Sorry if this seems like a rant, I actually want advice, I'm just mad !
I haven't listed in auction format for quite some time after having item after item won by international bidders who didn't want to pay or wanted the item shipped against my shipping policy which is clearly stated in BIG BOLD LETTERS.
Well, my optimism got the best of me and I decided to finally get back on the horse and sell a bag in auction format asking for international bidders to contact me ahead of time for permission to bid after ensuring I can ship to them and what the cost will be. 7 days later, who won? An international buyer! That's okay, I figured. No way they could have missed the big bold shipping policy. Their feedback was low, but they had one other high end purchase go through successfully and they were consistently bidding on high-end items for a low price. It didn't appear that anything was fishy, so I sent an invoice.
In the middle of the night, I receive an email [identifying info x'd out]stating:
hi
my sis bidded this for me as a BD gift. I didnt know till she showed it to me just before she wanted to check out. I dont fancy this style. I prefer your the other xxxxxx bag on auction xxxxxxxx. Is it possible for us to switch to that bag at this price? Also, can u pls declare item value at $250 or less, otherwise the item will be subjected to taxation and gets retained at custom for that. It will then be a hassle and costly for us to claim. Would really appreciate your help. Best rgds
Please understand that the other bag is in a BIN auction for $500 more than she won this bag for and that what she asked me to do with shipping is exactly what I say I won't do with shipping in the auction.
Arrrrggghhhh!!! Here's what I wrote her back:
Hi! I'm sorry about your situation, but you have to understand that this is the third time in a row that auctioning an item in bidding format has resulted in an an international winner that either decided they didn't want the bag or wanted me to ship it against my shipping policy that is clearly stated in the auction in BIG RED BOLD LETTERS(please read it). I am completely frustrated! Bids are a binding contract. She [her sister] should not have bid if there was a chance she would back out of the transaction. It is unfair to both the other bidders and me as the seller who has invested time and money into this auction. Also- I don't mean to sound harsh, but your trade offer is completely unreasonable. Besides the fact that you bid on THIS BAG and not that bag, that bag is listed at a significantly higher price than the price you won this bag for. I cannot just "switch them". The other bag is available for $xxxx and no lower. Please let me know how we can work this situation out. Best Regards, xxxxxxxx
I was really angry when I wrote that, was I too harsh?
I'm just so sick of this happening and not being able to warn others or make deadbeat buyers have consequences for their actions... but I can't do that even if I file a NPB on her. Best case situation, ebay refunds my fees and removes the negative she leaves after I expose her as a NPB in my mandatorily positive feedback. Worst case, she buys the bag and retaliates by leaving me bad feedback, or worse, reversing the payment or damaging the bag. We've all seen on here that this actually happens far too often.
What should I do?
I haven't listed in auction format for quite some time after having item after item won by international bidders who didn't want to pay or wanted the item shipped against my shipping policy which is clearly stated in BIG BOLD LETTERS.
Well, my optimism got the best of me and I decided to finally get back on the horse and sell a bag in auction format asking for international bidders to contact me ahead of time for permission to bid after ensuring I can ship to them and what the cost will be. 7 days later, who won? An international buyer! That's okay, I figured. No way they could have missed the big bold shipping policy. Their feedback was low, but they had one other high end purchase go through successfully and they were consistently bidding on high-end items for a low price. It didn't appear that anything was fishy, so I sent an invoice.
In the middle of the night, I receive an email [identifying info x'd out]stating:
hi
my sis bidded this for me as a BD gift. I didnt know till she showed it to me just before she wanted to check out. I dont fancy this style. I prefer your the other xxxxxx bag on auction xxxxxxxx. Is it possible for us to switch to that bag at this price? Also, can u pls declare item value at $250 or less, otherwise the item will be subjected to taxation and gets retained at custom for that. It will then be a hassle and costly for us to claim. Would really appreciate your help. Best rgds
Please understand that the other bag is in a BIN auction for $500 more than she won this bag for and that what she asked me to do with shipping is exactly what I say I won't do with shipping in the auction.
Arrrrggghhhh!!! Here's what I wrote her back:
Hi! I'm sorry about your situation, but you have to understand that this is the third time in a row that auctioning an item in bidding format has resulted in an an international winner that either decided they didn't want the bag or wanted me to ship it against my shipping policy that is clearly stated in the auction in BIG RED BOLD LETTERS(please read it). I am completely frustrated! Bids are a binding contract. She [her sister] should not have bid if there was a chance she would back out of the transaction. It is unfair to both the other bidders and me as the seller who has invested time and money into this auction. Also- I don't mean to sound harsh, but your trade offer is completely unreasonable. Besides the fact that you bid on THIS BAG and not that bag, that bag is listed at a significantly higher price than the price you won this bag for. I cannot just "switch them". The other bag is available for $xxxx and no lower. Please let me know how we can work this situation out. Best Regards, xxxxxxxx
I was really angry when I wrote that, was I too harsh?
I'm just so sick of this happening and not being able to warn others or make deadbeat buyers have consequences for their actions... but I can't do that even if I file a NPB on her. Best case situation, ebay refunds my fees and removes the negative she leaves after I expose her as a NPB in my mandatorily positive feedback. Worst case, she buys the bag and retaliates by leaving me bad feedback, or worse, reversing the payment or damaging the bag. We've all seen on here that this actually happens far too often.
What should I do?