Strange ebay situation...

jeffcbay

Sorry to treat this forum as an ebay message board, but I have to share this.

Let me preface this by saying, I know I'm an idiot and I'm way too trusting when it comes to human decency.

On June 1st (late Tuesday night) I had about 120 of my auctions end, and I waited two days for the majority of the winners to pay for their auctions. All but about 5 people paid up, and the rest of the non-paid winners had auctions with a very low final price (less than $15). So to save myself an extra trip to the post office, I went ahead and shipped everything at the same time, even ones who haven't paid yet. It was a Friday afternoon, and I figured by the time their packages arrive on Monday or Tuesday they would probably have paid by then. (you know what's coming next at this point)

By Tuesday (6/8), all but one person had paid. I went ahead and emailed that person to let him know I went ahead and shipped his two cards, even though I had not yet received his payment. I explained that I simply wanted to same myself a trip to the post office by shipping his package early, and I made sure to tell him that I'm only emailing him to try and avoid any confusion on whether he had paid or not, because he probably already received his cards. I was very polite and understanding in my email.

So I never did receive a reply, and I waited 12 days after the auction and sent him a new message, politely reminding him that he hasn't paid yet, and asked him if/when he planned on doing so.

No response... so 14 days after the auction I emailed him again, reminding him that it had been two weeks, and I asked him if he intends on paying, if not I would have to report it to ebay (as a non-paying bidder) so I can at least get my fees back.

Still nothing...

A.) I know it's my fault for assuming this buyer was an honest person. (call me crazy)

B.) Making an extra trip to the post office for one straggler package is kind of a pain in the butt, even though I only live about 10 minutes away from it.

C.) The guy only owes me about $12, so it's really not a big loss. It's just very annoying to have to deal with his order just sitting there on my "awaiting payment" page, and to have to message him while getting no response.

I've been selling stuff on ebay for over 10 years, and I've had less than 5 people never pay. This is the first time I had one do it when I shipped it early.

What makes it worse is this guy has outstanding feedback (over 2000), and has received feedback from happy sellers, as recent as today.

I'm just overly annoyed... thanks for putting up with my rant.

MeteoriteGuy

Has happened to me a few times.

I will likely still go ahead and ship that under $10 item to get it out of my way and to the customer faster. Of all the ways I have been ripped off on eBay...this is one I worry less about.

jeffcbay

Yeah, I really don't feel ripped off as much as I just feel annoyed.

Aric

Why do you have to go to the post office to mail your packages? Less than 13oz. packages can be taken by your mail carrier.

jeffcbay

I don't use Paypal postage (although I should start). I also don't own a scale. In fact, even when I just have to mail a simple letter, I prefer to drop it in a blue mail box rather than leave it for my post man. I don't live in a bad neighborhood or anything, I just prefer it this way.

KbKards

Did you leave feedback and mark the items paid and shipped? Ebay sends so many emails that many people ignore them all and he might be relying on his My Ebay to tell him what he needs to pay for. I would open up an unpaid item as that will always get a good buyer's attention. He might think he paid but after he looks into it he'll see it was missed and have to reply to the unpaid item.

Aric

120 auctions and no scale or printed postage. OUCH! Man, if you sell that much you would make your life a heck of a lot easier by getting a little scale and printing your postage. I've even switched back to using straight stamps for items less than $5. I am lucky in that we have an outgoing mail bin in our office building so I ship all my cards out from the office. I shutter to think of you standing in line at the PO with 120 packages. I also find that when I do take packages to PO they tend to round up on the weight and I end up paying more than I would had I shipped it with my own postage.

jeffcbay

I never marked it paid or shipped, and have not left feedback. You're right about the ebay emails and the fact that they might get ignored. I was hoping they might show up in his "My ebay" messages tab. I will try opening up an unpaid item thing through ebay, and he may see that one. I'm still trying to give him the benefit of the doubt, which is why I never revealed his ebay ID on here.

jeffcbay

<< <i>120 auctions and no scale or printed postage. OUCH! Man, if you sell that much you would make your life a heck of a lot easier by getting a little scale and printing your postage. I've even switched back to using straight stamps for items less than $5. I am lucky in that we have an outgoing mail bin in our office building so I ship all my cards out from the office. I shutter to think of you standing in line at the PO with 120 packages. I also find that when I do take packages to PO they tend to round up on the weight and I end up paying more than I would had I shipped it with my own postage. >>



I don't usually sell that many at one time, it's usually more like 20 to 30 per week. I even handwrite every address, lol. I typically like to go after hours and use the self-shipper ATM looking thing. That way nobody is waiting on me.

The Paypal shipping just never appealed to me because I don't want to use up my printer, ink, and have to buy labels. I have a nice system down where I can do all of my shipping while sitting in my recliner while catching up on my TiVo.

storm888

"...I also don't own a scale. In fact, even when I just have to mail a simple letter, I prefer to drop it in a blue mail box rather than leave it for my post man. I don't live in a bad neighborhood or anything, I just prefer it this way...."

//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////


Using your own mailbox makes EBAY sooooooooo much easier.

A hand-held scale can be purchased at most dope-paraphernalia
shops, for under $5. It will weigh items up to 5-ozs. A digital
scale can be found at Staples for under $40.

Stamps can be bought in quantity at a large discount from most
"stamp and coin" shops.

USPS counter receipts can be used to gauge future postage costs
of like/similar parcels.

If you have ONE Priority package, USPS will pick it up after a phone
appointment.

............

I used to go to the PO everyday; not anymore.

dontippet

This isn't an attack on you, but if you get "overly annoyed" by a nonpaying buyer, then I think I would stop the practice of shipping before payment. I understand why you do it, and I can see myself being tempted to do it as well, although I wouldn't do it on ebay. Maybe on the BST, but not ebay. Ebay and Paypal are set up so that the buyer can easily and conveniently pay for auctions.

jeffcbay

<< <i>This isn't an attack on you, but if you get "overly annoyed" by a nonpaying buyer, then I think I would stop the practice of shipping before payment. I understand why you do it, and I can see myself being tempted to do it as well, although I wouldn't do it on ebay. Maybe on the BST, but not ebay. Ebay and Paypal are set up so that the buyer can easily and conveniently pay for auctions. >>



I agree...

Bosox1976

$12 bucks (before paypal fees) isn't worth the stress. BBL him and move on.

shouldabeena10

<< <i>Yeah, I really don't feel ripped off as much as I just feel annoyed. >>



Probably not quite as annoyed as all the people feel at the post office .... when you show up with your 120 eBay packages. ;-)

Dude, get a scale! The delivery confirmation discounts (you get when using Paypal's postage website) would easily pay for the cost of a digital scale in no time. And I agree 100% with the poster above that talked about the post office always rounding up on package weights. I noticed a huge difference in my shipping costs when I switched over to printing out my own postage. My packages were always $3.20, $4, and $5 whenever I use to let the post office weigh them ... now the same ones cost me maybe $2.25 to $3.50.

The self printing Paypal postage option is one of "those things" that after you start doing it, you'll wonder why you ever did it any other way. It really is great. ... and BTW, you don't have to buy any labels. You just use regular paper and tape it right onto the package. It prints the buyers address, your return address, the postage, the delivery confirmation number, and the eBay transaction number all onto the one paper for you. It even prints you a receipt for your records that you can cut off and save if you want.

And lastly, I agree that he may have ignored / missed your follow-up eBay system e-mails. I tend to delete most of mine and just let Paypal group them all together once a week or so. It's gotten me in the same situation a few times with sellers that use those after-market check out systems (Vendido?) that don't show up as needing to be paid through the Paypal link. It's also saved me a few times when people send BS checkout forms for duplicate items or stuff I never bid on, etc.

Anyway, I'd probably open up the "non-paying bidder dispute" (or whatever they call that?) ... that way you'll at least know his intentions in the next few days.

jeffcbay

You all have me convinced, I'm going to try the Paypal method on my next set of shipments.

zep33

This scale is only $24.95 at Kmart 10 lb USPS scale

If you don't already have one, sign up for a free UPS account and get the labels from them for free. They work perfect for the paypal labels and you don't have to worry about taping them on to the packages

ga5150

I got my scale from an online seller named Old Will Knott or something like that. It is digital and good to the 10th of an ounce up to 75lbs. They have a lot of smaller ones too of course, but I got one that goes up to 75lbs. because I sometimes sell boxes or cases of cards. You don't have to use the postage labels if you don't want. You can print out the labels on paper and simply tape them to your packages, but you'll have to sit there and cut out labels with scissors. Once you get a system down, it's sometimes difficult to get out of the usual routine, so if you don't mind sitting in your recliner, then just keep up the same old routine!

Rodney