posted on September 29, 2005 07:35:33 AM
I've just been getting back to eBaying lately. A while back I was fairly lucky and rarely had deadbeats or lame excuses. So far so good, only listed a few things and they've all been promptly paid.
But, after reading some of the problems other people here are having with irresponsible buyers, I have to ask... do you think these problems are less frequent, more frequent, or about the same as compared to a year ago, or even a few years ago?
On a sidenote, I came across an auction where the seller had a car for auction and in his terms he wrote something like "no excuses like you have an under age kid who bid on the car without your knowledge, but you have no problem bidding on another car a few days later, or someone "stole" your eBay password and bid, or the barn you were going to store the car in fell down, or your wife will kill you if you buy this car, or you won't have the money for a few weeks, etc..." It was hilarious, but true I'm sure! He's most likely encountered all these excuses.
posted on September 29, 2005 08:22:09 AM
Somebody sent me a reply to Npb with this litany of excuses. Pocketbook got stolen with the checkbook cant send check, plus going in the hospital in 2 weeks, plus toilet bowl tank cracked...I don't know even what else was in there, like, five different excuses! I wanted to laugh really. I let them off the hook and pretty much said in a nice way, if you're life is that blighted lady, you have no business sitting around buying stuff on ebay!
posted on September 29, 2005 08:25:37 AM
Yeah, you'd think one excuse would be enough, but I guess she just wanted to be sure, so she threw in a few more for good measure!
Seriously though, some people think they're so clever, but most people, especially experienced sellers, can always tell what's fake and what's genuine.
posted on September 29, 2005 08:34:55 AM
actually, i've lucked out or something and haven't had any of these stupid deadbeat bidder excuses for 3 years now. don't know why, though. yep, you're right, they just don't "ring true."
posted on September 29, 2005 08:46:03 AM
I had to go back and find the thread with this infamous NPB excuse from Niel35:
"Neva -
Last (Labor Day) weekend my husband told me he doesn't love me and he wants a divorce. I can't afford this right now. I'm hoping you'll be
understanding.
My apologies -
Sylvia
PS The shipping alone I can't afford right now. Please send toilet paper."
posted on September 29, 2005 11:03:50 AM
Some of these people never pay their bills,they live a life of excuses. You would be surprised at the number of people who let their Electric bill slide for four months, then they go to the Salvation Army and cry poor mouth to get them to pay it. They do the same thing with their rent. So if one of them bids on your auction, they have decided to send the money somewhere else by the time you sent them the invoice.
**********************************
Two men sit behind bars,one sees mud the other sees stars.
posted on September 29, 2005 03:58:11 PM
It's often useful to check their recent bidding history and see if it tallies with their recent 'accident' or 'death in the family' excuse. If they are still bidding like there's no tomorrow then file an NPB.
posted on September 29, 2005 04:27:18 PM
Hey Caroline - I kept on her and she finally paid and I shipped. Worked out. Maybe sometimes the excuse is legit, but how are we to know
posted on September 29, 2005 10:39:04 PM
If I don't hear from a buyer after about 5 days post-sale, I check that person's feedback to see what's going on. Instructive, sometimes.
I rarely have deadbeats, but I had a newbie Canadian buyer right before I went into the hospital for my surgery. Kept promising to send the payment etc. etc. I filed for refund of listing fees and all the rest. She finally sent the money; arrived the day we were going to the hospital. Luckily I had the item all packaged up and we sent it enroute to the hospital.
THEN. . . . my poor husband, who is almost totally unfamiliar with my ebay business, was monitoring my e-mails for me. This buyer starts sending one e-mail a day, imploring me to close our dispute. He didn't know what to do; I said just e-mail and tell her I'll do it when I'm home from the hospital. Wouldn't you know he got stuck and flummoxed by one of the rare weird buyers I get at times! However, I think he has even more respect for what I'm doing on ebay!
Caroline