Righteous indignation or Ebay nut case?

[Sefton]

Here's something that just happened to me and I need to ask for an opinion (or two..)about my recent Ebay experience. Just the other day I won a nifty little vintage fan which is likely 1920's or 1930's. The seller only accepts PayPal and I am having a few changes made to my PayPal account which has temporarily made my account unuseable. I didn't realize this when I bid on the item,I only found this out when I tried to pay. For what it's worth I have a perfect feedback score on Ebay. All of the feedback left for me mentions how quickly I meet my obligation to pay. I pay immediately upon end of the auction. Partially because I want to be courteous and professional and partially because I'm impatient and want my goods ASAP!lol

When I realized that I wasn't going to be able to make an immediate payment to the seller of the fan I sent an email explaining this and I apologized and offered to make payment by bank or postal money order. In my email to the seller I said I was embarrassed about the situation,which is true; I don't like to be in this position at all. I received a reply from the seller which so surprised me that I'm making this post here. The seller's auction page states that he/she is professional and courteous. What do you think?

Here is the email that I received. I've removed any names or other identifications:

"I'm sorry, but it clearly states in my auction that payment will only
be
accepted via PayPal. You have now told me in your own words that you
will not pay in this manner, and I will not accept a money order, as
accounting is done by someone else. This auction is now VOID, reason:
Non Paying Bidder. Also clearly stated in my auction terms items that
are not paid for are immediately relisted on Ebay, which this one will
be tonight. I have no desire to join you in your financial problems.
Unless provoked by you, I will not leave you negative feedback, I will
simply move on to the next buyer that can pay according to my auction
terms. Sorry, you will no longer be able to bid on my auctions. When
somebody tells me they cannot pay within my time span, nor can they pay

according to my terms, I have every right to immediately cancel this
auction for non payment. You have now ruined all of my work and
efforts
in providing a quality auction, not to mention all the fees that Ebay
is
going to charge me for this auction now that you are not coming through

with payment. Unbelievable."

Now it certainly is his or her right to cancel and as far as I'm concerned I couldn't give a hoot if I'm black-balled from his or her future auctions. What I take exception to is the "I have no desire to join you in your financial problems." crack. I'm not having any financial problems thank you. I offered payment-payment that would cover all of those fees that he is being charged. If I had said I'm not going to pay or I want to send a personal check or I'm paying Pesos that would be "Unbelieveable". Maybe it's a blessing that I'll not be able to do business with this person. That's the end of my rant. I just had to get this off my chest.

 

[Flitcraft]

Consider it a blessing and move on.
The few times I've had situations like this, there really seemed to be no real recourse through Ebay.
One seller refused to participate in their Square Deal program, but offered to accept my returning the item, minus a 20% return fee. I readily accepted, but he then admitted that he hadn't really meant it.
It takes all kinds to make a World, and apparently it takes all kinds to make an auction site.
I'd say if you get out of this with no negative feedback, its probably best to file it under "Lessons Learned" and simply not deal with this individual again.

 

[Baron Kurtz]

Sounds like someone has just had enough of non-paying bidders. Unfortunately, this (valid) issue you're having with Paypal - and other similar problems - is quite often an excuse used by people who have simply overstretched or had no intention of ever paying. It is really impossible for sellers to know who's really having issues with paypal, and who are just the kind of ebay-scum buyers that are becoming all too common.

Sad, but true, you can't trust nobody.

bk

 

[big kahuna]

It's best to move on...

Engaging in any further dialogue with this person will be to no avail, and may damage your ebay rating. It is better not to engage in commerce with this type of mentality

Here's a quote to remember:

Never try to teach a pig to sing. It wastes your time and annoys the pig.

 

[WideBrimm]

Seller having a Bad Hair day?

I certainly symphthize with you. The seller certainly comes across as insulting.
A good business communication/letter usually keeps strictly to the facts.
Maybe he/she was having a bad day, or had a really bad experience in the past. However, it certainly does not excuse such a bad response. The seller could have let you pay and just waited until payment cleared before sending the item.
He/she certainly doesn't seem very eager to complete the sale. If it were me, I think I'd just chalk this one up to experience (provided the seller does not post any negative feedback).

 

[Sefton]

Yes, I will chalk this one up to lessons learned and I can understand that there are too many dishonest and unpaying bidders. It was the rude tone of the reply that got me. I suppose this is just par for the course when you do business in the relative anonymity of Ebay.

 

[Miss_Bella_Hell]

Can't you just say there is a problem with your Paypal account and as soon as it is resolved you WILL pay with Paypal?

 

[patrick1987]

This guy sounds like a pedantic jerk. These lines also stuck out at me: I have no desire to join you in your financial problems. And Unbelievable. He wouldn't listen to reason about your temporary PayPal situation. His loss. Guess he didn't really want to wait a little longer and make the sale.

 

[Maj.Nick Danger]

"You have now ruined all of my work and
efforts
in providing a quality auction, not to mention all the fees that Ebay
is
going to charge me for this auction now that you are not coming through

with payment. Unbelievable." Talk about unbelievable! What a wimp,...sounds as if you completely ruined this person's life forever. :eusa_clap lol
If this flake could wait a few days for your Paypal issues to be resolved, or condescend to accept a money order, then they could avoid all those unbelievable fees that Ebay is going to charge them. :eusa_booh
At least all you got was a guilt trip, without the dreaded negative feedback, and now you know to avoid this crybaby.

 

[Diamondback]

My advice: Sever ties, and inform your friends who do vintage auctions about this guy's total lack of patience for even the slightest hiccup.

"The truth told with ill intent beats all the lies a man can invent."--William Blake

He was out of line and unprofessional, plain and simple.

Just my pair of copper-clad Lincolns.

 

[Dixon Cannon]

These kinds of things are becoming more and more prevalent in eBay transactions. I too had a 'crazy' this last month. Not only will he not honor my M.O. payment (despite my excellent feedback score and comments), he won't return the M.O. or send the item - a book valued at $7.50 including shipping.

When I attempted to pay with PayPal, he too refused my business, refunded the trivial payment amount back to PayPal and told me he was blocking my emails.

These are undoubtedly individuals who are unable to sustain any kind of 'brick & mortar' business ethics and eBay is their refuge for rude, crass, and unethical behavior. It's a form of passive-aggressive behavior - "communicate with me so I can slam you and yell epithets!"

-dixon cannon

 

[Amy Jeanne]

I'd just move on. And I'd be glad that his life is ruined because he has to pay an ebay fee -- all because he didn't want to wait a bit longer! Hopefully his fan will re-sell at a much lower price

I recently had a bit of an ebay scrape. I "won" a 1955 issue of Photoplay and hadn't received it in a month. I saw that my check had been cashed so I sent the seller a message asking where my magazine was. I also asked for a refund. He told me it was mailed and "There's nothing I can do about it" -- as if I was lying.

A week later he sends me a message saying the magazine was returned to him because he didn't put the apartment # on it!!! His excuse was "I guess your mailman didn't know which apartment to send it to." Well, yea. It's a big complex! And there's a different mailman every day! I had a hunch that that was the problem, too.

 

[Dr Doran]

Sefton, why don't you tell us who he is so we can know not to do bizness with him? Sounds like a weenis.

 

[Sefton]

Thanks for the support everyone. I won't give the seller's name here,I don't want to start a personal attack against this person or his business. The FL isn't the right place for that sort of thing and I'm not out for revenge. It was just a fan. I'll find one somewhere else. His life is ruined,mine isn't!

By the way Doran, nice new avatar! A real cutie! (the baby,not you... )

 

[ShortClara]

eBay sellers have to wait 7 days before they can file the NPB I do believe. If you pay within the 7, and they do not sell (b/c they have relisted) you can file a Non-Performing Seller if you wanted to. Relisting after 0/1 days have gone by is insane - it's more trouble than it's worth, and I don't think you get fees back if you don't go through the NPB process as a seller. Sorry you had this bad experience

Block them - is your bidding ID your selling ID as well? If you're just a buyer on eBay, I'd recommend leaving a neg because, after all, this was a negative experience for you with a non-performing seller. You will get one back, but negs for bidders just don't matter as much as negs for sellers. You may not want to bother, but I do think that honest feedback helps everyone on the 'Bay. If you do sell with your ID, too, I recommend getting an ID just for bidding, so a freak like this can't ruin your feedback I have two for just that reason.

 

[scotrace]

That's good advice. Ebay rules allow a period of time for you to pay. They have backed themselves into a corner.

 

[Dr Doran]

By the way Doran, nice new avatar! A real cutie! (the baby,not you... )

Thanks, S. We look forward to meeting yours!

 

[Tango Yankee]

If you do sell with your ID, too, I recommend getting an ID just for bidding, so a freak like this can't ruin your feedback I have two for just that reason.

ShortClara,

I didn't know you could do that--ya learn something new every day! I'm planning on selling some stuff in the near future and will take this advice. Thanks!

Sefton,
I also had an annoying experience with another nutcase. In the end I got my hat, but it was rather nerve-wracking while it was going on. It's too bad some sellers out there seem to view their buyers as the enemy. Looks like you're getting out of this easily if you didn't have your heart set on that fan. It's OK for us to say take it as a lesson and move on, but it probably doesn't make it any less annoying or frustrating for you. At least, until you find a better fan cheaper!

Good luck!
Tom

 

[Fletch]

You're gonna laugh (I hope)...but was this seller from New Jersey?

It seems to be my experience that an unusually high percentage of my mail order and/or internet deals where there is some misunderstanding, and harsh words are exchanged, seem to involve an NJ-based seller.

Am I nuts? Prejudiced? Or are there, perhaps, some cultural assumptions that arise when a buyer shows a NY address, as I do?

[huh]

 

[MrNewportCustom]

I wonder how this person treats people in general.

I'm one who will not do business with someone who is this rude - yes, I said rude - when explaining to them a situation that is beyond my control, while offering a substitute plan to get their money to them. It's obvioous to me that this person has no sympathy for someone who is doing their best in a bad situation.

I don't care if the person has been swindled by others who've conjured up a ruse that mimics your predicament, sefton, and they probably have, but a seller does not treat a buyer with a lack of respect such as this, especially when the seller (OOPS! I meant . . .) buyer is honestly trying to hold up his part of the transaction.

I would leave a feedback like this, were it me: "Seller will not work with a buyer when situations beyond buyer's control affects payment through Paypal, even when alternate forms of quick payment are offered."

More of a warning than bad feedback. If he feels that it's harrassment, let him be the one in the wrong.


Lee
__________________________

"No need to be mean just because he's deranged" - The Tick