posted on April 5, 2001 07:17:35 PM new
Don't these people want their money? I won several auctions two days ago. Two are already paid for. But two of the sellers won't answer my email, won't send EOA letters! I really want these two items.
If it was just one, I'd figure their computer is down. But two at the same time? Maybe they're both from California and it's their week for no electricity?
posted on April 5, 2001 07:23:40 PM new
You said you only waited 2 days. Many sellers take the eBay "3 business days" policy very literally. Many other sellers are running hundreds of auctions a week and may have simply fallen behind. Give them a couple more days before going nutso.
posted on April 5, 2001 08:20:50 PM new
I don't believe I said that I 'only waited two days'. I am still waiting! Nor have I gone 'nutso'. You'll know when I do.
I have been selling online for several years, 'hundreds of auctions' at a time. That is no excuse for not answering a bidder's email. It doesn't take 15 seconds to send a form letter. It's just laziness. And if they are out of town, there are still ways to check email. I know, I've had to do it.
What I'm saying is that if they don't want to sell the items, don't list them. If they do, then for pete's sake, answer the email when someone's offering them money!
Don't know about your sellers from California...maybe you are right & it's not their week for electricity.
But even things you might not readily think about can impact a seller or a buyer. I had to be off line pretty much for 2 days while massive storms rumbled through our area.
Having lost one computer to a lightning strike, I wasn't about to risk another one. I could only jump back on-line for a few minutes at a time between storm systems.
Not that I don't want to answer my customers but there are times when I just can't be there 24/7.
posted on April 5, 2001 09:12:57 PM new
Don't know 'bout your sellers but Drudge has a story and a link to Yahoo saying that AOL has suffered a massive e-mail breakdown - So, what's new?
posted on April 5, 2001 09:27:01 PM new
I haven't been able to send or receive emails for 3 days because of problems with RoadRunner in the Kansas City area. I'm sure I have a couple of high bidders wondering what is up, but I don't have any way to contact them. I'd give it a little time - I'm sure you'll hear from them.
posted on April 5, 2001 09:50:42 PM new
Some sellers are just plain clueless. I know that some folks aren't forever waiting over their email client, but anyone who doesn't respond within 24-48 hours is going to be worm meat as competition heats up.
There's practically no reason why 80-90% of eBay transactions can't be closed, paid and shipped within 48 hours or so of the EOA. The bidders know it. If you jerk around for three days or more and then ship the item priority mail, the clue phone ought to be ringing off the hook.
posted on April 5, 2001 09:56:43 PM newBearmom! How are ya? I hope you and your's are well.
I have always tried to be very diligent in my auction dealings, whether buying or selling. I try to send out EOA's within 12 hours if I'm working, and within 1 hour if I'm off. I've always felt that you treat your buyers or your sellers like you would want them to treat you...
posted on April 5, 2001 09:58:20 PM newThere's practically no reason why 80-90% of eBay transactions can't be closed, paid and shipped within 48 hours or so of the EOA.
That's funny. I guess it depends what you sell, and what kind of customers you have?
Most of mine don't use CC's, so it's kinda difficult to get paid & ship within 48 hours.
posted on April 5, 2001 10:05:08 PM new
bearmom: There is one other idea-GIANT CONSPIERICY (NOT)! I know, I spelt it wrong. Anyhow, sometimes we lowly sellers (I say that in jest) just plane forget. Even with a computer, pocket note machine and other sunderies, without a little yellow tab (or my wife), I am lost. Just be patient, it will arrive.
posted on April 5, 2001 11:59:08 PM new
There are also known issues between some email servers. For instance AOL cant email @home.com email addys but @home.com can email AOL email addys (sometimes), and I believe this is true between @home.com and Netscape email addys. I have learned to just request the contact info and give a quick call....but some sellers and buyers are bound not to know about them. I am sure there are many more of these combination email addy problems. Anyone know any more?
posted on April 6, 2001 12:02:32 AM new
I have @home, and have never had an issue with AOL users. Just had a few emails sent & replied to from some AOL'ers tonight.
posted on April 6, 2001 04:56:46 AM new
Good Morning
I as a seller always email my high bidders within a few hours of the auction ending, because I am on the computer 24/7.
Now, yesterday I had 20 auctions come off and I tried to email everyone but AOL was not able to send my emails, this is the first time this has happend in all the three years of selling.
Now today I have another 20 auctions ending so that means I am running late on my EOA notices.
I'm sure all of us Sellers like to contact our buyers as quick as possible but sometimes there are reasons that we get alittle behind, but we are still within the three day notice time, I wish the buyers would feel the same way, sometimes we don't hear from our buyers for 1 week, they do there snipping and take off.
We'll, I hope today AOL doesn't have any problems with there emasils, or I will really be behind,
What it takes is a lot of understanding on both ends, and as soon as that takes places
buyers and sellers will work as a team not against each other, lets face it we are all doing the best we can and more when needed.
posted on April 6, 2001 05:38:08 AM new
My Email has been off and on for almost a week. (My server is 21stcentury/RCN Chicago). Maybe this problem is more far reaching than just Chicago... I thought I was sending Email for two days before I KNEW there was a problem. It took a call from one of my bidders to realize that my Email is just shot to...well you know.
Chances are, the sellers will eventually make contact..Good Luck!
posted on April 6, 2001 05:45:53 AM new
To defend the seller - I had a bidder two weeks ago that I could not get an e-mail through to. Every time I tried it just bounced back... They never contacted me, either. I ended up sending them their end of auction letter through Blue Mountain Cards. It was all a server problem.
posted on April 6, 2001 07:16:24 AM new
I had some ebay auctions end with winning bidders but received notice from ebay that the auction closed without winning bidder and that if I relisted I'd be refunded the listing fee if it sold the second time. I had no idea there were winning bidders until I went to relist.
That very definitely depends on what one sells and how much one sells, and if one also has web sites with orders to pack and ship. We have been selling on eBay since '96, and have 2 web sites. Small, items normally can ship in a couple of days, but large crystal pieces, antique stain glass windows, small pieces of furniture, etc., these things can't just be wrapped quickly in a little news paper and stuffed in a box. Most of our large items take at least a week or more to ship.
I feel a buyer purchasing these larger, more costly pieces realizes that these things take time, and even though we have 2 folks packing for us now, it still takes time to do a proper job of packing such large and delicate items.
We pack & ship in the order payment is received, which to us is the only fair way to handle shipping.
Personally, I don't understand the wild rush to get a product like most buy which isn't a necessity. If the buyer is secure that their item will ship in a reasonable amount of time, packed properly, that is quite acceptable.
Large companies don't do a 2 day turn around in most instances I don't understand why a buyer should expect me to be able to.
This society of “self-centered, instant gratification” is sad. The few customers we do have problems with regarding shipping times seem to think they are the ONLY people in the world. I know one thing I think about almost every day, and that is I’d hate to be Customer Service at Spiegel, or Sears, or any of the mail order houses!
posted on April 6, 2001 08:13:52 AM new
I often send EOA emails 2-3 days after an auction ends. My auctions end near the weekend (because that's when I do the best sales), and my weekend is filled with family time so sometimes I wait until whenever I can fit it in an hour.
If an auction ends with a BIN during midweek, I like to wait until I can get a few more BINS and do it all at once, it is a real timesaver.
Do I want to get the money faster? Sure, but a couple days won't kill me. Do I want to give better service? No, not really. I sell such a wide variety of items that is not conduit to repeat buyers, plus repeat buyers tend to eat up profits.
