What would you do?
SYRACUSIAN
Posts: 6,461 ✭✭✭✭
An ebayer won an ebay item from me recently: 1924 rouble NGC MS63
After the first day of the auction, he asked me to close it for $110. I told him that I never do such things ,regardless of the offer, because it i9s disrespectful to the other bidders and watchers.Frankly,I think that he got a bargain, considering that I had recently sold the same coin in PCGS MS64 for $355, but that's a different story.
I have long abandonned the tactic, buyer leaves feedback first, and unless I have serious red flags, I go ahead and leave feedback as soon as I receive payment. I know that many knowledgeable sellers will disagree and call me naive, but that's the way I do it. Anyway, I've even sent it registered, despite the fact that he had paid for regular airmail fee.
After a few days, I emailed asking if the parcel was there. He replied "yes, it arrived. the coin is nice but the ngc holder got chipped in transit. Is there insurance to cover reholdering?" to which I replied that there wasn't any such insurance, but I wouldn't mind refunding $5, which is the reholdering fee. So he replied that along with postage fees it's $25 and he was expecting me to pay half. All that without having left any feedback yet.
So, in my last email, I told him that I indeed volunteered to contribute to the reholdering fees, even though what happened during the coin's stay at the Customs was not my responsibility and that anyway I would feel more confortable and probably contribute to his reholdering fees, if a positive feedback was left from his part and if it was possible to send me a scan of the slab's current condition to assess the damage.
He said he has no scanner or camera and has become more aggressive.
What have I done wrong here?
After the first day of the auction, he asked me to close it for $110. I told him that I never do such things ,regardless of the offer, because it i9s disrespectful to the other bidders and watchers.Frankly,I think that he got a bargain, considering that I had recently sold the same coin in PCGS MS64 for $355, but that's a different story.
I have long abandonned the tactic, buyer leaves feedback first, and unless I have serious red flags, I go ahead and leave feedback as soon as I receive payment. I know that many knowledgeable sellers will disagree and call me naive, but that's the way I do it. Anyway, I've even sent it registered, despite the fact that he had paid for regular airmail fee.
After a few days, I emailed asking if the parcel was there. He replied "yes, it arrived. the coin is nice but the ngc holder got chipped in transit. Is there insurance to cover reholdering?" to which I replied that there wasn't any such insurance, but I wouldn't mind refunding $5, which is the reholdering fee. So he replied that along with postage fees it's $25 and he was expecting me to pay half. All that without having left any feedback yet.
So, in my last email, I told him that I indeed volunteered to contribute to the reholdering fees, even though what happened during the coin's stay at the Customs was not my responsibility and that anyway I would feel more confortable and probably contribute to his reholdering fees, if a positive feedback was left from his part and if it was possible to send me a scan of the slab's current condition to assess the damage.
He said he has no scanner or camera and has become more aggressive.
What have I done wrong here?
0
Comments
I think it should've sold for more, anyway...
8 Reales Madness Collection
Unfortunately, you have a jerk for a buyer. More than likely there is nothing wrong with the holder and he just wants to recoup some money at your expense.
The one negative feedback item your buyer has, said that they got a full refund and kept the coin. (I did not check the other persons feedback though.) Be cautious.
You do not have a 100% feedback that you are trying to protect, (that’s not an insult.) I would offer a full refund minus postage and wait until THAT coin is in your hand before sending any refund. Make sure the buyer is aware of the “in your hand before refund” part.
I believe that you are going to get negative feedback from this person regardless of what hoops you jump through.
If the person gets aggressive, big deal, they are not a good customer or a friend; there is NOTHING you are going to do about this person’s mindset, so stick to your guns.
I wish you good luck and I believe, for what it's worth, that you should take up the tactic of letting the buyer leave feedback first.
Jim.
"I has a bucket." - Minazo.
Minazo the LOLRUS, 1994-2005
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Sounds to me like he's trying to pull a fast one (98.4% feedback - way too low... you have to work to get below 99%). Since he's so dissatisified with his purchase, I would offer him a full refund upon receiving the coin back.
Like Roman, I have stopped leaving feedback first, unless it is a party known to me. It's just too dangerous any more to do otherwise; too many fruitcakes wanting to keep the merchandise and the money.
I'm afraid you're destined to get a neg on this one no matter what you do.
1/2 Cents
U.S. Revenue Stamps
I'm afraid this fella sounds like the sort that will only screw you in any agreement to resolve this. You can expect a neg no matter what.
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Please let us know how this works out for you.
Jim.
"I has a bucket." - Minazo.
Minazo the LOLRUS, 1994-2005
Offer a refund but only after you receive the coin in hand. I would have rescinded the $5 offer since the buyer turned aggressive and refuses to send back pictures of the damaged slab. Open a dispute if he negs you and explain your side to ebay. I am sure they would help you out. I had a similar situation when the seller did not send a coin as in the auction and I felt he would neg me too. I opened a dispute, let ebay know of the circumstances and also the seller what he should expect. ebay staff were understanding the seller backed out. I never received a refund but did not get negged either!
is that you end up being governed by inferiors. – Plato
<< <i>Feedback from buyer, then feedback from seller. It works properly that way... >>
As a seller, I have always left feedback as soon as I have received payment. I feel as though their responsibility as a buyer is completed. Whenever I am purchasing from E-bay and pay promptly , feedback is never left until after I leave it. It should not be this way , However times are a changing and a better system needs to be implimented.
Feedback should be hidden from each other until after each party has left it. If you do not leave feedback in a timely manner your account should be suspended until feedback is achieved. Not sure this would work , but there has got to be a better way.
Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.
Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.
Mine is 98.3%.
Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.
Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.
<< <i>Feedback should be hidden from each other until after each party has left it. If you do not leave feedback in a timely manner your account should be suspended until feedback is achieved. Not sure this would work , but there has got to be a better way. >>
Now that's a good idea!
Very much do-able from the coding side of things. Only catch, then a person who is negged can simply withhold his feedback to avoid the neg showing up. Would need a system to deal with that.. auto-reveal after X days or if a neg is logged against an active seller list an anonymous neg until the situation is resolved, etc.
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<< <i>I see no reason to doubt the story. I'd give him the $25. If you don't want to deal with the risk of broken slabs in the future, sell raw coins. >>
sure you would...
karlgoetzmedals.com
secessionistmedals.com
As bluntly as I can make it, this is what I think you should do:
(1) Accept the return and refund the money. Block the jerk.
(2) If you do not receive the coin back, do nothing and give him/her nothing. I would take the negative hit and block the jerk. I don't care if someone with that rep gives me one, personally.
In the US, we call this next bit "Monday morning quarterbacking." In other words, it's easy to give advice after the fact. Don't give positives first unless (a) you know the buyer well or (b) you have some sort of delivery or signature confirmation with your package so that you know the item arrived. I never leave a "+" unless I know the item arrived at its destination. Never give an early "+" to a buyer with poor feedback until you get your "+."
<< <i>What have I done wrong here? >>
Nothing...it's not wrong to be reasonable, but when faced with the unreasonable (and going by that guy's feedback and interaction with you--he is very unreasonable), it's tricky. I wouldn't have been suprised if he had tried the same stunt even if you had ended early at $110. The auction was for a coin in an intact holder--not an intact holder meeting some undefined (and likely ever changing) level of "quality".
I would offer the refund minus shipping fees but expect the negative regardless. I would stand by the $5 offer on principle as an alternative to the return. Then be prepared with a well worded and reasonable response to the negative.
If he does return it..put it on the BST thread!
This is what I love here. Three or forum members at least, told me to expect a neg eitherway, so what worse can happen? I'll certainly keep you all posted.
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