posted on April 24, 2004 01:46:13 PM new
Auction closes in a bidding war. The loser sends payment via Paypal for the total amount. A day later I receive an email from them asking when the item they won will be shipped. The same day I also receive payment from the winning bidder via Paypal. I email the loser back to tell them they didn't win, and they keep insisting they did. So I ask them to forward the winning bidder notice they received, and of course, they couldn't. I sent them a refund and they paid again. I sent them a refund for that one, and they email me back to argue. I tell them not to waste my time trying to pay for something that someone else won and has already been shipped to the winner. They email me back and ask if I have another one. lol. Geez, I wish all of my auctions were this easy to collect payment on.
posted on April 24, 2004 02:57:54 PM new
I wish I had customers like that. Lately, all I have had are non-description reading, non-paying idiots. My own whopper happened last week when I tried to auction a Ford Tempo, and the winning bidder was temporarily outbid. The guy who did the outbidding then retracted his bid, and so the (original) winning bidder then says to me he was outbid and he doesn't think he is obligated to pay for the item. It never ends does it?
posted on April 24, 2004 10:13:46 PM new
Granted, this guy ended up the high bidder, but when the other person made the bid, the first bidder would have received an e-mail from ebay stating that they have been out bid. I am sure that is what this guy is thinking. And with ebay's messed up notification system, I bet he/she didn't get the retracted bid e-mail.
posted on April 24, 2004 10:24:21 PM new
eBay doesn't publicize the ramifications of a retracted bid, and they really should educate bidders as to what it means.
eBay also does not point out to bidders that sellers can end an auction at any time, even when the bidder is high bidder but fully expects to be outbid before the auction ends.
As for that second item, I did this a few times. I was satisfied with the prices bid on some items so I ended the auctions there and then. You want to talk about a bunch of confused winners! They weren't happy they'd gotten the stuff at an oh-so-reasonable price; they were unhappy the auction ended early.
It doesn't seem to occur to people that sellers can do this.
--
Answers to Questions Nobody Asked, #39:
Swingline never made a red stapler before the video release of the cult classic "Office Space". However, due to demand among cubicle-bound employees, it now offers one on its Web site.
posted on April 25, 2004 10:53:46 AM new
Fluffy, I believe you are incorrect about that Swingline stapler. I have a vintage one sitting right here at my desk. Perhaps you would share where you got that info from because I have never seen another red Swingline, but this is the real thing with its original finish. Model #99 in fire engine red. It is in excellent condition, with only the white lettering on the top a bit faded. No scratches, or anything else wrong with it. I use it every day and I love my red swingline!
posted on April 25, 2004 11:29:16 AM new
I did have a red Swingline stapler when I was a kid. Not full-size, though. It was a Swingline Tot 50 that came in 3 or 4 colors, including red. Here is an auction featuring one:
posted on April 26, 2004 01:36:49 PM new
The Saga continues...
they sent another payment. i'm keeping it this time. i'm not going to respond to them, etc. if they want their money they can file a chargeback with paypal. geez, what do i have to do to let this person know they didn't win???
posted on April 26, 2004 06:09:05 PM new
Rustygumbo, This has just not been an easy week for you! I was just reading about the spaghetti lamp and about the proof of the red swingline stapler...makes me think my week has been a piece of cake...
Better grab a bottle of tequila..or maybe one of jack's bottles of two-buck-chuck...IT"S ONLY MONDAY!
posted on April 27, 2004 02:41:46 AM new
I'm sorry, but mail them a box of rocks. It just seems so...so....full circle, so apro pro, karmic. Or find them any old one, hehehe.
