posted on July 18, 2002 03:20:04 PM new
First up, Denise from TX, who has 5 negatives for non-payment:
[i]Hi Fluffy,
I am about to loose my mind and my car if I don't get a job. Its rough at 47 yrs old. How did you get started (selling on eBay) and could you or would you share any wholesale info. I would be so grateful to you.[/i]
Next, lavenderparrot, winner of 13 of my auctions and who by some amazing coincidence is also named Denise:
[i]Hello,
I am having my husband write this for me. I have become
very ill, and have been bed-ridden for the last few
weeks. I have a lot of medical bills to pay. At this
point in time, I really don't know if I have the money
to pay you. I really don't want a bad feedback record,
because mine is perfect.
I am so sorry. If you'de like, I can have my husband
check the finances, if you can wait a while. Or, if you
have another suggestion, please let me know.
Again, my apologies. Sometimes unexpected things happen.
Please let me know what you would like to do.
[/i]
And last, this from (you guessed it) Denise on AOL, to whom we had already sent the requested info six times:
[i]I LOST ALL THE INFO ON MY COMPUTER COULD U PLEASE SEND ME THE TOTAL I OWE AND
YOUR MAILING ADDRESS ... THANKS
[/i]
Must be sunspots. I can't think of any other explanation.
posted on July 18, 2002 07:01:53 PM new
Hi, if you email me, I will send you an E-book that may help you, this reply/offer is NOT intended for everyone else!! Nothing personal, but the last time I offered this, I was beseiged by folks wanting it!!---
posted on July 22, 2002 04:03:30 PM new
Well, a few days later this gets interesting.
Denise #2, who wrote:
"Hello,
I am having my husband write this for me. I have become
very ill, and have been bed-ridden for the last few
weeks. I have a lot of medical bills to pay. At this
point in time, I really don't know if I have the money
to pay you. I really don't want a bad feedback record,
because mine is perfect.
I am so sorry. If you'de like, I can have my husband
check the finances, if you can wait a while. Or, if you
have another suggestion, please let me know.
Again, my apologies. Sometimes unexpected things happen.
Please let me know what you would like to do. "
Looked at objectively, this is clearly an attempt to evoke an emotional sympathetic response. (Even if D #2 really is ill, that doesn't make the attempt any less manipulative.)
Agreed?
So I tried responding with an emotionless, factual response:
"Sorry to hear of your troubles. We have a set policy of proceding with Non-Paying Bidder notices after 30 days with no payment, then file Final Value Fee requests 10 days later. FYI."
Denise #2 attempts another tug at the heartstrings:
"I am sorry that you feel that way.
As you can see by my feedback, I have never done this
before, and don't ever plan to do it in the future...but
life takes bad turns sometimes. I can only hope that if
this happens to you in the future, someone will be
understanding to you.
Can you please send me a grand total, with tax, for all
of my purchases? I will borrow the money and send you a
check. I will also need your address again."
(Translation: Damn. I'm really worried you're going to neg me, and there goes my feedback!)
My response:
"We send out an invoice for each auction when it ends. I'll forward all of those once more."
[ edited by fluffythewondercat on Jul 22, 2002 04:04 PM ]
posted on July 22, 2002 04:09:53 PM new
Oh, somebody's probably wondering why I don't send her a grand total. It's simple: according to an earlier email from her, she had already made a list of the many auctions she'd won from me and had the check all written out.
So she shouldn't need a grand total.
Don't forget to put a 37 cent stamp on the envelope, D #2.
posted on July 22, 2002 04:11:02 PM new
Gee, Golly, Darn!! I must not live right. I have had over 500 sales in the past year & never have had a no pay!! What am I doing wrong?? LOL
