Scary BUYER Stories....I'll tell you mine..."-(

jchiara · Jul 16th, 2008, 03:22 PM

Ugh. We've all heard about the infamous seller - the one that sends us a piece of coal when we're expecting gold, the one who never ships, the one who takes our money in the night and we have to fight for our buyer's rights.....but who has SCARY BUYER stories?

I have one. My stomach is LITERALLY in a KNOT....

I had sold an item - it was a vintage piece of asian clothing on eBay yesterday. No biggie - under $100 including shipping....and I was sending it off to someone about 20 miles away from me, so you know it'll only take like one day to get there because I sent it Priority Mail.

So the first email was "please do a signature confirmation and delivery confirmation." No problem. I thought it might be more - so the shipping was like $12.00 because it was kinda heavy. I even said "you know, it's only going like from point A to point B - it's not like it's going across country, KWIM?" and they're like "I know."

Okay, then I get like 2 more emails last night "don't forget to email me the information when you go to the post office in the morning okay? Okay? Don't forget to email me the information don't forget okay - in the morning okay?"

Fine.

So I wake up and there are TWO MORE emails - "don't forget - I need those numbers when you get back from the post office this morning..."

I go to the post office and get everything I need. I think I might have messed up on the signature thing though - I paid for Priority and tracking and delivery confirmation and it still came out to be about $5.00 less than I thought. So I went home and send this person their "numbers" and also a $5.00 paypal refund on shipping.....

I then get more emails "I can't track the numbers on the USPS site - these numbers aren't right - there are supposed to be 22 numbers...." and I write back "these are the numbers I'm looking at right now." And he keeps DOUBLE-EMAILING me over and over and over and I finally said I was feeling a little frightened and slightly harrassed - and I didn't know what else he wanted me to do.....

I get another email not even thanking me for the refund - nothing just "I can't track this through paypal. I need to know the status of this item."

Oh my God you guys. I think I'm dealing with a crazy person....

I'm so afraid. My return address is on the package - I think he's crazy....

What do you think? Am I over-reacting? I have a habit of doing that, but I'm really nervous about this. And the worst worst thing is, this a@@hole could turn around and leave ME negative feedback! And what can I do? NOTHING! Just give 'neutral' feeback and say that he was a harassing bully?

jjyounger · Jul 16th, 2008, 03:29 PM

Tell this NUT that no tracking will be available until tomorrow morning. It does not go into the system immediately. It will be there the day after you ship. If the item was swiped at the PO, you can go onto the USPS website, enter the tracking number, and request email updates sent to you and to the buyer.

If the very worst happens, you will refund him. He definitely sounds quite anal, but I doubt that he's dangerous. Don't get stressed out over this, J, it's not worth it.

jchiara · Jul 16th, 2008, 03:30 PM

I'm amused too that his last call numbers on eBay are '84' so I'm thinking 'listen you little TWIT - I REMEMBER 1984 AND IF YOU'RE ONLY 24 YEARS OLD I'M GOING TO TELL YOUR MOTHER!!!!!!!!!"

print*model · Jul 16th, 2008, 03:32 PM

LOL!!!! Oh yeah, sounds very familiar. Certified nut-case. I've had more than I care to remember.

If you're not already aware, you can tell him that the post office updates their systems only in the evenings. He can began to track his package tonight.

titania029 · Jul 16th, 2008, 03:42 PM

This is why I rarely use USPS to send anything, the tracking (or lack thereof) just scares me. If he is only 20 miles away, most likely he's going to get the item before any tracking even shows up on USPS' website. Hope it turns out ok!

jjyounger · Jul 16th, 2008, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jchiara

I'm amused too that his last call numbers on eBay are '84' so I'm thinking 'listen you little TWIT - I REMEMBER 1984 AND IF YOU'RE ONLY 24 YEARS OLD I'M GOING TO TELL YOUR MOTHER!!!!!!!!!"

A very anxious twit at that!

onegirlcreative · Jul 16th, 2008, 03:47 PM

Is this his first buying experience on eBay???

Definitely sounds like a young punk who has nothing better to do than track every single package every single hour on the hour....Oy!!!

Sit tight, and I would basically respond (one last time) saying because he is clearly harassing you that you will no longer respond to his EVERY single e-mail. You've done what you could, it hasn't been anywhere near long enough for it to be an issue with the PO, so basically let him know that once it's out of your hands, it's out of your hands. Unless it's lost. Otherwise, your part is done (technically).

Geez....some people really do have too much time on their hands.

jchiara · Jul 16th, 2008, 04:00 PM

Scary too, huh - because this guys has like 700 points and 100% feedback! "Come again!" "Great Buyer!" I'm thinking about it as I'm washing the dishes and I'm like okay this is what I'll say...."Look (HIS name) - yes, it's true - HE bought a woman's kimono - I'm not going there......"I've done everything that I can do. I've mailed it off to you, it will be there tomorrow. I really hope you have a relaxing day. I have children at home and I cannot get tied up into this paranoia. Life's too short. I hope you enjoy your kimono. Have a great day..."

Now I'm unfortunately envisioning "I didn't get it." "It's 10:00 a.m. and it's not here." "You stole $65.00 from me." Well, I guess it IS good that there's a delivery confirmation on it after all? I could kick myself though about the signature confirmation DAMN. One bad peanut spoils the whole batch I tell you. Out of the years I've been selling, I can only think of three really bad buyers and this is one of them. Makes me just want to chuck in the towel and say "forget this - life's too short..."

Jayne1 · Jul 16th, 2008, 04:03 PM

I don't think he's a nut... I think he's just a little nervous, self involved, over worried, OCD type. You have to be patient with these kind of buyers.

You sound like a lovely seller though.

My favourite buyer story is about the one who suddenly didn't understand English and couldn't understand how to use Paypal or a CC. She had a lot of FB, but for me... she couldn't figure anything out enough to actually pay.

Pandora11 · Jul 16th, 2008, 04:11 PM

Sorry to say...He may have a good reason to be paranoid..
but USPS delivery confirmation is nothing. It's not reliable. USPS agents are not supposed (as I was told) to scan every single item passing their hand. Too many to bother?? If you do not literally hand the package over the counter and see it is scanned. Never be sure of anything.
From my experience, as a shipper, I sent two packages at the same time with pre-paid priority mail label with delivery confirmation (What I need to do just drop off or hand them over the counter). One of them arrived save and sound in 4 days. The other, well, took 3 weeks with the only single record on the 1st day I dropped the item saying " the item has been proceeded. Can you imagine how anxious I was for 3 weeks on the package valued $350 to disappear w/o traces? At least this time I had a proof of shipment.
The 2nd time..I dropped my package and nobody scanned it. So there were no records whatsoever to give me a legal right to receive my refund. Lucky me...the package was finally delivered 1 week after with the single tracking record (again) of its arrival.
My 3rd time as a buyer...I bid on a lovely vintage necklace. I paid eBay seller for upgrade priority mail (instead of 1st class) plus delivery confirmation. Well,,,I never received the package. The seller emailed me the tracking number and yes..it showed the item was sent..but never arrived. The funny thing was the system showing it was delivered. But I never received it! I ran back to my local post office, talked to delivery supervisor and also with the delivery agent herself. What they could say was..since the system showed it was delivered. so was it. Nothing we could do about it. I mentioned about my direct experience with the scanning process, how they missed it a few times, an uncompleted tracking report and unreliable scanning process,, to deaf ears
I didn't contact the seller again. Don't know what's more I could ask from her. But never leave her a feedback.
My solution... Even with free pre-paid label with delivery confirmation, I always pay extra for a proof of delivery at $1.65 flat. If I am free to choose my courier, I go for trackable services like FedEx, UPS, DHL but not USPS. Pay extra for my peace of mind.

jchiara · Jul 16th, 2008, 04:54 PM

Wow Pandora!!!!

Well, I'm looking here and I have paid for Priority and delivery confirmation, so it will show that he got it. I'm just so afraid because I screwed up on the signature part. So scary. Soooo scary.
And yes, I am a nice seller! Seriously - I'll bend over backwards for ya. Really - I enjoy eBay for the most part.

I haven't heard anything back yet from this yahoo after I said "just email me when you get the package, okay?"

I'll keep you posted......

sarahloveslouis · Jul 16th, 2008, 05:11 PM

Ohhhh geez I hope turns out OK for you.

Reasons like that are why I insist on using a PO Box as my confirmed address. (Buyers as well as sellers only get to see my PO Box)

So many whackjobs out there!

mlinky · Jul 16th, 2008, 05:56 PM

The weirdest seller I ever dealt with sent me strange emails almost every hour...some with the "good seller" personality and others with a "raving lunatic" personality. It was for a specialized item in a field where I know a few people, so even though she was in another state, we knew people in common. I later found out that she was an alcoholic and a drug addict and probably didn't remember anything that she said from one moment to another.

nooch · Jul 16th, 2008, 06:22 PM

The craziest buyer we ever had bought a turquoise ring... got it, left a positive raving about how great it was, and then decided it was fake. She then broke the stone nearly in half- a giant gash running through it and sent it back saying it was broken. The kicker? WE LOST THE PAYPAL DISPUTE.

Petite-Chic · Jul 16th, 2008, 06:59 PM

Hopefully your buyer will get the item no problem - but basically, updates show up at the end of the day, or not at all even when things are moving on time. So long as the numbers show up on the Tracking page I know to be patient for a week in the continental US. This buyer is probably just nervous but next time best put a disclaimer on the listing that carrier delays are at the buyer's risk and to require insurance on expensive items.

FYI 3 whacky experiences
- I once had a poster sent to me from Los Angeles to San Diego (2 1/2 hour drive)and it took 12 days Priority. He sent me an extra poster and kindly refused my offer to send one back. I think he was entitled to a refund for the postage.

- Also, an update showing another Priority package supposedly heading East from California was tracked as arriving in Honolulu, Hawaii the opposite direction!!- I was terrified it might leave the country altogether, but no, bag arrived safe and sound...eventually.

- Once, my private mailbox worker accidentally put a return item going back by USPS into a DHL carrier's bag. The post office says this kind of thing happens all the time and they trade mis-directed items regularly with the various express mail carriers. Luckily this was not an eBay item so the seller, an established company, refunded me even though they probably never got it back. (a dietary supplement of moderate cost)

One warning about the USPS, when I take my missed delivery slip to the Post Office, they NEVER check my ID to see if it matches the name on the sender's label. The delivery slip is left stuck on my door and anybody who walks by my apartment could snatch and claim it. If your buyer lives in an apartment - you might take extra precautions as they may not be home to pick up the package and other people may see/steal the notification/claim slip.

And when I sign for items, its always AFTER I've seen the recipient name on the package. So don't expect the Post Office to check the identity of the recipient to what's on the label before handing over the package to just anybody - meaning confirmed addresses provide only minimum security. Its always best when you get to know the Post Office employees either at the check-in or delivery points because they'll be more helpful when things go wrong.

DHL has such a terrible reputation I prefer USPS or UPS. I think they outsource their dispatch so the communication between the customer service phone line and delivery people is to blame each other when packages go missing.

Jul 16th, 2008, 03:22 PM	#1
jchiara is a Mommy of 4 ♥s	Scary BUYER Stories....I'll tell you mine..."-( Ugh. We've all heard about the infamous seller - the one that sends us a piece of coal when we're expecting gold, the one who never ships, the one who takes our money in the night and we have to fight for our buyer's rights.....but who has SCARY BUYER stories? I have one. My stomach is LITERALLY in a KNOT.... I had sold an item - it was a vintage piece of asian clothing on eBay yesterday. No biggie - under $100 including shipping....and I was sending it off to someone about 20 miles away from me, so you know it'll only take like one day to get there because I sent it Priority Mail. So the first email was "please do a signature confirmation and delivery confirmation." No problem. I thought it might be more - so the shipping was like $12.00 because it was kinda heavy. I even said "you know, it's only going like from point A to point B - it's not like it's going across country, KWIM?" and they're like "I know." Okay, then I get like 2 more emails last night "don't forget to email me the information when you go to the post office in the morning okay? Okay? Don't forget to email me the information don't forget okay - in the morning okay?" Fine. So I wake up and there are TWO MORE emails - "don't forget - I need those numbers when you get back from the post office this morning..." I go to the post office and get everything I need. I think I might have messed up on the signature thing though - I paid for Priority and tracking and delivery confirmation and it still came out to be about $5.00 less than I thought. So I went home and send this person their "numbers" and also a $5.00 paypal refund on shipping..... I then get more emails "I can't track the numbers on the USPS site - these numbers aren't right - there are supposed to be 22 numbers...." and I write back "these are the numbers I'm looking at right now." And he keeps DOUBLE-EMAILING me over and over and over and I finally said I was feeling a little frightened and slightly harrassed - and I didn't know what else he wanted me to do..... I get another email not even thanking me for the refund - nothing just "I can't track this through paypal. I need to know the status of this item." Oh my God you guys. I think I'm dealing with a crazy person.... I'm so afraid. My return address is on the package - I think he's crazy.... What do you think? Am I over-reacting? I have a habit of doing that, but I'm really nervous about this. And the worst worst thing is, this a@@hole could turn around and leave ME negative feedback! And what can I do? NOTHING! Just give 'neutral' feeback and say that he was a harassing bully? __________________ be thankful for all that you have..... Last edited by jchiara; Jul 16th, 2008 at 03:28 PM. Reason: added text

Jul 16th, 2008, 03:30 PM	#3
jchiara is a Mommy of 4 ♥s	I'm amused too that his last call numbers on eBay are '84' so I'm thinking 'listen you little TWIT - I REMEMBER 1984 AND IF YOU'RE ONLY 24 YEARS OLD I'M GOING TO TELL YOUR MOTHER!!!!!!!!!" __________________ be thankful for all that you have..... Last edited by jchiara; Jul 16th, 2008 at 03:31 PM. Reason: I CAN'T TYPE

Jul 16th, 2008, 03:42 PM	#5
titania029 Member Location: Dallas	This is why I rarely use USPS to send anything, the tracking (or lack thereof) just scares me. If he is only 20 miles away, most likely he's going to get the item before any tracking even shows up on USPS' website. Hope it turns out ok! __________________ I learned to think of shopping as the frosting on a cake. By itself, frosting is unfulfilling. It cannot be consumed on its own or turn a dry cake into a gourmet dessert. Frosting is meant to make what is already delicious and carefully prepared look finished and taste a little sweeter. In the same way, shopping is the polish. It's the final touch-up on your prudently taken-care-of mind, body and soul. - Retail Therapy: Life Lessons Learned While Shopping

Jul 16th, 2008, 03:47 PM	#7
onegirlcreative Bond Girls R Easy Location: My loft in front of the computer!	Is this his first buying experience on eBay??? Definitely sounds like a young punk who has nothing better to do than track every single package every single hour on the hour....Oy!!! Sit tight, and I would basically respond (one last time) saying because he is clearly harassing you that you will no longer respond to his EVERY single e-mail. You've done what you could, it hasn't been anywhere near long enough for it to be an issue with the PO, so basically let him know that once it's out of your hands, it's out of your hands. Unless it's lost. Otherwise, your part is done (technically). Geez....some people really do have too much time on their hands. __________________ One Girl Creative :: Graphic Design :: Pop Art :: www.onegirlcreative.com

Jul 16th, 2008, 04:00 PM	#8
jchiara is a Mommy of 4 ♥s	Scary too, huh - because this guys has like 700 points and 100% feedback! "Come again!" "Great Buyer!" I'm thinking about it as I'm washing the dishes and I'm like okay this is what I'll say...."Look (HIS name) - yes, it's true - HE bought a woman's kimono - I'm not going there......"I've done everything that I can do. I've mailed it off to you, it will be there tomorrow. I really hope you have a relaxing day. I have children at home and I cannot get tied up into this paranoia. Life's too short. I hope you enjoy your kimono. Have a great day..." Now I'm unfortunately envisioning "I didn't get it." "It's 10:00 a.m. and it's not here." "You stole $65.00 from me." Well, I guess it IS good that there's a delivery confirmation on it after all? I could kick myself though about the signature confirmation DAMN. One bad peanut spoils the whole batch I tell you. Out of the years I've been selling, I can only think of three really bad buyers and this is one of them. Makes me just want to chuck in the towel and say "forget this - life's too short..." __________________ be thankful for all that you have.....

Jul 16th, 2008, 03:29 PM	#2
jjyounger Judy Location: Memphis, TN	Tell this NUT that no tracking will be available until tomorrow morning. It does not go into the system immediately. It will be there the day after you ship. If the item was swiped at the PO, you can go onto the USPS website, enter the tracking number, and request email updates sent to you and to the buyer. If the very worst happens, you will refund him. He definitely sounds quite anal, but I doubt that he's dangerous. Don't get stressed out over this, J, it's not worth it.

Jul 16th, 2008, 03:32 PM	#4
print*model Member	LOL!!!! Oh yeah, sounds very familiar. Certified nut-case. I've had more than I care to remember. If you're not already aware, you can tell him that the post office updates their systems only in the evenings. He can began to track his package tonight.

Jul 16th, 2008, 04:03 PM	#9
Jayne1 Working Canvas Location: Toronto	I don't think he's a nut... I think he's just a little nervous, self involved, over worried, OCD type. You have to be patient with these kind of buyers. You sound like a lovely seller though. My favourite buyer story is about the one who suddenly didn't understand English and couldn't understand how to use Paypal or a CC. She had a lot of FB, but for me... she couldn't figure anything out enough to actually pay.

Jul 16th, 2008, 04:11 PM	#10
Pandora11 Member Location: California by the sea	Sorry to say...He may have a good reason to be paranoid.. but USPS delivery confirmation is nothing. It's not reliable. USPS agents are not supposed (as I was told) to scan every single item passing their hand. Too many to bother?? If you do not literally hand the package over the counter and see it is scanned. Never be sure of anything. From my experience, as a shipper, I sent two packages at the same time with pre-paid priority mail label with delivery confirmation (What I need to do just drop off or hand them over the counter). One of them arrived save and sound in 4 days. The other, well, took 3 weeks with the only single record on the 1st day I dropped the item saying " the item has been proceeded. Can you imagine how anxious I was for 3 weeks on the package valued $350 to disappear w/o traces? At least this time I had a proof of shipment. The 2nd time..I dropped my package and nobody scanned it. So there were no records whatsoever to give me a legal right to receive my refund. Lucky me...the package was finally delivered 1 week after with the single tracking record (again) of its arrival. My 3rd time as a buyer...I bid on a lovely vintage necklace. I paid eBay seller for upgrade priority mail (instead of 1st class) plus delivery confirmation. Well,,,I never received the package. The seller emailed me the tracking number and yes..it showed the item was sent..but never arrived. The funny thing was the system showing it was delivered. But I never received it! I ran back to my local post office, talked to delivery supervisor and also with the delivery agent herself. What they could say was..since the system showed it was delivered. so was it. Nothing we could do about it. I mentioned about my direct experience with the scanning process, how they missed it a few times, an uncompleted tracking report and unreliable scanning process,, to deaf ears I didn't contact the seller again. Don't know what's more I could ask from her. But never leave her a feedback. My solution... Even with free pre-paid label with delivery confirmation, I always pay extra for a proof of delivery at $1.65 flat. If I am free to choose my courier, I go for trackable services like FedEx, UPS, DHL but not USPS. Pay extra for my peace of mind.

Jul 16th, 2008, 04:54 PM	#11
jchiara is a Mommy of 4 ♥s	Wow Pandora!!!! Well, I'm looking here and I have paid for Priority and delivery confirmation, so it will show that he got it. I'm just so afraid because I screwed up on the signature part. So scary. Soooo scary. And yes, I am a nice seller! Seriously - I'll bend over backwards for ya. Really - I enjoy eBay for the most part. I haven't heard anything back yet from this yahoo after I said "just email me when you get the package, okay?" I'll keep you posted...... __________________ be thankful for all that you have.....

Jul 16th, 2008, 05:11 PM	#12
sarahloveslouis I don't eat turkey!	Ohhhh geez I hope turns out OK for you. Reasons like that are why I insist on using a PO Box as my confirmed address. (Buyers as well as sellers only get to see my PO Box) So many whackjobs out there! __________________

Jul 16th, 2008, 05:56 PM	#13
mlinky Member	The weirdest seller I ever dealt with sent me strange emails almost every hour...some with the "good seller" personality and others with a "raving lunatic" personality. It was for a specialized item in a field where I know a few people, so even though she was in another state, we knew people in common. I later found out that she was an alcoholic and a drug addict and probably didn't remember anything that she said from one moment to another.

Jul 16th, 2008, 06:22 PM	#14
nooch bubblehead Location: new mexico via BROOKLYN NY	The craziest buyer we ever had bought a turquoise ring... got it, left a positive raving about how great it was, and then decided it was fake. She then broke the stone nearly in half- a giant gash running through it and sent it back saying it was broken. The kicker? WE LOST THE PAYPAL DISPUTE. __________________ FAT AND FABULOUS! CHANGE THE WAY YOU THINK NOT THE WAY YOU LOOK! http://www.natreasures.com Authentic American Indian jewelry & crafts All orders ship free PM me for discount codes

Jul 16th, 2008, 06:59 PM	#15
Petite-Chic Member	Hopefully your buyer will get the item no problem - but basically, updates show up at the end of the day, or not at all even when things are moving on time. So long as the numbers show up on the Tracking page I know to be patient for a week in the continental US. This buyer is probably just nervous but next time best put a disclaimer on the listing that carrier delays are at the buyer's risk and to require insurance on expensive items. FYI 3 whacky experiences - I once had a poster sent to me from Los Angeles to San Diego (2 1/2 hour drive)and it took 12 days Priority. He sent me an extra poster and kindly refused my offer to send one back. I think he was entitled to a refund for the postage. - Also, an update showing another Priority package supposedly heading East from California was tracked as arriving in Honolulu, Hawaii the opposite direction!!- I was terrified it might leave the country altogether, but no, bag arrived safe and sound...eventually. - Once, my private mailbox worker accidentally put a return item going back by USPS into a DHL carrier's bag. The post office says this kind of thing happens all the time and they trade mis-directed items regularly with the various express mail carriers. Luckily this was not an eBay item so the seller, an established company, refunded me even though they probably never got it back. (a dietary supplement of moderate cost) One warning about the USPS, when I take my missed delivery slip to the Post Office, they NEVER check my ID to see if it matches the name on the sender's label. The delivery slip is left stuck on my door and anybody who walks by my apartment could snatch and claim it. If your buyer lives in an apartment - you might take extra precautions as they may not be home to pick up the package and other people may see/steal the notification/claim slip. And when I sign for items, its always AFTER I've seen the recipient name on the package. So don't expect the Post Office to check the identity of the recipient to what's on the label before handing over the package to just anybody - meaning confirmed addresses provide only minimum security. Its always best when you get to know the Post Office employees either at the check-in or delivery points because they'll be more helpful when things go wrong. DHL has such a terrible reputation I prefer USPS or UPS. I think they outsource their dispatch so the communication between the customer service phone line and delivery people is to blame each other when packages go missing.