eauctionmgnt
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posted on October 11, 2002 07:55:25 AM
My wedding is coming up! (the wedding date is 11/30/02!) In addition to all the other details to worry about... I have to make sure that I take good care of my customers. I've decided that I'll only have two more weeks of auctions, one from 10/17/02-10/24/02 and one from 10/27/02-11/03/02. For those auctions, I was thinking of adding the following text to my auctions (in bold red lettering):
*Important!*
I'm getting married! I will be away for the wedding/honeymoon from 11/21/02 till 12/12/02. Please make sure that I receive all auction payments before Wednesday, Novemeber 20th 2002. If your payment is not received by then, I won't be able to ship your item out until my return. During this period I will check my e-mail as frequently as possible... but I won't have any access
to e-mail over my honeymoon (my fiance would not be happy if I did!) Oh... and bid high so we can have a great honeymoon! Thanks for your understanding!
I tried to keep it light, but informative. I'll also provide the same information in my EOA notices, and will have a vacation message posted on my e-mail before I leave. Am I forgetting anything? Any suggestions? Thanks for any and all input!
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Libra63
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posted on October 11, 2002 08:06:26 AM
Congratulations. My best to you and yours and have a great Honeymoon.
With buyers not paying promptly it is going to be difficult to have things cleared up by then. In the real world if all buyers would either pay by PayPal or send their money orders out the day after the auction ends you will be fine. If you hold checks to clear I doubt if you will be done by that date. So in your auctions say PayPal or Money Order only. Good Luck
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computerboy
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posted on October 11, 2002 08:06:58 AM
I think the message you provided is just fine.
Only an incosiderate person would cause you any problems after receiving this note.
Congratulations!
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nightbird84
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posted on October 11, 2002 08:12:17 AM
Congratulations and enjoy!! I think your note is perfect! Enjoy your honeymoon and I give you credit for having time to list even before the big day!
I just got engaged and am pulling my hairs out trying to plan the wedding - set date, etc. so I put off ebay for a few weeks.
anyway enjoy and again congrats!
Lauren
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lattefor2
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posted on October 11, 2002 08:41:18 AM
How nice my very best to you and yours, I think your little added note is just great (now lets hope they read it!)brought a smile to my face, I bet it will expedite some bidders and I also believe many congrats are going to be sent in with those payments.
Reenie
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replaymedia
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posted on October 11, 2002 08:48:10 AM
Maybe it's my paranoia speaking, but do you have your home address (for payment) in the same e-mail that says you're gong to be out of town for so long?
Why not send them an e-mail that says "Rob Me! My house is full of good stuff and no one's home!"
Speaking from experience. Several years ago when my Grandfather died on a Friday, his Obituary appeared on Sunday. Sometime either on Sunday night, his house was broken into and MANY things disappeared (According to my grandmother, a large cash stash was one of them, but that's another story).
But congrats on the wedding!
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rarriffle
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posted on October 11, 2002 08:53:22 AM
Congratulations, I think your added note is just perfect....enjoy...
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sanmar
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posted on October 11, 2002 09:14:29 AM
I am not getting married (Thnk God), but I went away last year for a week at Xmas & stopped auctions the first week of Dec. Put a message in each of my auctions stating I would be gone from 12/22 until 1/2/02. Had a good response & was able to get my email on my laptop which really helped. Am planning the same this year, already have my plane ticket.
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fluffythewondercat
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posted on October 11, 2002 09:36:01 AM
I'd make the note a lot shorter and I'd remove the part about checking your email as frequently as possible. That phrase makes it sound like you might overlook their purchase because you're too busy getting ready for the wedding.
Actually, I would just write:
"Payment must be received by Wednesday, November 20 as we will be out of town from 11/21/02 through 12/12/02."
And then I would assume that none of the buyers read it.
So I would email the footdraggers on 11/10, 11/13 and 11/17 with first, second, and last chance reminders.
Hope you're using a P.O. box. We have ours in another city and county to prevent problems of the "oh, I'll just drop this by your house" variety.
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micmic66
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posted on October 11, 2002 10:32:28 AM
........R U Married Or Happy??.........
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eauctionmgnt
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posted on October 11, 2002 01:41:08 PM
Thanks everyone! For both the congratulations and the suggestions!
Nightbird, congrats on your engagement! The first few weeks of planning are the most stressful. There are a couple of big choices for you to make (ceremony site, reception site, etc..), and then everything kinda falls in place after that. I didn't list for a good part of the summer while we were traveling to and fro making decisions!
Replaymedia, you brought up an excellent point. Yes... the EOA does have my address in it, but it is an apartment building that is pretty secure with good neighbors (some are even police officers!). But, we'll also be having people check in on our apartment. But I do appreciate you pointing this concern out to me!
fluffy, I appreciate your thoughts... but I don't think I want to make it much shorter. I kinda feel that if my customers know why I won't be around that they might be a little more patient. (could just be wishful thinking!...and it is assuming that the read!)
Thanks again to all of you who responded to this post! Let me know if you think of anything else!
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maggielane
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posted on October 11, 2002 01:48:04 PM
We had to go out of town for 2 weeks on a last minute trip this summer. We had over 200 auctions up when we left, and another 100 or so scheduled to go up. In our win notices we put that we would not be able to ship until a certain date, we also put this in all of our new auctions. We were able to answer questions with our laptop, and even relisted some unsold items while we were gone. Only had one customer get upset through the thing, but did not leave a negative. Overall the customers were very patient. We shipped about 70 packages the day we got back. That was not a lot of fun.
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fluffythewondercat
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posted on October 11, 2002 02:31:00 PM
Well, whatever <shrug>. Not to be blunt or anything, but if I were one of your buyers I wouldn't really care what the reason was you were going to be out of town; I'd just want to know when my item would be shipped.
Having had two close members of my family die unexpectedly in the last couple of years and having to deal with the fallout from running auctions and dealing long-distance with anxious buyers, I don't ever expect people to be "understanding" about what's happening in my personal life. And truly, why should they be? It's a business transaction.
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RSMSPORTSGA
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posted on October 11, 2002 03:03:36 PM
Congrats Eauction....AND Happy Honeymooning...YOUR COMMENTS WILL BE FINE...and I am sure you will have some BEST WISHES sent your way!!!....
Fluffy...I really think this young lady is just excited about getting married and wants THE WHOLE WORLD TO KNOW...and why NOT?...It is her auction and her business and she can open and close it AT any time!!!...
and she might even get some WEDDING PRESENTS!!!
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thchaser200
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posted on October 11, 2002 04:42:51 PM
:
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eauctionmgnt
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posted on October 11, 2002 05:24:55 PM
rsmsportsga,
Thank you for your kind words! Although....I'm going to be the groom at the wedding! Don't worry... it's easy to make that mistake on these boards. But, you are right.... I am excited about the wedding and am glad to share it with everyone!
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kiara
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posted on October 11, 2002 06:49:42 PM
I remember. The panic to get the Kinder eggs by Valentine's Day for the proposal, right?
Best Wishes!
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RSMSPORTSGA
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posted on October 11, 2002 07:06:11 PM
oops...MY BAD...CONGRATS TO THE BRIDE AND GROOM....teehee
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hair2dye4
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posted on October 11, 2002 08:06:59 PM
Congrats, nice to see someone brave enough for marriage and happy to share with the rest of the world, best wishes!!!
My concern to is to use a PO box this month, neighbors can't see everything and the world is full of nuts, don't come back from the honeymoon and not have bedroom funiture!
I am sure it will be a wonderful wedding, CHEERS TO THE HAPPY COUPLE!
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stonecold613
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posted on October 11, 2002 10:06:41 PM
Personally, I would stop my listings as per your schedule, but don't mention it in your auctions. Your time frames allow you to file NPB and FVF if you need to. I would treat those auctions like any other. The extra caption may also backfire on you and attract more jokers (deadbeats) just to screw with you. Keep things as normal as possible. Don't stick out like a soar thumb for those types.
Good luck in the marriage.
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Roadsmith
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posted on October 11, 2002 11:24:25 PM
Congrats. And I just figured out why we thought you'd be the bride, not the groom! You referred to your "fiance" instead of "fiancee."
And I agree with some of the posts here, that I'd be concerned about telling people I won't be home. Especially if you're just getting married, seems to me a burglar would love to burgle an apartment filled with wedding gifts. Could you give a friend or neighbor's address for payment instead of your own?
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eauctionmgnt
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posted on October 12, 2002 07:25:41 AM
Kiara,
You have an excellent memory! The kinder eggs were a success!
Roadsmith,
I never said I was a good speller!  Actually, I didn't know that fiance was male and fiancee was female. They're both spoken the same, right? Well... you learn something new every day! Thanks!
As for the whole apartment being unattended while we're away.... I'm definately going to put some thought into dealing with that situation. You all definately thought of something that hadn't even occurred to me. Fortunately, our apartment isn't much to speak of (we don't really even HAVE any bedroom furniture to be stolen!) Plus, the wedding is in a completely different state, so there won't be any wedding gifts around. But, nevertheless it would be horrible to come home and find things were not the way we left them. (insurance can't replace the sentimental things!) So, believe me, all your suggestions are being taken to heart!
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alwaysbroke
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posted on October 12, 2002 09:10:43 AM
"and she might even get some WEDDING PRESENTS!!!"
Wouldn't it be great if the buyers sent "tips" with their payment with wedding congrats! This seller may be more clever than we think!
I agree with not letting them know when you won't be home. There must be another way to word it.
A big CONGRATULATIONS on your upcoming wedding day! All the best wishes.
http://www.sparedollar.com/sdGallery/usergallery.asp?uID=2261
http://www.sparedollar.com?ref=2261
lurking is not an option
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hair2dye4
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posted on October 12, 2002 09:32:53 AM
Another way to say "we will be away"
how about something like, do to the Newlywed status I will not be checking on ebay for a couple of weeks, as it would be unromantic to work and play.. well not those words but hey I am taking time off the computer for quality time with my bride...
And don't check your email enjoy this honeymoon it will only come once in a lifetime!
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mcjane
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posted on October 12, 2002 10:58:47 PM
eauctionmgnt
Congratulations to you.
Here is one change you could make
(my fiance would not be happy if I did!)
how about this instead, my wife would not be happy if I did.
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classicrock000
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posted on October 13, 2002 01:11:32 PM
getting married or staying on ebay...ummm thats a tough choice heh?
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