posted on April 25, 2002 05:06:57 AM new
Grrrrrrrr...... some bidders are not worth the headaches! I sold an item for a whopping $14.00. I contacted the bidder on 4/11/02, received his payment on 4/18/02 and shipped his item on 4/19/02 (accross country) via USPS first class-mail. First of all, this bozo sent me an e-mail every day between 4/11/02 and 4/18/02 asking if his payment had arrived yet. Now, he's been sending me e-mails every day telling me his item hasn't arrived yet! The last one he sent on 4/24/02, said that if he doesn't receive it by friday he'll leave me negative feedback! I've responded to each and every one of his e-mails notifying him of the status of the transaction. Here's the latest e-mail I sent him:
As I have told you in previous correspondance, your payment was received on 4/18/02 and your item was shipped on 4/19/02 by USPS first class mail. I no longer have any control over how quickly the item reaches you. If you had needed the item faster, you could have asked for Priority mail service and I would have gladly provided it for you. First-class mail typically takes 4-7 days
for delivery, but can take up to 30 days before it arrives. I would strongly advise you not to leave negative feedback in my account until that time has expired. I would hope that my outstanding feedback record and extensive auction experience would assure you that I am an honest and reliable eBay seller. Keep looking in
your mail, and I am sure it will arrive shortly.
Is there anything more I can do? At least it is my policy to not leave feedback until the transaction is fully completed.... so if this guy does leave a negative, I can post a negative feedback about how difficult he is to deal with! Any other suggestions on things I can do to safeguard against a negative? Any help is appreciated! Thanks!
posted on April 25, 2002 05:32:41 AM new
Unfortunately in this hurry up world of our people expect instant service, instant gratification, instant response to everything. Remember the days before drive through when we were so impressed with the speed of fast food places like McDonalds? People wanted it quicker and faster and eventually we got the drive through window. Every now and again when I’m in line a few cars deep you can see some jerk flipping out because the drive through is to slow. We live in a “I want it now society”
Like you I have had my share of this type of auction winner. I have been the recipient of all kinds of nasty e-mail from Mr. or Mrs. Impatient. I have been threatened with the FBI, CIA, FEDS, Postal Inspector, Attorney General, BBB, eBay’s Safeharbor, my local Police and even “You’ll hear from my attorney” . It makes me laugh sometimes because I don’t even sell expensive merchandise on eBay.
I write Mr. or Mrs. Impatient back, communicate with them that I have sold on eBay since 1998 and have a feedback of over 3,000. I tell them I am not about to take anyone for such a low amount of money and that if I was I’d be selling computers and digital camera’s to make it worth my time and aggravation. Sometimes that gets the point across other times I get a reply that the item better be here by such and such or else.
Since 9-11 the US Mail seems to me to be running a bit slower although recently is getting back to normal. People just don’t or don’t want to understand. Even through the Anthrax ordeal the Post Office was going through and hearing announcements daily on TV where several main US Mail distribution centers were closed for possible Anthrax exposure I was receiving mail asking, “where is my order”.
Some people just don’t get it. I guess it’s a good thing that you hold off feedback until the transaction is complete. I switched to that policy a long time ago after I received several negatives that were beyond my control. I know the subject of when to leave feedback has always been a heated one but I’m with you the transaction is complete when the deal is done and both parties are satisfied.
posted on April 25, 2002 09:31:35 AM new
You're handling it fine, and far nice wording than I would have used. It's a power game to them, and sellers should never be walked all over.
I'm going to put a message in my eoa emails with a shipping timetable that will answer all the buyers questions like "did you receive my check yet?"; "Have you sent my item yet?"
posted on April 25, 2002 11:32:58 AM new
Does he know it's against eBay rules to threaten with Feedback? A cut and paste of eBay's policy might stall off a NFB from him.
Now that you can get Delivery Confirmation numbers with First Class, maybe you can get some relief from the nervous type of buyer.
It costs 13cents through USPS Shipping Assistant and is free with Priority.
When I send a "thank you for your payment" e-mail, I include DC#, date shipped, and hyperlink to USPS tracking page. He can click on that link everday instead of asking you. Like quickdraw, you can give estimated shipping time.
My buyers seem impressed with this, and I dont' get a bunch of e-mails - saves me time.
posted on April 28, 2002 05:22:36 PM new
Well...I guess I avoided a negative in this situation! This troublessome bidder just left the following positive feedback for me:
Great seller !!! Item as described. Recommended !!!Only - Long Time Delivery..
Of course, I immediately left the following factual response:
Payment received on 4/18/02, item shipped on 4/19/02
Now the guy just wrote me telling me he left me a positive feedback and says that he hopes I'll leave one for him. Under most circumstances, I would do so without any further thought. But... this guy really rubbed me the wrong way by threatening me with negative feedback the way he did... and then by leaving the "Long Time Delivery" part in his positve. What would you do in this case? Leave a harshly worded positive? A nuetral? A negative? Leave nothing? Should I put him on my blocked bidder list? Let me know what y'all think! Thanks!
posted on April 28, 2002 05:58:16 PM new
If it were me, I'd be inclined to leave no feedback but I would wait several days if I decided to do so. I know that my emotions would filter into the feedback and I'd want to do it with clear thinking.
or.......
Leave a positive:
"Quick e-mail response and prompt payment. Impatient when regular class mail is shipping method."
posted on April 28, 2002 06:07:36 PM new
Leave him a negative. He was not a very good customer, and as a fellow seller, I want to be forewarned if this hothead bids on my auction. He isn't worthy of a positive feedback, those are for excempional customers. A neutral? No, neutrals are for those situations where the buyer is neither exceptional nor bad. This buyer is bad.
posted on April 29, 2002 04:21:26 AM new
I think the neutral fb is perfect. While reading this thread, I got a response to an email I sent last night. I had told a buyer who paid $49 instantly by paypal, "Thanks, I'll try to get this mailed out Monday or Tuesday." His response was "no problem, thanks a bunch man. i'm off to the gym this sec, have a great week." These ebayers sure run the complete range of personalities!
[ edited by rgrem on Apr 29, 2002 04:24 AM ]
posted on April 29, 2002 05:42:30 AM new
Neutral. He is someone you don't necessarily want to work with again but he did pay ontime. I think personally that with all the negative media online auctions are getting it just makes some people really nervous! They think everyone is out to get them.
I know an older man who got taken from a software seller for $600 and now when he bids on something he tends to annoy the sellers. I tell him to either quit buying on eBay or start giving them the benefit of the doubt. Plus, to quit bidding with sellers who don't have higher feedback, especially in computers and electronics where there are such scammers.
Maybe this guy was burned by someone and is just now a pain to everyone, he probably doesn't mean harm but maybe a neutral will teach him a lesson!
There's no danger of developing eyestrain from looking at the bright side of things!
posted on April 29, 2002 06:57:49 AM new
I would leave a neutral feedback and add him to my blocked bidder list.
Claire & Jack Rosen
www.cjrfinearts.com
cjrent
877-276-6702
posted on April 29, 2002 07:31:47 AM new
I'd leave a "qualified" positive, just as he did. After all, he did pay in a timely manner and was a great communicator , LOL. After you've been so nice to him there's no reason he'd be prepared for the sting of a negative or neutral.
POSITIVE:
Paid quickly, good email communication! Was a bit impatient/high maintenance.
posted on April 29, 2002 08:41:08 AM new
The buyer is more than high maintenance. He threatened to leave negative feedback, after seller notified him that the item had already been shipped. I would classify him as a hothead or loose cannon at best. There is no way he deserves positive feedback for the transaction.
posted on April 29, 2002 09:04:51 AM new
To cover yourself in case he / she does leave negative feedback, I hope you're keeping all the emails, both his/hers and yours. I've had the same thing happen and they posted negative feedback (GRRRRR!). I sent all the emails to safe harbor and they switched it from negative to neutral.
, LOL. After you've been so nice to him there's no reason he'd be prepared for the sting of a negative or neutral.
