posted on August 6, 2001 06:03:50 PM new
I am wondering if anyone ever thought about the fact alot of people get payed every two weeks? Seems like this type person would steer away auctions with this in the TOS.I don't like to hound people for payment the first week after an auction because of this.I have always found the flea market is affected by the fact people get a pay check every other week and just assumed the internet was too.
posted on August 6, 2001 06:10:20 PM new
I give people 2 weeks before I send a reminder letter. In the reminder letter I give them another 5-7 days before I file the NPB 20 days is PLENTY of time to pay for an auction. Especially if, the day the auction ended, they sent you payment via paypal even though you don't take it....then hemhaw around about a money order, yadda yadda yadda. BUT, that's a whole nother issue
posted on August 6, 2001 06:33:33 PM new
I think I would stay away from any auction that said something like "payment in 10 days or else". Regardless of how often I get paid, I wouldn't rely on the postal service to deliver a letter in one week. I once had a priority class mail item (guaranteed delivery within 48 hours) take almost 10 days to reach me...
posted on August 6, 2001 07:22:10 PM new
Oh baloney! Average time for a first class letter is just a few days;a lot of folks use plastic. I really wonder what's going on if a payment takes longer than 7 days--they're almost always the slow or no payers.
Anyone who expects a seller to wait while you get your paycheck before sending in the money needs a reality check. You're buying food, housing, clothing, paying to go to and from work and you have a computer and internet service. I am supposed to wait until YOUR pay day so you can send me an average auction price of less than $25.00? What if you had to go to the doctor? Or buy medicine? What do I tell MY landlord, grocer or doctor while waiting for your payday so you can pay me and then get another convenient two week delay because of a mail excuse?
If a person doesn't have the money to pay a small auction upfront, they should not be bidding.
I don't agree with putting thumbscrews on a bidder, but let's cut the sob stories folks.
posted on August 6, 2001 07:30:08 PM newI am wondering if anyone ever thought about the fact alot of people get payed every two weeks?
I know I'll get jumped on for saying this, but if you don't have the where-with-all to pay for the auction when you bid, you shouldn't bid. This is how the "My car broke down, and I can't pay" type excuses come from. eBay is an Auction. Auctions are normally "Cash on the Barrel Head". We (often) take (alot) less $$$ for our stuff because it sells fast.
If you have to wait till a week from friday in order to pay for an auction, why not wait till a week from friday, find what you want on ebay, and then bid?
I have always found the flea market is affected by the fact people get a pay check every other week
Yeah, and how many vendors at the flea market will set back a good item because someone say's "I won't have money til a week from friday"?
Auctions that "say" 10 days really mean 20 days, because eBay turns around and gives someone another 10 days on top of what ever the seller gives them.
Having said that, if someone emails me before they bid and tells me they need some extra time to come up with the money, if it's a big sale and their feedback is good, I normally don't have a problem. If it's over a $20 item and they can't pay for a $20 item in a timely manner, they need save the money for the rent.
think I would stay away from any auction that said something like "payment in 10 days or else
Mine say "Payment expected in 10 days. I know mail can get screwed up. I also know eBay's NPB system gives people another 10 days on top of that. And I don't make a point of doing the NPB thing with out sending a second notice. How much time do you give someone?
posted on August 6, 2001 08:24:09 PM new
I usually file a NPB alert about 30-40 days after the auction closes. I once had a payment that arrived very late because it was supposedly lost and damaged in the mail. It arrived in a plastic envelope sealed by USPS. The so-called "damage" looked like it had been opened with a letter opener. All I can say is that it was a good thing the buyer paid by cheque and it was for a small amout of money...
posted on August 6, 2001 08:27:16 PM new
Most buyers send payment right away but I am prepared to wait 10 days or so. If you can't wait, you will start giving and receiving negative feedback. So it's best to be patient and take it easy.
posted on August 6, 2001 08:30:52 PM new
My Grandfather ran a Green Grocery and Meat Market in a large New England city, his 9 children and Wife ran a farm in another state. THIS WAS DURING THE DEPRESSION. He allowed credit all thru the Depression on their Sacred Promises to settle up ".....when things picked up". I'M WAITING! I just received a 5 week over-due Paid-For Item from Australia today. I sent them a very polite "Reminder" E-mail with my Signature, Mailing address, and Contact Info. Just below that is "MyBeware" List. I received a nice prompt Reply and a promise to Air Mail it with Delivery under one week. It is here. Seller's US/PA Friend agent did not noyify AU seller that my check cleared here PA Bank over 5 weeks before. I never wait for my Bank Statements; the Internet Bank Web-Site is a pain. I phone my local Bank's automated # and each evening it is a simple thing to know at Close of Business each day what my Account has withdrawn. I do NOT use the same Account for Buying and Selling. Having spent several years as a Bank Examiner and finding that missing 15 Million that the NY Banks ALWAYS seemed to owe us, it's no big thing to spot combined check amounts paid out. Right now I know I will never receive one last Item from Ontario. Easy, Yellow Knife, Grandpa was born in PEI, my wife came fron Toronto. AU seems OK, UK is only 6-8 Ship from my Payment Postmark here. Canadian Sellers have sent me Items within 3-4 Days before I even mail their Checks. (Great FB as well as Rating) (Post Terrific +FB) But..... the Book Rate became a 1st week excuse or one 6000+ Seller. Now eBay says "Over 90 Days ZERO Fraud Insurance". Hey, we are down to one NSS. Just left our 1st NEG on a Paid NSS in the US. "Response" to NSS - was Fun. Also a line in the sand for Sellers who look up that 1 NEG we finally got. It was really worth it. Everyone is VERY polite now. Prompt E-Mails. We E-Mail ALL Sellers "Forwarded" from their Item Page within 1-30 Minutes of an Auction End. Include ALL Info. We have had a few slow 1st Class Payment Envelopes to NJ and SC, for some reason. Now we just Reply to a polite Reminder like "cin131" sends to Buyers with "Stop Payment" and Send a new Envelope. 1-4 days later, they have it. The only NEG we have EVER given was to a recent Seller (31.25% NEG FB's) (WOW) who has Buyer and Seller NEGS that say he is a NPB and a NSS! With ZERO E-Mail Replies. This ? takes over 30 Days to Pay with no Communication or Reason. He also Posted a "Response" to a NPB NEG: "Not Item I wanted" ??? We sympathise with all of you, but have cut back all Bidding almost to ZERO. The "Venue's" Come-Bid E-Mails to us is not cutting it when they start quoting Fine Print and "Thanks for contacting us". There was one woman Topic on AW recently about on CA Buyer who would not accept Hispanic "Blanket-Wrap" Antique Furniture Shipper to set up a "Knock-Down" Pricey Armoire. Buyer is sueing, screaming, wants Hundreds for his perceived expenses. Poor Buyer lost the #2 Bidder too! Some Items are in the Thousands. We would love to Buy and Sell more, even High-End, but we are Combining our experiences with what we are learning here on AW and punting for now. We are learning, but slowly. LOL Folks, gotta run. -PJ38- (ps - The Threatening? 1st E-Mail from a Seller with their Mailing Address usually turns out to be from a real problem Seller on Shipping, Etc. Go Figure. We can't!)
posted on August 6, 2001 08:50:32 PM new
Well, it wasn't for an auction, but I once sent my car payment through the USPS by First class mail that didn't arrive for 2 1/2 months! It was staying within the state... only about a 4 hour drive by car. (I have this one automatically deducted from my bank account now.)
I've had another payment that was mailed to a couple of states away (cell phone). It was mailed in February and STILL hasn't arrived. (I always pay this one online now.)
posted on August 6, 2001 09:09:24 PM newprepared to wait 10 days or so. If you can't wait, you will start giving and receiving negative feedback
Waiting 10 days's to get a paymentisn't a problem. Waiting 15 day's to get a paymentisn't a problem.
Waiting 15 day's to mail a payment is.
And I think that was the jist of the first post:
wondering if anyone ever thought about the fact alot of people get payed every two weeks?
I'll say it again, if you can't afford to pay for an auction without waiting till a week from friday, wait til a week from friday before you bid on one.
And I'm a softy as long as someone responds to my "late notice". As long as they are responding, I don't do NBP's until 30 days. But when I see a postmark 15 or 20 or 25 days after the auction, this isn't a post office problem.
posted on August 6, 2001 10:51:48 PM newI once had a priority class mail item (guaranteed delivery within 48 hours) take almost 10 days to reach me...
late june i had a buyer whose payment hadn't arrived 10 or so days after she'd said she'd be sending it. i emailed. she said she'd sent it, had a copy of the check. i believed her. she sent a money order, apologized all over the place. included a sase and asked me to please return the missing check if it ever turned up. i told her to let me know if she got it back. thirty days later i got it! address correct. return address correct. correct postage (first class). postmarked 3 days before i received it.
can't tell you how glad i am i gave her the benefit of the doubt.
posted on August 7, 2001 12:29:41 AM new
I don't have a problem waiting for payment as long as it arrives eventually. I love it when customers ask "okay if I send payment next week?" No problem. "Payment within 10 days" strikes me as a bit of a control thing. I bid on one that said "payment in 7 days" recently and it was a real hassle throughout. Seller had to have everything just so and then didn't perform well at all. The item arrived okay but I would not buy from that seller again.
posted on August 7, 2001 01:29:13 AM new
I'm pretty patient about payment, and luckily for me (knock on wood) most slow payers are paying for low dollar items. I wait a good three weeks, send them a quick reminder of my own, then at the end of the next business day file NPBA if they haven't responded to the reminder.
I had more deadbeats in July than the whole rest of the year - and still my deadbeat percentage is low.
Now as a buyer, if I see "7 days or else," it generally turns me off, but if I really want to bid, I email the seller ahead of time, tell them I'm in a small town, that our mail gets routed first to a non-major city, then to a major city, and on and on. I ask if it's ok to bid on their auction - they've always said yes.
I've also had buyers ask me before they bid if it was ok if they paid in more than 10 days - and I've said yes with good results. I do agree that if you can't pay when you bid, you shouldn't bid, but some sellers don't take plastic, and not all auctions are for $20 items.
I guess it's just how you want to run your business. I pay quickly because I don't like carrying things around in my head, but customers come in all sizes and flavors, and I try to be flexible.
I think you raised a good point. When I see something such as "pay in 10 days or else" it seems to suggest that the seller may be difficult to deal with should something go wrong. I generally pass up the chance to bid unless it's a very hard to find item and the only one that's been offered for sale in several months. I've seen some TOS that are so long and/or threatening that they send shivers down my back.
I like to keep my sales and purchases simple:
1.) You bid on my item.
2.) If you are the high bidder, I contact you and tell you where to send payment.
3.) When I receive your payment, I mail you the item you purchased.
4.) I leave you positive feedback.
5.) You receive the item I sent you.
6.) If you are not happy, you contact me and we try to reach an agreement to settle our differences.
7.) You leave me feedback.
8.) End of transaction.
Or course if I'm bidding and your selling we swap roles...
posted on August 7, 2001 02:45:23 AM new
"He who casts the first stone..." I have had a busy week, turned the corner and...yikes! Two Ebay items I'd forgotten to send payment for (from a week ago) staring at me from the dining room table! So I'm beginning to remember the Golden Rule here and be more patient with slow paying bidders. We all get busy or stressed out at times. COMMUNICATION is the key. What bugs me more than late payments is NO REFERENCE to the item.
posted on August 7, 2001 04:15:57 AM new
Ebay buyers should abide TO THE LETTER to the seller's stated rules, and if a potential bidder doesn't like the rules then by all means don't bid. I put my policy in bold letters in all of my auctions: "Buyer agrees to contact me within 24 hours of auction close and pay in 7 days, if you can't abide by these parameters please bid elsewhere." If potential bidders don't like this that's fine - personally I'd prefer to take a lower selling price from a buyer that will pay promptly than a higher price from someone who drags their heels.
posted on August 7, 2001 04:49:56 AM new
Priority mail is not guaranteed delivery within 48 hours - they say "usually 2-3 days" but it is NOT guaranteed.
I too have had priority packages take a week or more to arrive.
posted on August 7, 2001 05:15:37 AM new
I agree with the posters who say if you don't have the money to pay for the auction, don't bid. I choose to use the wording "Payment should be received within 10 days of the close of this auction." That is my TOS. If people can't at least make the effort to do that, then I'd prefer they don't bid on my items. I'm not hard to deal with, and if someone notifies me that their payment will be late, I don't have a problem with it; I'll be happy to work with them.
I'm dealing with two late payments now - in both cases I had to send out "reminder" letters after two weeks had passed. One of the bidders had written me the day after the auction to tell me that payment would be sent the next day (two weeks ago). When I emailed that bidder yesterday, she emailed me back and said payment would be sent this Thursday! Period. Now, that upsets me a little. If she had emailed me a week ago to tell me payment would be late, that's fine. I heard nothing from her until I emailed her first. The second case, I emailed the bidder 2 weeks after auction close, and she said that payment had been sent "yesterday" (7/26). Period. I received her payment yesterday (3 weeks after auction closed) with a nice note that she was sorry; she had mixed up some of her auction "wins". Now, in both of these cases, the bidders could have written me at least a week ago to let me know, but neither bothered. I'm just a small-time seller (I do it for fun), so maybe that's why it upsets me so much. I guess I wouldn't have time to worry about it if I was a high volume seller, but I'm not.
*Edited because I'm only on my first cup!
[ edited by KMom on Aug 7, 2001 05:17 AM ]
[ edited by KMom on Aug 7, 2001 05:34 AM ]
posted on August 7, 2001 05:47:25 AM new
I ask that my auctions be postmarked within 5 days of the end of the auction. I feel if people don't have the money in hand to buy or won't have it in the next couple of days, they should NOT be bidding. Depending on a paycheck 2 weeks in the future is a ticking timebomb. What happens if they get sick and miss a week of work?
Hey, a live auction is not going to let you walk without paying! I still get those that play you around for weeks on end with trying to PayPal (I don't take PayPal and it is clearly stated in my end of auction email), check is mailed which suddenly turns into a money order is mailed (they need to keep a log of what they tell each seller so they don't get mixed up!. I try to work with my buyers but there is a limit. I send each buyer a Late Notice after about 10 days and ask that if the payment was sent they let me know. Some never even answer those emails. Then 10 days later (20 days after end of auction) I file NPB alert, which gives them yet ANOTHER 10 days.
I have started to reflect their slow paying in the feedback I leave. If they are an especially slow payer I still leave them positive feedback but post the day auction ended and the day payment was received in the feedback. I have plenty of buyers who state payment was mailed on such and such day and when you get it, it is postmarked a WEEK later. If you need more time, ask, but PLEASE don't lie to me!
I also have had more deadbeats and slow pays during June and July than all the time I've been on Ebay (since October 1999). I've got 1 item that I worked with buyer for a month on and then she just disappeared so I negged her, got my fvf fees back and relisted. Now it looks like the buyer of the relist auction is ALSO going to be a deadbeat. Bad luck item?
posted on August 7, 2001 07:29:33 AM new
I wait 15 days. I then send a reminder. If the person does not reply to my reminder email, then I file a NPB notice. Things do happen. I am very anal retentive about paying for everything right on time and I forgot to pay my mortgage last month! (first time ever) I had to pay a late fee, which ticked me off to no end. It wasn't the bank's fault, it is just that I have so many things going at once, it just completely slipped my mind. My husband says it has something to do with a-g-e. ;(
posted on August 7, 2001 07:40:35 AM new
With the advent of convenient online payment services like Billpoint, Paypal, electronic checks, Etc., there are very few legitimate excuses for late payments.
If a buyer does not have a credit card, they should be responsible enough to insure quick payment by mail. Not too much to ask...
Despite the above realities, I give my buyers a full 30 days to make payment. This convenience is to accomdate the lazy and irresponsible bidders that choose to bid in our auctions.
I can only imagine what would happen if we took as long to ship as customers take to pay... Double Standard?
posted on August 7, 2001 08:23:03 AM new
So how many times do you suppose a person bids on an auction and Hopes they will come up with the money to pay for it. The reason I wonder is seemingly I get of alot of these type bidders lately.
posted on August 7, 2001 09:02:43 AM new
Was 30 days after auction too soon to file an NPB?
I have about 20 of these sitting in non paying file..... I hate sending NPB, and I looked at their feedback today, and ALL of them have feedback of at least 100 or more, there were no 0 feedback bidders in that file, I don't get it
Then there is the one that once I sent an EOA notice, emailed me a week later, said, 'I'm leaving on vacation right now, will take care of this when I get back'
I let it slide, 3 weeks later, she paypals me the money, go figure
posted on August 7, 2001 09:20:22 AM new
My listings request that payment be mailed within 7 days of EOA. The rest is in the hands of the all-mighty postal service...
I did recently have a nice bidder who purchased a money order 4 days after EOA....then forgot to mailit...
It is unreasonable to demand that payment ARRIVE within a certain time...as the post office seems to do things their way...
********
Gosh Shosh! My "About Me" Page
posted on August 7, 2001 12:24:04 PM new
Come on, fellow sellers! I'm seeing a lot of rigidity out there. The outward signs seem to indicate that the economy is in a tailspin--jobs are being lost left and right. Here in California, small businesses are closing or drastically curtailing their business hours due to energy bill shock. For these reasons, I'm trying to be more forgiving for late payments. To me, Ebay was founded on the principle of it being a person-to-person enterprise--not a formal business. Don't get me wrong--I still send stern reminder letters and file NPB at times. But I just wonder if the person on the other end might be having hard times. Something to ponder??
posted on August 7, 2001 03:16:10 PM newBut I just wonder if the person on the other end might be having hard times
Could be. But why get on ebay and bid on stuff if you're having hard times?
A payment that is mailed 30 days after an auction closed cost me more than just a few minutes of my time to send a late notice. When you buy and sell to make money, cash flow is everything. It's what you buy new merchandise with with. On ebay, if things work like they should, in 30 days I can turn money over 3 times, and make a profit each time.
If I'm in hard times, first off I shouldn't be buying more stuff, and I, personally, wouldn't be sitting at home perusing ebay. I would perusing the help wanted ads, making phone calls, and the internet job market. If times are hard, I may even cut my isp from my monthly expenditures (OK, that would be a LAST resort).
posted on August 7, 2001 04:12:13 PM new
I no longer put a date on my TOS--haven't in some time. I do state that I appreciate my bidder's promptness in that it lets me provide them with good service. It's really reciprocation--pay fast and that way you get your stuff fast.
I almost never send out reminder emails anymore. Just NPB alerts. It's not the seller's role to play babysitter and I do not have the time to do so.
