posted on January 23, 2002 06:39:30 AM
Good morning,
Just wondering if filing the NPB usually gets the bidder to pay up or just p---es them off. I just filed one and was wondering if it increases my chances of getting paid or just makes her mad. It's not that much money involved. While not paying me I saw she had won several auctions during that time and even afterwards. The only thing I hate about the whole thing is I know I will be getting a negative and since I haven't got a whole lot of feedback it won't look good.
How about it? Do you get the money MOST of the time? Do they MOST of the time leave a negative?
posted on January 23, 2002 06:51:54 AM
Good morning right back at ya!
It has been our experience that filing NPB does make people sit up and take notice and send payment. You only are allowed 3-4 NPBs before Ebay NARUs you so its pretty serious stuff. If NPB does not work, just file for return of the FVF and re-list. Neagtive or not is strictly up to you.
posted on January 23, 2002 06:57:27 AM
I think it depends on what you do prior to filing the NPB. Before I do that, I always send out a "friendly reminder" email. This usually results in about half of the people sending payment. If there's no response from my reminder, then I'll submit the NPB which I've found generates very few payments. My reminder email usually flushes out the honest people who simply forgot to pay or had some other legitimate situation, while the NPB alert is usually sent to people who tend to be the real deadbeats - in fact, they're frequently already suspended by the time I get to the NPB.
posted on January 23, 2002 07:02:51 AM
As a buyer from Canada, I find these "warnings" an insult. First of all, mail doesn't move in Canada on the weekends. A seller who gets their gotch in a knot when they haven't received payment within 7 days for an auction that closed on a Friday is much too impatient.
Secondly, and I am finding this out the hard way, some of us buyers are not able to use the new eBay automatic checkout systems. An invoice is generated by the sellers Auction Helper (or whatever) and his countdown clock starts. Unfortunately, the invoice does not show up as an attachment on my system and I have to send several emails to the seller asking them to *email* me with a total.
Meanwhile the clock keeps ticking and after the 7th day, the dreaded warnings start showing up.
When I get one of these (usually a day or two after I have finally been able to pry a total out of the seller and the payment has been sent), I simply delete that seller from my list of people who I will buy from.
posted on January 23, 2002 07:05:46 AM
I don't file the NPB until I'm sure that it's a deadbeat anyway. I send out several email notices prior to doing the NPB, and the ones who are going to pay always respond to those emails. Sometimes the ones who aren't going to pay respond to, to try to string you along, but you have to learn to weed them out. And RB is correct, Canadians usually have a chip on their shoulder about these things.
posted on January 23, 2002 07:17:03 AM
My ID is no secret. Never had any problems with Canadian bidders before, all of my deadbeats (as far as I know) have been American.
posted on January 23, 2002 07:18:40 AM
The auction ended on dec.27th so enough time has passed for ANY kind of payment. She responded to my EOA wmail and sent address. I posted on another thread the details of her paying with paypal and I told her I don't use paypal. Haven't heard from her since. I sent a VERY nice email stating that we could work it out if she wanted to. NO RESPONSE! Sent another one a few days later and told I would have to file NPB if I didn't hear from her. Still nothing and I saw where she had won more bids so I was fair.
RB - I always contact the WB by email with final cost. As a buyer I wouldn't like to get one after only 7 days BUT I never would wait that long before contacting the seller either.
posted on January 23, 2002 07:22:03 AM
I don't usually send an NPB until I have sent at least 3 emails requesting payment. I do not use automatic checkout. I find it's confusing to most buyers and I don't like them myself so why should I expect the buyers to use them. When it is obvious that I'm being ignored I then file an NPB and wait. If the buyer still doesn't respond I wait the 10 days and file an FVF. I then leave a neg-always!!! I feel it's not fair to other sellers to let buyers get away with this practice. Also-If you are going to sell to Canadians then you must realize that usually it's going to take twice as long to receive payment just as the buyer must realize it's going to take longer for them to receive merchandise. I have been stiffed by several Americans-I have never been stiffed by a Canadian. Remember IRAN and the hostage situation and give the Canadians a break. JUST MY OPINION!!!
posted on January 23, 2002 07:24:55 AM
Here's what I'd do, send her one last email saying that if she doesn't contact you by tomorrow you will file NPB, if she does contact you, give her until Saturday to deliver the payment, if you don't receive it file the NPB. If you don't receive payment by ten days after you file NPB, then file for the FVF refund. Even this can be reversed if she eventually pays you, but do start the process soon, as ebay is unforgiving if you wait until after their deadline.
posted on January 23, 2002 07:29:42 AM
jdk156, given that situation it's definitely time to send the NPB, even for somebody like myself who's fairly conservative about such things. Sounds like more than likely she's trying to quietly back out of the deal. If she's still actively bidding, the NPB just might be the kick that she needs to send payment.
posted on January 23, 2002 07:35:35 AM
Oh I filed NPB this morning. In all I sent 4 emails (nice ones) but I haven't heard anything from her since I told her I don't use paypal. Even though FVF isn't much on one of my items I don't want to just give it to ebay. I explained this to her. I went to the NPB site THREE times to file and backed out just to give her another day. I was just wondering if most people pay after getting a NPB notice. When she bid on my auction her feedback was 1 and now it is 4 so she is paying some. She's got a few to go though so I will be watching to see if she pays them all.
posted on January 23, 2002 07:43:59 AM
holdenrex - My thoughts exactly! You know I would have done the thing that both parties agree to back out of the transaction if she would have been nice enough to contact me at all after any one of my 3 emails.
Oh well that's life! I'm a pretty happy person and I'll just go on being happy.
posted on January 23, 2002 07:58:27 AM
I send an email at 10-12 days and another at 14-16 days. After that I file the NPB. Most don't pay or make a big deal out of it and say they would have paid if I had not got eBay involved. If they have not paid when I file the FVF I do what any good seller should do I leave a negative feedback to warn others about this bidder.
Don't be afraid of retalitory negatives any bidder worth having is smart enough to see them for what they are,
posted on January 23, 2002 08:17:55 AM
bidders are pissed when they receive such notice from ebay and will tell you money is on the way and you dont have to do this ,bla,bla,bla.
but time is money too,sellers have other things to do,i usually tell them it is strictly business,when i have time to deal with one issue,i go thru the list and do all the late payments together.
nothing personal,just business procedure.
i will tell you one thing-most bidders know why they are getting these notices,they are sitting on their ass for whatever reason.
as for overseas bidders,i usually mark on the side the item entry in my book the country they reside in and give them more time.in some countries,it is not that easy to get a us dollar money instrument.
posted on January 23, 2002 09:53:16 AM
Unless I've dealt with the bidder before or suspect a reminder email might be more than enough, I find the NPB notice works wonders. Most of what I sell is low in price and I absolutely won't babysit bidders. Unless it's their first auction, they know the routine.
An NPB says to a bidder it's time to get this auction completed and the seller is reminding you of the fact. If a bidder is offended by it, they need a reality check. I've had to send a few NPBs to good bidders and only one seemed annoyed.
My policy is to send the NPB if they haven't responded at all in 7 days or more than 10-12 days have passed without any payment or word from a bidder regarding payment.
posted on January 23, 2002 08:38:11 PM
We do this:
Auction Ends: Automated E-mail with total/checkout link within 24 hours.
3 Days later: Check to see if they have filled out information, if not, We send a friendly reminder notice to use our checkout or reply with their shipping destination, and we immediately follow up with total and payment info. (Some buyers refuse to use any kind of checkout)
7 Days: If no response at all from buyer, we file for NPB, with another e-mail to buyer for response/payment-IN OUR EXPERIENCE, THIS IS WHEN MOST BUYERS WILL PAY UP.
10 Days: (20 for international customers, including Canada)
If no payment received from buyers WE HAVE HEARD FROM, we file NPB, and send another friendly e-mail requesting payment.
NPB's require 10 days to collect, so this gives the buyer one last chance to pay.
If, we end up with a deadbeat then, we collect the FVF and re-list item. We are out the .30 (in most cases) we paid Ebay to list.
Then, we block ID from bidding on our auctions, and move on.
WE NEVER leave negative feedback as we feel the feedback system is unfair to sellers. We won't risk the retalitory negs that are SURE to come our way if we do.
We feel a good feedback rating is essential to good sales, and excessive negs just hurt us. They are usually nothing but tit for tat and if a deadbeat is gonna deadbeat, we usually know by the 7th day anyway. These deadbeats get NARU'd after the third or so FVF against them!
There are a lot of sellers who will disagree with our practice of not leaving negs, but until Ebay changes their policy regarding feedback, we won't participate.
posted on January 23, 2002 09:02:54 PM
dave61bug - I agree 100% in NOT leaving negative feedbacks. It really does no benefit to the seller, and can do no harm to the buyer. Why bother and risk getting a neg? I wish more sellers would file the forms out so the deadbeat gets NARU's from ebay, that would be a LOT more effective than playing the stupid feedback game.
posted on January 23, 2002 10:01:35 PM
Ditto dave61bug & ahc3 on leaving negative feedback, I will never do it. Neg FB hurts a seller, not a buyer. I sell to many with neg FB, but think twice & check whats it's for before I buy. If it's for bad service, non shipment, etc, forget it.
Most retalitory FB is outright lies & eBay should not allow it if an NPB is filed.
I would never let an NPB spoil my record, but
I always file an NPB even if it's only for1.00
posted on January 24, 2002 05:50:33 AM
If you don't leave a neg. feedback do you just not leave ANY feedback? Does it just stay on your feedback forum page FOREVER? I'm for anything that doesn't promote a retaliatory neg.
posted on January 24, 2002 07:54:40 AM
Our policy for the past three years has been
1.Send Email after auction
2.Wait 30 days, Send reminder email and NPB via Ebay system at the same time.
3.If no payment after 45day - FVF - Final Value Fee credit request.
It has worked well -- takes into account international sending payments giving up to 45 days for payment to arrive, takes care of people who forgot honestly - gives them 10 days to send you the payment via snail mail ( but most PayPal), and takes care of the deadbeats after 45 days (who never intended to pay).
Issuing negative feedback to deatbeats is just a waste of time - Ebay does nothing with it -- but when you file the NPB/FVF -- it comes off of Ebays bottom line - maybe its only $.30 or so -- but Ebays Accountants have set the rules NOT TO LOSE REVENUES.
After a user has 3 FVF filed against them they recieve an Indefinite suspension from Ebay.
Of course they can try to sign up under another user id - but thats a completely different problems.
posted on January 24, 2002 08:25:20 AM
jdk, if you don't leave feedback it doesn't stay in the feedback forum forever - just until whatever point the auction drops out of the active database - 60 or 90 days, I forget which.
posted on January 24, 2002 09:17:21 AM
Yes, for deadbeats, I just leave no feedback at all. I only leave feedback for those who pay for their items (and I leave it for every transaction)
posted on January 24, 2002 09:58:24 AM
I always leave feedback. If someone deserves negative feedback, especially the deadbeats, let 'em have it. I try and state them in basic terms: EOA date, NPB date and FVF credit date. Stating facts makes it stick without malice.
Retaliatory negatives are meaningless and only come from people who are unclear on the concept. Most people know the difference.
And if you are afraid of such things, you need to get some backbone.
One other thing: unless it is an international bidder in a place with bad mail service, there's almost no excuse for waiting weeks on end before doing an NPB. If the money isn't there in 10-14 days, file. Collecting on something past 30 days is next to impossible. Your FVF credit should be made on day 30 at the latest.
posted on January 25, 2002 02:36:28 PM
Hello.
I think filling for NPB does help the slow people pay. Also you can send a 3 day reminder through my eBay this speeds up some payments too.
posted on January 25, 2002 03:10:33 PM
It seems everyone has their own way of handling non payment, and here is my take on it.
To begin with I do everything possible to make it easy on the buyer. I welcome payment in whatever form is easiest for them i.e. Paypal, Billpoint, Checkout, checks, money orders. I will send them invoices or change shipping amounts if desired.
If after not hearing from someone for two weeks I send a gentle reminder, and if no response in another week, file a NPB. As others have reported my 2 week reminder flushes out a good portion of remaining payments and the NPB gets a few more. Then after ten more days and no communication, it is FVF time, along with a neg.
The FVF and neg come after at least a month of emails and attempts to get payment, or a commitment to send one; if that does not do it, it is my duty to warn other sellers that this bidder is not good at completing the sale.
I believe that is fair, and any neg after I have filed FVF is obviously retaliatory, and anyone checking feedback should be able to see it for what it is.
posted on January 25, 2002 04:20:28 PM
To all of you that do not leave negative feedback to deadbeat bidders. You are the reason the feedback system does not work!!! What good is a system that consists of only positive feedback?
When someone steals from you do you just sit and let them? These deadbeat bidders are stealing from you and other bidders. They are stealing your time and I don't know about you but mine is worth something. They are also stealing from other bidders that wanted the item.
I thank all of you that leave negative feedback to those that deserve it. It is the only way I have of knowing what kind of bidder I am dealing with.
