posted on January 14, 2002 01:53:14 PM newThe 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?
Actually, I think this is an indication that their check is good. After all, if they were sending a bad check, why wouldn't they write it for the correct amount and keep their stamps.
As long as they were of reasonable denominations, I don't see why you didn't accept them. Unless you use meter stamps, received 560 1c stamps, or desperately need the money, it seems that you possibly alienated a customer and made extra work for yourself.
posted on January 14, 2002 01:59:23 PM new
If you are an ongoing business, you should have just taken the stamps and moved on with your life. The problems that can arise out of returning the payment are not worth your time. Sooner or later, you'll need the staps they sent.
posted on January 14, 2002 02:31:27 PM newActually, I think this is an indication that their check is good. After all, if they were sending a bad check, why wouldn't they write it for the correct amount and keep their stamps.
Why would they email to ask that their check be held until Monday if it was good?
posted on January 14, 2002 02:52:05 PM new
Yes, why the email after the check was sent for me to hold on? That was also the perfect chance to say "by the way, I sent a check and some stamps..."
I have not created any work for myself. Heck, I had a stash of stamps lying around. I just slapped one on an envelope and place it in my mailbox.
I know what the next post will be: the customer is always right, yada...yada...yada. There are millions of buyers on ebay (that's why I pay ebay -- no need to advertise). I want the ones who will abide by my TOS -- if they can't then buy from someone else.
[ edited by springmoon on Jan 14, 2002 02:55 PM ]
posted on January 14, 2002 03:00:00 PM newspringmoon, you didn't answer my question. How long have you been selling?
WoW! With an attitude like yours you are just setting yourself up to be negged or do you even care how you treat your customers?
I have news for you. At the moment there seem to be more sellers than buyers on ebay. Unless you are selling something that everyone can hardly wait to log onto their computers to bid on?
Bottom line, do you really think that if you accept stamps this one time that every bidder will get wind of it and they will all send stamps? Oh ya......
posted on January 14, 2002 04:18:44 PM newWhy would they email to ask that their check be held until Monday if it was good?
I'm guessing that's when they get their paycheck. And, again, if they're trying to stick you with a bad check why wouldn't they make it for the full amount and keep their stamps?
I have not created any work for myself. Heck, I had a stash of stamps lying around. I just slapped one on an envelope and place it in my mailbox.
Sure, you made extra work for yourself. You emailed the buyer about it, addressed an envelope and mailed them back. That sounds like extra work to me.
No, I don't think the customer is always right, but, as a seller, it's best to look at the big picture. You had a choice of accepting the stamps, using them on a future package and having a happy customer or returning the stamps, waiting a week or so for a new payment, and having an irritated customer. I think the first choice would've been better for both you and your customer.
posted on January 14, 2002 07:35:00 PM new
And your REAL problem with this customer is?
Sounds like someone on a tight budget who scraped up the funds to buy your item. I'd have cut them some slack if they make a genuine honest effort to pay you. Is this so far after 9/11 and Christmas that mercy gets the heave ho?
Granted that some customers tax our patience. It's going to drive you out of business to lick a few stamps? I don't think so.
posted on January 14, 2002 08:25:12 PM new
I am amazed at the total lack of flexibility and the insensitivity this Seller has demonstrated (especially in this forum)concerning this transaction. I hardly think for one minute the Buyer thought she was changing your TOS. I also don't think this Buyer thought it was noteworthy to mention stamps being sent--many Buyers are unaware there are online postage options. Sending stamps may have been a courtesy in the Buyer's mind.
I had my own company and during the course of same, collected hundreds of dollars worth of postage stamps. When my business closed, I obviously didn't have a need for such a large amount of stamps. On a hunch, I took them into the Post Office. Sure enough one branch refunded for currency (up to a $100). Another branch, said no cash refunds but was willing to allow me to cash old stamps (in weird denominations) for credit when taking Priority boxes (i.e., I would get a metered postage sticker from the clerk and pay for that postage with unused postage stamps) as if it were cash. The stamps didn't go to waste--they were used as currency!
A little kindness & compassion goes a long way. Whether selling or encountering the stranger in the supermarket you have the opportunity to make someone's day a bit better.........or a whole lot more aggravating with hostile, petty grievances.
posted on January 14, 2002 10:27:37 PM new
As I said earlier, Springmoon should have kept the stamps, but.....
There is a larger issue being debated here. The customer is always right if it is feasible for the owner of the business. Somebody mentioned a brick and mortar busniess, did you pay your employees in stamps? I love how everybody is more than willing to be flexable. How about McDonals Gift certificates as payment? Or if sombody sent along another item as payment? That may work for some of you but that is your choice, period. Stop trying to make Springmoon out to be an insensitive seller because he wanted the terms of his auction met. And remember the last time I checked even the PO does not accept stamps as payment!
posted on January 15, 2002 01:00:19 AM new
Well after reading al the replies this one is the winner.
"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."
I know all of you can not and do not think this way or can afford to do things this way. It is nice to know some people still can.
I think someone is showing their age, only us old people think this way anymore.
Yes I have accepted stamps for shipping several times and I have even offerd people to pay their whole order this way. Just cause I can. I will use the stamps, as stated in another thread, I buy like $500 in stamps every two weeks, to me it is not a big deal.
Finally you do have the right to do exactly what you did and I hold no judgement againsed you for this, I just hope it was not your mother
posted on January 15, 2002 02:06:18 AM new
I am looking for a seller that will accept S&H Green stamps as payment!
I one time received a payment that had stickers where you are suppose to have stamps on the envelope. I mentioned it to the buyer because I was surprised it made it to me. The response was "I do that all the time, the PO never seems to notice".
Boy, maybe we all should put stickers on the packages to see if it gets there.
posted on January 15, 2002 03:45:21 AM new
richierich, LOL!!!
i think that right now sellers are beginning to outnumber the bidders on ebay. we should be doing our best to keep bidders, especially newbies, coming back for more.
in this case i think i would have kept the stamps, held shipping until the check cleared, and emailed the bidder explaining why her payment method was unacceptable and would not be tolerated in the future.
this would have let you vent frustration and also educate a less than knowledgeable bidder.
posted on January 15, 2002 10:01:50 AM new
Yes, you can slap stamps on priority packages. I received a priority package from a seller once that had well over 100 3cent stamps stuck all over the box, the front, back and sides. I bet the person who had to hand cancel the stamps really loved it!
posted on January 15, 2002 03:23:16 PM new
IMO, you did the right thing. I've not had this happen yet, but would do the exact same thing. I've had people TRY TO dictate their own postage and insurance fees as well. One guy yesterday never told me his country so I could give him an international shipping AND HANDLING (cause I'm a wise seller) rate. He just upped the US rate a little.
Fortunately, he used PayPal and I had to approve/deny his payment. I denied it and sent him a corrected total (since he got around to telling me his country) and he paid it just fine.
But I don't use stamps for shipping. I use Endicia and stamps do me no good. Yes, I COULD take them, but why? I could take canned vegetables too, but I don't. For all we know, these people boosted the stamps from work (not saying they did), but that would explain why they sent them instead of the proper payment.
posted on January 16, 2002 11:38:32 AM new
Did the customer follow your TOS to the letter? No.
Did the customer try to rip you off? Assuming that the check is good, no.
Are you correct in your assertion that bidders should follow the seller's TOS? Of course.
But looking at the situation from a practical business point of view, IMO you handled the situation in the least advantageous way possible as it relates to your business and your bottom line.
Number one, you violated the first rule of commerce: Return money already in the till only as a last resort. A little flexibility goes a long way without the seller having to feel trampled upon. Even Walmart asks if you would like to exchange a returned item before forking over the refund.
Number two, you turned a potential repeat customer who obviously isn't a deadbeat (a valuable thing on ebaY) into a probable non-payer (on this particular auction).
Were you within your rights to return the check and stamps? Absolutely!
Was it a wise business decision? I doubt it. Sometimes a shrewd businessperson will take the money over the pride. It's better to save your battles of this nature for crooks and liars. Just IMHO of course...
[ edited by mrbusinessman on Jan 16, 2002 11:46 AM ]
posted on January 16, 2002 01:45:44 PM new
mrbusinessman: Did the customer try to rip you off? Assuming that the check is good, no.
Not relevant -- and it isn't to the know-it-alls here to pass judgment on his decision as if there is some objective standard.
mrbusinessman: But looking at the situation from a practical business point of view, IMO you handled the situation in the least advantageous way possible as it relates to your business and your bottom line.
Agree here. He SHOULD have mailed just the stamps back and emailed them asking them to send the rest of the cash to cover shipping. Then he wasn't out the money already paid.
mrbusinessman: Number one, you violated the first rule of commerce: Return money already in the till only as a last resort. A little flexibility goes a long way without the seller having to feel trampled upon. Even Walmart asks if you would like to exchange a returned item before forking over the refund.
Actually, this is wrong. Most Wal-Mart's now just give you a refund if you have a receipt and don't ask. If you don't, you get a gift card.
mrbusinessman: Number two, you turned a potential repeat customer who obviously isn't a deadbeat (a valuable thing on ebaY) into a probable non-payer (on this particular auction).
But a customer who doesn't pay properly IS NOT a valuable customer. The thing most of you here are missing are that STAMPS ARE NOT CURRENCY! They are little pieces of paper issued by the post office to show that you paid the proper amount of postage to the postal worker. In return you get these stamps (THAT HAVE NO REAL VALUE) to affix to your packages. They are only good for the USPS. You cannot put them on a FedEx or UPS package. You cannot spend them at the grocery store.
Another point is that SHIPPING IS NOT JUST POSTAGE. It's every cost associated with getting the item from Point A (seller) to Point B (buyer). Packaging, materials, transportation, AND postage. People tend to forget this all too quickly.
mrbusinessman: Were you within your rights to return the check and stamps? Absolutely!
You are correct here.
mrbusinessman: Was it a wise business decision? I doubt it. Sometimes a shrewd businessperson will take the money over the pride. It's better to save your battles of this nature for crooks and liars. Just IMHO of course...
Or for deadbeats who do not pay the full and proper amount. I'm sure this person made an honest mistake, but it was a mistake nonetheless. A customer does not have the right to dictate the terms of the sale, not do they have the right to spend my money by giving me stamps instead of proper payment.
You should bend over backwards for the customer. You should NOT bend over for the customer.
posted on January 16, 2002 01:56:16 PM new
There is one repeat buyer of mine that I tell to pay with stamps.<s> No muss. No fuss. They'll be used. She threw in like 8 extra bucks the last time as my Christmas bonus I guess, bless her heart.
I'd feel the same way if the buyer tried to pay for the whole purchase using stamps, but sending postage to mail something just seems so obvious, if uncommon.
