Think I'm going to get a neg - not my fault, or is it?

purplebutterfly

I recently sold an item on Ebay for £18.50 including postage. The day after the sale the buyer sent a message via ebay asking me to text my address so that they could get a Postal Order sent that day.

I didn't feel comfortable with that, so sent my address via Ebay messaging and thought that would be okay.

The Postal Order arrived 4 days later and I paid it into the bank as I would a cheque. I kept the buyer informed at every stage (I always do, to avoid problems later) telling him that I would post as soon as the funds cleared - but it appears that my messages never got to him.

I got a message via Ebay asking why I hadn't responded to him - I hadn't received his message - and so I wrote back explaining that I hadn't got his message and he obviously hadn't got mine either.

I then copied all the correspondance into an email and sent it directly from my email account to his.

Today I have received a message saying: "Hello Please advise when delivery of item can be expected. A postal order is instant cash without clearing time at any post office."

I am so fed up that I'm going to post the damn thing before waiting for the funds to clear. I didn't realise that you could cash POs but I don't see why I should have had to! Am I not allowed to choose how I receive the money?

I know I'm going to get a negative for poor communication and slow delivery - but I don't feel it is at all my fault. I can't be held responsible for Ebay failing to deliver messages and if someone pays by cheque/PO then surely they should understand that they have to wait for funds to clear through the bank?


I'm so angry. :mad:

dinglebert

But as you stated yourself Postal Orders don't need to clear. Not the buyers fault who have effectively sent you cash for an item.

Minxy_Bella

I'm afraid he's right in that a PO is instant cash so you don't need to wait for the funds to clear, so you should have sent him his item straight away.

What I'm puzzled about though is why he sent a PO - did you list this as one of your preferred payment methods on your listing?

purplebutterfly

But I didn't KNOW that you can cash postal orders. Plus, I had explained that I wasn't cashing it but paying it into a bank.

I always list PO and cheque as options for payment because I realise that some people either don't have or don't like Paypal. I thought I was being "nice" by offering those methods - and every other PO payment I have ever received has been absolutely fine about it not being cashed but being payed into an account.

I think I'll go Paypal only from now on and save myself the hassle :rolleyes:

julia24_2

a good idea people pay for postal orders and the fees are probably more than paypal take as prices went up on april. crossed postal orders are payable into a bank only i was led to believe that too.

MX5huggy

But Paypal has it's down sides FEES and charge backs!

With PO's I go to Post office get the cash and post at the same time (normally the PO is for just less than the total postage for all my postage :rolleyes:)

Just send a message to the Buyer that it is in the post (when it is) and that you were confused about having to wait for the PO to clear and sorry for any delay.

I would not neg you for that.

sequence

It's your fault. But you kept the buyer informed so I'd let you off with a neutral. Others may not be so nice!

frivolous_fay

Crossed postal orders can be paid in at the PO direct into your account, without filling in a slip, if you bank with smile, cahoot, or various other banks you can deal with at the PO.

Smart_But_Casual

Sorry OP, but by dealing with a payment process that your obviously didn't know you've dropped a clanger.

If I'd sent a PO and then you wanted me wait for it to clear I'd not be best pleased and would be very tempted to neg' but you'd only get 1 star at best on all the indicators regardless.

purplebutterfly

I think I'll just take my neg and make sure I only deal in Paypal from now on.

I only sell a few things maybe twice a year and I really didn't think this would be such a problem.

I've never left a negative - even when I've had really crappy sellers who haven't posted for weeks and then left things out of the parcel. I always give individual sellers the benefit of the doubt, because everyone can make a mistake, but I guess I'm just too soft on people.

I admit I should have researched the whole PO thing more, so at least I can say that I've learned my lesson.

I'm still p***ed off that I'm going to get bad marks for communication just because Ebay can't deliver bloody messages though. THAT bit at least is not my fault

colony

purplebutterfly wrote: »

I recently sold an item on Ebay for £18.50 including postage. The day after the sale the buyer sent a message via ebay asking me to text my address so that they could get a Postal Order sent that day.

I didn't feel comfortable with that, so sent my address via Ebay messaging and thought that would be okay.

The Postal Order arrived 4 days later and I paid it into the bank as I would a cheque. I kept the buyer informed at every stage (I always do, to avoid problems later) telling him that I would post as soon as the funds cleared - but it appears that my messages never got to him.

I got a message via Ebay asking why I hadn't responded to him - I hadn't received his message - and so I wrote back explaining that I hadn't got his message and he obviously hadn't got mine either.

I then copied all the correspondance into an email and sent it directly from my email account to his.

Today I have received a message saying: "Hello Please advise when delivery of item can be expected. A postal order is instant cash without clearing time at any post office."

I am so fed up that I'm going to post the damn thing before waiting for the funds to clear. I didn't realise that you could cash POs but I don't see why I should have had to! Am I not allowed to choose how I receive the money?

I know I'm going to get a negative for poor communication and slow delivery - but I don't feel it is at all my fault. I can't be held responsible for Ebay failing to deliver messages and if someone pays by cheque/PO then surely they should understand that they have to wait for funds to clear through the bank?


I'm so angry. :mad:

Just chill. Send an apologetic email and the item out immediately. He might not feel the need to neg you if he likes the item and gets a grovelling apology.

And if you get a neg, worse things have happened, just forget it.

As for Paypal being hassel-free... ???