posted on November 3, 2003 03:51:32 PM new
I received 4 payments today by mail.
Problem #1: One payment was extremely late, and I was going to relist it tomorrow. It was from some moron from Canada (seems to always be Canadian... hmmm). Anyhow, she gives me every story under the moon for being late. Her last email states, "I am sending money order today." Today it arrives. Problem: It is a business check drawn from a business in Canada from a Canadian bank. A big no-no for me. My TOS clearly states payments from International bidders must be in US funds using International/Postal Money Orders or Bidpay. So now the delay when it is already late.
Problem #2: Another bidder considered as a late payment- US buyer sends money order for correct amount. Dips#*t signs the back of the money order as if they are cashing it.
Ugh!!!!! I just want to cash my money and ship their items. Simple as that. I really wish I could charge them stupidity fees or something.
posted on November 3, 2003 04:11:47 PM new
My favorite today is sending back for the 2nd time someone who shorted shipping fees. They paid with paypal more than a week ago, I immediately returned their payment, telling them to pay $1 more. NPB goes out, they pull the same stunt. The first time I believe it is an accident, the 2nd time I believe they are trying to pull something. I returned again, sent them a paypal invoice, but so far no payment. I'll probably FVF and pay for it one way or another, but I am not going to have my shipping terms ignored like that.
posted on November 3, 2003 04:29:24 PM new
Oh, talk about shorting me... the item and shipping is $26.00 US Dollars. She sends me payment with the attached note:
$26.00 USD + 25%= 32.50 Canadian.
I was just curious what exchange rates were, because the last time I remember it being 25% was back in the early 1980's when I lived in Michigan. Sure enough, the rate is over 33%. 33% should be $34.58. But there's more... I would have to pay a exchange fee of roughly $5.00 to an exchange facility since my bank won't accept the check from me. In essence, I would lose out about $7.08.
H-E-L-L-O!!! Earth to stupid Canadian.
I bet a dollar she tries to come back with, "well it's only a few dollars. i'm going to have to pay tax and customs when it arrives. blah blah blah..."
I can't wait for that response. This is what I tell people that want me to commit mail fraud so they can cheat Canada out of their sales tax.
"I sympathize with you having to pay double taxes (currently over 16%), plus your standard customs charges. I really hate taxes, however there are two things I often recommend. #1) I recommend contacting the Canadian Post Master and let him know how you feel. Also, please contact the revenue department to let them know how you feel about being overly taxed. #2) Move to the United States so you can avoid these charges. In the meantime, I'm going to call up the Howard Dean for President HQ to tell them about Canada's federal + provincial sales tax, and suggest he do the same so everyone can have Socialized medicine."
Most people have dropped the subject right away once I mention it.
[ edited by rustygumbo on Nov 3, 2003 04:31 PM ]
posted on November 3, 2003 04:51:37 PM new
many bidders dont read seller TOS ,unless it is an expensive item.
if your tolerance level is low when it comes to foreign buyers,late payment,exchange rate,form of payment etc,accept paypal and just take the risk of shipping with no paypal seller protection or ask them to use bidpay or just dont sell to overseas buyers.
burgerflipper,you go first!!!!!
posted on November 3, 2003 04:55:37 PM new
Oh, I've offered Bidpay numerous times. She insisted on this method, and then changes it for her convenience without regard to what I can accept. If I could accept it and it was for the correct amount, No problem. But I find it a bit too sketchy with the business check starting in the low 200's, etc.
I wouldn't want someone writing checks on a business they shouldn't be writing it on. The business has nothing to do with the purchase.
posted on November 3, 2003 06:41:53 PM new
of course you could have recieved payment in the form of a "British Postal Order" which so far as I can tell, must be cashed at a British post office. This is the strangest payment I have ever recieved.
~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~
If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
posted on November 3, 2003 08:15:24 PM new
Take the check to your bank and cash it. Pay the fees and whatever you wind up with, use it to buy a bottle of Canadian Club. That will fulfill your obligation to support the Canadian economy. Then file for FVF and block her emails.
The light at the end of the tunnel will turn out to be an oncoming train.
posted on November 4, 2003 10:28:32 AM new
fenix: "of course you could have recieved payment in the form of a 'British Postal Order' which so far as I can tell, must be cashed at a British post office."
As long as the funds from the British Postal Order are in US Dollars, you can go to your local US Post Office and cash it for no charge. If it is over $100, I recommend calling them 30 minutes before heading in to tell them you intend on coming in to cash it. That way they don't tell you they don't have the money to cover it in their register.
The Post Office will accept International Postal Money Orders from most countries if it is in US Dollars. Also, check to see if the bank the money order is drawn on is a US bank. If so, your bank will accept it. Many countries use Citibank, or Chase as their US bank account, and you may have nothing to worry about.
I feel your pain! I just received a payment from a bidder today in pounds sterling! First of all... they never told me they were in a different country... so the s/h charges were wrong. Second... the check was in the amount of 7 pounds (equivalent to approximately $11.77 USD... not the $12.98 they were supposed to pay (if it was US shipping!). Finally... the check was drawn on Barclays bank (A UK bank) so I would probably be charged more by my bank to cash it then I would get when it was cashed! Arrggghhh!!! Anyway... just wanted to vent... and let you know you're not alone!
posted on November 4, 2003 11:43:24 AM new
Rust - this is not a money order - it is a series of 20GBP postal orders which from what any of us can tell can only be redeemed at a UK post office. But I am still tying to figure it out since they represent well over $100
EAG - depending on your bank, you probably actually will not have a problem. I had the same qulms you did when I got a rash of payments a couple weeks ago in GBP but the girl at my bank did not blink. Just got the conversion rate and we were done. Ridiculous thing is that a foreign check comes with no additional fees, a foreign money transfer... $15 fee each.
~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~
If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
posted on November 4, 2003 02:03:03 PM new
This Global Economy thing is a lot harder than it looks..
Whenever I'm asked by a Canadian buyer to declare an item a gift, I reply:
"While I am truly flattered by your suggestion that I violate the laws of not one but two sovereign nations; I must respectfully abstain.
However, I am not unsympathetic to your concerns and have taken the liberty to forward your request to The Honourable
Andrι Ouellet,President and CEO of the Canadian Postal Service.
I am sure he will be delighted to hear your thoughts and I am equally sure you will be contacted by him in this regard in the very near future."
"I won't be wronged, I won't be insulted, and I won't be laid a hand on. I don't do these things to other people and I require the same from them."- John Wayne/The Shootist"(from the novel by Glendon Swarthout)
