posted on April 28, 2004 02:03:39 PM new
Time to shake the money tree and see what falls out.
What are some of your favorite collection strategies?
If you had free nationwide long-distance, would you call late payers with to discuss it personally? I'm thinking of doing that. One guy is into me for nearly $400. I already do the usual cycle of reminder, NPB, FVF, but I'm considering getting more aggressive.
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Answers to Questions Nobody Asked, #10:
Joseph Stalin gave up a promising singing career because murdering tens of millions of his fellow Russians sounded like a lot more fun.
posted on April 28, 2004 02:25:35 PM new
Sure, I'd call the guy. $400 is a lot of money, at least to me. Certainly worth a call even without free long distance.
posted on April 28, 2004 03:35:38 PM new
I've called only two or three times; twice because the money was significant; once because I was just damned mad. Collected $$ all three times, though!
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posted on April 28, 2004 03:35:44 PM new
Well, I'm wondering if maybe I shouldn't call ALL of them that are past 10 days with payment.
Phrase it in a helpful way: "I was wondering if you had any questions about our eBay transaction that I could answer personally. Sometimes it's so difficult to communicate in email."
Perhaps I will do this and keep a log of the calls, and the followup payments received. Might be interesting.
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Answers to Questions Nobody Asked, #10:
Joseph Stalin gave up a promising singing career because murdering tens of millions of his fellow Russians sounded like a lot more fun.
posted on April 28, 2004 04:50:03 PM new
A little giggle here - - Customer Service...
PG&E used to send us to seminars on Customer Service. All was well-intended but didn't really focus on what the customer wanted, which was WILL YOU GUYS JUST GET THE (expletives here...) METER SET!!!
Which we did...
Didn't matter they only got their city inspection 10 minutes before they called in and had conveniently forgotten to have us check the trench.
One time my boss (supervisor of the whole department) set the meter himself. Darn near wrecked the suit he was wearing but he didn't care.
Ahhh.... fun and games. Sure was nice when PG&E made me an offer I couldn't refuse.
posted on April 28, 2004 05:03:54 PM new
And all this time I thought that "customer service" meant actually HELPING the customer and not trying collect payment. I guess everything I was taught in Selling 101 is incorrect.
posted on April 28, 2004 05:11:21 PM new
Well, Bizzy, since what the customer wanted was their power up and running, I think you're off base just a teeny bit.
Lucy
P.S. In case it escaped you (since I didn't point it out directly) we didn't collect any money from the customer until they had electricity to use.
posted on April 28, 2004 05:22:25 PM new
Lucy-- Obviously, all the customer wants is their @#%$ power back on. My post wasn't directed to you. The power company and delivering electricity to thousands of homes doesn't quite touch collecting on an ebay auction.
It's when those that consider collecting on an ebay account "customer service" that gives me a chuckle.
posted on April 28, 2004 05:29:39 PM new
Well, I think Fluffy's idea of calling her customers to see if there's anything she can do to help is excellent customer service. There are buyers who are new to eBay who might not realize their bid is a promise to pay.
If Fluffy gets them up and running maybe they will avoid getting kicked off. Fluffy's customer this week might be mine (or yours...) next week.
posted on April 28, 2004 05:36:43 PM new
Lucy -- I did not say that calling a customer to collect on an account is not a bad idea. It's when you call it "customer service" that cracks me up!!! Let's be a little realistic on this. We were all newbies in ebay auctionland and KNOW that you're supposed to pay when you win a bid. You don't need to be a rocket scientist to realize that.
However, some still believe that it's bad luck when a black cat crosses your path. So, who knows? Perhaps it is considered "customer service" to offer assistance in paying on an auction!
posted on April 28, 2004 05:40:16 PM new
OK Fluffy, the triple grande wet capuccino I was drinking when I read your customer service statement exploded all over the computer screen, keyboard and narrowly missed a stack of postcards I was listing...my baby blue tank top now has a brown dots all over it (daughter told me polka dots are in now so may be ok)...LOL..you better watch it - you might ruin your rep!
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Sig files are too much trouble! http://stores.ebay.com/Moody-Mommys-Marvelous-Postcards
posted on April 28, 2004 05:55:13 PM new
Neg, I AM drinking,,,,,litterally and when I read yer post I only saw, I am drinking,,,,,Then I went backwards and read WHAT you were drinking, We are NOT drinking the same drinks, I don't thinks,,,,Unless,,,,
Everything at e bay works,,perrrrrrfect. Have A Beautiful E bay day.
posted on April 28, 2004 06:00:39 PM new
Biz..the reason I was laughing is that Fluffy prides herself on NOT offering customer service or hand holding to problem customers...her "helpful" approach is just a little "too-too" un-Fluffylike..and then when she wrote:" I must have had a Customer Service moment there. It'll pass." I TOTALLY LOST IT!
posted on April 28, 2004 06:03:29 PM new
Jack - I got the triple grande so I could get stoked up to list a bunch of cards tonight...I'd MUCH RATHER be drinking some two buck chuck or whatever it's called..HOWEVER..friend just called and asked me to go out for a few drinks tonight and hubby is out of town..SO>>>CHEERS!!!
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Sig files are too much trouble! http://stores.ebay.com/Moody-Mommys-Marvelous-Postcards
posted on April 28, 2004 06:16:41 PM newAnd all this time I thought that "customer service" meant actually HELPING the customer and not trying collect payment.
I respectfully suggest you're not looking at the Bigger Picture.
Some folks, on ths trip around the Sun, will wander away from the Light for whatever reason: poor organization, lack of focus, inadequate caffeination or just a complete state of gobsmackedness to think they really got such a wonderful deal.
Calling them to help them complete the transaction is just another compassionate way of picking them up, dusting them off and putting their feet back on the path to righteousness.
How many eBay sellers would care enough to help them regain their self-respect?
Only me, baby. Only me.
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Answers to Questions Nobody Asked, #50:
It's not true that aspiring pitcher Fidel Castro once tried out with a Major League team.
posted on April 28, 2004 06:38:13 PM new
Oh thank goodness, Lucy. I'm so glad you're on the two-buck-chuck. I would hate to think that all that brown-nosing was for real!
posted on April 28, 2004 08:18:05 PM new
let us know how you are makin' out???? that is Wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy to personal, hahahahahaha..........well actully he's VERY Good,,,,,,,slaaaaaaaaaaap! watch the,,,, MOVIE,,,,,ooooooo, wait,,,,,,,Ahhhhh.......o yeah,,,,,, forget the movie,,,,,,,,,,,fog on the the windshield,,,,,,,,,can't se the damn Movie anyways,,,,,,
posted on April 28, 2004 08:56:30 PM new
"Some folks, on ths trip around the Sun, will wander away from the Light for whatever reason: poor organization, lack of focus, inadequate caffeination or just a complete state of gobsmackedness to think they really got such a wonderful deal.
"Calling them to help them complete the transaction is just another compassionate way of picking them up, dusting them off and putting their feet back on the path to righteousness."
Oh Fluffer, you are Too Much. R. O. F. L.!
Adele (Gobsmacked in Idyllwild)
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Oh, no, have the pod people taken over poor Fluffy?! Stepford wives?? What? Who? Fluffy, we hardly know ye.
[ edited by Roadsmith on Apr 28, 2004 08:57 PM ]
posted on April 28, 2004 10:14:34 PM new
Good trip. But high school reunions of one's spouse are not the most fun things to do on two hot days at the Pechanga Resort in Temecula. I will tell everyone, though, that the hotel room at Pechanga was the nicest we've stayed at in many years, and we've stayed in lots of "nice" places, so-called. The resort isn't anything like what I imagined it would be (junky, Vegas-y); it's very impressive. I would recommend it to any of you who have a desire to stay at one of the Indian casinos.
One funny thing; I mentioned to the bellhop in the elevator that there sure were lots of people around Sunday evening, and he said (and I quote), "Yeah, there's a concert tonight. I think it's popular music. Or rock. A guy named. . . Paul. . . Anka? Ever heard of him?"
You know you're getting old when. . . .
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posted on April 29, 2004 01:23:12 AM new
hey bizzy.....whats that old saying? something to the effect, "no tikki...no something?" (I forget) How is a customer entitled to service without paying though? So although fluffy is being tounge in cheek here...really is some truth to whats behind it...dont you think? I do c.s and I've seen some people really do need some prodding to ge their payments in.
(btw., if anybody is going to get accused of brown nosing to her, it should be me? eh? LOL>>>> Like I give a ratz azz. If you admire or respect somebody you should be free to say it as well as condemn somebody cause there's always plenty of that on these boards)
