posted on August 3, 2001 07:04:39 AM
I had a pretty large sale the other evening (large for me is over $20, this one went over $300). I emailed the winner, gave all pertinent information and now the wait. This was a major sale for me, I've NEVER sold anything in this amount. The winner is a relative newbie, more than 15 positives but under 25. 1 negative for a slow, but arrived, payment. It has now been 2 days since I emailed and the auction ended, and I've heard nothing. How long do I wait before I sent a follow up? I dont want to give the impression that I think the person will deadbeat me, but the money that I am owed from this auction is going help me in a major way...so it's imperative that I dont' get screwed. Should I let it go a couple of more days or should I just send off a polite "Just checking to see if you got my email" mail? They are on AOL, I am not.
posted on August 3, 2001 07:13:52 AM
I would wait a couple days, but thats just me. I have had some auctions end VERY high & I know how hard it can be to wait.
If you do send another email, you can type ".confirm.to" after their email address & it will tell you if they have read it. They will have no knowledge of you doing this.
posted on August 3, 2001 07:20:59 AM
I usually only get replies to about 50% of the after auction emails I send out, but the money still shows up. I wouldn't worry too much about them responding.
I like the idea of getting confirmation that they read it, but can you imagine that added work? Say I have 50 auctions close. I get 50 end of auctions for Ebay, 50 copies of my WBN that was sent out, 25 replies to my WBN, my usual 75 daily questions, my 20 daily spams, and now add another 50 confirmations. I like the idea, but maybe just on certain items.
posted on August 3, 2001 07:25:03 AM
Thanks antiker I almost had a heart attack when I opened up My eBay. Trust me.
I usually don't mind if people email me back or not because I know a lot of people do just send the money without responding. But this feels like a thousand dollar sale for me. I was sick (and off eBay for a while) and my car payments are so behind I'm in danger of losing my car. This sale will catch me up and I won't lose my car. So it's not so much "I want my money! I want to go shopping!"
posted on August 3, 2001 07:29:14 AM
Majority of my sales are $100+ and I send an EOS and every 24 hours until I get a response or the 3rd day when I send a final notice and copy the following;
Repeating------(the EOS)
FINAL NOTICE!
If the seller is unable to establish contact with the high bidder within 3 business days of the end of the auction, he/she may lose the place as winning bidder, and be at risk for receiving negative feedback and/or a Non-Paying Bidder warning, both of which can ultimately lead to suspension from eBay.
I seldom get to this point, usually get a response to the first reminder.
posted on August 3, 2001 07:34:02 AM
Ragmop, I have quite a large # of sales over that amount also. But, I tend to be a little more relaxed about it than that. We each have our own methods, hey whatever works for you.
I let 3 or 4 days go by before I send another message. I know lots of people don't check their emails every day.
posted on August 3, 2001 08:05:11 AM
I send my 1st EOA within a few hours of the close of the auction. I am small and can do that.
I wait till the 3rd day after close of the auction to send my 2nd EOA. This keeps me within the notify within 3 days rule and I am always willing to believe my 1st message got lost in cyber space.
I usually start off with an apology about sending the 2nd but wanting to make sure they received all the info they need to complete the transaction and then ask them to please respond and let me know they received the notice.
I wait until day 5 and, if no response, I go to another email address (I use Yahoo) and send the same EOA with a note, indicating there must be a mail problem, but they can now respond to me using my backup email!
There is always the outside chance they are having a problem and I have now given them two ways to contact me to complete the transaction.
On day 10, I would file the NPB alert...Actually I have only had to file that 2 times in the past year. I have been very lucky. Then again, maybe my customers are afraid I'll keep spamming them with my sicky-sweet apologies and they want to be done with me!!!!
Congratulation on your sale and I really hope it works out for you.
posted on August 3, 2001 08:28:41 AM
Can't you put a "return receipt request" on the email going out, so that it emails you back when they've read it?
I send out my EOA notices upon close of the sale and state that payment is due within 2 weeks of the close of the auction. If payment hasn't arrived in 2 weeks, then I follow up with email and give them 3 days to update me - then I start the NPB process... which gives them another weekish to get payment to me..
I've got one right now from Italy that swears he sent payment, but imagine that.. nothing arrives.. I'll be negging him and FVF on Monday if it doesn't get here by then. I'm WAY too patient, but I have gotten a few payments after that first NPB alert, so its OK.
