Buyers communication

iamashoppingaddict

So I sold a set of something very bulky listed as a cash on collection auction. Sold for what I expected so happy. Send a message asking when they want to collect. Note that they are 4 hours away. Get a message 4 days later saying they 'bought the wrong size'. Was very cross however agreed to cancel.

Now I've listed them again and they sold again saturday to someone else. Sent a message asking when they'd like to collect and again no response. I may send a chasing note this evening.

I really want this gone as I desperatly need the space and I really hope they aren't going to mess me about as well.

Rant over! Oh but at least this buyer is a bit closer, only an hour away!

Crowqueen

When you sell collection items, you need to be a bit patient. Some buyers don't use their computers much over the weekend. So if something only sold Saturday, you are well within your rights to send an email over the weekend, but you must allow buyers a couple of days to get back to you, particularly as you are at the mercy here of someone being able to arrange transport to pick something up (which, given the distances involved even in an hour's journey, may turn out to be next weekend rather than during the week).

Don't send another message until they have made contact with you. Patience can often pay more dividends than hassling people, particularly if you need the item shifted quickly.

iamashoppingaddict

Thanks. I'll give it a few more days.

iamashoppingaddict

Just a bit of an update to this really and another dilemma!

This buyer I was referring to, did contact me eventually and collected their item.

However around the same time another collection only rather bulky item ended. She however contact me straight away and we arranged that she was collect it Thursday just gone at 6.30pm. I rushed home from work and waited and waited. She didn't turn up. I checked my emails and had no contact.

In an effort not to harass my buyer I left it until Sunday to send her a quick note asking if she still wanted the item but to date I have heard nothing.

She is a new ebayer, with Zero feedback. What should I do next?

hermum

Open a NPB, hope they don't pay by Paypal, close it 4 days later & then relist if they don't contact you or pay.

Crowqueen

Yes, I'd go with the NPB too.

It may get them back into contact, at the very least.

iamashoppingaddict

Thats the only thing that was stopping me from opening an NPB, the risk that they pay through paypal and then want to collect it. It isn't a huge sum but the risk is still there......

Crowqueen

You can't really have your cake and eat it. If you want the sort of prices eBay brings in, then you accept the risks of selling there.

This is going to sound a bit harsh, so sorry, but I get fed up with this PayPal on Collection thing. Yes, we know it's a risk. But it's a risk from day one o the listing going live. You opened yourself to that risk when you listed it on eBay, so you've already accepted that could happen.

The probability is now that they won't get in touch at all and you can stop worrying about it, and a dispute now would either get them in touch with you - hopefully to pay cash and collect the item while you have a dispute hanging over their head - or maybe, yes, they will pay, maybe you will have to take the risk, but as I say above if you don't want to risk PPoC, then don't list on eBay - there are plenty of other small ad sites.

Quite often the scam items are expensive and on low value sales Paypal is entirely safe.

If you want to get in touch with the buyer, then opening an NPB will focus their mind, or it will cancel the sale and you can relist.

Not doing anything is not really an option if you want to relist and don't want to risk the original buyer to come back, pay by Paypal, and collect the item. You need to choose whether you want to take the PPOC risk when you list the item, not when you are faced with having to open an NPB dispute.

iamashoppingaddict

Crowqueen wrote: »

You can't really have your cake and eat it. If you want the sort of prices eBay brings in, then you accept the risks of selling there.

This is going to sound a bit harsh, so sorry, but I get fed up with this PayPal on Collection thing. Yes, we know it's a risk. But it's a risk from day one o the listing going live. You opened yourself to that risk when you listed it on eBay, so you've already accepted that could happen.

The probability is now that they won't get in touch at all and you can stop worrying about it, and a dispute now would either get them in touch with you - hopefully to pay cash and collect the item while you have a dispute hanging over their head - or maybe, yes, they will pay, maybe you will have to take the risk, but as I say above if you don't want to risk PPoC, then don't list on eBay - there are plenty of other small ad sites.

Quite often the scam items are expensive and on low value sales Paypal is entirely safe.

If you want to get in touch with the buyer, then opening an NPB will focus their mind, or it will cancel the sale and you can relist.

Not doing anything is not really an option if you want to relist and don't want to risk the original buyer to come back, pay by Paypal, and collect the item. You need to choose whether you want to take the PPOC risk when you list the item, not when you are faced with having to open an NPB dispute.

Yes you are right, it does sound quite harsh however I suspect you get fed up with these types of dilemmas regularly on this board!!

I'll open it and see what happens. Thanks for your advice, it is much appreciated. :T