posted on September 22, 2003 04:24:42 AM new
I started a thread a couple of weeks ago about a buyer with invalid email address. I reported it to eBay, but buyer remained active. I have now sent a total of 11 emails, all bounce back. Sent Paypal invoice with 2 reminders, no response. Reported invalid email 4 times, but buyer is STILL active. Issued NBP warning.
Problem is, the buyer keeps sending messages through " ask seller a question" which of course goes back to her invalid address. I even wrote to one of the other buyers she had bid on, and that buyer has twice sent me messages to pass on to her!! I feel a negative coming on, but I don't know how to avoid it, she is obviously getting frustrated with lack of response.
No, I can't phone, it's long distance from Canada, not worth it for 3.50 item.
posted on September 22, 2003 04:36:19 AM new
Just had the same thing happen. Item ended in Mid August and I was able to get through with the total. Buyer is the UK. He emailed back wanted in paypal email address, about 4 different emails (from 2 different addresses). I replied to each and everyone, they all bounced "over quota". Buyer emails "last chance or I'll neg you...". I contacted ebay and they said the address was valid, I should call him. I am not calling the UK on a $15 item. I did end up with the neg. I think I left a neutral... unable to contact.
posted on September 22, 2003 05:11:34 AM new
Same thing has happened to me.
I just keep writing EBAY.
If the buyer has a mail block on, that's not our problem.
If Ebay can contact them, then we should be able to do so.
I have a 0 bidder email me, note; no payment in 7 days. She asked me to call her to work out payment.
WHAT? ? How about just paying through PAYPAL as requested. (no email problems either)
What nerve!
If it's only happening a few times, I would think it's on the buyer's end.
Have you tried to email them through the EBAY server?
If that bounces, then Ebay is WRONG!
I have had to do this from time to time.
posted on September 22, 2003 05:19:26 AM new
liveinjean: How do I send an email through the eBay server? I thought you could only do that if you were the buyer through "ask seller a question".
posted on September 22, 2003 05:37:07 AM new
amber,
go to SEARCH.
Then click bidders.
Then type in that ID in the box.
Pull up one of the auctions she has bid on.
Click her ID that way.
It should take you to the Ebay email directive.
At least that works for me!
Don't click her ID on your auction or it will pull up the email address.
Use another person's!
Hope this is understandable!
posted on September 22, 2003 05:49:59 AM new
You could go into her feedback and leave a feedback that states. Unable to reach you with several emails total is. Please send...
Make it a neutral. She will certainly see that...This is the last resort for you and it's worth a try.... She probably puts in an extra letter in her email address so that she doesn't receive any of them. Have you tried sending a eBay checkout? If eBay says it works I would try that. eBay must have the righ email address which is different than the one she is giving everyone. She goes through ask the seller a question because she doesn't want you to have her email address.
posted on September 22, 2003 06:22:16 AM new
So much confusion, so much fog to cut through.
amber: What is the exact error message on the bounced email? Are you certain it said "invalid" or "no such user"? Because email bounces for many reasons...it's not always because the account is dead. That may be why eBay won't take action.
Our motto: Bright and shiny baubles for persons with low impulse control.
posted on September 22, 2003 06:50:40 AM new
Message bounced back again from the eBay server. This is what I am getting:
"This is a permanent error; I've given up. Sorry it didn't work out.
Sorry, no mailbox here by that name"
Because of the 10 day wait, I can't even send my final notice for return of fvf, at least that might suspend the account if others have done the same. Guess I'll just wait and hope no neg. appears!
posted on September 22, 2003 07:00:52 AM new
Amber!
Take that EMAIL and copy the headers...send to EBAY through the link to report invalid contact information.
Whoever told you on Ebay that the email address was valid, has a screw loose!
Give the ID, the auction number, and copy/paste that email header ASAP!
Let them know that you have already reported it and they claimed it was valid.
Tell them to RETHINK!
posted on September 22, 2003 07:40:56 AM new
I'm wondering about her ISP? Could it be their servers? I know that when Adelphia's mail servers went down (for a whole day), email was bounced back. It was frustrating to say the least. Fortunately, I do have an alternative email address!
posted on September 22, 2003 07:52:22 AM new
Whether or not our personal servers are bouncing mail, EBAY's should be working, if not, I would think that more emails would bounce.
If it's an ISP issue with Ebay/customer, it's still a problem for the seller and EBAY should report it.
Ebay has told me that emails were valid.
I'd then send a copy/paste of the headers sent through EBAY server.
Then, they'd do something.
Depends on who the customer service person is at the time.
posted on September 22, 2003 09:07:18 AM new
I have also tried sending it through Hotmail, and the one through eBay bounced too, it is obviously invalid. Do you really think anyone reads the messages you send to eBay. I think it goes to a section that reads the main words, and you get a canned message back. I have told them "this is the forth time, this is the fifth time I am reporting this"-NOTHING!
I have reported invalid emails before, and the person was suspended pretty quickly, and it is not just me, the other seller who I contacted and is sending me messages to pass onto this buyer is saying the same thing on her messages.
posted on September 22, 2003 11:12:50 AM new
just request their personal info and call them...or send a post card with payment instructions and tell them that their email address is invalid.
posted on September 22, 2003 11:42:08 AM new
tomford:
Pulling her contact info won't do it. It doesn't include street address. amber already stated she is not willing to phone.
Our motto: Bright and shiny baubles for persons with low impulse control.
posted on September 22, 2003 12:44:57 PM new
Have you tried sending an invoice through ebay? From "my ebay", find the auction under closed auctions and go there. At least maybe if it bounces through ebay's system it will get noticed as being an invalid email? (wishful thinking..probably). That has worked for me in the past with these sorts of things.
Deana
edited to add: A phone call may not be worth it for a 3.50 item, but it might be worth it to avoid a neg. Just depends on how you feel about your feedback.
[ edited by drcomm on Sep 22, 2003 12:46 PM ]
posted on September 22, 2003 01:22:08 PM new
drcomm Yes, I have sent an invoice. I just don't understand why eBay does not suspend this account, 4 complaints should be enough. If that was done, I wouldn't have to worry about getting a neg.
posted on September 22, 2003 01:56:43 PM new
If you do get a negative, ask EBAY to remove it due to INVALID contact info.
Just keep reporting it.
You have to copy the headers to "prove" it.
If the buyer does neg you, in the meantime, just respond that all emails from Ebay, etc., bounce!
posted on September 22, 2003 09:11:05 PM new
I get lots of buyers who email address come back to me.
Every time no matter where it is sent from it is returned so after 10 days I file with ebay for NPB, and then a few days later I hear from the buyer, why? I don't know.
So I ans. the email they sent to me, and .......again it is returned. So, I just wait for the money to arrive, if not then I file for my FVF.
One of my customers the emails always keep coming back, but when she contacted me it was from an email address that is not registered with ebay, I think its that she don't want to receive any emails, but she will be the one to contact you always because according to her feedback she is a great buyer and a fast payer, but you could never contact her, but she does contact you. I guess she has it this way for her own reasons, but I don't know why and she is a repeat customer so now I know not to contact her, just wait till she contacts me.
But if a seller don't know how she is they would be concerned and worry that ........now there is going to be a problem.
posted on September 24, 2003 12:13:37 PM new
Just as I expected, I received a negative! Now how do I go about contacting to get it removed. I have written to eBay 5 times to eBay 5 times about this invalid email address, and nothing has been done about it. Do I contact Square Trade? Do they charge for that?
posted on September 24, 2003 02:35:51 PM new
Respond to the negative ab out contact information is invalid. emailed x times and all returned. That should give a heads up to this seller. Then I would give your buyer a negative with the same information...
posted on September 24, 2003 02:40:27 PM new
Libra63
Have done exactly that. Is there a free way to try and get a negative feedback removed. I feel it is eBay's fault, I reported it 5 times, and thankfully, I still have all the replies, they are all canned of course, I doubt anyone ever reads them!
posted on September 24, 2003 05:53:19 PM new
Here is a suggestion:
(BTW, I hate that happened to you!)
Write Ebay AGAIN!
Make certain that you copy/paste the email header of the returned email(s).
Turn on properties, then copy/paste.
Ebay;
This is my 6th contact regarding this ID,-----.
I have sent copies of returned emails through the EBAY server.
Now the buyer has left me a negative.
I feel that Ebay should take some responsibility for this since I let you know about invalid contact.
You claim to have no problems with this contact.
How are you getting through when I have used the same server?
I would like for my negative feedback to be removed immediately!
Please respond ASAP!
Thanks,
-----------
posted on September 24, 2003 07:05:28 PM new
Thanks guys, I will try all your suggestions. I have written to the other seller who was also left a neg for the same problem, and she is going to file to have her feedback removed. Maybe both of us doing it will help. I have written to eBay 3 times today, I really don't think anyone is reading them, I keep getting the exact same response, I am tempted to send them all back to them, I have kept them all. If eBay will not suspend invalid addresses, this can happen to anyone, and you can do nothing about it.
