posted on December 10, 2002 05:26:51 PM new
I am having an experience with a buyer who kept me waiting for one month without payment. I waited because he gave me excuses and I decided to give him the benefit of the doubt, especially since he appeared to run an antique shop. Finally, I reported him to eBay and we are in the 7 day wait period. After eBay notified him, he contacted me and said he would send payment. I received his check today, which was mailed on the 5th, with a personal check dated 11/30/02, which was before the date he received the eBay notice.
Now, the problem. The check amount was wrong, because he overpaid me $10.00. I emailed him asking what was up with the overpayment. He emailed back that the $10.00 was for "my troubles."
What would you do? I am inclined to keep the overpayment and forget the whole thing. Perhaps I will not give feedback. Does anyone foresee any problems with this transaction?
posted on December 10, 2002 05:35:57 PM new
I'd keep the extra $10. He obviously is buying off his conscience for being a poor buyer and will feel better having given you the extra $$.
Most of the time, if it appears that the buyer just slipped a digit, I'll refund the money if it's more than about 25 cents. (Some people seem to want to round off amounts on checks. Fine with me!)
posted on December 10, 2002 05:42:05 PM new
I would just keep the $10 also. That should be stress money. If he has time for his other auctions, he had time for yours, sounded like he didnt want to go thru with it.
posted on December 10, 2002 08:52:45 PM new
Uh, don't go by the date on the check. There was a post yesterday about a payment musta been made sooner because of the date on the check.
Keep in mind, the checkwriter fills in the date, with any date they want. If you want to know when it was sent, check the postmark.
posted on December 11, 2002 07:30:54 AM new
if you REALLY don't want to accept the gift, donate it in your buyers name to a charity and send them the tax receipt... If the person was a pain in the butt, you can donate it to the pro tobacco lobby or some other unsavory organization...
posted on December 11, 2002 05:33:48 PM new
Years ago, when I worked at a pizza shop, I
accepted tips. I no longer do. If someone
sends me more than I quoted them, they get
it back with the item, no matter how much
($0.01-$20.00). I believe the largest was
$14.06, and the bidder left me only one of
two feedbacks, and that one was a period
(ie, .) That was it! Can you freaking
believe that! He bid on one item, then
about a week later a second, I offered to
combine shipping to save him $, then I
mailed it on time, wrapped the package VERY
well, sent him e-mail right after I got back
home from the USPS office, returned him
$14.06 overpayment and I got one feedback
out of two and it was only a &^#($ period!
He then became an unregistered user as he
had received Negatives for backing out on
bids to others (probably resulting in FVF
credits as well).
I've also had two packages returned to me
and e-mails to those bidders go unanswered
in just over a year on eBay... They are
still sitting here wrapped, but eventually
I will sell those items again.
---
"Cannot say. Saying, I would know. Do not
know, so cannot say". -- Zathras (Babylon 5)
posted on December 11, 2002 07:06:28 PM new
I return anything over a dollar, a person would not over pay me if I was a brick and mortar, why should I accept anything more than my requsted amount. Under a dollar I keep as its not worth the time and stamp and envelope to mail it back. I have no problems sending back money that does not belong to me. Customer service is expected and all that goes with it, good or bad.
posted on December 11, 2002 10:08:43 PM new
First mistake was e-mailing the person telling them they over paid. You set yourself up for a cancelled check which can take up to a month before it comes back. Whenever I get a personal check, I deposit it and wait a week before contacting the buyer to let them know the payment arrived. This gives time for the bank to process the check and send it to the buyers bank for processing. Then I tell the buyer that the payment arrived that day, even though it really is 7 days later. Then I tell them that I will send out the item after the check clears. I will give it one more week, then send out the item. In this case, keep the cash even after you send the item. If you want to give a refund, mail it at a later date.
posted on December 12, 2002 06:52:12 AM new
So StoneCold, you require the buyer to trust you by sending a check (if that's the option they choose) to a complete stranger before getting the item. You then lie to them about when you receive the check. You require the seller to put all this trust in you, then you don't even believe the seller wukk write a good check.
For all the attention that scam artists get, these petty little things hurt eBay's reputation just as much. eBay is one of the few venues where the buyer pays before even seeing the item. Sellers who hold personal checks for 2 weeks, and lie about it, before shipping is one reason why people avoid eBay.
OK pop quiz. What percent of checks you get bounce? What percent of those are eventually repaid? And what percent of chargebacks do you get via PayPal? I bet the numbers are close. I understand the desire to hold checks until they clear, but telling blatant lies to your customers (on average, they're just as smart as you are) does not buikd confidence in the system.
posted on December 12, 2002 08:38:16 PM new
I notify the individual that they have overpaid and issue them a credit. It's a good way to get people back to buy from you again. If they email me and want their overpay, I will issue it to them immediately. I have found that most will take the credit.
