posted on July 30, 2008 08:35:03 AM new
Or call it "Buyer gets strike, then pays Part Two."
I had a sometime customer buy 12 items around 6/14. She's been known to pay by eCheck but this time nothing. I filed UPI on 6/30. Finally got a response from her 7/8: "Just got out of hospital" (the rest you can fill in for yourself, you've heard it a million times). She stoutly promises to pay when the deposit she's made clears the bank on 7/12. She starts bidding again and wins 6 items.
7/12 rolls around, no payment. 7/13, 7/14, the same. On 7/15 she sends me ONE payment of $6.99 (she owed me several hundred dollars). I closed the remaining 11 UPI disputes on 7/16 and got my FVFs back. I blocked her, relisted the remaining 11 UPI'd items immediately and relisted the second batch of 6 as well.
At this point I'm hoping I'll never hear from her again. Hah.
So here's the Queen for the Day part. Read her story, then rate her with your applause (or not) on a scale of 1 to 10. The Applause-O-Meter will determine her fate.
--
Hi! I'm sure from your photo in your recent ebay ads, you are sick of ebay and the customers. So I don't know if this email will be received well, but feel I should give it a try. As you may know from your past records, I have bought an average of $150 per month from you over the past 6 months. Your merchandise always is top quality (although I have had some complaints about the earrings from the bulk packages, but for how cheaply they are priced, I figure you get what you pay for! - One woman's s/s stud broke the first time she inserted it into her earlobe and tried to put the backing on, - it was flimsy - so I just gave her another pair and gave the single one to a neighbor (male) who wears earrings in one ear. The other woman had a goldplated s/s earring, and when she came out of the shower the first time she wore them, the "gold" color had come off!).
Anyway, I received more than several strikes from you on my last order. My message to you below states why I could not pay the order. I was disappoioted in you, though, as not long after I sent the email below to you, I received the strikes, and the items were immediately returned to stock. You did not notify me that you were going to do this, I was awaiting a reply to the below email but received the strikes with no answer instead. I know I promised I would pay the order earlier, but as you can see below, things did not work out as I had planned. I have an incurable, progressively disabling neurological disorder, and every so often I have a bad relapse, which renders me unable to do much of anything until it passes. I go from using a cane, to a walker, then a wheelchair during these relapses - they are bad! Due to this disorder, I cannot work a 8-hour job away from home, so I started trying to sell jewelry for a small mark-up in open-air markets several months ago, to supplement my social security disability income, which, unfortunately, is less than $1000 a month. That way, if I don't feel so great one day, I can stay at home and go out the next day (except during the relapses, which usually last 6 weeks). I have a college degree and over 20 years experience in the job market, so this is not exactly how I planned to be living my life at this point. What I am trying to say, is that the relapses are infrequent and unpredictable. When they come, they come, and there is nothing I can do about it except get IV treatments at the hospital and stay in bed until they pass. Since I am working for myself, there is no sick pay, and I have been doing it for such a short period of time that I have not had time to save up for a rainy day, so to speak.
I realize that I did not follow the rules, so it is your perogative to give out strikes. I am just requesting that they be removed due to the circumstances that led to non-payment, and the fact that I have bought a lot in the past. Please let me know what your decision is.
Additionally, I have a question not related to the above. Is someone buying your business, or taking over "Clarence*Clearance"? Do you have anything else listed for sale other than the jewelry, on any other site? Just curious. Thanks in advance for your response.
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posted on July 30, 2008 08:48:11 AM new
I would tend to give her an 8 or so, since she didn't oversell it. I subtracted points for the lack of explanation as to why the $6.99 payment was so very deficient. I also subtracted points for not naming the mystery disease.
Points added because it's not the usual trials of Job. I decided to neither add nor subtract points for the overly detailed explanation; these frequently are found with lies, but I think she's someone who likes to hand out all the details, so it's a net neutral.
If I were to remove the strikes, it would only be on condition that she promises to bid only when she has funds.
posted on July 30, 2008 10:20:57 AM new
You didn't mention whether she has caused you problems at any other time. If she has then I would give her a "2". If this is the first time for issues and she has paid readily in the past I would tend to believe her and give her a second chance with an "8".
posted on July 30, 2008 10:37:19 AM new
She has been a slow payer occasionally in the past.
As a sort of meta-discussion, I am curious to know if her presentation has to do with the relatively high grade she's received so far.
On the old TV show Queen for a Day, the women were pretty much judged by how well they told their sad stories and by what they wanted if they won.
This eBayer is obviously educated and knows how to use a keyboard. Would you have reacted differently, you think, if her email had been all caps and poorly written?
To your second question: abso-f'ing-lutely. I deduct 5 points for ALL CAPS, since you don't need a great education to find the Caps Lock key and turn it off. I hate people shouting at me.
I might deduct a point or two for a poorly written email. I'll admit that I'm prejudiced. To be clear, however, I've known people who grew up without advantages who nevertheless spent the time and energy to learn how to write well.
posted on July 30, 2008 10:50:02 AM new
7 or 8. When I first started out in this biz, I would have fallen for it, hook, line and sinker. Times have hardened all of us.
posted on July 30, 2008 10:50:22 AM new
Well, I am going to give her a 7.
She may have got a little higher if she had not told you about the broken earrings etc. If she wanted to be 'heard' then she made a poor judgment including that section.
Bad things do happen to good people and I think this may just be one of those times.
Maybe my judgment is slanted a little differently as I had two friends ( one died last year) and both of them went through very similiar 'relapses' as described by your customer. One had MS and the other has yet to be diagnosed; maybe she doesn't have a name for the disease yet so I won't judge her on that score.
If her e-mail had been written in all UPPER case or worse...all in lower case then you are right; I would have said "Off to the Tower and off with her head".
PS. Your Cruise Ship was here this week parked down the road!
Edited for my typo!
[ edited by otteropp on Jul 30, 2008 10:52 AM ]
posted on July 30, 2008 11:13:00 AM new
Presented without comment for the audience's consideration:
removed -- it felt like a violation of privacy to give a link to the user ID.
Otter OPP, I wish it was my cruise ship! What a great vacation that was. Alan and I really enjoyed meeting you two. He'll complete his sailplane training later this year. Then maybe...seaplanes? He's just having a heck of a lot of fun with aviation and that's what it's all about. Say hi to your gorgeous hubby.
posted on July 30, 2008 11:13:05 AM new
Since she is a good customer who buys a lot from you I would ask her to pay in full for all she bought and then lift the strikes.
I'm a softy when it comes to reading problems people are going through and I always thank God It's not me.
So guess I don't make a good judge but I would give her another chance to do right by you since that is what she is asking for.
I would give her a 10
She is not only asking you for another chance she is pleading with you for another chance.
I was just trying to create DVDs of old family movies. Included in the archives were old 8mm films of my first solo (in a Cessna) and some take offs and landings. Wow. I haven't flown in 40 years or so, but what a gas it was.
Curious note: The state of NJ, in its infinite wisdom, didn't allow me to drive myself to the airport, but I was perfectly legal flying an airplane by myself. I understand the reasoning, but it seems strange nevertheless.
posted on July 30, 2008 01:43:30 PM new
It looked like she had that dreaded neurological disorder that lets you browse and bid on eBay all day long but won't let you push the "Pay" button. How unfortunate. Since you are going out of business anyway, what do you care about return buyers?
So, she only paid $6.99 and never even tried to pay for the rest? Her letter was apparently written after you announced you were going out of business - during the last week? She knew enough to cite "strikes" in her email (I don't think most buyers know enough to call them "strikes"? She begins her email with the ever endearing complaints about the quality of previous merchandise she purchased from you (probably for give away prices)? Throw the book at her. She only gets a 2 from me on the "Queen for Day Tragedometer". I'll bet she she doesn't even need the Speed Queen washer and dryer.
-------------------------------------
posted on July 30, 2008 03:20:38 PM new
Why, neglus, you're starting to sound like...
Me.
I love that cat postcard you're using. I just-this-moment came back from touring a local no-kill cat rescue shelter. Amazing place, I can't stop talking about it. Kitties everywhere and most of them are very friendly. I bent down to pet one, and discovered another had climbed my back and perched on my shoulder. "Oh yeah," the tech said, "He's one of our parrot kitties." You should see another one, a tripod cat who zooms around like nobody's business.
posted on July 30, 2008 03:39:32 PM new
not to be a thread killer or a hijacker but....
I was at the pharmacy yesterday and I saw a girl I went to high school with. (nobody ever told me high school wouldn't last forever)
She was one of those that toilet paper wouldn't stick to her shoe - lipstick wouldn't stick to her teeth - one of the *IT* girls and that was before IT meant computer speak. I've never been to one of my high school reunions but all I could think was 'oh my gawd I hope she's not driving!' She looked like on the hard side of 70. Maybe I need to attend one of reunions. I might feel better about myself
Maybe we're all getting there. You know. Over the hill. Where fluff's customer's at. So to speak. Maybe a little. I know I don't have my ' in the right place ya'll.
She lost points from me in her first paragraph. Bad time to voice a complaint. I have several of your pieces & everyone is top quality, they do not "fall" apart, gold finish does not wash off.
I didn't like the "You get what you pay for"
remark. She knows, I know & anyone here who has bought your jewelry knows it's not true & that is why she is able to buy from you & sell for a profit.
Second paragraph.....yawn.
She gets a 2, but probably should be a 1 for lack of communication.
You're right. I've never understood the "I want something from you, so now listen while I run you down" approach. What's even weirder is that I'm also getting this from another bidder who's never even bought anything from me.
This bidder ( http://feedback.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewFeedback2&userid=watchmymoneygrow&ftab=FeedbackAsBuyer ) sent me a bunch of BS offers a few weeks back -- and by BS I mean for a $30 item she'd bid $1 including shipping -- and was nasty about it to boot! I blocked her, and now she writes to tell me how rotten I am and how awful the merchandise is and PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE won't I unblock her so she can bid?
My friend Michael has it right when he says, "eBay buyers are f*cking crazy."
posted on July 31, 2008 07:43:48 AM new
It doesn't sound neurological, it sounds like fibromyalgia (maybe MS?) - no matter how bad that gets, you can always function enough to use a keyboard or ask someone to do it for you. When I was rushed to the hospital and had emergency surgery, and almost lost my life due to internal bleeding, I was still able to get a message to my buyers as to why their shipments would be delayed (my husband sent it for me and all buyers were great about it).
What a flake...(Fluffy's buyer, not my husband)!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Caroline
posted on July 31, 2008 08:39:44 AM new
I had a customer a couple of years ago who was in end-stage lupus. She went to some trouble to let me know that there might be times when she would be rushed to the hospital and kept there four or five days.
I think that's the way to handle it if you have a chronic condition that requires hospitalization from time to time. When sellers know what to expect, they can act accordingly.
My lupus customer started selling on eBay herself and was in the middle of some transactions when she died a year ago last December.
fLufF
--
It looked like she had that dreaded neurological disorder that lets you browse and bid on eBay all day long but won't let you push the "Pay" button.
posted on July 31, 2008 01:43:19 PM new
I have heard from the "Queen" who wrote: "I am tempted to buy a postcard from you so that I have the opportunity to display the same kind of viciousness as you in a public forum.." She continued later in the email: " Many other sellers emailed me, angry over the "blog" and other seller's remarks. "Disgusting" was the most frequently used word from other sellers when describing what they read. Do you realize how badly it reflects upon you and your business to participate in such meanness and pettiness?"
I would like to go on record as being a "nice" person. I love animals, babies, old people and have a lot of sympathy for those suffering with any kind of disease. I did not mean to offend anyone by my remarks.
At the same time I do not have a lot of sympathy or patience for those who think their afflictions give them carte blanche to behave badly. The facts, as presented by FTWC, indicated that this buyer was one of those types of persons. Admittedly we just heard one side of the story, but until the "Queen" posts her side, I guess we just have to go with that.
Background story to my cynicism: While most postcard buyers are responsible and pay for what they buy, I do have a buyer who bought over $200 worth of postcards back in March and never paid. He responded to my requests for payment with a story about his hard luck and disability and promised to pay as soon as his next disability check arrived. He is of Swiss descent and knowing that the Swiss are always very responsible, believed him. Then he did the same the next month. I quit bugging him after that and ate the fees because by then it was too late to file. An experience like tends to jaundice one's perspective.
Anyhoo ... thought that you who were disgusted with my post and emailed the Queen (how did you know who she was anyway?) needed to know this.
posted on July 31, 2008 01:55:21 PM new
I am disgusted that anyone in this forum emailed someone comments that were made here. This is the place to let off some steam, get advice on issues and keep up on what's going on. It should stay here and not be sent to anyone. Shame on whoever did that, it was uncalled for.
I guess the Queen has made a miraculous recovery and feels well enough to defend herself?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Caroline
posted on July 31, 2008 02:01:51 PM newI would like to go on record as being a "nice" person.
I, on the other hand, would like to go on record as not being a "nice" person.
Actually, I think I've been doing that for quite a while now.
As for being ratted out, I'm very understanding about that. People who are shut in all day long tend to invent these little technicolor dramas and feel virtuous and powerful when they get a chance to participate. This was probably the high point of their sad little life. Happy to help.
fLufF
--
It looked like she had that dreaded neurological disorder that lets you browse and bid on eBay all day long but won't let you push the "Pay" button.
posted on July 31, 2008 08:00:56 PM new
I guess Neglus and I have the same memories of Queen for a day - my first thought: send her the washer and dryer...
posted on August 1, 2008 04:10:28 AM new
neglus, I guess whoever emailed you is not a member of this forum or they could have responded in here themselves.
I belong to another forum and the only way you can read the comments is to be a member of the forum and sign in first then you can read all questions and comments.
? She begins her email with the ever endearing complaints about the quality of previous merchandise she purchased from you (probably for give away prices)? Throw the book at her. She only gets a 2 from me on the "Queen for Day Tragedometer". I'll bet she she doesn't even need the Speed Queen washer and dryer.
Caroline