springmoon
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posted on January 13, 2002 03:31:30 PM new
I opened my mail a couple of days ago and was disappointed when I pulled out wads of US stamps and a check. In it was a note which read: "Please find enclosed the $5.60 stamps to cover shipping cost. Let me know if you have any questions - Thank You."
I promptly returned it saying I expected full payment is US Dollars. Had the buyer first contacted regarding this issue, I would found a way to work with her. How should I have handled this? I ship priority -- can I slap stamps on priority boxes? May be I should have sent the item parcel post.
[ edited by springmoon on Jan 13, 2002 03:32 PM ]
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mrspock
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posted on January 13, 2002 03:46:32 PM new
I think you handled it poorly
I belive stamps are considered currency
I have had customers do that and no big deal ...you can always slap the stamps on a priority box or whatever you need...
spock here......
Live long and Prosper
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bestattic
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posted on January 13, 2002 03:48:13 PM new
springmoon,
If your auctions said $5.60 in shipping (or less) then you have no problem. Yes, you can slap stamps on a priorty package. I can't think of a reason why you couldn't. The P.O. never stopped me from putting correct postage on my stuff.
How should you have handled it? With grace and diplomacy, thanking your buyer for being so thoughtful.
Edited to say if it were me, I'd apologize for over-reacting and send the item, postage on the house - but that's just the way I do business.
B'
Angels 'n Stuff
[ edited by bestattic on Jan 13, 2002 03:52 PM ]
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BananaSpider
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posted on January 13, 2002 04:23:43 PM new
Stamps are not considered currency anywhere I shop.
I would have returned them too. How many times have I read on these boards that you can't let your customers dictate your terms.
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dacreson
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posted on January 13, 2002 04:38:42 PM new
I take postage at 80% of face all the time but then I say so in my listings. I buy postage at 70-80% face and use it on all packages so I make 20-30% on postage. My customers like the thoughtful old postage. In your case I vote (for whatever that is worth) with mrspock
Regards
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lucybird
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posted on January 13, 2002 04:38:48 PM new
I don't believe you should expect any means of payment other than what you requested, in this cash a check, money order, paypal. etc. No excuse for giving stamps in exchange for currency.
You can not buy goods with stamps.....
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richierich
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posted on January 13, 2002 04:46:04 PM new
I have been very lucky! Only once in over 4000 items has this happened to me. I thought what the heck are they thinking!
I emailed them and explained that #1 my bank will not except stamps as a deposit. #2 the post office will not give you cash for them. #3 I have no use for stamps in my business. I told them I doubt they pay any of their other bills or for items at the store using stamps. I asked WHY they thought they could pay with stamps. I explained that it messes up my record keep and that to keep the records straight I have to buy them personally. And even personally, I rarely ever use a stamp. ( I might use 3 a month)
The person emailed me back and actually said they thought they were doing me a favor.
Lucky for me (knock on wood) it only has happened once.
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springmoon
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posted on January 13, 2002 04:52:47 PM new
BananaSpider, lucybird, that is exactly the reason I returned it. I felt as if the buyer showed no respect and intentionally ignored my terms. My ad said nothing about alternate forms of shipping payment. If I had let it go, then sooner or later I will be accepting grocery store coupons as payment.
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technerd
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posted on January 13, 2002 05:01:02 PM new
I would have accepted the stamps. I have learned a lot in this business. I did some silly things, myself, when I started. This may have been a newbie. Your customer may have gone to extra effort just to get the stamps.
I would have thanked the customer. I would have used it as a teaching experience. I would have told them that sellers prefer payment for the postage since many use a postage meter. A good experience may mean they will buy from us later  .
I had one customer ask for various stamps because they collect stamps. I went ahead and did it. No big deal.
Yes, you can put regular postage on a priority box. One time I went in with 4 priority packages. It was the day before audit day at the P.O., so the workers were getting rid of all their partial sheets of stamps. Each box ended up with 20-50 stamps all over the box.
I e-mailed my customers with the delivery confirmation number and said, "When you get the package it may appear I was high on drugs when I packaged your item. Here is what actually happened." Then I explained.
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tomwiii
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posted on January 13, 2002 06:25:56 PM new
It's gotten so bad that I've had to add a line in my EOA email that I DON'T ACCEPT postage stamps for either full or partial payment!
My auction states "postage+packaging" and oodles of gummy 34centers don't pay ULINE or
FEEbAY! 
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captian23
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posted on January 13, 2002 07:01:00 PM new
I don't think I would have sent the stamps back because you might not get any postage fees back. I think there is a huge taboo that sellers take a handling fee. I love it how consumers think the only reason people sell on ebay is to add to their collections. For example I sell some cards at $0.29. We all know that ebay fees alone add up to more than that. I still have people email me to ask if they can send an SASE. At least they email.
Was that a little off topic?
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springmoon
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posted on January 13, 2002 07:15:33 PM new
I sent everything back -- stamps and check. You're absolutely right. Most buyers are under the assumption that eBay is a super garage sale, and sellers are just trying to "get rid" of unwanted items. Those same buyers, in the next click, will go to myexpensivestore.com and plunck down $15.00 for s&h with no hesitation.
The point is where do you draw the line? Next time, instead of US stamps, it may be Paskistan stamps or Canadian stamps or Mexican stamps...
[ edited by springmoon on Jan 13, 2002 07:18 PM ]
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REAMOND
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posted on January 13, 2002 08:16:38 PM new
I got stamps for postage on an item once, and it was from a kindly old priest. I still have the stamps and I cherish them.
If everyone did it, it would be a problem. But once in a while it is nice to have someone view things a little differently.
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kiara
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posted on January 13, 2002 08:49:45 PM new
I would have accepted the stamps as I have learned that you have to be flexible at times if you want to stay in business. The buyer did send you a polite note and perhaps they didn't know any better.
There are much bigger things to worry about and get upset over. At least they paid you.
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JWPC
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posted on January 13, 2002 11:24:34 PM new
Personally, I think you were being trite, and handled the transaction poorly, and in the process lost a repeat customer. What is the difference in “stamps” or money if that was the correct cost of shipping?
<br />
<br />
“Handling,” if you charge such, on what has to be a small item (based on the cost of shipping it) then personally I think it is funny. I’ll have to remember this. As a seller I highly disapprove of “handling” charges.
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<br />
It seems to me “IF” you were charging the exact cost of shipping, you shouldn't/wouldn't be having a problem in this form of payment – if you were over charging – well, your hand was called.
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Sorry, but that is the way I see it.
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[ edited by JWPC on Jan 13, 2002 11:26 PM ]
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captian23
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posted on January 13, 2002 11:36:31 PM new
JWPC,
<br />
<br />
I would like to offer you a job. This would be no problem since you prefer to work for free. By the way do you happen to have the name and phone number of the service that provides all shipping materials for free? And one last question, how did you get eBay, Paypal, and AW to waive all their fees?<br />
[ edited by captian23 on Jan 13, 2002 11:38 PM ]
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quickdraw29
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posted on January 13, 2002 11:40:33 PM new
If someone sent you a bunch of used t-shirts or other uselss items I could understand why you'd return them for currency, but you really picked a petty battle over stamps which by the way are valid for sending mail.
"You can not buy goods with stamps."
But you can mail items with stamps.
The buyer enclosed a note saying "Please find enclosed the $5.60 stamps to cover shipping cost." A check was enclosed for the cost of the item.
Of course you can pay Priority Mail with stamps.
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captian23
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posted on January 13, 2002 11:45:09 PM new
I think some are missing the point, It is not the stamps, it is that a person tried to change the terms of the auction. It is the same as going to a store and trying to pay via Check when the store does not accept checks. Or for an eBay example, Lets say you won an auction and paid via paypal when the seller did not accept paypal.
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pelorus
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posted on January 14, 2002 05:51:32 AM new
These people who sniff that "the buyer changed the terms of the auction" are letting their egos get in the way of a harmless variation. The stamps really didn't cause you to lose anything. If a seller can't be flexible all they will do is cause themselves and others a lot of aggravation. Which is more work? 1) return the stamps and wait for another response, 2) slap the stamps on the package and mail it.
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stopwhining
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posted on January 14, 2002 06:28:15 AM new
in some parts of the world,like among the asian countries,stamps are considered a form of currency.
it can be very costly to go to a bank to get an intl money order or cashier check,so for small amount,they accept stamps of certain countries.
someone from burma once told me that his grandma always had a hunch when political changes were coming (usually before economic/social changes) and started to collect small changes,nothing over 100 dollars bills and stamps.
of course we all know the value of gold,some folks have gold teeth so when they run for their life to another part of the country,they can always use it to buy food.
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holdenrex
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posted on January 14, 2002 07:39:00 AM new
I'd accept the stamps and use them. True it's not actual money, but I'm going to spend actual money anyway to buy the postage, so it will ultimately be cash out of my pocket anyway.
As for the "buyer dictating terms" argument, I prefer to be flexible. My stated payment methods don't include cash because I don't want to encourage my buyers risking their payments getting stolen, not to mention the potentially sticky "my word versus his word" if the payment does disappear. I still receive some cash payments (mostly for low value items and/or from foreign customers), and I wouldn't consider sending the cash back to demand a stated payment method. For the same reason, I wouldn't get all worked up about somebody sending stamps - especially if they did as in this case, just sent stamps to cover the shipping costs and a check for the merchandise itself.
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springmoon
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posted on January 14, 2002 07:41:27 AM new
All my ads specifically says to ask questions before bidding. The buyer did not ask any questions before bidding or after bidding. She responded to my AW-EOA message by never mentioned anything about paying S&H with stamps. Mind you, this buyer is not a newbie. What if I already had a whole bunch of stamps and really don't need anymore? I mean, I will rather have cash. The tax man will not accept stamps.
It is the principle of the whole thing -- nothing personal. Priest or nun, "bidness" is "bidness".
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holdenrex
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posted on January 14, 2002 10:42:13 AM new
Yes, "business is business." But as proponents of handling fees are quick to point out, "time is money. " How much time do you want to spend getting into a p*ssing match with your buyer? Not that this will necessarily happen - best case scenario, this person complies and sends you a check for the shipping. Worst case scenario, the deal falls through and makes you both likely candidates for negative feedback. I just hope your terms of sale state you accept "a check" and not "checks" - a particularly vindictive person might take that literally and send you 560 checks for one cent each.
That aside, I'm a bit curious as to why you didn't email the buyer at the time you decided to send her stamps back (at least, I'm assuming this since you haven't mentioned her reaction). The buyer won't know that you haven't accepted the stamps until they're returned in the mail, which means you've lost a couple days during which you might have hashed out an agreement - even if it's an agreement to not conclude the transaction.
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kiara
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posted on January 14, 2002 10:45:37 AM new
springmoon, we can all put in our auctions to ask questions before bidding but do not expect people to do so because many won't. I really do not think that this buyer showed no respect and intentionally ignored your terms as you have said. Perhaps they thought they were doing you a favor?
How long have you been selling? You just caused yourself a lot of extra work and perhaps a lost customer and if you continue in business with the my way or the highway attitude you will continue to cause extra work and aggravation for yourself.
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Nanasturtles
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posted on January 14, 2002 11:59:31 AM new
I have to agree with "JWPC"....if the seller was quoting exact shipping costs then I don't see that it was such a big deal for the buyer to have sent this portion in stamps.....yes, maybe the terms were changed because she sent stamps to cover her postage instead of cash....but if actual shipping was quoted what was the big deal? If the seller's handling fee's were quoted in with the shipping and not disclosed as a handling fee then that is the reason I think the seller was upset......I don't disagree with handling fee's as I sell myself and do charge a handling fee, but what I do disagree with is when sellers do not disclose their handling fee's within their auction TOS and then hide them within the postage they quote...this irritates me when I am the buyer.... My handling fee is stated within my auctions and when I send out my invoices, I give the buyer a shipping quote that is noted as such along with my handling fee that is quoted as such also.
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springmoon
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posted on January 14, 2002 12:29:42 PM new
holdenrex, I did email the buyer that it was unacceptable prior to sending it back.
As for receiving 560 one cent checks -- I have no problem with that. It will cost them more than me.
The bottom line is, if the buyer can't afford to add $5.60 cents, what guarantee is there for their personal check being any good?
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lovepotions
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posted on January 14, 2002 12:35:52 PM new
I also think you over reacted. Would it kill you to let this ONE PERSON send you stamps.
If you sent my payment back and emailed me with that kind of response I sure as hell would not send you ANOTHER PAYMENT. Write another check and spend another stamp to resend your payment.
So what if you use postal meters for all your postage. You can use these stamps at some point since I am assuming you are living in the US.
Petty and rude.
[quote] May be I should have sent the item parcel post.
To add more damage you'd actually ship parcel post instead of the priority mail they sent you stamps for......
Everyone with the stick to your guns and never give in attitude need to lighten up a bit.
Everyone has their own TOS but if one person in 1,000 slightly changes it and you do get the value of what is owed to you then what is the big deal.
So you'll neg them and they will neg you back
So you'll file for FVF
It cost you postage to send their payment back.
So you'll relist but you DON'T get the initial listing fee you paid since the item had a bid, paid for or not an item with a bid does not qualify for the listing fee refund if it sells a 2nd time.
So it cost you $.34 and $.30 (if the item started at $9.99 or less more if the starting bid was higher)
Was it really worth it??
http://www.lovepotions.com
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holdenrex
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posted on January 14, 2002 12:42:53 PM new
springmoon, did the buyer reply to your email? If so what was her response? Do you know for certain that she sent you stamps because she couldn't afford the full payment from her checking account or was there some other reason?
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anothertreasure
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posted on January 14, 2002 01:01:11 PM new
I guess my experience in owning a brick & mortar store kicks in - the customer always dictates the terms. That is, if you want return customers.
Rule #1 - the customer is always right
Rule #2 - When the customer is wrong, refer to rule #1.
This looks like a no harm, no foul.
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springmoon
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posted on January 14, 2002 01:28:47 PM new
holdenrex, she has not replied as of yet. The only email I got from her was on a Thursday -- prior to receiving the payment.
She asked whether I received the check, and if I could please not deposit it until Monday. I replied that I have not received it, but I was willing to hold on until Monday. She never mentioned anything about the stamps.
[ edited by springmoon on Jan 14, 2002 01:30 PM ]
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