eauctionmgnt
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posted on February 29, 2004 03:17:29 PM
Boy... I hate eBay's flawed feedback program! I had an idiot bidder use buy-it-now to purchase a $2.49 lens cap. He finds out (immediately afterwards) that I don't accept Paypal. So... he sends me an e-mail saying that he bought it from some one else, and that he won't go through with the transaction. I send him my standard EOA, with a little addendum (sp?) stating that all bids are binding contracts and are expected to be completed. He gets real upset and calls me a "stupid a**" and says there's no way he'll pay me. I send back another e-mail and explain that his purchase has cost me eBay fees, has removed the cap from eBay's site (temporarilly costing me potential customers!) and that I'll be forced to file a NPB report if he doesn't pay (which may lead to his suspension). He send's me back an e-mail saying that he'll send me just the money for the auction Final bid... and to keep the item. So.. a Western Union Auctionpayments e-mail arrives with the pending status of the MO.... and then the confirmaton e-mail arrives. Then... the guy proceeds to leave ME a negative feedback! So... I leave one for him in return, and respond factually to the one he left.
Anyhow... the question is... is there anything else I can do? I'd like to get him in some sort of hot water with eBay. He obviously doesn't get how eBay works. Can I still file a NPB since he's only paying for the auction item, and not the s/h charge? Do I have to accept the Western Union payment? Is there any way to deny it? (I never agreed to accept anything less than the total balance (item + s/h)). Anyhow... what would you do? Thanks for your suggestions!
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max40
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posted on February 29, 2004 03:43:00 PM
I've heard that payments(including Western Union payments) sometimes get lost in the mail.
If that should happen, obviously you'd have a NPB on your hands.
If you receive a partial payment, eBay won't let you file a NPB alert, so I hope the money order gets lost.
Life is not a dress rehearsal
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ebayvet
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posted on February 29, 2004 04:40:35 PM
Refuse the letter when it arrives, have it go back to western union (just write REFUSE and do not open) - Then go ahead and file for your fees and NPB. That is what I would do, might as well get a NPB/FVF on them since they did not complete the terms of your auction.
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fluffythewondercat
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posted on February 29, 2004 05:25:19 PM
Refuse the letter when it arrives, have it go back to western union (just write REFUSE and do not open) -
Won't work. All Western Union mailed money orders look the same from the outside. I get lots of them.
"God made the Pelorus for practice, and then he made the School Board." -- Mark Twain
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BIGPEEPA
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posted on February 29, 2004 05:33:39 PM
eauctionmgnt, its a dam shame that a few Ebay game playing customers can get a seller so upset. Yes, the money order could get lost or you can spend some bucks with Square Trade and try to get the NEG removed but only you can decide is it really worth it. You asked "what would you do". I would have a couple shots of good old Irish Bushmill Whiskey and
LET THE LUCK OF THE IRISH BE WITH ME
Dennis
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auctionACE
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posted on February 29, 2004 07:44:43 PM
Looks like the seller will get more buyers not reading the TOS before bidding and will get more negative feedbacks due to these bidders in the future. It's part of doing business on ebay. If the seller didn't want the negative feedback and ensueing hassle then maybe letting the bidder of the hook for the $2.49 item would have worked.
-------------- sig file ----------- *There is no conclusive evidence that life is serious*
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kinmartin
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posted on February 29, 2004 07:50:01 PM
For gosh sakes LET IT GO...........we are talking pennies. Whoa..... FORGET IT. MOVE ON.
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bkkofaz
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posted on February 29, 2004 08:17:36 PM
Of course, if you DO open it, you could accidentally "lose" it and if it's uncashed and no signature on delivery, he has no proof you received it. THEN file NPB/FVF.
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Libra63
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posted on February 29, 2004 08:28:22 PM
I would just let it go...Since you have already received the negative and answered it responsibly you have done all you can. Of course leave a negative for him.
What are you out. You still have the product that you can relist, you have the auction payment. The only thing is the S/H and your not going to ship it. I would just block him from bidding on anymore of your auctions and move on.
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sparkz
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posted on February 29, 2004 08:40:04 PM
Bigpeepa has the right idea. Cash the M.O. and invest the proceeds in a couple shots of Irish whiskey, relist the item and move on. Of course you can always credit the payment towards shipping first and have a balance due for the bid amount and file for fvf on that balance if he doesn't pay it.
The light at the end of the tunnel will turn out to be an oncoming train.
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Fenix03
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posted on February 29, 2004 09:16:52 PM
Grow up and get over it. You got a coment from an idiot that you have explained and reciprocated. Why the further need for revenge? It's a business, not a pissing contest.
~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~
If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
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mcjane
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posted on March 1, 2004 10:28:57 AM
It seems that this buyer paid for the auction to avoid the NPB which makes me wonder if he already has one or two.
What would bother me & probably also bothers eauctionmgnt is his arrogant email to forget it, found another, & then later calls the seller an a$$ & follows up with neg FB. Exchanging negs doesn't accomplish anything, filing for NPB does. I would try to find a way to do that.
This bidder deserves it, he's the a$$.
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getkicksonrte66
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posted on March 2, 2004 05:09:19 AM
For $2.49 I'd have not bothered to chase after that low amount. Seems like a big waste of time to me personally.
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eauctionmgnt
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posted on March 2, 2004 06:19:33 AM
Thank you all for your responses. Mcjane... you've pretty much summed it up better than I could. It's not the amount of money... it's this guy's attitude... and the fact that eBay allows situations like this to happen. Anybody out there can use buy-it-now on your auctions... and then leave negative feedback IMMEDIATELY afterwards! Why doesn't eBay have some sort of wait time before feedback can be left? They make you wait to file NPB reports? Wouldn't a time period of say, 3 days before feedback could be left make sense? That might take care of some situations where hot-heads leave feedback without thinking.
Anyhow... I'd love to leave this guy a NPB... because I think that's what he deserves. But, I don't really see any good way to do it. I guess I'll just take his money and block his bidding. After almost eight years on eBay you'd think I'd be used to these nut-jobs... but they still get to me. Oh well... back to listing!
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jackswebb
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posted on March 2, 2004 06:27:43 AM
Good morning.
1.Please  !.BEFORE Bidding.
2.NPB's have No rights,Posting . NEED be BLOCKED by e bay.(But they'r NOT!)Upon final filing of NPB.
3.Naru's  . Goodbye after 3,DIFFERENT, Sellers file NPB's. Negs do nothing. filing 4 PARTIAL fees DOES.
4.A  ing period. Like 20 days of HOOPS on NPB's. Many give up. Works! 4 e bay. They keep K's of $'s.
5.E bay release Millions of DEAD I.D's The PHONE Company does after a period of time. 0 activity in 5 years?
6.E bay, pls place bidders STATE location during the auction. After the fact that zip code Worthless.
The above is strictly my opinion.
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jackswebb
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posted on March 2, 2004 06:42:39 AM
Thanks! Updated below.
1.Please !.BEFORE Bidding.
2.NPB's have No rights,Posting. NEED be BLOCKED by e bay.(But they're NOT!)Upon final filing of NPB.
3.Naru's . Goodbye after 3,DIFFERENT, Sellers file NPB's. Negs do nothing. filing 4 PARTIAL fees DOES.
4.NEGATIVE feedback!!! Oops. Try giving Neg again in 3 BUSINESS days.
5.E bay release Millions of DEAD I.D's The PHONE Company does after a period of time. 0 activity in 5 years?
6.E bay, pls show bidders STATE location DURING the auction. After the fact that zip code, Worthless.
The above is strictly my opinion.
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Reamond
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posted on March 2, 2004 06:43:33 AM
stating that all bids are binding contracts
No, eBay bids are not binding contracts.
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eauctionmgnt
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posted on March 2, 2004 07:08:20 AM
Jack,
Wow! I feel special now! Thanks for updating your list for me! eBay sure would be a better place if all those changes were made.
Reamond,
Actually... you might want to review what eBay has to say about that matter:
http://pages.ebay.com/help/buyerguide/bidding-how.html
They make it very clear that a bid IS a binding contract.
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Libra63
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posted on March 2, 2004 08:13:16 AM
If you feel so strongly about this buyer, when you receive his payment you can send ti back to him with a
"I am sorry, you bid and won my auction #1123456 and I expect you to follow through. I am returning your partial payment and if I don't receive the full amount with in 10 days I will be forced to file a NPB. Of course if you send me the full amount I will mail your widget."
When you mail it put your letter in a bubble mailer and put eDC on it. You can't use eDC unless the envelope is 3/4 inch thick in the middle.
[ edited by Libra63 on Mar 2, 2004 08:14 AM ]
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Reamond
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posted on March 2, 2004 08:27:03 AM
Actually... you might want to review what eBay has to say about that matter:
A contract is not what eBay says it is, it is what the courts have said it is.
One element of a contract is that both parties must be "bound".
When a buyer bids on eBay, the seller is not bound to sell. The seller can cancel any or all bids, and/or close the auction.
Never in "contract history" has there been a contact in which one party is bound to perform and the other is not.
A bid could be construed as nothing more than an offer.
From your own link:
Remember, a bid is a legally binding offer to buy the item at any price up to your maximum bid amount. If your bid is accepted by the seller, you are legally obligated to complete the transaction.
It remains to be seen what exactly needs to be done by the seller that actuates an acceptance.
Disagreements over payment methods or many other elements can in fact nulify the "offer" by the buyer.
But in any event, a bid is not a "binding" contract and it appears that eBay agrees with my interpretation.
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jackswebb
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posted on March 2, 2004 08:36:57 AM
I agree, these are merely offers to buy a product. This WIN thing has nothing to do with e bay. People WIN Nothing on e bay they are merely willing to pay more than the last guy. You bought it, please pay. Now a CREDIT card could easily make this binding! You bought it, I am now bound to your money. Thanks!
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Reamond
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posted on March 2, 2004 08:44:15 AM
Now a CREDIT card could easily make this binding!
A credit card is the least "binding" way to accept a purchase. The buyer can return/refuse the item for any reason and get a refund.
A credit card can get you quick payment.
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jackswebb
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posted on March 2, 2004 09:01:02 AM
Yea, yer right.,,,,,,,,,,,Hmmmm,,,, How about e bays Own buyer credit card? You sign up on e bay you get a line of Credit, you as the buyer FEEL you may spend in X amount of time. Your thinking about buying a $5000.00 boat. You deposit $5000.00 in this e bay account. You WIN, it's deducted. You don't WIN you can reverse the funds back again. You plan on spending $500.00 for alot of auctions...AND Sorry you have exceeded your spending limit, please deposit MORE money into your account. No more. NPB's. E bay no longer refunds, and grabs their money too.
Just an idea,I donno?
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Reamond
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posted on March 2, 2004 09:05:45 AM
I guess we might conclude that business, at least for eBay sellers, is more of an art than a science.
The "Art of Closing the eBay Sale" would be a good working title for your book Jack.
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jackswebb
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posted on March 2, 2004 09:07:13 AM
Another way of saying it. Potenial buyer deposits funds up to his MAX. bid. He WINS he pays, He don't the money can be left in or taken out immediately.
E bay are you listening????? And YOU are collecting INTEREST ON THOSE FUNDS in the meantime! Of course you will make it difficult to get it back. But with a little reading you WILL find the way. 
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jackswebb
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posted on March 2, 2004 09:10:54 AM
Credit line....not a card.
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Twelvepole
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posted on March 2, 2004 10:25:08 AM
... and the three bidders left on eBay could take turns with all the sellers...
Are all your ideas geared toward screwing the buyer?
How about sellers use escrow service, buyer sends money, seller is notified, they send item to buyer, if buyer likes item they release money or return the item...
seems like a better deal...
AIN'T LIFE GRAND...
http://www.nogaymarriage.com/
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neroter12
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posted on March 2, 2004 12:33:42 PM
Jack, a line of credit sounds good. But dont you think ebay would follow the same sort of stipulations as paypal does now? But are you saying, buyer has to have enough funds to cover bidding before the bid would take or hit in system ...like?
hmmm...thats interesting one. They'd have to offer some incentive to do that though, I'd think.
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jackswebb
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posted on March 2, 2004 12:56:02 PM
The incentive is to buy a product. Pay up front or, as we all know, risk never getting paid. At a REAL auction they take a deposit. Some do, some don't. Most however do tho. You high bid and you pay. You don't pay you DON'T get your deposit back. You buy nothing and your deposit is cheerfully refunded. This would certainly put a HALT! to the NPB's. They are either serious or their not.
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jackswebb
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posted on March 2, 2004 12:58:07 PM
Not a credit card and not a line of credit,,,an up front Deposit.
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