posted on December 21, 2001 11:31:15 AM
I've got a non-payer that is driving me crazy! She has good feedback, but that doesn't mean any thing some times!
Auction ended on Dec. 5. I emailed about the status of payment this past Tuesday. FYI, payment due within 10 days of auction.
Got an email saying that payment had been sent (no specific date). Bidder whining about not having their items before Christmas. Bidder wanted me to "bill her" and send it overnight mail??
I replied how she could speed up receipt of payment and shipping of her order by paying via billpoint or paypal. I also gave her different shipping options. No response from bidder. So I filed the NPBA on her.
Now, I get the typical whiney email. Why did you tell ebay I haven't paid.. blah blah blah.
Basically she wants me to WAIT while she "tracks" down her money order. UHmm I'm not playing the waiting game.
Some of you eloquent writers out there, how can I basically write back, these are the terms of auction and I'm filing for my FVF on Dec 31? LOL to put it so bluntly! 26 days is way more than enough time to get a payment to a seller. Oh and all this for $11.
posted on December 21, 2001 12:02:02 PM
This sounds like a typical NPB interaction, where they either tell you something that doesn't jive with the facts ("I sent the payment!" or they don't respond to emails and then complain.
My response would be somewhat different than yours. I give people every chance to pay, and find that eventually almost every sale is completed. Sometimes it takes a NPB alert to shake the money loose. But it sounds like you don't like to let things drag on, and that's fine too.
posted on December 21, 2001 12:19:42 PM
This month was bad for NPB. Paying for their auctions doesn't seem to be high on everyone's priority list. I had 6 that were 20 days out when I sent out NPB last week. I heard and received payment from 2 the rest I re-listed yesterday and will request FVF on them Tuesday.
Just do what you have to do and move past it. It's good business and not anything personal against your buyer.
posted on December 22, 2001 07:12:25 PM
When I get those I simply explain to them that it cost you (insert fee) to list it for sale on Ebay and (insert FVF) for you to bid and NOT pay for it. The only way for you to not lose the money on this transaction is for you to apply to Ebay to get that money back. Ebay then sends the bidder a warning etc etc blah, blah, blah
Bidders that have never sold anything don't understand how much it costs us to sell on Ebay.
I had a bidder who wrote to me at the auction end saying that she could not pay for her bid. I told her about the fees I paid and that I would be following the above steps to get those fees back.
Write it in 3rd person, be frank and to the point, no apologies, just state the facts and the procedure.
posted on December 23, 2001 09:40:41 AM
Here is my post auction payment plan. Sounds like you don’t have one. (Many sellers don’t and sooner or later they get bite)
Lot closes; day 0
Pay pal/ Bill point/ Email to winner by; Day2
Payment should be in by; Day 10
(If not why not)
Second email on non-paid lots; Day 11
Final email on non-paid lots; Day 15
File for ebay fees; Day 20
Block Bidder; Day 20
File for ebay final funds credit; Day 28
(I do not do Negative feedback as does more damage to me than buyer)
If buyer gets three non payment notices Ebay will take care of the problem.
Don’t like my plan? That is fine but have one.
Happy Holidays
posted on December 23, 2001 09:46:03 AM
I get a ton of them. I haven't even reported them lately, too busy, but that will change.
What I usually do with a "payment didn't arrive" problem is recommend the winner resend payment immediately. Then I give them the usual 10 days, no excuses.
Interesting NPB story with a happy ending (for me). Had a winner on a $135 item who claimed she couldn't pay because she lost her credit card. She sent me $20 to forget the deal. (My eBay fees were about $10.) Relisted the item and it sold for $175 the second time. And that payment arrived right away.
or they don't respond to emails and then complain.