posted on October 17, 2002 12:15:33 AM
postral refund. had this irritating bidder, who bidded on this 8 weeks ago, got her personal check 4 weeks ago, mailed the item on 10/1. (my auction states 2 week wait for personal check).
Harasses me today saying they haven't gotten the item, the usual crap, so I told them, since I bought insurance but not DC, that if it doesn't show up on 11/1, I can mail a insurance form that they can fill out, no problem. But now they are threatning me with negative feedback, stating i am the WORST seller in the world, that they are disappointed in my handling of this situation(??!!) and they want the refund NOW ASAP.
I said look, the post office law says I cannot file a claim until 30 days after delivery/purchase of insurance, then it takes them about a week to give me the refund, so I can have the refund probably by 11/8, so let me mail the insurance form now, you sign it, and when returned back to me, i will file the claim exactly 30 days, then week later will have the refund for them.
they said to me, mail the refund ALONG with the insurance claim, THEN they will sign the insurance claim. if there is no immediate refund, will not sign the claim. i told them to give me a break, they said will file FRAUD report to ebays and make sure I will get suspended unless immediate refund is given.
OK this bidder doesn't want to play with the postral rules of insurance, even though they requested and bought insurance. Should i ignore them and take the dreadful negative (my perfect 450 positive down the drain ): ). Or break the post office rules and give her the refund and mail the claim? But if i do that they can keep the claim form without signing and be 75.00 richer.
posted on October 17, 2002 12:33:58 AM
Is it an expensive item? I do believe that sellers that hold checks for 2 weeks are much more open to this type of thing then sellers that do not wait or do not accept checks at all. They may be bluffing about the negative and remind them that you will return the negative feedback to them if they do post it. That's a sad way to get your first negative feedback.
I hate these types of bidders but the woods are full of them. There are many sellers that refuse to accept personal checks and you may want to join their ranks soon.
posted on October 17, 2002 02:10:31 AM
it is not a dilemma. inform the buyer to do what she wishes but you are waiting for the needed length of time and doing the steps to receive the refund. bullies are bullies because others let them get by with it. if she leaves you a neg before she receives her refund, that voids the need to refund her anything.
I don't know how many feedback you have, but I would tell them that a neg will look worse on theirs than it will on mine, so do what they will.
posted on October 17, 2002 04:48:49 AM
The first neg is always painful. And as most sellers will tell you, they are from unreasonable buyers who just won't work things out in a rational manner.
You just have to stand your ground on this. A 450 to 1 ratio isn't going to upset anyone other than you. You do have the right to leave a rebuttal and that should take care of any new buyer's doubts.
And you do get to leave a neg for her calmly stating she wouldn't work through the PO.
Oh, and block her from bidding on your auctions again.
posted on October 17, 2002 06:03:12 AM
I'm having a similar problem and I refuse to give in to their terrorist tactics. If I get a neg, they get one right back.
They can file with Ebay all they want, it expressly states on their site that you can not file a claim with them for lost or damaged items. You must deal with the carrier who transported the item.
If the bidders want to act like that, they will just be out the $75 and the item. With them being so unreasonable, they probably already have the item and are hoping to scare you into giving them their money back so they can have their money and the item.
posted on October 17, 2002 07:10:16 AM
if the item is over 50,the blue insurance slip has a number which is trackable by postal clerk,why dont you ask your post office to find out what happens??
your bidder may not have it yet,so tell her you are looking into it.
by the way it is POSTAL .
posted on October 17, 2002 09:02:57 AM
I agree with stormypetr that:
"With them being so unreasonable, they probably already have the item and are hoping to scare you into giving them their money back so they can have their money and the item."
I would remain calm and polite in my correspondence with them, and ask them to email you again if the package does not show up by the end of the 30 days so you can start the investigative process.
I would suggest that in the meantime they take the insurance tracking number to their local post office along with your email and make inquiries. Often packages are held there awaiting a signature from the customer, and the notice has been tossed or gone astray.
My hunch is the package has been sitting at their po all this time, or they are lying.
posted on October 17, 2002 09:31:12 AM
ironking,
do NOT mail refund with the insurance papers. What is to stop the buyer from taking your money and not signing the papers? You will out the money and the product......Good luck
posted on October 17, 2002 09:34:36 AM
Every single negative feedback comment we've received from selling online over the last 5+ years has come from a buyer like you are experiencing in your transaction. DO NOT give in to this person, as their behavior will only again be repeated.
Your intent to help this person is clear. You are simply following the guidelines in place for filing a Postal claim. If this is perceived by your buyer to be inappropriate behavior, then let them file the negative comment if they wish.
eBay users will be able to see right through her comment and it will only make her look bad. Continue to be firm and polite and keep emotion out of the equation. Stick to your guns and you will come out just fine in this transaction.
After this mess is resolved, you should feel free to use your right to leave appropriate feedback that represents the experience you had with this person.
posted on October 17, 2002 11:41:55 AM
you may want to change your policy of sitting on the package while you hear if his personal check is any good,2 weeks is a long time.
most people must have the package yesterday.
posted on October 17, 2002 02:53:07 PM
Hi, thanks for the advice, item was only 49.98, BUT I was being abit like quickdraw and added extra 25 bucks in my post for all the aggravation they are causing me! Is it just me, or it's always the ones who buys insurance, and emails you everyday are the types that pull this stunt? I shippied over 200 items this summer, and the ones who never use the buying insurance option nenver tells me package is lost, but the ones who buy insurance, and pay with a Personal check, despite my TOS stating a 2 week wait always never wait for the 2 weeks?
Anyway, I will take all of your advice and stand my ground saying you HAVE to wait 30 days for I am going through the post office procedure, step by step. The reason for the 2 week wait, is twice I had a bounce check, and both time my bank didnt inform me until 13 days after depositing. I am afraid tooltime is right, I may have to join the ranks of sellers who no longer accept personal check.
posted on October 17, 2002 03:41:05 PM
you can get a money order at supermarket real cheap,offer this as an alternative ,most of us go to supermarket at least once a week.
posted on October 17, 2002 03:57:49 PM
I would NOT give a refund with the forms. Technically speaking, if you have proof of shipping (insurance form) then you are not going to be held accountable for mail fraud. If you get a neg, then give one right back, but I believe if you refund, you will not get them to cooperate because for all you know, they have the item and won't sign. Sounds like they are trying to get free money and merchandise.
posted on October 17, 2002 10:40:32 PM
STICK BY YOUR GUNS!! No refund until the paper work is done & claim filed & paid. This is the very reason I will not take personal checks. I haven't for over the 4 yrs' I have been on eBay & it hasn't hurt my sales one D@#@ bit. I ship within 24 hrs. of payment. Never have a complaint. I have never had a pkg lost in the mail. Had one by UPS when they left one on the porch in Boston, wasn't there when buyer came home.
posted on October 18, 2002 06:34:46 AM
most items on ebay are compulsive buys,no one wants to wait forever to receive the item-it takes up to a week for check to arrive in slow mail,then seller waits 2 weeks to ship,then it takes another week to arrive at buyer home,you are talking 1 month .
if buyer found the item listing on day i of ebay listing,and he has to wait 7 days for auction closed to find out if he is the winner,then altogether it is 5 weeks to receive the item.
