posted on August 11, 2004 02:09:41 PM
I received an e-mail from this customer a couple of weeks ago stating that she never received her item and asked when it was mailed. I checked my records and it was mailed July 7th -- two days after I received her payment. Today she leaves me a neutral stating: never received seller mailed early July.
That is really crappy! She never wrote me back to let me know that she still hadn't received it before leaving the neutral. I would have refunded her measely $4.27.
It's interesting to note that I had to file NPB on her a couple of days ago for two other items that have not been paid and are two weeks past due. She still hasn't responded to the notices.
I wrote to her telling her that it was very unfair of her to leave a neutral before giving me a chance to correct the situation. I also blocked her from future purchases.
Once I file FVF, should I leave her double negs for non-payment? I don't know how to handle this.
posted on August 11, 2004 02:30:54 PM
Diane....
I always file for FVF, but I don't neg. If you neg all you most likely will get out of that is 2 negs in return.
Remember that negs do not really do much damage to buyers.
posted on August 11, 2004 02:31:34 PM
She seems to be setting you up for a couple of big fat negs. Get ready for the extortion email, if any. Keep copies of all documents, this could qualify as auction interference.
posted on August 11, 2004 02:49:45 PM
Did you all notice the story in auctionbytes today? ... inre "sniping" feedback at last minute of deadline? ...
-----------
AuctionHawk Developers 'Feedback Pouncing' for eBay Sellers
By Ina Steiner
AuctionBytes.com
August 10, 2004
If you've ever bought something on eBay, you are likely familiar with
the term "sniping." Now there's a new phenomenon for eBay sellers
called "feedback pouncing."
AuctionHawk has introduced a new tool called Last-Minute Feedback that
allows eBay sellers to leave negative feedback for a buyer exactly one
minute before the expiration window. According to the company, sellers
can leave negative feedback for buyers without worrying about them
leaving "retaliatory" negative feedback in return, since they won't
have enough time to do so. eBay gives buyers and sellers 90 days after
making a sale or purchase to leave feedback for the other member
(http://digbig.com/4bnaa).
Brian Cohen of Bidofthis.com said of the new AuctionHawk tool, "I
think it's fantastic. Sellers will not have to fear feedback
retaliation. Everyone's true color will come out because prior to
"feedback pouncing," the Seller often feared leaving feedback about a
transaction because it would encourage the bidder to leave a
Negative."
Last-Minute Feedback comes bundled with the AuctionHawk basic service.
posted on August 11, 2004 03:26:24 PM
Oh, boy! I can see oodles of barristers circling the AuctionBuzzard owner once sellers who use this "service" get bit in the butt because the 90 day thingy is a myth!
Has anybody here actually used AuctionBuzzard??
owner
“Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we! They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we.” ~ GWBush White House 8/5/4
posted on August 11, 2004 03:33:54 PM
Anyone that does not leave Negative feedback to deadbeat bidders is part of the problem. The feedback system is worthless if you only leave positive feedback.
posted on August 11, 2004 04:05:47 PM
I dis-agree, as the FB system is so seriously flawed & skewed in favor of the buyer, that leaving negatives as a seller is foolhardy & does NOT make sound business sense.
Buyers are barely affected by negs -- they can come back & set up as many worthless IDs as they wish!
However, sellers, who have spent years building up a reputation, are at the total mercy of some often irrational pretzel-chokers!
According to the feeBay party line, participation in the FB forum is 100% OPTIONAL -- my OPTION is to reciprocate with FB.
“Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we! They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we.” ~ GWBush White House 8/5/4
posted on August 11, 2004 04:23:42 PM
Sorry to hear that Bizzy. I know how hard you have worked to do a professional job, but you will bounce back and don't ever look back.
I disagree also. I file for my fvf but I never neg a buyer. Leaves you wide open for a return one. But if she does leave you one after you file I certainly would answer that neg in a professional manner and then of course I would leave her one then.
posted on August 11, 2004 05:35:32 PM
I received a reply from the customer. This is what she said:
"I thought it was very clear that it was not your fault and I did not contact you again for a refund because I did not expect one. A neutral is just that neutral - I could not judge the item because I did not receive it. I paid, you sent - the post office dropped the ball. I track receipt of my items by the feedback column in addition to my paper files - I am sorry, I did not anticipate you would take offense at the feedback - it was not negative - I have purchased from you before and you are honest. I would never expect you to refund money for an item you shipped that was lost in the mail, I just could not say it was positive because I did not receive my merchandise, however I KNEW it was not your fault."
posted on August 11, 2004 05:43:55 PM
File for FVFs--all of them!
___________________________________
My right to speak my mind, to have a voice, to be what some have called "opinionated," is a right I deeply and profoundly cherish. And my only hope is that, one day soon, women--who have all earned their right to their opinions--instead of being called opinionated, will be called smart and well-informed, just like men. ~Teresa Heinz Kerry (bless her)
posted on August 11, 2004 05:51:57 PM
her reply is alot better then most people who paid and never recieved their merchandise-you only got a neutral and not a neg. Since she didnt get her first merchandise,maybe shes afraid to pay for the other merchandise she bid on.
[ edited by classicrock000 on Aug 11, 2004 05:56 PM ]
posted on August 11, 2004 06:24:01 PM
Classic -- That wasn't her first purchase from me. She has purchased other items from me with no problems. If you read her reply, it states that she knows I'm an honest seller. If she felt that I had done my job as a seller, but didn't receive the item through no fault of mine as it clearly states in her response to me, then she should not have left feedback. When you leave feedback for the seller, you are leaving feedback on how they are as a seller, not whether the post office screws up. Had she given me a chance to refund her money BEFORE she left the neutral feedback, then she could have left a positive. But she never gave me that chance. It seems in your posts, that you are hinting that I have done something wrong. I haven't. Even if I used DC, which others have with her, she still would have left neutral feedback. Other sellers have provided her with DC and she left them negatives!
posted on August 11, 2004 09:12:32 PM
Bizzy - It sounds like you are such an honest and dependable seller, I know you didn't deserve a neutral. I would be upset, too. It seems like ths one came from stupidity on the buyers part - evidently she doesn't understand the feedback program. You should be rated on what you do, not what the post office does. Sorry!
Hats off to good selling ethics!
^..^ meow ^..^ Time Spent With Cats Is Never Wasted
posted on August 11, 2004 09:25:09 PM
Bizzy...I got negged (my only one) because FedEx broke a mirror. He even stated in the feedback that it was not my fault, but bad handling by FedEx. I guess he had to lash out at someone and I was the closest one. Be glad it was only a neutral, but I agree with the others, she should not have left feedback at all. Her problem is with the Postal system, not you.
A $75.00 solid state device will always blow first to protect a 25 cent fuse ~ Murphy's Law
posted on August 11, 2004 09:41:52 PM
Bizzy: to me this looks like a misunderstanding on the bidder's part. She probably thinks she must always leave FB and, in this case, a Neutral probably seemed like her only option. I doubt she meant any harm to you at all.
Since she did pay for the item, and hasn't asked for a refund even though she didn't receive it, I don't see where you could or should file for FVF.
And as for blocking her from bidding...why? You say that she has previously been a good customer. I'd just let her know what her mistake was (not contacting you) and leave it at that. Why lose a good, repeat customer over a misunderstanding?
____________________
"Bad temper is its own scourge. Few things are more bitter than to feel bitter. A man's venom poisons himself more than his victim." --Charles Buxton
posted on August 12, 2004 06:29:30 AM
Bunni -- She also won bids on two other items that she hasn't paid for even though it has been over 2 weeks. I have sent her reminders as well as filed NPB. I have no choice but to file for FVF on the other two items to recoup my fees. She often pays late, that's why I waited so long to file NPB on the other two. I tend to give my customers a bit more time than stated in my auctions because alot are grandmas and great-grandmas that sometimes have medical emergencies (that has happened more than once).
