posted on December 24, 2004 08:26:57 AM new
Auction for four Westmoreland cups and saucers ended Dec 1. Buyer paid immediately (Seller Instructions say not to pay before receipt of my mail.) He paid the amount of auction $49.99 plus the $2 handling fee clearly stated in auction, BUT DID NOT SEND ANY SHIPPING MONEY. Auction states that shipping will be actual PO charge to his zip code, plus $2 handling. I e-mailed him several times explaining I'd need an addition payment for shipping. He ignored it all -- and then on 17th he filed a dispute because I had not shipped. I was told by PayPal rep that I had to either ship or return his payment to him. I refunded his payment completely via PayPal and sent new invoice with correct shipping. He ignored, so I filed a dispute for non-payment. He responded that he HAS ALREADY PAID (ignoring the refund) and that if I keep harassing him, he'll TAKE LEGAL ACTION!!!!! Not at all fearful of that, but it's the time I've had to spend on this that's so irritating. If his bid is, indeed, a CONTRACT, as it's supposed to be
he should be told he HAS TO PAY ME. I responded with another explanation re refund, etc. and am waiting e-bay response.
What do you suppose will happen? Does a human being at e-bay actually read any of this? Any experience with this system? Thanks for any advice.
posted on December 24, 2004 08:38:18 AM new
Your first mistake was not refunding his incorrect amount right away. Then you should have sent him an invoice for the correct amount.
Anyway, what you do now is to continue with your NPB and if he does not send the proper amount, file your FVF and move on.
I also wouldn't put the additional $2.00 handling in your auctions. That is likely what lead to the confusion. It is better to state that shipping will be based upon zip code, then you can add the $2.00 to the total when you send your WBN.
PS: No humans actually see your dispute. It is simply but on a board, kind of like this posting board.
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Alive in 2005
[ edited by stonecold613 on Dec 24, 2004 08:40 AM ]
posted on December 24, 2004 10:36:49 AM new
I came across an auction like that the other night. The ad really made me think the seller was shipping for $2. I did a double take. There was no way that the item could ship for $2 and the bid price was not high enough to justify free shipping.
In re-reading the ad, I was thinking that the seller was going to catch some grief when the auction ended because I was willing to bet the buyer thought they were getting the item for $2 shipping.
I don't know if it was your auctions or not, but when writing an auction, always assume that someone will misread it. Make your terms very simple, but very clear.
I always state my shipping terms in a separate paragraph. Also, don't bury it in the middle of a bunch of words.
A statement as simple as, "Shipping is actual postage costs plus supplies", will cover your tape and time. Better yet, do a flat rate shipping. I have been using flat rate for over a year now and have had no complaints.
As a buyer, the seller who gives me a shipping rate up front gets my bid.
It is easier for me to find another item than it is for me to have to write the seller to find out how much they are going to charge for shipping.
posted on December 24, 2004 10:41:36 AM new
I agree that the lesson should be not to make the terms so confusing. Personally, I have gone to a flat rate shipping fee for all US orders using the highest shipping zone. Either that, or list the shipping rate as very high so if they pay you, you can refund the difference and look like a good guy. Flat rate makes more sense, less confusion, fewer questions. I would file FVF and move on, lots of people say they will take legal action, no attorney would for a $50 item. Just get your refund, and if it makes you feel better, give the buyer a negative.
posted on December 24, 2004 03:49:04 PM new
Returning his payment and asking for the correct amount is all you can do. Burying the handling charge is good advice as well. Giving customers to much info just confuses them. There is no authority that can make a customer pay for an item if they choose not to. eBay bids are pretty much a handshake agreement that can be broken by either side.
posted on December 24, 2004 04:15:14 PM new
some of these bidders bid on many items from different sellers,they dont have time to read wait for me to email you on shipping charge,nor can they remember which seller said wait for me??
make your life easier and make their life easier by quoting flat rate shipping.
-sig file -------Life is one big happy 'All You Can Eat' buffet .
posted on December 24, 2004 08:36:32 PM newmake your life easier and make their life easier by quoting flat rate shipping.
This I totally disagree with. Most of the items that I sell are fairly heavy and flat rate shipping simply cannot be used. If the buyer doesn't read, sucks to be him/her.
Buyer to pay shipping based upon zip code. That is all they need to know. They can e-mail you for a quote or you can use the screwed up shipping calculator. Either way, posting that there is a $2.00 handling charge is a mistake.
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Alive in 2005
