My first awkward buyer

aj3001

I have been selling on eBay for a few years, never had any problems until this week, sold an item BIN for £3.50 plus £4.50 p&p

One item sold on the 20th march, so I waited, and waited and on the 25th March thought I would drop them a quick email to check if everythings ok, and they replied they wanted to pay by cheque (fine, I said in the auction that was possible) so I give them the address to send the cheque to and the name to put on the cheque

Two days later, I recieve the cheque, addressed to my dad (its his ebay account) for just £3.50!!!

Have just had to send another email to chase another £4.50, this is from a guy who has 100% feedback (on 8 items) but has been using ebay for over 2 years!!

So frustrating!

yeslek

some people are just ditsy

rose_sparky

Or it could be a ruse to delay payment even further.

I'm always amazed at the delay tactics for small amounts of money.

soolin

There was a thread the other week about how buyers often snip away at the payment , so maybe this is one where he is hoping you will just say 'never mind' and send it anyway.

I had one yesterday as well, bought 2 items and paid for both in one transaction but with only 1 lot of post and packing. I do offer a reduction of post and packing for 2 or more purchases but only at the rate of 50% off the second and subsequent item, not BOGOF. I'v too much on my plate to worry about it at the moment as the difference is only 75p, but I have emailed the buyer to say I'd noticed and that I would therefore downgrade to 2nd class postage rather than the 1st she requested.

I do wonder though if these mis payments are intentional. If they just get one seller like me who lets them off once in a while it has to be worth chancing their luck.

yeslek

i always refuse to ship items until full payments are made

soolin

yeslek wrote: »

i always refuse to ship items until full payments are made

I do normally as well but at the moment having just lost my entire professional career yesterday I can't be bothered for 75p. It was either let it go, or take out all my anger on the buyer and probably get suspended, so I decided to let it go this once.

Tirian

soolin wrote: »

.. having just lost my entire professional career yesterday ...

Really sorry to hear that :sad: :grouphug:

digerati

aj3001 wrote: »

I have been selling on eBay for a few years, never had any problems until this week, sold an item BIN for £3.50 plus £4.50 p&p

Two days later, I recieve the cheque, addressed to my dad (its his ebay account) for just £3.50!!!

Typical of the buyers we get on eBay these days - I blame the schools for not teaching students to read...

I'd ask the buyer when they are going to pick up the item. (That usually rattles them up a bit.) Otherwise simply give them your bank details and ask for a bank transfer - that way the buyer has no excuse about 'the cheque must have got lost in the mail'.

Wait until when buyers complain about your excessive S&H. You then offer to ship the item with just a stamp and address label on it, even if it is a priceless Ming vase. ;-)

Be prepared!