posted on April 6, 2003 06:43:43 AM new
Had a person win an auction with BIN on 3/21. It took her until 3/25 to answer my WBN (TOS state 3 days with exceptions for illness, emergencies and vacation). She apologized stating that she's very busy and forgets sometimes ("forgetting" is not an exception in my TOS). Okay, I forget sometimes, too. That should have been the first indication. Payment reminder sent on 3/31 . . .do you know yet where I'm headed? I get an email from her on 4/2 saying she sent a money order on 3/29 and I should have it any day now. Well, it's 4/6 and still no money order. TOS state clearly that payment must be received within 10 days. It's now been 16 days. How much more patience should I have? She is a relatively new, but the feedback she does have says she pays quickly. Is the mail really this slow or do you think I am headed for my first NPB? Ugh, all this for $22.
posted on April 6, 2003 07:32:30 AM new
I'd give her till after the mail delivery tomorrow. If the payment isn't in the mail, it's NPB time. Usually that wakes them up. If not, wait the 10 days and apply for your FVFs, and move on. Negative feedback from you will only result in your getting a neg in return. Who knows, she may already have strikes against her.
Despite the high cost of living, it remains popular
posted on April 6, 2003 07:36:18 AM new
I had a bidder not respond to a single email for 14 days. On about day 10 I filed the NPB warning and still no response. On day 14 I left a neg and within an hour I receive an email stating they had all kinds of family and computer problems. I responded and said I was sorry for the neg and had there been some communication this could have been avoided. I get a nasty email back saying how could I trash their feedback...and of course, I got the retaliatory neg.
[ edited by marcn on Apr 6, 2003 07:36 AM ]
posted on April 6, 2003 09:41:17 AM new
Cheryl:
You ask, "how much more patience should I have?"
I'd say at least another 14 days worth. I think you should have a little more faith in your buyer, especially if her feedback is all positive.
Sometimes, regardless of what's stated in the TOS of ones auction, real life gets in the way and we do 'forget' and that all too short ten day time frame can't be met.
(While you don't bring this up) I constantly see TOS that state "We are not responsible for packages once shipped", meaning the Postal Service can be slow or unreliable. The same holds true for the buyer too. Sometimes delivery just takes time. I recently sent a priority package to my brother in Indiana. It left Houston, and apparently decided to take the scenic route heading west instead of north...making stops in West Texas, New Mexico, Utah, Minnesota, by-passing Indiana to rest a few days in Ohio before finally reaching my brother 19 days later.
The point I'm trying to make is: you still have plenty of time to file an NPB and request a FVF so just wait a bit. Afterall, does it really matter if an NPB is filed on the 16th day or the 30th?
posted on April 6, 2003 10:44:47 AM new
Example on how slow the mail delivery is. On February 25 we sent a car payment to Ford Motor Co. Palatine Ill. We live approximately 50 miles away. Car payment was due April 6. It did not arrive. We just assumed it was lost and since it was made out to Ford we didn't stop payment. We refinanced the car to a local credit union. They paid up the car and a week later we got the refund from Ford for that check. So for this payment to travel 50 miles it took over a month. Another example of late mail. I ordered a bracelet off of eBay paid and it was sent March 5, 1st class. I received the bracelet March 27. That was from Ohio to Wisconsin. So you see there is a problem with mail delivery so I would give the benefit of the doubt to your buyer. She must have the Money Order Receipt. Patience is a virtue. Good Luck
posted on April 6, 2003 12:23:42 PM new
I had a buyer email me on March 24 that the money order had been mailed....I just received it Friday...almost 2 weeks....and the postmark is March 24th...give it a few more days.
posted on April 7, 2003 05:01:36 PM new
A little off subject -- but most of my bills (just one doesn't) take payment over the phone. I have a specific credit card I use, to charge the bills on each month over the phone. Only because I don't want them to have access to my checking account. Then 2 days later, I go to the credit card website and pay the balance before any interest can accrue.
Works for me. No need for stamps anymore except for mailing ebay stuff.
posted on April 7, 2003 05:10:48 PM new
well I just got my book today. The auction ended on 3/8/03 and the postmark says 3/10/03. The seller refunded my payment last week (even though I never asked for or expected it) and I told her when it arrived I would repay her. It arrived with tire tracks and dirt all over the envelope, but the book is in excellent shape. I couldn't wait to send the seller her money again and let her know it arrived.
posted on April 8, 2003 10:30:08 AM new
I sent her an email on Sunday night explaining that the money order had not yet been received and to please ackowledge my email. The email was really quite nice and I did tell her I'd give it 14 more days since the mail is so slow right now. I also told her that if I do this (wait, that is) I'd need her to acknowledge the email by telling me that she is still interested in the item.
I figured that if she could at least tell me she still wanted the item, I wouldn't feel like I was wasting my time for 14 days (no, I didn't say that in my email to her). You got it, no response to my email to date. I'll give her until Friday to respond (she did get the email, I get emailed a receipt when someone reads their email and I got one from her). If she doesn't, I'll assume she no longer wants the item, file an NPBA, wait to get my fees and then leave it go. Getting a retalitory neg is not worth it, at least not over $22.
posted on April 8, 2003 12:50:22 PM new
Considering the lack of response, I think you're being way too generous. By fileing NPB, you're not doing any damage to her standing with ebay, and you are then closer to getting your fees back. Ten days between NPB and FVF filing is more than generous to a leaky buyer.
Despite the high cost of living, it remains popular
posted on April 10, 2003 08:51:44 AM new
I have a WB who says he mailed his Money order out on 3/25. Last night when we talked, he said he has cancelled that MO and is sending out a new one. I don't doubt that his (original) letter will show up the same day the new one does!
"And All Shall be Well, and All Shall be Well, and All Manner of Things Shall be Well"
posted on April 10, 2003 06:48:30 PM new
I finally heard from her. If I don't receive it by Friday, she is going to Paypal the money. Huh? Why didn't she do this the first time around? Oh, well. She seems very nice and sincere, anyway.
posted on April 10, 2003 09:26:45 PM new
I've found that if you start firing off threatening emails or stating that you are going to post negative feedback after a short time, it only makes things worse. I've also found that the sweeter you are with some of these non-payers, the more likely you are to eventually get your money out of them. Almost like killing them with kindness. I recently had someone take forever to send me payment and she kept making promises and excuses. I'd heard so many excuses and thought for sure I wasn't going to see any money, and then payment did show up - with an extra $10 for my troubles. I'm not saying kindness always works, but what's the old saying..."you get more with honey than you do with vinegar" or something like that. Sometimes (not always) it's true.
posted on April 11, 2003 08:42:22 AM new
A response to hi66:
That's an excellent way to pay your bills. Especially if the card has a Cashback program like Discover. That way, you get paid to pay your bills.
Seth
http://tfshop.tfstudios.com
Cheryl