ebay question.

justbored · June 2, 2011 10:19AM

It has been 4 days since an auction ended and I have not recieved payment. I sent the buyer a very polite message yesterday saying that if it wasnt paid by tonight I would be filing an unpaid item complaint with ebay. The buyer sent back a VERY indignant message. Im now have zero interest in selling him the item as I'm sure he will find a way to leave bad feedback. Can I "lose" the item or is their anyway that I can cancel this transaction and at the same time not leave him with a way to leave feedback? He has not paid yet but says he will tomorrow.

llafoe · June 2, 2011 10:21AM

4 days seems a little quick?

Edited to add: Your polite message may not have come across to the buyer as polite?

Rampage · June 2, 2011 10:21AM

Quite frankly, after four days, you are jumping the gun. You cannot file a NPB complaint until 7 days after the auction closes, unless you have eBay automatically do it for you, then you can do four days. You should have not sent a reminder until 7 days. Just my opinion.

justbored · June 2, 2011 10:27AM

The ebay policy is 4 days. I do not have the automation turned on.

smokincoin · June 2, 2011 10:28AM

<< <i>4 days seems a little quick?

Edited to add: Your polite message may not have come across to they buyer as polite? >>

derryb · June 2, 2011 10:30AM

send him a cancel transaction request, the item is damaged.

justbored · June 2, 2011 10:32AM

Here is the message I sent in full......
"Hi, I mean this in the nicest way, but due to the high number of unpaid items ive had recently I will be filing an unpaid item complaint with ebay if this isn't paid by Thursday night. Thanks."

His reply ended with "and I don't mean that in the nicest way"

greghansen · June 2, 2011 10:34AM

Your over reacting to his indignant reply IMO. If you sell much on EBAY, your going to ruffle some feathers sometime. There is NOTHING to be gained by firing back or trying to retaliate in some fashion. If I were you, I would write the buyer back, thanking him for getting back to you so quickly, tell him your sorry if your initial contact seemed heavy handed, you were just trying to move the transaction forward. I would then thank him again for his expected payment and would advise that if he/she has any problems when they receive the coin to please let me know. You can probably rehabilitate this buyer if you show your not thin skinned. Good luck.

streeter · June 2, 2011 10:35AM

<< <i>send him a cancel transaction request, the item is damaged. >>

So's the buyer/ seller relationship.

To answer your question, you sent him an ultimatum and what did you expect? Kisses and hugs in return? This may not end well for you. Patience is a virtue in this economy. Be gentler next time and ask him how's everything going before you drop the bomb on him. He has the upper hand and you need to remember that going forward until ebay and the economy changes.

He may have 'issues' you are not aware of that require him to solve before he can pay you. Not every buyer is an insta- pay on PAYPAL.

justbored · June 2, 2011 10:42AM

<< <i>Your over reacting to his indignant reply IMO. If you sell much on EBAY, your going to ruffle some feathers sometime. There is NOTHING to be gained by firing back or trying to retaliate in some fashion. If I were you, I would write the buyer back, thanking him for getting back to you so quickly, tell him your sorry if your initial contact seemed heavy handed, you were just trying to move the transaction forward. I would then thank him again for his expected payment and would advise that if he/she has any problems when they receive the coin to please let me know. You can probably rehabilitate this buyer if you show your not thin skinned. Good luck. >>

Point taken. Thanks and done.

greghansen · June 2, 2011 10:42AM

I've now read your original contact to the buyer and IMO its a terrible way to make initial contact with a buyer. Your telling him about YOUR problems and what YOU are going to to do him in 24 hours. That violates just about every tenant of customer service I can imagine. You might want to try something like:

"Hello, Thank you for bidding on and winning my (insert description). I think you are going to be pleased with it. Please confirm receipt of this message and advise me how you wish to pay for the item. Thank you in advance for your time and attention in completing this transaction."

I think you'll find you get fewer 'indignant' responses. Good luck and hope you are able to rehabilitat your buyer so the deal goes through.

airplanenut · June 2, 2011 11:09AM

Sorry, but saying "I mean this in the nicest way" doesn't allow you to then say something nasty. It's like saying to someone, "no offense, but you're really fat." In fact, the only nice thing in your email was the opening line. My typical wording is "I have not yet received payment for this item and was wondering if you could provide me with its status." No accusations, no ultimatums. And I also don't usually send it until some 14+ days after the auction ends, which is 4 days beyond my stated payment period. I'd try to send one heck of an apology, but honestly, if you get a nasty feedback for this, it's probably deserved.

Rampage · June 2, 2011 11:18AM

Russ · June 2, 2011 11:44AM

<< <i>their anyway that I can cancel this transaction and at the same time not leave him with a way to leave feedback? >>

Cancelling a transaction requires buyer consent and does not prevent the buyer from leaving feedback.

Do you specifically state a time frame for payment in your listing description? While I agree with others that four days is too soon to be dunning the buyer, if you state that in your listing then the buyer should not be indignant about it. If you don't state a time frame, then you should.

Russ, NCNE

Bochiman · June 2, 2011 11:53AM

Some folks, and ebay, just don't seem to mix well.....

ebay question.

Comments

Leave a Comment