posted on March 5, 2003 08:44:36 AM new
Ok, here is the scene: accepted methods of payment, shipping charges, etc are in both my auction description and in my EOA email to winner. I make it very plain in big capital letters that I do NOT use ebay's check out and do not use any other online payment method other than Bidpay.
I send the winner the "WIN" EOA email and this is the reply I get:
My Name and address to send to is
XXXXXX
XXXXX
XXXXX
I used my debit card to purchase
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I reply with this email:
I now have your address but I dont understand about your debit card! How, where, did you use your debit card to make the purchase???? I dont take paypal etc
as you could see by my auction description and email to you. Please explain.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Winner replies:
When I registered my debit card was programed into the order, but I will not disclose my number and pin to anyone unless it is secure. Please contact ebay, because if not I will be forced to withdraw with my
deepest regret.
---------------------------------------------
I reply:
I do NOT want your debit number or pin or anything else. NEVER NEVER give that info to anyone!!!!! It is not safe to do that! I don't know WHERE you are using your debit card but it is NOT with MY auction. If you
are referring to Ebay's "check out" I do NOT use it!!!!! Please take a look at the auction again and my "WIN" email to you and Please let me know how you intend to pay for this auction.
Thanks very much. I hope we can straighten out this confusion.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I think he tried to use ebay's check out! I am not sure. I don't see anything there. I think I will wait and see if he responds to this email I just sent him and take it from there. Are you all shaking your heads yet?? I am. Just another day in the salt mines
posted on March 5, 2003 10:04:18 AM new
When he joined (registered) with feeBay as a bidder, he probably used his DEBIT CARD as ID verification -- he now thinks that every win will automatically be deducted from that DEBIT CARD without any more input from him!
This is actually pretty common with newbies & you'll have to spend a little time holding his hand & educating him as to the real world of feeBay!
Ralphie loves Mr Blonde:
"Are you gonna bark all day little doggie, or are you gonna bite?" http://tinyurl.com/5duz
posted on March 5, 2003 12:49:44 PM new
I had a bidder last week who thought just the way tomwiii is saying. I had a horrible time explaining that this was not the case.
posted on March 5, 2003 01:04:00 PM new
Yeah, and when they use Ebay's checkout and tell it "yes' I'll pay with a credit card", they think it was a done deal with the card they have on file with Ebay.
He's probably thinking like it's like it is on Yahoo where users can have a "wallet" already set up. You just agree to purchase, go to checkout, and Yahoo handles the credit card transaction without you entering any more data.
Just hold his hand and walk him through it. He may not believe you at first. Direct him (with links) to the appropriate Ebay page that tells buyers that they are to pay their sellers directly.
posted on March 5, 2003 02:33:38 PM new
Yes this is a very common newbie misunderstanding. It can be difficult though to convince them that they actually haven't paid you. Good luck.
posted on March 5, 2003 06:22:19 PM new
Oh My God!!!!! More Lunacy!!!! Not yet but thanks for the heads up. Thanks to knowing this I'll more than like get hit with one of these,,,,,Well.....O.K......but then again,,,,MORONS!!!!!!!
posted on March 5, 2003 06:52:51 PM new
Instead of saying don't use checkout, why don't you just turn the feature off? That way, fewer conflicts. I do have to say I have never had anyone win and think they already paid me because their debit card is on file with ebay, but I can see why they might think that if they are new.
If I had a person like this, I would actually tell them that a bid is legally binding, and would even consider using a collection agency to go after them to pay. That threat might get them to pay.
posted on March 6, 2003 05:40:54 PM new
UPDATE: Here is what has happened since then
I sent one more email. See below:
I had a chance to re read your last email to me. Are you saying that when you registered with ebay that you used your debit card? If so, that's fine but it only is used to pay ebay fees when you sell online etc. I think to use their check out, you actually have to go through their check out process. With my auction, you cannot use ebay's checkout. To pay for an auction like mine (I do not use ebay's checkout) you will need to send a money order, cashiers check etc or use
bidpay.com to pay for the auction. I am pretty sure you can use a debit card for that service and it is the only one I have found that is safe for buyers and sellers alike.
If there is anything else I can do to help you complete this transaction, please let me know.
Thanks again
==============================
Then I received this reply this afternoon.
sorry then I can not buy it
gl
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what does gl mean? and what does everyone think I should do at this point? I have had a really bad day. this just put the icing on the cake. I can't think straight
posted on March 6, 2003 05:55:36 PM new
gl probably means good luck
The question is how much is this item, and is it worth your time to really pursue. Of course, you should contact ebay and get your fees back, I would actually consider a neg here too. Maybe a 2nd chance offer to the underbidder?
posted on March 6, 2003 06:55:15 PM new
Well, I just sent him this email:
Bidding on an auction creates a legal binding
agreement. If you wanted to bid on an auction with only a specific type of accepted payment, you should have done that. I have listed all acceptable payment methods in my auction description and in my WIN email
to you.
Please see link below for ebay's list of policies and proceedures for bidders who do not want to follow through and complete the tranaction. Just click on the link below.
http://pages.ebay.com/help/community/npb.html
If there are any questions I can answer, please let me know.
==============================
I am sorry, this is just the straw that broke the camels back.
posted on March 6, 2003 07:22:39 PM new
Paloma, you have been patient and have given them the Ebay data to read. If they still reply that they refuse to buy, explain that the only way for you to get your Ebay fees back is to follow Ebay's guidelines, which will include a NPB alert, negative feedback, and if she gets 3 NPB's over time, she will loose her Ebay priviledges. Emphasize that you really do not want to do that, and would like to just complete the sale, per the leaglly binding terms as listed in the auction.
I have found that taking the approach that "I really don't want to do this, but I am following what Ebay tells me to do when a bidder won't honor their bid or abide by the auction terms" SOMETIMES gets the payment.
Usually only works on the ignorant or newbie.
If buyer still refuses, wait until the payment deadline, neg, and file.
If not ignorant, the buyer may simply be experiencing buyer's remorse and trying to act stupid to get you to forget the sale. Sounds like a newbie, though.
