posted on May 18, 2001 04:18:44 PM
This happened to me a while back, and really ticked me off. I don't think I posted about it, but after reading about the buyer's TOS in another thread, I thought maybe it was time I mention this. I wonder if this will become a trend.
I sold a Christian video for $5 (including shipping). Buyer asks if my e-mail address is also my paypal address. I say I don't accept paypal but will accept personal checks with no waiting (figured I'd keep her happy and it was only $5.) or a money order.
She said I was GOING to either accept paypal or I was going to give her free shipping for her costs of buying a money order, driving to the post office, buying an envelope, a stamp, and her time.
I thought buyers had to accept the terms of sale stated in the auction. I hope this isn't getting to be a trend, but it does seem like the people you'd rather not deal with are coming out of the woodwork.
I told the woman that she could paypal someone else (I knew I'd get my money from my mother) and whined and griped to her about what a pain it was going to be to me to get my money from my mother (okay, not that much truth to it, but after her sob story of having to go ALL THE WAY to the post offic to buy a MONEY ORDER when I clearly accept checks I just wanted to be a bit of a witch.) :-P
What is wrong with sending a $5 bill? I wouldn't do it all the time, but I have paid for auctions by sending cash if it was under $10 before.
Just wanted everyone to be aware there are buyers out there who demand this, so get your thinking caps on and figure out how you would handle it before it happens to you.
I regret now that I backed down.
She didn't even leave me positive feedback. I thought bowing to her made me deserve it. It was shipped less than 12 hours after the auction ended.
posted on May 18, 2001 04:38:20 PM
Do you make it very clear in your TOS that you do not accept PayPal? Not necessarily by name, but as in, "Payment by Check or money order ONLY"? That is what I do, and the only person who did not notice and paid by PayPal anyway was very nice about sending a money order instead.
Maybe you did the best thing, but I'm a hardhead - I would not have given in to her.
posted on May 18, 2001 04:51:16 PM
you had a *really* unreasonable buyer there. who knows what her problem was, just determined to pay via paypal no matter what, and give you a hard time. some people are just impossible no matter what you do. not leaving you feedback was insult to injury. ah well.
imo, the big difference between your buyer and the guy in the other thread is, he's reasonable!
posted on May 18, 2001 04:52:15 PM
I've NEVER accepted PayPal, and have only had 3 bidders send me a PP payment. All 3 were told that PayPal was NOT a payment option, and I sent them my payment options off of my auction page.
All 3 sent either a check or MO without making an issue out of it.
I've had high bidders mail me $100 bills, which is nuts IMO, but I receive plenty of cash in the mail.
posted on May 18, 2001 05:00:44 PM
If your auction description stated "Payment by Check or Money Order Only", then I would have not accepted PayPal and told her she could either pay the full amount as described or you would contact eBay for a FVF refund with the excuse that the Buyer would not follow the TOS.
While it may be more convenient for the buyer to use Paypal, that is not the seller's concern and if the buyer is that insistent about it, she should make sure the Paypal logo is incorporated in the auction before she bids.
posted on May 18, 2001 05:03:13 PM
I don't like to argue or create friction so I'd probably make a very diplomatic lie to the buyer.
"I'd wish I could accept PayPal, but my computer is ancient and their 128 bit encryption will not allow me to use their site. I hope to get a computer that will handle that soon."
I'm sure there are many that feel the truth is always best, but after a few years of experience I find a skillful lie can work wonders.
"I'd rather not go with you to your mother's tonight honey, my stomach is a little upset." That's much better than "I'm tired tonight and I can't stand your mother, anyway she's hated me from day one."
posted on May 18, 2001 05:09:04 PM
Have to go along with uaru - that might have been the easiest/most tactful way to have handled it. (And I agree - "the truth" has done a lot of damage and hurt a lot of feelings!)
posted on May 18, 2001 06:43:46 PM
Not only do I have in one inch letters on every auction that I do not accept paypal, but I also have it in RED. I don't know how to make it any clearer!
I felt like giving her a neg before she even paid.
Not only that but she doens't leave feedback, but in HER feedback she says what she bought or the person bought from her!
posted on May 19, 2001 09:09:23 AM
Hi, celebrityskin - if you are going to quote me, I'd appreciate if you'd not take just part, and use it out of context. I said,
"Do you make it very clear in your TOS that you do not accept PayPal? Not necessarily by name, but as in, "Payment by Check or money order ONLY"
I do not think it is a good idea to say PayPal or Billpoint, or whatever, not accepted. Just to make it VERY clear that ONLY checks, mo's, etc. ARE accepted. Apparently jenndiggy does make it clear, and she just got an unreasonable ___ for a buyer.
kr