Getting fed up of the "I need it by Friday"s

Strapped

...when all my items state that I post with 2 working days, and have 2nd Class as the default postage option, making the estimated delivery time 5-7 working days.

Friday is 4 working days away. (Yes, it will most probably get there by Friday if I post tomorrow but I'm making no promises about RM delivery times).

But oh no, buyers don't want to choose 1st Class or Special Delivery instead. Guess they don't "need" it that much. :mad:

Sooo annoying when it's a holiday item, and you know you will end up with a return if they don't get it "by Friday" :mad:

I've had too many of these today! Grrrr. Rant over.

soolin

I think I am doomed with saying 'me too' on some threads.

Virtually all my items without fail are paid for by paypal yet last week I had someone ask if they could BIN one of my items and pay by cheque instead, so I changed the bIN away from immediate payment required and 3 days after the request the buyer BINs and then says she wants to send a cheque as she doesn't trust paypal. I suggested a bank transfer, but she thinks they are dodgy, so sends a cheque. Cheque arrives this morning with a note 'I need this for Friday please send Monday at latest'. It didn't go today as my post arrived after my PO run so it will have to go tomorrow even though I cna't bank the cheque until at least Friday.

I am upgrading to 1st class even though she only paid for 2nd (as I have saved a few pence on paypal fees), but really, it is a bit irritating.

Add to that the German buyer who asked about a bulk order then ignored my emails. Then does a best offer on an item at 4 times the BIN price? I can only assume that is her attempt to bulk buy, but the amountt bears no relationship to anything we had discussed previously, that was 5 days ago and I've heard nothing about what she thinks she is paying for and have not been paid.

I also have a buyer from Lichtenstein my first ever, who is apparently sending a cheque and does nto respond to my urgent emails explaining that I only accept paypal and certainly don't want a cheque drawn on another currency.

It's odd though as I've had no problems for months and months and now they all come at once.

splot_2

I've had a similar experience and simply added the additional postage options on to the item listing afterwards. Is it something that you'd consider?

soolin

splot wrote: »

I've had a similar experience and simply added the additional postage options on to the item listing afterwards. Is it something that you'd consider?

I'm like the OP though in that I do offer enhanced services but buyer had chosen to use 2nd class.

splot_2

OP and Soolin - that will teach me to read and understand the post properly!

Time to exit stage right....

soolin

splot wrote: »

OP and Soolin - that will teach me to read and understand the post properly!

Time to exit stage right....

No worries, and I rather suspect they are fully aware that they are taking a cheaper option when they pay. However on lighter items they probably get a fair number of selller like me who pay the extra for 1st class rather than risk a late item and a possible problem though paypal.

Strapped

thriftymanc wrote: »

I had this about something I sold on eBay a while ago. Can't remember the exact costs so these are examples...

I'd clearly stated the postage price was for within the UK and to please ask for postage costs if buying from abroad. Listed an item for £4 postage in the UK. Item was due to end in two days when I got a question.

Buyer: "Can you ship to France for £4?"

Me: "No sorry, the price I listed is for the UK as stated. The cheapest I can send to France would be surface mail for an extra £1."

Buyer: "I need it in four days, can you ship this to France for £4?"

Me: ..... "No, as I said the cheapest way I could send it to France is surface mail for £5 - but surface mail is also the slowest. I could send it airmail which is faster and would be £6, however I can't guarantee it will get there in four days' time, as the auction doesn't end for another two days."

Buyer: "Ok thanks".

Buyer bids. Buyer wins. Buyer pays £4 postage the day after the auction ends and one day before they want the item. *Headdesk*

I email the buyer within five minutes of them paying, as I was online at the time, and they reply instantly.

Me: "I have refunded your payment as you haven't paid enough postage to send to France, as previously discussed. Please pay either £5 or £6 postage depending on how you want the parcel to be sent."

Buyer: "I don't want it anymore as I need it tomorrow."

ARGH! WHY DID YOU BID? And why did you then pay if you knew you didn't want it?!

TSFE.

</rant>

I feel your pain!

No worries, and I rather suspect they are fully aware that they are taking a cheaper option when they pay. However on lighter items they probably get a fair number of selller like me who pay the extra for 1st class rather than risk a late item and a possible problem though paypal.

Yes, I imagine some are well aware. Some probably don't realise there are other options available, but even when you point it out and offer to change it for them, they don't want to pay the extra.

mum2one

The other things about cheques is not everyone is able to get to the bank that day to get the cheque in, then allow clearance, I had it once off a buyer, I need the item within 4 days of end of auction, no probs, plz pay by Paypal, - no they pay by cheque..... It was £10 inc the postage, was tempted to send it, but brain ruled......
Luckly it did, as the cheque bounced..........

soolin

mum2one wrote: »

The other things about cheques is not everyone is able to get to the bank that day to get the cheque in, then allow clearance, I had it once off a buyer, I need the item within 4 days of end of auction, no probs, plz pay by Paypal, - no they pay by cheque..... It was £10 inc the postage, was tempted to send it, but brain ruled......
Luckly it did, as the cheque bounced..........

Well my item going today is on a cheque and I almost certainly won't pay it in until Friday. I know I save a few pence paypal fees, but really, I'd rather pay the blooming fees.

Me: ..... "No, as I said the cheapest way I could send it to France is surface mail for £5 - but surface mail is also the slowest. I could send it airmail which is faster and would be £6, however I can't guarantee it will get there in four days' time, as the auction doesn't end for another two days."

Strapped, never offer surface if paypal is involved, you'll have a chargeback in even before the item has crossed the Channel. A buyer too dim to understand we can't transfer physical matter in a blink of an eye is never going to understand surface mail.

Anyone who asks me about 'fast' postage tends to get blocked, it's the ones who pay late and then insist on immediate delivery that really really get to me.

moneypooh

I had a buyer the Christmas before last offering to send me stamps as payment. They didn't have a paypal account and as they wanted it quickly they thought that stamps would act like cash :rotfl:They eventually sent a postal order instead.

Strapped

soolin wrote: »

Strapped, never offer surface if paypal is involved, you'll have a chargeback in even before the item has crossed the Channel. A buyer too dim to understand we can't transfer physical matter in a blink of an eye is never going to understand surface mail.

Not me! But yes, I agree :T