Help - ebayer w/neg. would you let bid?

[StephMK]

I have one bidder on an item that has 10 positives (but one of those says he never paid but that's ok) and 5 negatives for non-payment. My ad states no excessive negatives - would you let him bid or retract it? This is my first sale so not sure how lenient to be.

If retracting, how do I do that? Or let him go & hope someone bids over him?

Thanks.

 

[IStoleMyKidsPins]

Trust me, DO NOT let this person bid in your auction. Especially if it's your first selling experience. Those 5 negatives are there for a reason. Most sellers will give "slow" buyers plenty of time to pay before leaving negative feedback. This person obviously is a deadbeat who probably gets caught up in the auction process or gets in over his/her head & then realizes he/she can't or doesn't want to pay for the item they won.

What you can do to cancel their bid is to go to the Ebay website, click on Help at the top of the page, type in Cancel Bids in the Search window, & it will present you a link to click on taking you through the steps of cancelling bids. You can also then add this buyer to your blocked bidders list so they can't bid on any of your auctions in the future.

There's nothing worse than getting stiffed on a sale. Ebay is generally a great thing. But occasionally you have some jerks try to screw it up. You just have to weed these people out. But definitely go out there & cancel their bid. And Good Luck with the auction.

BTW, did I mention my DW & 2 DS are going home in 47 days!!! Woo-hoo!!! Sorry, just had to get that in there.

 

[Luv2Roam]

No.

 

[DianeV]

I'm confused. Were all 5 negs from the same person or a couple of the same people? Most likely if they had 5 negs from buying they would have been suspended for non payment which can happen after 3 sellers file for their final fees back.

If they were all from one person I would not think as bad as if somehow it was all from different sellers.

 

[tinkerbellmagic]

Like the other poster said, I suggest you cancel their bid and block them from bidding on your auctions.

Recently, eBay has now given sellers the option to block bidders: with a feedback score of -1,-2, or -3 and more,
bidders from countries to which you don't ship to,
and bidders who have received Unpaid Item strikes from more than 1 seller in the last 30 days.
Go to My eBay/My Account/ eBay Preferences/Buyer Block Preference/change if interested in selecting these options.

Good luck on eBay!
Tink

 

[StephMK]

Thanks, I really needed the confirmation that I wasn't panicking for no reason. THese are time sensitive tickets to a park & don't want to mess around w/bad ebayers. It was surprisingly easy to go in cancel & then block it. Thanks, I never would have taken the plunge into selling w/o reading all the stories around here - good & bad. At least now I know what goes on there & to be aware.

Thanks for the info Tink! I didn't know you could do that & will go sign up for that too.

Despite the rocky start, I can already see that it can be addicting. Next fear to overcome is calculating shipping!

 

[luvthatduke]

This was opportune for me to read this thread today...

I have had modest success since starting
out on eBay just 2 weeks ago,
and I sold a $5.00 (yes, only $5) item
to a guy that has ignored EVERYTHING!
No response at all to eBay's winning
bidder notification, nor the first invoice,
the second and the third.

I'm perplexed because he has 3 feedbacks
(so he's new, like me) and all 3 say
how FAST he paid.
On the last and final invoice before
I plan on filing w/eBay I questioned
him on why he would tarnish his
100% positive feedback for $5??
I'm actually worried (the mom in me?) that
he's in the hospital or something...
Just doesn't make sense that he would
totally ignore EVERYTHING??

However, I want to block him from bidding
again - how do I do that?
I checked the option about blocking anyone
who has no-pays, but I want to block
him specifically - does eBay allow this?

Thanks for any help!

 

[ceecee]

When you file for your listing credit, they will ask you if you want to block him from future purchases. I would file the non-paying bid with Ebay and see if he responds.
Don't they suspend acccounts with 3 or more negative feedbacks in a short period of time???

 

[luvthatduke]

Thanks, ceecee!

I think you're correct about the 3 strikes...

 

[sandalwood]

However, I want to block him from bidding
again - how do I do that?
I checked the option about blocking anyone
who has no-pays, but I want to block
him specifically - does eBay allow this?

Thanks for any help! [/B][/QUOTE]

You can look at the top of most any ebay page and click on "site map". Scroll down a little and you will see where you can add someone to your blocked bidders list. This guy may have all positives but some people don't ever leave negatives (for fear of feedback retaliation) so it's possible he could just not have any neg's showing on his feedback but he hasn't paid on others. Ebay has now changed the way they do the 3 strikes rule since they've changed they way they do the non paying bidder form. He probably knows that. Just go ahead and file for your fees and block him.

 

[tinkerbellmagic]

Originally posted by StephMK
THese are time sensitive tickets to a park & don't want to mess around w/bad ebayers.

If you accept Paypal, the very best way to ensure you will get paid on any item is to use a "fixed price" "Buy It Now" with "Immediate Payment Required" auction. With that type of auction, the auction does not end until the buyer actually pays immediately through Paypal. Thus, no deadbeat bidders.

One drawback to this is you must decide the selling price ahead of time, so you would not enjoy the benefits of a bidding war jacking up the final price of your tickets. However, with a time sensitive item, the peace of mind of a sure sale is highly rewarding.

If you know the value of your item (by researching what it has sold for recently on eBay under "completed auctions" or what you originally paid for the item, or the price you plan to get for it), a Fixed Price/Buy It Now with Immediate Payment Required auction is the ideal way to prevent deadbeat bidders.

The other drawback to this auction format is that your buyers are limited to only those that have paypal accounts. I would rather narrow down the number of bidders, though, than risk a deadbeat bidder on a time sensitive item. I would also rather take less $ for the item by limiting my bidders to those who have paypal accounts. That is what works for me. You have to decide what works best for you.
*****************

Originally posted by luvthatduke
I'm perplexed because he has 3 feedbacks
(so he's new, like me) and all 3 say
how FAST he paid.
Just doesn't make sense that he would
totally ignore EVERYTHING??

I have had "buyers" with a feedback score over 600 positive who become deadbeats. While it has been more common in my experience for low feedback bidders to become deadbeats, those with excellent feedback can become deadbeats too. Like one of the other posters said, many sellers do not post negative comments about bidders for fear of retaliation.
*****************

Originally posted by ceecee
Don't they suspend acccounts with 3 or more negative feedbacks in a short period of time???

Three separate negative comments will not get you suspended unless ALL THREE SELLERS have filed non-paying bidder alerts, followed up by non-paying bidder warnings (or whatever they are calling them these days).

Hope this helps,
Tink

 

[luvthatduke]

Thank you, Thank you!

EDITED:
So, would you not leave any
negative feedback?
Like "Never responded, never paid."
I understand retaliation, but he
doesn't know the first thing about
me, my products, etc.
and I can't think of what he
would be able to say...

 

[tinkerbellmagic]

Originally posted by luvthatduke
Thank you, Thank you!

EDITED:
So, would you not leave any
negative feedback?
Like "Never responded, never paid."
I understand retaliation, but he
doesn't know the first thing about
me, my products, etc.
and I can't think of what he
would be able to say...

I do leave negative feedback. While it does not help me in any way to do so, and while I risk my own feedback by doing so, I still leave negative feedback as a warning to others.

I do not leave negative feedback until the "Non-paying bidder" warning has been finalized, so this is usually approximately 10 days after payment was due, or approximately 20 - 30 days after the auction has ended. This way, on the rare occasion that a buyer does indeed send payment, you do not have to follow thru with the non-paying bidder warning/request for final value credit. The first non-paying bidder alert will just expire and all will be well. Just know that by leaving negative feedback, you may get negative feedback in return, even if you have done nothing wrong.

It is more important to file the non-paying bidder alerts and warnings/"Request for Final Value" credit, than it is to leave negative feedback. Negative feedback does not get a deadbeat kicked off eBay, but 3 separate non-paying bidder warnings will.

As far as retaliation, you will get all sorts of responses. Some will be lies. One time a deadbeat bidder responded to my negative feedback about her, by copying word for word the feedback I had left HER onto MY feedback so that it sounded like I was the deadbeat bidder! lol.

If you go to eBay site map and find the discussion "Sellers Central" you can find lots of help there too.

 

[inkkognito]

Thankfully, I have never had to leave negative feedback for anyone. The worst I've ever left was a neutral, and that was when a buyer tried to pull something hinky (claiming they did not receive the item when I had a signed mail slip...when I pointed that out, they suddenly had no more to say). I think most sellers are reluctant to leave a neg. unless it is absolutely, positively necessary when a person has been given every chance and blown it. With that in mind, there is no way I would consider selling to a person with 1/3 of their feedback s negs.
Barb

 

[luvthatduke]

Thanks for the good advice

 

[StephMK]

Argh. Hope you don't mind if everyone walks me through this. Ok, I got rid of the neg. ebayer & the auction ended today & has already been paid by another buyer - good feedback rating. She paid w/paypal as instructions but her addy is unconfirmed. Her last name is different but first is the same in both areas that show. Her payment info is confirmed. The street addy has a ! instead of an l & in the comment section she states the addy as the correct word w/the l. So I don't know if it's unconfirmed due to that or if that was put there to create an unconfirmed?

Seems ok to send w/delivery confirmation but hoping some experienced sellers can ease my mind. Thanks!!

Ok, thanks for the instant payment auction tip - neat feature & will definitely use that next time!

 

[tinkerbellmagic]

Originally posted by StephMK
Argh. Hope you don't mind if everyone walks me through this. Ok, I got rid of the neg. ebayer & the auction ended today & has already been paid by another buyer - good feedback rating. She paid w/paypal as instructions but her addy is unconfirmed. Her last name is different but first is the same in both areas that show. Her payment info is confirmed. The street addy has a ! instead of an l & in the comment section she states the addy as the correct word w/the l. So I don't know if it's unconfirmed due to that or if that was put there to create an unconfirmed?

Seems ok to send w/delivery confirmation but hoping some experienced sellers can ease my mind. Thanks!!

I would email her and tell her you are trying to verify the correct wording of her address since there is a "!" in her Paypal address and you want to make sure you are sending the package to the correct address. You might want to ask her to write out the address, (including first and last name), exactly the way it should look on the label. See how she replies to your requests. The manner in which eBayers reply to anything, sometimes gives you a great indication of what type of bidder/seller they are. Tell her you do not want to delay the shipment, but you want to make sure the package is labeled properly.

I do send packages to unconfirmed addresses, but know we are always taking a chance by doing so. You said she has good feedback. You have to take into consideration her feedback, how long she has been a member on eBay, and how long she has had a paypal account, when trying to determine if you should send high value or time sensitive packages to unconfirmed addresses, since I do not think paypal will offer you seller protection when sending to unconfirmed addresses .

Other than that, it sounds pretty good.

Tink

 

[luvthatduke]

Hi, This was my original post:

"I have had modest success since starting
out on eBay just 2 weeks ago,
and I sold a $5.00 (yes, only $5) item
to a guy that has ignored EVERYTHING!
No response at all to eBay's winning
bidder notification, nor the first invoice,
the second and the third.

I'm perplexed because he has 3 feedbacks
(so he's new, like me) and all 3 say
how FAST he paid.
On the last and final invoice before
I plan on filing w/eBay I questioned
him on why he would tarnish his
100% positive feedback for $5??
I'm actually worried (the mom in me?) that
he's in the hospital or something...
Just doesn't make sense that he would
totally ignore EVERYTHING??

However, I want to block him from bidding
again - how do I do that?
I checked the option about blocking anyone
who has no-pays, but I want to block
him specifically - does eBay allow this?

Thanks for any help!"

In the spirit of fairness, and to say that not everything is at it seems, I finally heard from this buyer & my "mom" instinct was right! His WIFE had been in the hospital, giving birth to their son 14 weeks prematurely! She wasn't discharged until yesterday, and of course neither of them gave a thought to eBay (who would?). Then today their newborn stopped breathing and now is on a ventilator... God bless the wife (she was the apparent bidder), she actually found time to e-mail me and said she'd understand if I left negative feedback! Of course I won't - I'm shipping her purchase out first thing tomorrow. Anyways, just wanted to let you all know...

EDITED: Forgot to mention that they paid as soon as they sent the e-mail...

 

[Donna]

I hate to sound like the insensitive one here, but trust me, you are going to hear this type of story MANY times in your ebay experiences! If i had a dime for every buyer that "suddenly fell ill", had to have an "emergency appendectomy" and yes, i even got the "wife just had a preemy" story! Its up to you to believe them or not, i always gave them the benefit of the doubt because i have no way of knowing, maybe it really is true. For awhile there, i was getting buyers that were slow to pay and it was like some epidemic was going around, lol.

 

[luvthatduke]

Donna,

Yeah, I thought that right off actually... ).

But like you said, it was better to give
them the benefit of the doubt,
just didn't know what else to do...
I was just thankful they paid
immediately, I would have been
even more frustrated if they hadn't,
and the item would have just sat here
until they DID pay.

I think the main thing that peeves me
about potential deadbeats is that (in this circumstance)
they outbid someone else.
I would rather have gotten a lower bid
and gotten paid ASAP and mailed the thing out,
then to wait & wait.
I'm just thankful this didn't drag on longer,
and that they did pay.

I will be cautious with them next time.
I went ahead and took them off my blocked
list for the time being, as I did want to believe them.
The wife sent me an update on the baby
today, so maybe that's a good sign about
their integriity (but not for the baby, sigh...).

Thanks for your input, you made me feel
like less of a cynic for thinking the same way!