berkeley
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posted on August 7, 2001 10:05:08 PM
I need an opinion (or two). I haven't used Paypal a whole lot yet to accept payments since it went international (I'm in Canada). After waiting for a few days for this buyer's Paypal payment I recieve it tonight and she's shorted me on shipping. It's only 20 cents but what do you do and has this happened to you before? Part of me says just let it slide, but I also wonder how many other people they've done this to and I think that it's just plain rude!
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misscandle
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posted on August 7, 2001 10:19:56 PM
It has happened to me several times. It could be an honest mistake on the buyer's part, or an evil, devious, systematic way of redeeming invisible, non-existant coupons or otherwise saving on their eBay purchases!
I believe each Seller must decide for him or herself what an acceptable shortage amount is. I've let 25 to 50 cents slide; however, I drew the line at a recent $3.00 shortage. Sent a polite "you must have me confused with another seller" e-mail and received an apology and the full amount quickly.
It's irritating, but goes with the territory.
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berkeley
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posted on August 7, 2001 10:51:23 PM
Well maybe I'm just grumpy (or any other word that shouldn't be used in polite company) today but I called them on it. I think it's because their emails are written in such a way that they believe they may have to buy a vowel. You know the people I'm talking about. All lower case, no punctuation, single letters representing words. I wonder sometimes what these people do for a living. Wonder if I'll ever see the full payment? Probably just made them mad. Oh well there's always the runner up.
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MrsSantaClaus
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posted on August 7, 2001 11:00:21 PM
Please keep in mind that a 20 cent payment via Paypal will end up COSTING you money.
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kittykittykitty
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posted on August 7, 2001 11:33:27 PM
All lower case, no punctuation, single letters representing words. I wonder sometimes what these people do for a living.
probably ceo of a publicly held company 
i'm not kidding. i know one who does the same thing.
kittyx3
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soldat2
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posted on August 8, 2001 04:57:54 AM
>she's shorted me on shipping. It's only 20 cents but what do you do and has this happened to you <
Yesterday!
I ended up shipping anyway. The buyer added the insurance, but didn't add the $4.00 for Priority shipping! On a $20.00 item the $4.00 is rather substantial but that's how it goes sometimes. I kindly notified the buyer but got a bit of the runaround.
Just another day in my ebay so-called life!
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eauctionmgnt
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posted on August 8, 2001 05:05:55 AM
I agree. Getting shorted on shipping is very irritating. But, after I let out my frustrated sigh... I just think of all the nice bidders who have rounded their payment up to the nearest dollar, or tossed in some extra dollars for my "trouble". It's basically the equivalent of the old "have a penny give a penny need a penny take a penny" dish. When you're dealing with small amounts, it usually all evens out. I only contact my bidders when the amount is over a dollar.
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mballai
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posted on August 8, 2001 05:57:07 AM
I've said it before: use the term FULL PAYMENT. This eliminates most of the weasel like payment scams. .20 doesn't qualify as a problem, this could be a typing error. Let it go or use a slower shipping method.
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hwahwahwahwa
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posted on August 8, 2001 06:51:48 AM
how about just holding back the shipment until payment is made in whole?/
this will hurt them more than you??
you can send them a paypal or billpoint invoice instead,then there is no mistake?
i think if you choose paypal as your preferred payment methid,paypal sends them an invoice after auction ends?
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ahc3
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posted on August 8, 2001 08:55:13 AM
Yeah, not really worth collecting on 20 cents, but it is annoying! What I find annoying is people who omit sales tax. I don't like charging it to my California buyers, but I do declare my income, and I have to pay them. Some people do overpay on tax, as shipping is not taxable, but some people figure in the whole rate. I figure this will even out those who short small purchases (Under $20) but usually if they are over a $20 purchase, I ask them for the full amount before shipping (fortunately most of my buyers are not from here)
Good news about that, I am moving to Oregon this month, NO STATE SALES TAX!! Yeah!
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katiyana
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posted on August 8, 2001 08:59:37 AM
ahc3 - my ex just moved near there - apparently there is no state sales tax but property taxes are very high... he's living in WASH so he can shop in ORE without paying the property taxes..
I think that's the last story I got from him anyway.
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ahc3
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posted on August 8, 2001 09:01:53 AM
Thanks, I have heard this from others too. I am moving to the Portland area, so living in Washington is certainly an option. I need to check out the area more (and things like these) before I buy a house!
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quickdraw29
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posted on August 8, 2001 09:52:22 AM
I had a high feedback buyer send me the payment without the shipping cost. I notified her of the error, and so she sent only $3 of the $3.50 shipping requested. I made her wait a good long time. When she inquired if the item was sent I told her the item was on hold because she shorted me on the shipping, but I'd send it out anyway. No apology received, and didn't paypal the extra .50¢, but she did send a long email that was pretty argumentive.
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bevhead
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posted on August 8, 2001 10:13:32 AM
I live in Oregon, and have all my 25 years. It is true, we don't have a sales tax. I don't consider my property taxes high, but again, I don't have much info to compare. Yes, Washington has a sales tax, but no property taxes. Yes, you can come down to OR and buy things without sales tax, many people do this, especially with cars etc...
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ahc3
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posted on August 8, 2001 10:53:12 AM
It's all a matter of perspective - If I were moving from North Dakota to Oregon, I would be complaining about the cost of living, but moving from California (and I previously lived in New York, which is the most heavily taxed state in the country) I will have no complaints!
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richardpauls
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posted on August 8, 2001 11:09:30 AM
My only negative feedback came from a buyer who sent a 33 Cent stamp for the 40 Cent shipping fee. I refused to send until they sent full payment. They demanded a refund (only $2 winning bid amount) and return of their 33 Cent stamp or threatened negative feedback. Sent his $2 back along with his stamp and left negative feedback for him, he immediately responded with negative feedback for me. Left me plenty frustrated, and all over only 7 Cents. Guess I only have myself to blame on that one.
It was the only time I have had a buyer that did not follow my EOA notice, so I guess I shouldn't complain. Not a big time seller, so I haven't had the misfortune of running into some of the horrors that have been posted here in the past.
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berkeley
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posted on August 8, 2001 10:03:47 PM
Thanks for the feedback. I may have been just being petty. I think I will email her and tell her that I will send it out tomorrow for her and I will cover the 20 cents (well more like 50 cents Canadian...lol). I guess it was just the principle of the thing.
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captian23
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posted on August 8, 2001 10:11:57 PM
I agree with letting the customer know that they shorted you. I would ship anyway for $0.20. I would not ship for people who "forget" to send shipping or send stamps. I thiink you can send an item postage due if the proper amount is not recieved.
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berkeley
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posted on August 8, 2001 10:59:48 PM
I did let her know earlier but thought about it further and emailed her back and told her that I would cover it. So she still knows she shorted me but I am being the nice seller. I took a look at her feedback and I guess I didn't have to worry about a neg as in 22 transactions, she's never left even one.
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pencsby
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posted on August 9, 2001 06:48:19 AM
I had one recently wanting me to charge to her UPS account after a couple of weeks and several tries to get into her account, I gave up and mailed it priority at my expense $9.75 and she had the nerve to leave me a negative. I have had it with some of these ebay buyers. Ebay cautions them against people trying to rip them off on shipping and even after I clearly state my shipping polocies I still get people not wanting to pay shipping. I do not have the answer.
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srfnfshn
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posted on August 9, 2001 07:07:53 AM
I had a buyer not too long ago that wanted me to charge shipping to her UPS account too.
I told her no. I'm glad I did. It sounds like a real hassle. Plus, I wonder if it was actually her employer's account.
She did eventually send me a personal check, but she was definitly not prompt about it.
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popnrock
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posted on August 9, 2001 07:33:32 AM
I had two BIN sales this morning when I got into work. They paid with BillPoint but they are in Greece and paid the US shipping rate.
Miss J
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ashlandtrader
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posted on August 9, 2001 02:22:36 PM
I just had this happen too. I combine shipping and someone won two items. I told her $5 s/h (puzzle and a heavy book) and just noticed as I was making her mailing label that she only sent $3.50 shipping. I can't mail it priority for that. Can a puzzle go media or is that crossing the line? She paid paypal and these were a few $1 n/r auctions that ended at $1.25 each, so it's not like I can cover the difference with my profit. Paypal already took their cut and if I ask her to pay another $1.50 paypal will take a cut again out of that, which is why I was wondering if I should just send it media and it can take a long time to get to her. (Evil grin).
What do you think?
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GreetingsfromUK
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posted on August 9, 2001 03:48:40 PM
I really do not wish to start a debate here, but International buyers are more aware of shipping costs than US buyers. I now have three US buyers thinking that mail to UK was the same cost as mail to US!
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daleeric
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posted on August 9, 2001 05:27:21 PM
I don't think it will look good to ask for the .20 cents. To me it isn't even worth going into Pay Pal to send or receive that amount of money. The buyer may be annoyed. I'm am sure it was an honest mistake, prob. a typo.
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WBDareMe
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posted on August 9, 2001 05:40:50 PM
Bevhead, we do pay property taxes here in WA. Mine were $2,600 last year on $207,000 assessed value if that helps anyone moving here.
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bluepaloma
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posted on August 10, 2001 05:30:51 AM
I have a template in my Ebud program for short payments:
"Re: <DESCRIPTION><ITEM#>
Regarding above item, I received a payment of $.. Total price with basic shipping and handling (no insurance) is $.. Please remit remainder and expect quite a delay on this order-it's a huge bookkeeping problem for us and takes up much more time than a normal order."
Payment in full is something I require and don't think it's asking too much. As to the tone of my letter, I don't apologize.
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