posted on March 27, 2003 10:41:00 PM new
Boy have I been getting the dead-beats lately! Need to ask your advice on what to do with this situation-
I sold a "Lot of 15 Brand New VHS Blockbuster Movies" to a newbie on eBay. It ended at $50.00.
On the auction, the shipping says, "0" but the auction description has a line which says, "The winner of this auction will pay the exact shipping costs, and will have the option of either Parcel Post or Priority Mail. Please keep in mind that the bag of movies weighs about 6 pounds. If you prefer, I can mail the movies via Media Mail (a cheaper shipping method), and mail the bag via Parcel or Priority (your choice). Please email me your zip code and your preferred shipping method after the auction ends and I can calculate the shipping for you. Or you can calculate it yourself at www.usps.com."
After the auction ended, he said, "How much is the shipping? Paypal will not accept my payment to you without it."
I responded back saying, "Shipping is going to be $9.23 total. The videos will be sent Media Mail and it cost $3.52. The Blockbuster bag will be sent Parcel Post and it cost $5.71."
7 days later I still didn't receive payment so I sent him a payment reminder.
3 days later he sent me $50.00 via PayPal but he did not include shipping costs. So I emailed him again saying that the shipping is $9.23, and as soon as the shipping payment is received, I'd send the movies out to him.
He emails me back and says, "The shipping on the statement said $0. Either do what your deal says or refund my money. If not I will report you to the FBI for mail fraud."
I emailed him back telling him that the auction clearly stated to contact me after it ended so we could figure out the shipping cost. And I reminded him that he did contact me and that I did give him the shipping cost total.
He currently has 5 total feedback with 1 negative that was given to him today from another seller saying that the Buyer did not pay for a $199.99 item.
What should I do?? Should I just refund his money and move on? I asked him if he wanted to back out of the auction, then we could contact eBay and see how we would do that. I've never been in this situation before.
posted on March 27, 2003 10:58:17 PM new
It depends on if you want the $50. If you feel you can get that much when you relist, then I would just refund his payment and request he send the correct amount.
Then, I would send a NBP notice and wait 10 days and get the FVF refund and relist if he doesn't pay.
Don't let him threaten you. That has been happening a lot with the 0 showing on the checkout total on the sale page. I always add a note where it says sellers comments stating shipping is not free! You must contact me for total at auction end. (Actually, I usually I just go ahead and put a fixed price in mine, but if it is so heavy I have to wait that is how I handle it)
Edited to add:
I have had to refund several payments from people who did not include the additional shipping for international sales. And, if they don't pay immediately, they always have as soon as they get the NPB from Ebay. That was the main reason I stopped doing International sales.
posted on March 27, 2003 11:54:09 PM new
Did you have more than one bid? If so, try e-mailing that person to see if he/she would want the lot if your first bidder falls through. That way you'd have him as a backup in case this person doesn't pay. I"d also go ahead with the NPB steps right away.
posted on March 28, 2003 07:38:51 AM new
email him that unless you hear from him in 3 days, you will be refunding his payment, less your costs. Your costs include auction listing fees, auction closing fees and paypal fees and you might want to add an administrative fee for your time. So he had the choice of paying you the $9+ he owes or getting back $40 of his $50 and no tapes.
posted on March 28, 2003 07:45:23 AM new
No way would I refund him. He DID pay the agreed upon price for the item. Your only concern is shipping fees. This is my response to such a situation. It's a little easier for me, since I have a retail store, but you can change the wording to suit your situation.
------------------------------------------
Dear buyer;
Thanks for your prompt payment for the auction #xxxxxx. Since you did not include the agreed upon amount for shipping, I will hold the item 30 days for your pick up.
Our address is:
1234 Happy Street
Nasty Town, OH 12345
Please call 24 ahead of your stopping by to pick the item up.
Or if you prefer, we can still ship the item to you for an additional cost of $x.xx
Thanks again!
[ edited by replaymedia on Mar 28, 2003 07:46 AM ]
posted on March 28, 2003 07:56:53 AM new
You can remedy that by putting in the box that AW gives you and you can say. "If you wish to pay by PayPal click the box at the end of the auction but please remember to add the postage." Or you can make is a little more simple. This auction requires shipping charges please wait for my WBN.
We are in a world of stress and to eleviate this stress from you I would refund the money and move on. Why waste your time and energy on a buyer who doesn't understand or care. They all want something for nothing.
posted on March 28, 2003 08:52:25 AM new
If I refund his money, file a NPB Alert, get my FVF back and sell this to the next highest bidder, can he still neg me?
posted on March 28, 2003 10:00:52 AM new
Yes, he can neg you.
I have found that buyers who are trying to get out of paying the postage are just trying to pressure you into free/less shipping charges. Sending the money as a Paypal refund is their wake-up call. If they still want the item, they will resend payment in full.
This buyer almost assuredly ALAWAYS does this to the sellers on auctiuons he wins. Those that crumble and give in under the implied threat of negative feedback from him will likley receive postitive feedback from him after the sale. Anyone who balks or will not send without the full payment likley gets a neg, even if the sale is gets completed and even he eventually pays in full.
Go look at his feedback, and see what he has left for others. Has he left negs for others? He will likely do it to you no matter WHAT you do.
He is a bottom feeder. My one neg is from a bottom feeder that told me I had to take a personal check or shove it, even though my TOS clearly states I won't.
Refund the Paypal payment, email him why. Tell him you expect payment in full within 24 hours, or you will sell to (either next bidder down or relist). He will run over and neg you or pay you, or both. Block him as a bidder on Ebay in any case.
Sending him the item without full payment for postage is the seller lying down and being a doormat. And rewards him for his bottom-dfeeding actions. Reward those that do the right thing, not those that do the wrong thing. You hurt not just yourself but the entire Ebay community. Every time he gets the person to send the item without paying fully, it reinforces his idea that he should continue the practice.
By the way, if hje sends the shipping in a separate Paypal payment, you have paid two fees to Paypal. That;s another reason we say to refund and ask for the full amount in one payment.
Yes, I know you need the money. If he chooses not to pay in full, file NPB, FVF, leave a neg that is not retaliatory stating the facts.
The complaints about this type of buyer are becoming more and more common. If they allowed to get away with it, the number of these complaints will only grow.
Savvy Ebayers recognize that some negs are undeserved and that bottom feeders leave them. Negs from one of these people are easy to spot too. I would not be worried about a neg from him. It is your "red badge of courage" showing you stood up in a fight.
posted on March 28, 2003 08:56:09 PM new
I would either return his money and tell him to sent the correct amount or ask him to send you a money order for the addition that he owe for shipping. Give him two day to get back to you, if you don't hear from him file for a NPB partial payment received, (did not sent the correct amount)..............and then if you still don't hear from him return his money and if he negs you don't worry about it.....It has happened to all of us at one time or another and its not the worse that can happen.
But to let him win and have it his way is a big NO, it dont go like that, Either he pays shipping with a money order or he gets his money back. I don't feel you can deduct your fees from his money because you have not stated that in your auction.
