posted on August 30, 2000 11:47:24 PM new
We just figured out that we have over $2500 outstanding on our auctions for Ebay and Yahoo. I don't think we have ever had this many deadbeat bidders. BTW, Ebay and Yahoo are running about dead even.
Some of these people have perfect feedback, are currently bidding, but will neither pay nor respond to email.
Is everyone having this problem?
[ edited by feistyone on Aug 30, 2000 11:49 PM ]
posted on August 31, 2000 12:06:22 AM new
I'm seeing some bidders who "pick and choose" which of their auction winnings they'll pay for and which they'll ignore.
posted on August 31, 2000 02:58:41 AM new
I have had the same problem. Fortunately, only small ticket items, under $10. However, still the same laborious process to obtain FVF. Also, absolutely no response to messages. Wierd! I have been selling in a modest way since 1998, and this is the first time this has happened to me. I usually post around 10 items a week; three weeks ago I was lucky enough to have three winning bidders who have just plain ignored me. How rude! All of them have low feedback, but no negs. I have yet to leave a neg for a bidder, but it looks like I will have to take the plunge and risk a retaliatory or two. Rats!
posted on August 31, 2000 06:16:04 AM new
I've never had that much outstanding. I would deal with each bidder on an individual basis;payment not received in 10-14 days gets NPB alert;no response or pay file for credit ten days later.
If I do not hear from a high bidder in three days I move right on to the second highest bidder if there is one. If the first bidder comes along after the second bidder accepts they are out of luck unless I happen to have an identical copy of what's being sold.
I think too many sellers set the bar of acceptable response lower than it should be. These bad habits carry over to other transactions and makes it a giant pain to complete a simple transaction.
posted on August 31, 2000 06:41:14 AM new
I'm beginning to wonder too...I have never had so many ignored EOA notices. These are from 0 feedback newbies, so I'm not sure if that is the problem..but, if they can bid at the last minute..and I send out my EOA right away...where are they?
posted on August 31, 2000 06:53:43 AM new
I too, have run across a few deadbeats in the last two months. On day four, if they haven't responded to my e-mails, I send another one stating they hve 24 hours or else the item will either be relisted or sold to second highest bidder. When no response, that's what I do.
It is a big hassle for sellers though, to keep filling out these forms for credit.
I had one person bid on a small item ($3.50), answer my first e-mail, then I never heard from her again. I even sent her an email asking why she wasn't responding, since she had such good feedback. Of course, still no answer.
It seems that the same day you can fill out the form for credit on the auction, poof!!! There that person is, complaining and such. Then of course, they leave neg feedback.
posted on August 31, 2000 10:05:08 AM new
Fortunately for me there are a lot more paying winners than deadbeats. I am very skeptical when one of my auction goes up very high in eBay. It seems bidders like to win an auction but its the paying that is difficult.
Usually when it goes up to a certain price, I close early. I get some bidders asking me why I close early & not run up the price. Because its better to make some money then get zero. It doesn't matter how much the final price is, if the bidder doesn't pay up.
Keyword here is responsibility. No one takes responsibility of anything anymore. It always somebody's fault why they cannot pay up. Its easy to click submit a bid but its so darn hard to mail a check. I've heard some pretty colorful stories from poodle is sick to the famous death in the family.
Really man, if you are scraping barrel every month making ends meet, you should not be bidding. As much as you may think your problem is mine, it isn't. I wish all those deadbeat would understand that. There I am joining the chorus of discontent for a change
posted on August 31, 2000 10:14:44 AM new
granee. I have noticed the same thing. The buyer will be getting stellar feedback and here I am sitting and waiting for payment. When I neg them, I hardly ever see any rebuttal/response. It's as if they don't care if they get a negative. (ummm another thread all together)
posted on August 31, 2000 12:58:09 PM new
Same here. I've filed 3 FVF and 3 negs in the past week as compared with only one in the past year and a half. Small ticket items but it's still a hassle...I've thought about sending a 2nd e-mail (after the 1st EOA with no response) saying something like "Please let me know if you're not going to pay and save us both a lot of time." The irresponsibility is galling!
posted on August 31, 2000 01:19:03 PM new
I've found this month to be the worst in my 3 year history of selling online, both from the standpoint of bids received and auctions completed.
I list hundreds of auctions each week and have monthly sales in the area of $15-20K. This month I'm scrambling to do $8K and have less than 35% of my auctions ending with a successful bid. My listings usually result in bids over 70% of the time. The number of deadbeat bidders I've run across this month is also at a ridiculous high. My overall conclusion is that August is the very worst month of the year to sell online.
The bright side of the story is the upcoming months are the year's strongest! I really look forward to the holiday bidding season.
Hang in there sellers! You're not doing anything wrong. It's just a soft time in the year to be selling online and good things are soon to come our way.
posted on August 31, 2000 01:56:26 PM new
even my little $5 clothing auctions are slow to pay this month. I think people are vacationing and the holiday weekend starts tomorrow. I just wont send a negative. I had a package fall on the floor of the car . It was there a week before it was found. The buyer was emailed immediately. She left me great feedback today.
posted on August 31, 2000 02:19:18 PM new
In July I was amazed to have only one deadbeat, then August have a deadbeat ratio of 4:1½. Could barely put food on the table. It was all newbies so I don't see a trend developing.
