The days of hot shipping are coming to an end

relayer

If somebody sent me their address by email or ebay checkout saying they would send payment, I look at their feedback and the dollar amount of the coin and if everything looks good, I extend instant credit by shipping the coin that day. I've never had a problem until lately.

I sent 2 proof sets to one repeat customer - never paid and doesn't return emails (he may be offline - or dead?)

Sent and $89 coin to a 600+ feedback buyer - no payment, no return of emails.

Yesterday I send a $525 coin based on the buyers word they'd send a money order, but I'm actually not worried about this one. I've been outbid by that user in the past so I know they can afford it.

I guess it's harder to get people to pay when they already have the merchandise in their hands

nwcs

It is unfortunate that there are people like that. I was appreciative when a seller went ahead and mailed the coin in trust when I paid by check. One recently had all these rules and such about their check and shipping policy. Went ahead and bid anyway and I got the coin within a week and didn't have to wait at all. And they shipped fedex ground! I was very surprised.

Russ

Same thing happened to me when I first started selling some coins. Guy said the money order was on the way, and I stupidly shipped. He never paid. That was the last time I did that other than for board members here.

Russ, NCNE

BigD5

You're nuts! There are a few select people that I would send coins along to without actually having the payment in my hands. It's not a long list, believe me. The funny thing is, most are board members that I have dealt with in the past, and I know, even if the deal doesn't work out, I won't have to worry about the money end of the deal.
Actually, it is odd, if you think about it. We sit down and type messages to each other about a common topic, and a certain "trust" is made. Enough so, that we would send items off to each other, without actually knowing one another (for the most part) personally and trusting that the money will come. Fascinating really, if you think about it.

*As for the Ebay stuff, I'll stick with my "You're nuts!" comment

UncleJoe

I do write in my auctions that checks must clear, but I take a look at their feedback and I have always shipped immediately upon receiving the check but never before. So far it has worked out.

I just fear the bounced check because my credit union charges ME $15.

Joe.

Fairlaneman

Established Forumn Members, No Problem. Newer or unknown Members usually wait for the Payment. Have even refused payment from a couple of Members before they have seen the coin. It really is weird how relationships can be made here without personally meeting the other person.

Ebay sales, I go along with BigD5, You are Looney Toons to ship before payment.

Ken

flaminio

The only time I ever shipped an item before receiving payment, they never sent payment, and left me negative feedback for good measure. I'd have to be real buddy-buddy with the buyer before I ever do something stupid like that again.

Russ

Damn, flaminio, that's rough. At least my thief took his neg like a man and didn't retaliate.

Russ, NCNE

BSqr

It's all about personal integrity and character. Nothing at all to do with merchandise in hand or not.

TheNumish

I do it all the time for people that have bought from me before. Never had a problem.

Tonelover

I used to be very lenient with my ebay shipping but with all the wierdos out there now one can't be too careful. Interestingly enough, the only person to ever receive merchandise and not pay was someone who I had done business with and had become more or less a friend. One of the last people I would have guessed to have pulled a stunt like that.

stman

Tonelover, Your not talking about me are you?

Edited to mention: Please check your mailbox again I'm sure I sent that payment.

oldcameoproofsguy

<< <i>I used to be very lenient with my ebay shipping but with all the wierdos out there now one can't be too careful. >>



Reading this thread makes me glad that I am all hoard and no sell!

danreller

Relayer,

You are the kind of person I can relate to. I trust people too.. unless there's a reason not to. With enough transactions, eventually things will go awry. I mostly insure things above $20, but, I know the temptation to fully trust some. I hope it will work out.

I know there are some that will over-correct with a just a history of a minimal loss. They reject checks, even cash, and only accept cashier's checks (just check out how the banks feel about those - they are so easily forged with today's computer systems with the modicum of programs easily available), and even even Money Orders that take "forever" to claim if things go wrong. All of those are "are going to happen given time". It's essentially worth "the weight in gold" to pay the fee to accept a 3rd party payment such as PayPal.

I hope it will work out. If it won't, which I will be surprised at with the history you stated (wait for the reason), just "eat it".

Dan

Loki

I trust people too, but not when it comes to money. You are kind of stuck as a bidder so you tend to rely on tools such as feedback or references. As a seller however, you pretty much have a lot of control as to how much risk you are willing to take to sell an item. To me, if someone wants your item that bad, he or she will find a means and a way to securely complete the transaction to your liking. To extend them the benefit of the doubt surely will burn you someday. Unless I have money coming out of my ears which I don't, I will not extend any favor to a bidder unless the financial risk of dealing with that bidder remains the same. Something such as the bidder requests an extra week to pay is OK as you hold no risk of losing anything except an earlier sale. Something such as the bidder can only pay with a credit card will create a risk to you that the bidder could reverse the charges when the item is received. Money has a sneaky way of instigating situations which can and will eventually ruin friendships and cause the people that get burned unneeded and unwanted heartache. You know you will get burned someday if you keep up this practice so why even start?

relayer

The human race is redeeming itself.

I finally got an email from the $89 guy who said he'd check into it. He later replied he received the coin and hadn't paid and would send payment today.

I like shipping at my convience and with insured items it means waiting in line at the post office so if I have the coin packaged and I have to take other coins from people who paid down to the post office, I'd rather make 1 trip.

To me coins are a hobby for fun, so I'm much more lenient than if I was running a business. A little risk can add some excitement, but the fun goes away if I start to having to hassel about money. I'll wait until Saturday before I go to the PO again and I hope the big payment will be there, but I'm not worried (until Saturday I guess). Still no response from my other repeat customer, but his feedback shows no activity for awhile so he may be offline.

I've only left 1 negative feedback for a NPB (and I didn't ship early so I wasn't out anything). Then 3 months later I get an email from this guys wife saying her husband had a heart attack and was in a coma was coming home from the hospital. She wasn't aware of his coin purchases and wanted to buy it so everything would be how it was before his illness.

Events happen to honest people - loss of job, medical, etc. that may prevent them from paying even if they had good intentions when buying it. So I just get my fees back from ebay and don't bother with negative feedback.

From now on, I'll just put the coins that are ready but not yet paid in a bag for the next trip. What do I care if people have to wait a week to get their coins.

coppercoins

Business is business regardless...and anyone should be able to understand that. When I get paid, I ship the items. No excuses, no exceptions. I've never been "out" an item that had not been paid for, because I simply don't ship before receiving payment.

relayer

My faith has been restored.

All my debtors have either paid or contacted me and said it's on the way!

jdimmick

Same here

Inexpensive items under say 50.00, I may go ahead a ship if I feel comfortable. The others payment must be in me hand and good, then ill get it right out.

I expect no less from the seller when I am the buyer, If I want the coin asap, the Postal Mo is the way I go.

Unless its several thou?
jim d