The cheek of some people

[wolfdogstinkus]

I sold something on ebay. The auction finished on the 20th May, I was going on holiday for two weeks the very next day so I contacted the buyer to explain that I would post the item when I returned, I got no reply. The buyer didn't pay for the item until the 30th May, ten days later. I then get an e-mail from ebay stating that the buyer has tried to open a case against me on the 2nd July but it is too early for e-bay to intervene.

I think I may just refund the buyer now as they have annoyed me, Is this possible?

Perhaps they were hoping I had posted it and were trying to get their money back?

It was only a small value item and sold for 99p so no big deal but they made me wait ten days for payment and then open a case 3 days later??

The post office wont be open till Wednesday now anyway, surely they know this?

This is the first problem I have had with e-bay, and this buyer will be blocked, and I suppose I will lose my 100% positive feedback??

I have contacted e-bay but they probably wont do anything?

[speedy_w_beans]

What irks me is when people ask a lot of questions about an item I'm selling, it looks like we're about to close the deal, and then I never hear from them again. We go back and forth through e-mail multiple times then the conversation goes dead. This has happened a number of times. What's that all about? Just window shopping? Is there a thrill to leading a seller on, then never talking to them again? I don't understand the psychology. As a result of this I don't get very verbose in my communications with buyers anymore. Just the facts; it ships when I get paid.

-Paul

[wolfdogstinkus]

Yes I would have shipped it when I got paid but I was on holiday and I explained that to the buyer, they made me wait ten days for payment and then complained to e-bay 3days later?

I don't sell much on there at all, there are so many charges involved these days I don't know how anyone can make any money?

[Tamiya1/10]

I sold something on ebay. The auction finished on the 20th May, I was going on holiday for two weeks the very next day so I contacted the buyer to explain that I would post the item when I returned, I got no reply. The buyer didn't pay for the item until the 30th May, ten days later. I then get an e-mail from ebay stating that the buyer has tried to open a case against me on the 2nd July but it is too early for e-bay to intervene.

I think I may just refund the buyer now as they have annoyed me, Is this possible?

Perhaps they were hoping I had posted it and were trying to get their money back?

It was only a small value item and sold for 99p so no big deal but they made me wait ten days for payment and then open a case 3 days later??

The post office wont be open till Wednesday now anyway, surely they know this?

This is the first problem I have had with e-bay, and this buyer will be blocked, and I suppose I will lose my 100% positive feedback??

I have contacted e-bay but they probably wont do anything?

Your auction likely mentioned that payment must be within 3 days after winning the auction? But you when on Holidays for two weeks right after the auction. I think to be fair you could have allow the buyer to pay when you get back? I guess the buyer expected the goods to be shipped within 3 days after payment as you expected payment wihtin 3 days.

I think between you and the buyer, the issue will be resolved especially you are considering a full refund.

As for not getting 100% feed back, I don't think buyers will make a big issue as we all know there are bad buyers are out there like bad sellers and if you got a lots of +ive feed backs and one -ive feed back is no big deal especially you put down your side of the story.

[wolfdogstinkus]

@Tamiya1/10, you are right, I have just looked at the listing and it does say 4-5days after cleared payment , but they didn't even give me that long.

So if I send it now and (well when the post office opens, tomorrow I think?) and then they decide they want the money back, What happens then?

[TWINSET]

Probably the easiest way to resolve this is to just send the buyer a message (via ebay) asking if they want the goods or want a refund.

Personally, if I was the buyer, I would be a little annoyed if your listing didn't say there may be a delay in posting due to an impending vacation, especially if it was one you knew about when you listed the item.

Perhaps they only want their money back as they managed to find something similar whilst you were away.

[teddyt]

I have been on both sides of this problem and whilst Wolfdog could have and will no doudt in the future explain in his description that he was going away.

the real problem is Ebay itself. since sellers have no longer had the right to leave neg feed back buyers have been pleaseing themselves how they conduct themselves

the numbers of non-payers has risen dramaticly over the last few months, also complaints over postage, lateness or items not as described. If I was that way inclined I would be complaining all the time and getting better deals by way of what amounts the allowed blackmail!!!!

[wolfdogstinkus]

The buyer hasn't asked for their money back, I have had no contact from them at all,( I have offered them the money back and told them I will post the item tomorrow, delayed due to bank holiday) to be honest I had forgotten that I had it listed and I am happy to post the item or refund the money, makes no difference to me, just wish they had tried to contact me before complaining to ebay.

As far as I know, I am still within the limit of estimated delivery time which was stated in the listing Jun 7th-8th.

I was a bit annoyed when I posted this thread, so I probably have over-reacted in here.

Don't want to come over as a dodgy seller with loads of excuses but I have been in pretty bad health recently so it really was the last thing on my mind.

If I don't hear from them, I will just post it as I am still within my ETA and if they want a refund, they will have to return the item at their cost, is that right?.

[TWINSET]

Sorry, when you wrote they'd opened a case against you, I assumed it was to get their money back.

If they want a refund, then yes, the goods are returned at their cost, but make sure you send by recorded delivery just so you know they received it.

On the plus side, if the item is sent by regular mail and they claim they never received it, you can claim something like 100 x the value of a first class stamp as compensation - just keep the receipt and get the Post Office to put the address on it.

[wolfdogstinkus]

@Twinset, they tried to open a case but e-bay said it was too early, thats why I was annoyed, they hadn't even given me a chance.

I always use recorded anyway, nevermind, I didn't have much sleep and was a bit grumpy so it's probably more to do with my mood than anything else.

Thanks for all the advice, it has helped me to see the other side and also how to avoid problems in the future.

[wolfdogstinkus]

The item is posted now, it will still be there within the estimated delivery time so hopefully that will be the end of that.

[Singleseven]

99p is not worth getting in a knot about, and If you value your 100% feedback, then I'd try and resolve it with the buyer, even if that means giving him a refund.

The refund can be made via paypal, there a link to issue a refund under the transaction details. you'll pay most of the refund and paypal a small %.

just my two pennies worth; hope it helps and good luck

[wolfdogstinkus]

Thanks Singleseven, posted it yesterday, it arrived today, I dont have many points on there 41 or something so it's annoying when people can't be bothered to take the time to leave feedback as I have no chance of increasing my score.

It arrived one day before the estimated delivery time, so they have no reason to leave me negative feedback.