Oh no! Another "WWYD ebay" question

[Belle0101]

I listed an item for sale ebay and the sale ended yesterday at about 4PM. The winning bidder paid this evening - no problem - however, they have included a message with their payment as to how they want the item packaged and shipped. No please, no could you, just here's how I want it packaged.

The problem? I do not have those materials and will have to go out and buy the materials in order to satisfy their demand. Also, the extra materials will increase my shipping costs due to the extra weight. I listed a flat fee for shipping.

It's my opinion, that if they had specific demands for shipping they should have asked prior to bidding if I could accomodate them. They didn't and my costs are going to increase by $10 +/-.

Do you suggest I tell them sorry, eat the extra costs?

 

[tnmt]

I would just ship it the way I was planning on shipping it to begin with, or send an email letting them know there would be extra costs on shipping. If it was me though I wouldn't even bother emailing them back. They have a lot of nerve!

 

[lisa-upnorth]

they do NOT get to tell you how to ship!!!!! TOO BAD for them! they needed to ask all of that before they bid

 

[kermit116]

I would email & tell them that the special shipping will be at cost since you don't have those materials. If you just ship it without addressing the request, you may get (unreasonable) bad feedback from this unreasonable buyer.

 

[seashoreCM]

I would say there is nothing wrong with packing it the way you want to except if it gets broken in shipment then you the seller are responsible.

You can say everything you want to about insurance but still eBay (and Paypal) will favor the buyer if the buyer does not receive the item in good order.

 

[erincon23]

"I'm sorry, I will pack it securely with the materials I was planning to use and have available. Packaging the way you have requested will add $15 to your cost. If you still prefer me to package the way you have requested, please send the additional $15 via PayPal within 24 hours. If I don't hear from you within 24 hours, I will send it the way I had planned." I know you said it would cost you $10, but you have to figure in your gas and time and PayPal deduction as well.

 

[matt and beth]

After my experiences with selling hundreds of items on eBay is that when this begins many many troubles follow. To the point where I want to say, "no, forget it I will offer the item to the second place bidder. Thank you for your offer. "

Seriously, protect yourself on this one. Caution flags up!! Make sure that you have insurance and signature for delivery confirmation because you are about to get scammed. Sorry, I know I rush to judgment but my experience is that these special request people are the worst.

 

[MnMomW3Boys]

After my experiences with selling hundreds of items on eBay is that when this begins many many troubles follow. To the point where I want to say, "no, forget it I will offer the item to the second place bidder. Thank you for your offer. "

Seriously, protect yourself on this one. Caution flags up!! Make sure that you have insurance and signature for delivery confirmation because you are about to get scammed. Sorry, I know I rush to judgment but my experience is that these special request people are the worst.

Yes Yes and Yes!!!

 

[AnninIowa]

I have been selling on Ebay for 6 years and have gotten messages like that. It annoys me, too. So rude, imo! Just ship how you were planning to. I think some people add that message automatically to their payment info.

 

[ajh88]

IDK, on the one hand, I do agree with the PP's - especially about being on high alert with this buyer. With that said, why give them reason to complain? I don't know the details of their demands, but they *are* the customer and have paid you in a timely fashion for an item that they want to receive undamaged. It could be that they have been burned in the past (either buying or selling) or that they are just particular. It takes all kinds, KWIM?

I have only had a couple of buyers make specific requests like this, but when they did, I tried to accommodate their requests (within reason).

 

[robinb]

I'm curious. How were you planning to send the item and how is it different than the buyer asked you to send it? $10 seems to be a lot more for materials over how you planned to send it.

 

[iheartpeterpan]

"I'm sorry, I will pack it securely with the materials I was planning to use and have available. Packaging the way you have requested will add $15 to your cost. If you still prefer me to package the way you have requested, please send the additional $15 via PayPal within 24 hours. If I don't hear from you within 24 hours, I will send it the way I had planned." I know you said it would cost you $10, but you have to figure in your gas and time and PayPal deduction as well.

I would do this, and I would send that message through ebay's messaging system, so that if the buyer gives you a strike you have history of being reasonable and have some argument to have it removed.

Although you won't get it removed. Ebay has gone ridiculously "we protect our buyers only". If this is the worst you get as an ebay seller then you're doing pretty well.

 

[Leajess99]

After my experiences with selling hundreds of items on eBay is that when this begins many many troubles follow. To the point where I want to say, "no, forget it I will offer the item to the second place bidder. Thank you for your offer. "

Seriously, protect yourself on this one. Caution flags up!! Make sure that you have insurance and signature for delivery confirmation because you are about to get scammed. Sorry, I know I rush to judgment but my experience is that these special request people are the worst.

I would also recommend taking several pictures of the items showing the date. If you have a decent camera on your cell phone use that as well as a regular digital camera.

 

[ptcruisermom]

I would be very careful. A few years back I sold a Chatty Cathy doll-the winning bidder told me not to bother with insurance-ummm no I don't think so-she said the post office wouldn't pay if the item was damaged-red flag big time. I did the insurance and shipped it with delivery confirmation-Ff she then sent me a email and said that the hair had been cut(no the hair had not been cut ever) Luckily I had taken pictures-she left me negative feedback, I could still at that time leave negative so I did and stated she tried to scam me-she replied that I was crazy as I had also insinuated in an email that she tried to scam me with not having the insurance. Nothing ever came of it. But I did stalk her listings for a while, and guess what went up for sale a few months later, yes Miss chatty Cathy, the same one that I had sold her. so I had a friend inquire as if the hair had ever been cut- guess what her reply was -no it had not, had my friend ask several other questions, the lady really got perturbed and said well do you want to bid on it or what. I look for red flags all the time no w if and when i sell on ebay. Just be very cautious coz in can bite you in the rear.

 

[RitaE]

I agree with a previous poster -- you are so going to get burned on this.

If you decide to proceed, photograph that sucker to death of how you have it securely packed. Photograph it in it's current condition extensively too and make sure your photographs are dated. Insure and delivery confirmation (signed).

But I can pretty well guess that they are going to claim it arrived damaged.

I would give them an out now though

"I'm sorry but my auction price included shipping in this manner. If this is not acceptable to you then I have no problem at all canceling your win of the auction.

Really -- you want them to cancel. Trust me.

 

[nunzia]

I have been selling on Ebay for 6 years and have gotten messages like that. It annoys me, too. So rude, imo! Just ship how you were planning to. I think some people add that message automatically to their payment info.

Yep..I've had that occasionally too. I always pack well for what the item is, so I just pack how I would normally and have never had an issue with that.