posted on December 31, 2000 11:23:47 AM new
Hey, I'm going to step in here for the seller. I've got one of these boogers too. Auction ended on December 10. As of today, December 31, still no payment! Now that means by the time this buyer gets their money to me (which will probably be a check with a number like 22) that I will have to hold for 10 days it will be beyond the postage increase time. Hey, my auction states buyer will pay "actual shipping" so what happens when the "actual shipping" becomes more than you charged in your original EOA email? I stopped running auctions on December 10 just to avoid this very situation!! There always have to one in the bunch doesn't there? Every time I would email about the payment it was - maybe I can send it tomorrow, my Internet is down, my husband left it in his car, I've been gone for the holidays (I would suggest to people in the future if you are going to be gone when payment is due on an auction then either email the seller and tell them or don't bid!).
posted on December 31, 2000 11:25:01 AM new
Hey LadyGambler, can sellers file complaints there about buyers who become high bidders and then don't pay for their auctions?
posted on December 31, 2000 11:34:47 AM new
I sold through the season.
Sellers could have put in a clause stating that due to the price increase payment must be received no later than ....
Think ahead! Have a short term and a long term plan. "What if...."
Ok, so now a seller (generically speaking) now has a situation that the item will be shipped under the new rate. Is the money worth offending a customer? Particularly it is the seller's fault?
A person may purchase a $1.00 today, enjoyed the transaction so they remember the experience to come back to purchase a $1,000 item the next day!
However, if a person has a bad $1.00 purchase experience they won't come back. The buyer loses that customer!
Above was and is a general situation not the issue at hand.
Out of curiousity, I too would like to know the feedback and how long the seller has been on eBay.
You can see the new rates do not go into effect for another week, on January 7. Since I paid by money order, there should be no delay in waiting for it to "clear" as with a personal check -- you should be able to ship immediately, and you have 7 days to ship my widget at the old postage rate.
Your auction stated that the shipping cost for priority mail delivery is $3.20. You are not allowed to change your terms of sale after the fact. Additionally, you received my payment within a week after the auction's end - this is not a case of a late payment. I'd appreciate it if you'd send my item without delay.
Thanks, Buyer
- - - - -
That last paragraph might be too confrontational and wouldn't accomplish anything; you might want to leave it out.
If your seller is still too thick to understand when the new postage rates go into effect, and you feel like "going to the mat" over this, I would not waste any more time with emails and would pull contact info and call.
[ edited by triplesnack on Dec 31, 2000 12:16 PM ]
posted on December 31, 2000 12:12:40 PM new
The seller entered a contract with you and made no mention of additional postage due if
payment received after a certain date. They cannot change the terms of the contract without your permission.
You appeared to have paid promptly. The seller should have warned you about any additional charges before you sent the payment, and allowed you to back out if it wasn't acceptable.
I recently told an buyer in Europe that shipping would be nine dollars. Oops Shipping was $14.50 and the item sold for $4.50. So I took in $13.50 paid $14.50 to ship it, and paid $1.00 for packaging materials.
I never said a word to the buyer it wasn't their problem, it was mine. I made the mistake, I have to live with it.
I would say forget the money involved, forget the item, do what you feel is right.
If you really want the item pay. If you find extortion to be a as unacceptable as I do don't give in to this sellers demands.
Be polite, but firm and don't let this seller make you say or do anything you will regret.
posted on December 31, 2000 12:12:41 PM new
Paintpower,
I doubt that the FBI would get involved with high bidders not paying, unless you could somehow show intent to defraud. Their site does mention "failure to render" with regards to "unprincipled participants of online auctions."
They have a really great site--check it out.
https://www.ifccfbi.gov/
I wish I knew how to make that a link for you. Unfortunately, I am one of those "technologically challenged" users. Sorry.
posted on December 31, 2000 06:45:35 PM new
The seller claims he never received the payment in time for the increase? 7+ days is plenty of time. You've done the right thing so far. You already paid the amount requested, so the next step is wait 30 days for the legal waiting period, then report the goon to the police, postal service and safe harbor if the item doesn't arrive. The risk is you may get a negative, which is nothing to worry about. You can respond with your side, plus neg him. Try another friendly email though and add some pressure that you will report him. Hopefully the seller will wise up and realize this trouble isn't worth a buck.
posted on December 31, 2000 07:02:08 PM new
7 days would be plenty of time to ship if buyer sent a money order but not if a check was sent. Once you ship an item and if then the check bounces, you are sort of out of luck. I had one last summer and never could collect it - even the jerk's bank would not talk to me about it!
In this particular situation, did the seller state in their auction a time limit to pay? I always do in my auctions because if you don't people will take 2 months to pay. I don't want to be "storing" their item for that length of time because something might happen to it. Once it is sold I want the transaction completed and the item out of my house!
posted on December 31, 2000 11:16:33 PM new
LadyG, I'd like to believe a complaint to the FBI's web site would produce results. Since this is a $5 item, and not a $200-$300 item, I doubt I would send more money. Good luck!
posted on January 1, 2001 09:28:50 AM new
Twinsoft,
My complaint to the IFCC was over $15. It wasn't the money, it was the principle. And the fact that he did it to others, as well. I probably would have filed the complaint even if it was for $3. Fraud is fraud and it makes me SO mad.
