luv2crochet
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posted on August 8, 2001 12:07:50 PM new
I posted last week regarding an auction that I had end over $300...which is about $280 more than I am used to having items end for.
It's been 1 week now since the auction has ended and I have not heard a single peep from the winner. I sent my regular EOA immediately following the auction's end. I sent a followup 2 days later and a payment reminder via eBay yesterday. Nothing. All emails I've said "Please contact me to let me know when to expect payment and with a mailing address to prepare your package". I've been very nice and polite. I just pulled their contact information and tried to call them...and the phone number is "invalid" so the operator said. I just sent another email asking them to please at least just email me and let me know they are receiving my mails. As I said in the earlier post, I needed the money I got from this auction to put towards the pay off of my car (this auction would ALMOST pay it off) or I'm going to lose my car (medical reasons of off work). I don't want to see pushy to this person, I really am trying to be patient, but it makes me extremely nervous to see that I'm getting no responses, the phone number is not working, they've won 2 auctions SINCE my auction ended (no other bidding activity since then though) and have 1 negative for a slow, but finally received, payment.
Should I start taking valium now?
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spittingcamel
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posted on August 8, 2001 12:12:43 PM new
It is strange but some people just never reply. They leave you hanging, then just as you give up a check just shows up in the mail.
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nedtrader
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posted on August 8, 2001 12:13:29 PM new
That *is* a long time for a NPB.
Why didn't you list the auction sooner if you needed to pay off for your car?
- Ned
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sulyn1950
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posted on August 8, 2001 12:15:46 PM new
I am so sorry this has happened to you. It sounds like this person does not intend to pay. At least not anytime soon. If you have sent the NPB alert through eBay and they still have not even acknowledged receipt of ANY of your emails and the phone info is invalid......well, what can I say.
I suppose you can notify eBay that the contact info is invalid. That will get them suspended. It will NOT get you your money.
Perhaps you can relist? What do you think your chances are it would go for anywhere near what you need?
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luv2crochet
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posted on August 8, 2001 12:18:31 PM new
What's with the tone nedtrader?
I was off of eBay for nearly 4 months BECAUSE of the medical reasons in which I was unable to work. I listed one item similar to the one I sold prior to the one I'm referring about, and then listed the one I'm referring to. It's not like I just wasn't listing anything. I don't care if someone dead beats me on a $20 item, that's not a big deal. But for something that is a lot for me, this has been a big deal.
I just wonder if it's too much to ask to at least get an email telling me what is going on. I was afraid to believe even at the end of the auction that I would get paid but as the time goes on with no contact, especially with an unworking phone number, it makes me think even more so that I'm not going to get paid.
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Linda_K
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posted on August 8, 2001 01:05:40 PM new
Hello - Sorry to hear of your problems. If it were me, I'd email ebay and make them aware of the incorrect user information.
Then I'd relist my item. Maybe making it a 3 or 5 day auction.
While it's very frustrating, and especially because of your current circumstances there's really nothing you can do to force this buyer to pay. 
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paintpower
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posted on August 8, 2001 01:15:50 PM new
Maybe your buyer has been on vacation? I just had an auction that ended on 7/29 and I kept emailing and emailing to get the buyer's address to figure the shipping. After 3 days of no response I just figure Priority Mail and send the End of Auction. Still no reply and no payment. I finally send them a NPB alert and today I get an email that they are so sorry they have not paid but they have been on vacation!! Hopefully this is all it is with yours and you will hear from them very soon.
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dman3
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posted on August 8, 2001 01:23:16 PM new
Have you Tried sending them a bill point and or paypal invoice for them to pay by credit card.....
this seems to work for me I fallow every EOA with a invoice from billpoint when one don't get there attention the other does..
I have wanted as long as 3 weeks with out hearing from a buyer only to have there payment show up in my mail box..
http://www.Dman-N-Company.com
Email [email protected]
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antiker69
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posted on August 8, 2001 02:03:57 PM new
Did you add the ".confirm.to" to the end of their email? At least that will let you know if they are reading it & ignoring you. Or really are away from their computer. I just had a customer write me 2 weeks after an auction ended, wanting to know if I still had it. I said yes, and he immediately paid for it by PayPal.
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kittykittykitty
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posted on August 8, 2001 02:22:51 PM new
no, you're not expecting too much.
adding a confirm.to is a good idea. also, can you contact the 2nd highest bidder and see if they're still interested? it may be a little less, but better than waiting for your possibly npb, or relisting and not getting near the bids you got this time.
best of luck with this!
kittyx3
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MurphyBird
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posted on August 8, 2001 02:25:06 PM new
Hopefully they are just on vacation, people usualy go away anywhere from 1-2 weeks and it has been only one week since your auction ended?
I to have had that payment just show up with no emails, I think oftentimes the bidders just skin the EOA notice and don't see that part.
Did you try sending an email via eBay's "Ask eBayer a question?" Maybe your emails aren't getting through.
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brie49
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posted on August 8, 2001 02:38:31 PM new
You have a tough situation because you have an immediate need for the money. I recently had an auction end for $250 more than it should have had. Buyer stalled with one excuse after another for a little over two weeks before sending the money.
I understand that I was at least in contact with the buyer. But they did not e-mail very often, maybe once a week. They had said from the get-go that they were paying by PayPal, but kept stalling. Finally, out of the blue, the payment arrived.
Many times I never hear from the buyer at all, payment arrives (in about 2 weeks), I mail, leave feedback and eventually they leave feedback. Guess it is some peoples way of doing business.
If I were in your situation I'd notify eBay of the incorrect buyer information they have listed and notify then next highest bidder and see if they are interested in buying it (before they buy another!). If not, then relist it and keep your fingers crossed.
Good luck, so sorry this happened to you.
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loosecannon
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posted on August 8, 2001 02:52:35 PM new
I know it's frustrating that the buyer won't give you something to go on.
The trouble with re-listing is that you're not guaranteed that it will bring $300 next time around. Of course there's a chance it will bring more as well.
But you need the money now.
I would do what brie49 suggested and try the next highest bidder.
You are certainly within your eBay *rights* to move on to another buyer since you haven't heard boo from the first one.
To me, it doesn't matter if the person is on vacation or not. They have a responsibility to contact within 3 business days, or possibly lose their opportunity to buy the item.
[ edited by loosecannon on Aug 17, 2001 08:59 AM ]
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zoomin
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posted on August 8, 2001 03:17:07 PM new
Sorry for your predicament!
No, you are not expecting too much for a winning bidder to respond to you!
Have you tried sending the info via "send this auction to a friend"?
It is also a winning bidder's responsibility to contact you within three days so you're expectations are in line.
Have you considered the "make a personal offer"?
Seems like a good time to try it ~ maybe you can catch the underbidder and not have to re-list.
Best of Luck to you!
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capotasto
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posted on August 8, 2001 03:26:29 PM new
"I needed the money I got from this auction to put towards the pay off of my car (this auction would ALMOST pay it off) or I'm going to lose my car (medical reasons of off work). "
Sorry to hear your problem but it's not the buyer's problem. Some buyers don't responbd to emails, they jsut send the money. And I give all my buyers at least 10 days before I send a reminder.
Yes you may have a NPB but it seems to me you have sent 2 too many emails so far. You should not rely on ebay sales to pay for immediate bills.
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loosecannon
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posted on August 8, 2001 04:32:31 PM new
She asked about what to do with this particular bidder situation, not how to handle her personal finances.
[ edited by loosecannon on Aug 17, 2001 09:00 AM ]
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Eventer
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posted on August 8, 2001 04:36:53 PM new
lv2crochet,
Have you run a search on the bidder to see if they are bidding on other auctions? Do this and see if they have/are bidding.
If they've won other auctions, try contacting those sellers to see if they've managed to establish contact w/the buyer.
What is their overall feedback rating?
Since their phone number came back as "invalid", you might forward this information on to SafeHarbor. SH will attempt to contact them to inquire about the invalid info & will let you know if they can contact them. If SH can't contact them or if they validate the information is bogus, they will NARU them.
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luv2crochet
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posted on August 8, 2001 04:44:39 PM new
Thank you everyone (especially Loosecannon. I'm a 33 year old adult who doesn't need lectured on how to run my finances and I appreciate you saying so in my defense. Apparently capotasto has never had a medical emergency).
Antiker, no I didn't add that, I completely did forget. I am not sending any more emails to them until it's time to file a NPB.
The emails I DID SEND (3 total) were the End Of Auction, a follow up 2 days later and the one I sent today. I am not flooding their email box with mail. If I at least HEARD from them I wouldn't have this sinking feeling that I'm not getting paid.
If I email the second high bidder, how do I phrase the question if they want the item? They were only outbid by less than $10 on this item (which makes me even sadder that they got outbid).
If they are on vacation and I'm rushing it I feel bad that I've not given them the benefit of the doubt. But they bid throughout the entire auction, the last day at several different time intervals (so I'm ruling out sniper software at least on the bids that were not the last minute bid) and there have been 2 other auctions immediately following mine that were bid on.
Thank you again
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kittykittykitty
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posted on August 8, 2001 05:08:13 PM new
just tell the 2nd highest bidder that you haven't heard from the high bidder in X days, and would like to know if they're interested in buying the item for their last bid amount. you can tell them that if you haven't heard from the high bidder by X date, you'd be happy to sell it to them.
hope they still want it 
kittyx3
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sulyn1950
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posted on August 8, 2001 05:11:37 PM new
luv2crochet-Do you set a time limit in your TOS for payment to be received?
I ordinarily would wait a bit longer (I give 2weeks) but if they haven't paid by then, I assume they are not. I re-list. I have never had one person send payment after 14 days. That's just my personal expierence.
I think that since this bidder has not made ANY contact with you after 3 emails, I would notify the 2nd highest bidder and just tell them you have been unable to make contact with the high bidder and if they were still interested they could have it for the amount they had originally bid. All they can do is say no.
If your original high bidder does send money, return it and politely let them know that since you hadn't heard from them at ALL, you assumed they were no longer interested and it is no longer available.
They can give you a NEG, you can respond that: 3 emails NO response-went to next bidder.
At least future bidders will see that if they do not respond to your EOA or make contact they will lose the item to a re-list or the 2nd highest bidder. I don't see that as necessarily a bad thing to be known for!
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Valleygirl
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posted on August 8, 2001 05:16:31 PM new
As a seller, during this past weekend, I had 20 auctions running, and as I buyer, I had one close. Saturday night (almost midnight) my mom called and told me my dad is in the hospital. Sunday morning I packed a bag with 4 changes of clothing and started driving the three hours. To be truthful, eBay was the last thing on my mind.
However, Monday, I drove to the County Library and registered for a temporary internet access card. I emailed all the bidders on the closed auctions and the seller to whom I owed money. Some replied nicely, some didn't reply at all. However, when I got home today, despite being totally exhausted and having to work tomorrow (and in the middle of a heatwave), I boxed 4 items for shipping tomorrow, and prepared my payment to the seller. I guess what I'm saying is communication is the key.
Tell ebay that your bidder's contact info is no good. They will be removed immediately.
Not my name on ebay.
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mballai
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posted on August 8, 2001 09:24:25 PM new
FWIW
7 days no response = NPB Alert
10 days later w. no money = FVF credit
If the person does not have a valid contact number, they should be reported to Safeharbor and be NARU'd. This takes about three days.
I would have contacted the 2nd high bidder the minute I filed the NPB alert. I see no sense in expecting people to pay if they can't even communicate.
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janice142
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posted on August 9, 2001 12:01:18 AM new
I am not familiar with "confirm.to" -- how exactly does it work?
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ebayweb
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posted on August 9, 2001 06:41:13 AM new
I hope you end up hearing from your buyer. I make it a policy to only wait 72 hours before receiving payment. This is clearly stated on my auction ads. I also require checks and money orders to be sent overnight or 2nd day air. Personally, I got tired of waiting for payments to be sent from the other side of the country. Generally, I send a notice each day they don't pay.
Once contact is made by the buyer, I relax. Often relaxing the 3 day rule if they have a valid reaon.
One thing to give you a little hope....strange things do happen. My Mom recently puchased an item on ebay. 3 Weeks later it had not arrived. She sent a couple emails and was ready to give up and count the money she spend as a loss. Then she received an email from the seller - complete with picture of new baby!!!
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antiker69
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posted on August 9, 2001 07:15:08 AM new
The ".confirm.to" is a service. Add it to the end of the email. They will send you an email letting you know it had been read. You get the first 30 ones free, then they charge you for it. (Like everything else on the net) .
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kerryann
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posted on August 9, 2001 07:50:25 AM new
Regarding people who go on vacation, I think a person who bids on an auction item close to the time they're leaving should at least drop the seller a note saying: "In case I win this auction, I will be back in town on X."
Whether the seller needs the money or not, it's just common courtesy, especially if the seller will be left hanging for a week or more after the auction ends.
Not Kerryann on eBay
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daleeric
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posted on August 9, 2001 05:33:53 PM new
I would call information to their city and see if they are listed. If you can get a doctor to prescribe Valium these days, by all means take it! What is the person's feedback like? If they are a "0", it doesn't look good. See what other items they are bidding on or if all activity has stopped.
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