I'm in need of some advice here, this is the situation: The bulk of my auctions on eBay in the past have been rock and roll posters and cards...A small collecting community of mostly serious collectors where non paying bidders has never been an issue.
Recently, I had an opportunity to get a fairly large lot of women's accessories that are popular with teens and college aged people..I listed and sold 20 items just about a month ago, but of the 20, 3 have turned out to be non paying bidders who e-mailed with some excuse; 2 have never responded to my auction ending e-mails or follow ups at all; and 2 keep telling me the money is coming...but it hasn't, and I can read the writing on the wall.
So with these 20 items I'm running a 35% non paying bidder rate which of course isn't good.
I'm familiar with eBay policy, recovering fees etc, etc, so my question is..what can I do?
I make no warnings in my item description regarding non paying bidders. Maybe I should, but as an occassional buyer I'm kind of turned off by the threats some sellers make in their listings though I can now certainly understand the reasoning.
I did neg two of these non paying bidders and of course got a retaliatory neg in return, and a nasty threatening e-mail from another.
Is there something I should be putting in the item description? Is it a lost cause?
I'm at a loss, and would appreciate any help that comes my way. Thanks!
posted on July 5, 2001 07:44:45 PM new
I used to include a statement about "paying within a week" and "non-paying bidders will receive negative feedback" but after awhile I started feeling like you while viewing other auctions.... Those "negative" type of statements sort of turned me off. Thus, I do not include any kind of phrases or statements that can be taken in a negative way. In other words, I do not want to "accuse" my bidders of anything BEFORE they even bid!
It's worked out well.... Very low NPB. I'd say 98% of my auctions go smooth as silk.
As for you current NPBs...
Send them three "reminders" -- make them personal, like "I haven't heard from you, what's the story?" or "still haven't received that payment... when did you mail it?"
After two weeks, NPB them no matter what their excuses are.
posted on July 5, 2001 08:12:30 PM new
The % of deadbeats seems to depend on what your selling. One catagory I sell in I get maybe 1-2 % deadbeats, and in another, 8-10%...
Who Need's a stink'n Sig. File?
posted on July 6, 2001 08:23:22 PM new
Lifesablur and Microbes,
Thanks for the input, it's much appreciated! I really do hope you're right about this just being a streak of bad luck..I guess I'll see next week when I lists more items.
posted on July 6, 2001 10:25:18 PM new
Deadbeat bidders don't care if you have warnings in your listings. Reliable bidders are offended by the presumption that they are also deadbeats.
Send a reminder after 10 days. If you don't receive payment,file a NPB.
