
Not sure it's really feedback extortion. He didn't say accept a check or else I'll neg you but glad to hear you forwarded everything to ebay.
Just send him the following:
"Look, the prison doesn't allow me to accept personal checks. Now once I'm paroled in a couple of weeks, I might be able to accept them then. Until then, either send a money order or I'll have to consider this auction ended. Now where did you say you lived?"
Just kidding, of course, but don't ya just sometimes want to respond something like this?
posted on March 16, 2001 07:55:43 AM
I really feel like I'm getting dragged into playing hardball, here. I've got the safeharbor window open (Bidder rebids after the seller has canceled their bid). I don't want to send it if this is just a moronic newbie but I think it's a wacko. (spelling games, bidding on men's cologne for his wife, multiple e-mails, rebids, etc)
am I paranoid?
ignorant newbie or slimeball bidder? Your opinion, please!
posted on March 16, 2001 08:04:34 AM
him:
so may i still purchase the cologne, and shorts?
me: (thanks eauction, I modified it a bit!)
Thank you for your prompt correspondence. I can understand your reluctance to use credit cards on the internet, many people do not feel secure disclosing that information. For bidders who choose to not use electronic payments or credit cards, I provide the option of accepting money orders or cashier checks. I do not accept personal checks. Money orders are easily obtainable for a reasonable rate at your local postal office, convenient store, supermarket, or even at many gas stations.
I look forward to receiving your payment soon. It is truly a pleasure doing business with you.
Best Regards,
xxx
posted on March 16, 2001 08:06:22 AM
him:
before i send the money order, may i wait to see if i win the girls
shorts. i would like to get these for easter for my little girl.
Actually, his latest request isn't out of line. I've often let people who are bidding on multiple things wait out the final auction so I can combine shipping.
And, from his point of view, if he's going to have to purchase a money order, might as well be for the full amount of his purchases rather than pay for multiple orders.
Take deep cleansing breaths...this may turn out all right yet.
posted on March 16, 2001 08:14:25 AM
I told him about twenty e-mails ago that I would wait for combined shipping.
*taking deep cleansing breaths*
does this mean he is going to pay me or just win so he can neg me? He already mentioned the "N" word, remember?
should I bother with him or just cancel and move on?
(jean shorts for Easter and men's cologne for his wife?). kinda smells fishie, no?
posted on March 16, 2001 10:23:26 AM
Hi, chepistar!
Fight that urge to smoke...you're doing so well!
Personally, from what I've read so far I don't think this is a newbie. More like a scammer who had to start over with a new Ebay ID. Since he already used the N word in an extortion-like context, lied about how many auctions he has won (maybe some were under the other ID), and can't even get his items straight, there's no way I would let him continue to bid, win and have the chance to neg me more than once.
Regardless of what you have just e-mailed him about combined shipping (WHY ship cologne and shorts together? You know the cologne is going to "break" and ruin both items and you'll have to refund and you'll be out the items, out the money and 2 negs down in the world. PLUS the check will bounce or he will put a stop payment on it after you have refunded. Have you learned nothing from EG?????)....anyway....send him another e-mail and say "upon further consideration, I've decided to cancel your bid on XXX, and please don't bid on any more of my auctions, etc." cc: SafeHarbor 'til the cows come home.
Write this turkey off as another chapter in your sequel to EG's book. Reward yourself with chocolate.
And, PLEASE get this person NARU'd (probably not for the first time) for bidding again after you told him not to, so he doesn't zing any more of us.
Well, that's all I have to say. All errors in this message are due to the fact that I have not yet had a morning cup of tea.
posted on March 16, 2001 11:37:04 AM
At this point I would tell him not to bid on my auctions and cc safeharbor.
I feel the burn coming on.
Then if he bids cancel his butt outta there.
I don't delve into reasons why I will or won't take a certain payment method.
I have learned that it is the thin wedge that becomes 10 emails from the customer explaining why they are the exception.
Not only that, but bidderwise, when I've asked, to be clear, if say, checks are accepted I get short responses. Polite and short.
I've emulated that method.
Good Luck!
posted on March 16, 2001 11:43:12 AMmisscandle Have you learned nothing from EG?????
From the scenario you painted, it looks like we've all learned a bit from EG! LMAO! (sorry to have become educated at your expense exec chic!)
BTW, missc, you forgot about how he's going to sue me for his medical expenses (from the stitches he needed to re-attach his very small wrists. Seems he sliced them off with the broken glass from the cologne bottle.)
once again, him:
i need address, and toatl amount please. cologne and girls size 6 shorts. thanks
Do I need to say, just one more time, that the *&%^#@!*@! shorts auction does not end for two more days?
Can you spell "BOZO"?
Let's see...as I look into my crystal ball, the final bid will be...SHEESH!!
Take him back EG! PLEEEEEEZE!! I promise you can call me cheapster or anything else you want. I'll even give up my Florida residency! You are much better equipped for this than the rest of us!! THAT's why you!!
edited to add capriole:
I fell into the e-mail trap. My booboo. You're right ~ short and to the point is much clearer. thanks!
posted on March 16, 2001 11:52:27 AM
**shaking head** Chepi, Chepi, Chepi.......
See? You get one email from me and your bidders go downhill! LOL!
Also, I think this proves one point. I sell clothing and I get all the wackos. You just sold clothing and YOU got the wacko this time! (thanks for the break, by the way! ) And I am definitely seeing a trend in the clothing category!
I would send him an email telling him that his bids are no longer welcome on my auctions and CC a copy of that to [email protected].
If you DO decide to sell him the cologne... can I suggest you find a little PLASTIC container to send it in? We wouldn't want those tiny wrists to get cut from the broken glass now, would we?
And sorry, Chepi, I do NOT want this "reject"! You can HAVE HIM! (I have enough of my own I'd like to get rid of!)
posted on March 16, 2001 12:10:40 PM
EG, EG, EG.
*nodding head in agreement*
This is ALL your fault. Please never e-mail me again.
For the record, I am 95% clothing & shoes, but only 2% wack-o's. It is NOT the clothing category, poor, sweet, EG, it is your nutjob magnetism. I saw an auction for "irrational bidder repellent" perhaps you should bid on it.....
everything has gone to SafeHarbor and timesensitive.
BTW ~ wants to end auctions early but has no problem with check being held? On what planet does that make sense?
sorry, EG, this is definitely one of your's operating under a different id.
posted on March 16, 2001 12:39:16 PM
It sounds like this bidder is not a newbie in my opinion. He's been around the block once or twice as he is very familiar with "negative feedback" and how to use it to get his way. Under Ebay TOS when a bidder uses "feedback" to get you to do something you would not do on a regular basis to complete the sale, this is called "feedback extorsion". However he has not yet done this he is only pushing your buttons.
Keep it sweet and simple. "NO PERSONAL CHECKS" said in a simple business like manner and keep your email record. You should have payment in your hands for the previous auctions or he will keep you hanging around forever. It is called a "deposit" on merchandise.
These difficult bidders can leave Negative feedback before they even complete the sale then you will be stuck with 4 negs and trying to prove you are right to Ebay.
You established reasonable Terms in your Auction. The bidder has the right to purchase under those terms but doesn't have the right to change your terms to meet his agenda.
The online credit card systems are fine for people who don't want the hassle of going to the market to get a money order.
Don't sweat the small stuff, relax and enjoy the wonderful world of online business transactions and all the different personalities you have yet to meet. :>
posted on March 16, 2001 12:53:43 PM
Okay, first, the person is a nutcase. And a difficult customer.
Now, having said that, would it kill you to accept a personal check? You can either stand on your TOS, blow three or four auctions, and risk negative feedback, or you can bend a little. Yes, I know you stated your terms. But rather than continue down this treacherous path, I recommend you just wait until the next auction ends (two days, big deal) and then allow the bidder to send a check. Put the check in the bank and wait until payment clears.
****************
Dear Bidder,
Although it is not my policy to accept personal checks, and that policy is stated in the ad, I will try to accomodate you by accepting your check. However, I must hold your check until it clears my bank. For fastest service, I recommend you purchase a money order at the post office or your local grocery store.
*****************
If that doesn't work, cut your losses and move on.
posted on March 16, 2001 12:59:04 PM
I feel that if her auctions stated NO CHECKS, then she shouldn't have to "budge" at ALL. No, it probably wouldn't "kill her" to accept his check - but why should she even attempt to take the risk? His check could bounce, he could never repay her for the check amount OR her bank fees. You said it yourself - the guy is a nutcase. Why should she "bend" to take a nutcase's check?
posted on March 16, 2001 01:24:37 PM
When ever I get a wacko, I repeat my terms of sale once more, if the wacky wacko persists, the third email, I suggest we cancel the transaction and that I will notify Safe Harbor about this transaction, file a NPB alert to recoup my listing fees and leave appropriate feedback.Usually this does the trick, next email from wacky wacko usually "....payment sent"
posted on March 16, 2001 02:33:59 PM
>>Why should she "bend" to take a nutcase's check?<<
Why not? Is standing on your own rules more important than blowing several sales and getting muddied with negative feedback? You decide.
This isn't a matter of who is right and who is wrong. It's a matter of getting out of the transaction(s) with the least amount of damage. I recommend being flexible, regardless of who is at fault. (Obviously, the bidder is a whacko.)
posted on March 16, 2001 03:11:22 PM
Twinsoft: I understand your point of view, but must respectfully disagree since in my experience (5 kids, 2 teenagers!) it is difficult to be reasonable with an unreasonable person. If she allows this bidder to win more auctions, she is just setting herself up for more negatives, refund requests, etc. The neg for the cologne is practically guaranteed. I've already called my bookie on that one. Why give him more power to wreak havoc on our friend Chepi? She should cut her losses NOW, in my opinion.
That being said, I have to admit I have taken checks twice though my TOS at the time said no checks and things worked out okay. The bidders were reasonable and we had good communication, though. Different story with this guy.
Chepi: I'm sure this will work out fine. You being so cool and level-headed and all. Maybe I'll go outbid him on the shorts. You take checks, right? And, did you ship it to me yet? LOL.
posted on March 16, 2001 03:39:25 PM
GRRRRRRR!!!!!!!
now this from him:
[i]i still see the shorts are on auction, i thought we discussed the
cologne and shorts together. wow this is crazy. i will be out till monday.[/i]
I never said I would end the $#%@&**@!# auction early!
Yes, I am flexible and I believe in damage control, however, I stopped living for the benefit of other people many years ago. Now I do what's best for me and mine. This guy has now e-mailed me over thirty times in the last 48 hours. I will NOT bend for HIM.
Personally, I would try one more e-mail to him before filing a NPB report. Try something very politely phrased like this:
Take him back EG! PLEEEEEEZE!! I promise you can call me cheapster or anything else you want. I'll even give up my Florida residency! You are much better equipped for this than the rest of us!! THAT's why you!!