Buyer asking me to donate item to them. Thoughts on how to reply?

[rcmbullion]

Buyer made a low-ball (but profitable offer) that I accepted on a pair of women's jeans.  Asking was $19.xx with shipping.  Buyer came in at $12.49- good enough.  Paid promptly.  The buyer then messaged me asking if they were shipping today, an hour after they paid- roughly 4pm EST.  I replied that the mail had already come and that they would go out first thing tomorrow.  The buyer then replied asking me to donate them to her and that she was short on cash and having surgery.

This situation is so ridiculous that I'm actually questioning how to handle it.  Just to be clear, I'm not considering her request.  My concern is that she is trying to scam and that there will be a "problem" later either with delivery or SNAD/ fake/ return scam/etc.  Her feedback is 100% positive and her feedback left is nearly 100% as well on 50 transactions or so.  I would love to just cancel the transaction and dodge this one but I don't want to take the strike either.  I have one-day handling so they're going out tomorrow.  I'm afraid any explanation of why business and free don't go together will set her off and result in undeserved negative feedback.

At best, this may be an unusual buyer remorse request.  Or a scam designed to make me keep guessing on how I'm going to get screwed either by the buyer or my account stats if I don't play along.

Thoughts?

[cubano4u]

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@gew6463 wrote:

 "Hello. I am sorry you are going through a tough time right now. As it happens, I am selling this item to pay off my own medical bills/car payment/kids camp (ect), so I am unable to donate at this time. I wish I could be more helpful. I would be willing to cancel the transaciton if you need me to do so; I will wait to hear back from you before shipping. I wish you the best on your surgery". 

I have found meeting hard-luck story with hard-luck story is very surprising to buyer of this sort; usually stops them in their tracks. 

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I'm so stealing this reply from you.... this is exactly how I would handle this myself. 

Thank you....

[mr_lincoln]

@rcmbullion  I guess many folks would handle this differently ... using the premise that "it never hurts to ask" one can not fault the Buyer.  However, my reply would go something like this, "My handling time is 1 day so eBay expects me to ship the item on time and as it was paid for, otherwise I get a defect on my account.  If you message me and ask me to cancel the purchase before days end today I will be happy to do so, otherwise it will be on its way to you tomorrow."

[mypostingid15]

Ask them if they have a tax ID you can report the donation to.

[magsmg101]

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@gew6463 wrote:

So I don't know what your particular financial situation is, and I am not suggesting you lie obviously. But most people have something that they need money for. In my case, it is medical bills, or something my kids need. So I send a message along the lines of: "Hello. I am sorry you are going through a tough time right now. As it happens, I am selling this item to pay off my own medical bills/car payment/kids camp (ect), so I am unable to donate at this time. I wish I could be more helpful. I would be willing to cancel the transaciton if you need me to do so; I will wait to hear back from you before shipping. I wish you the best on your surgery". 

I have found meeting hard-luck story with hard-luck story is very surprising to buyer of this sort; usually stops them in their tracks. I use this on lowball offers as well, with a little variation. Or as creole said, you can avoid the donate request all together. But I think it softens the blow to them when you say this, and shortens the chance of getting a negative. And shows a little compassion in case their story is true. 

I know some sellers don't want to go to that trouble, and that's okay. To each their own. It sounds like having her cancel would be the best outcome, so hopefully that is what she decides to do. 

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That is a great response

Mind if I use it if need be?

[loveyourimagination49]

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@mr_lincoln wrote:

@rcmbullion  I guess many folks would handle this differently ... using the premise that "it never hurts to ask" one can not fault the Buyer.  However, my reply would go something like this, "My handling time is 1 day so eBay expects me to ship the item on time and as it was paid for, otherwise I get a defect on my account.  If you message me and ask me to cancel the purchase before days end today I will be happy to do so, otherwise it will be on its way to you tomorrow."

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Buyers don’t care what you state. Nor do they care if you get a defect. They also will roll their eyes at your expectations on timeframe for a response.

Some people may take it that way. ^^^

[noh8*all*love]

I dont know, this totally depends on the circumstances. She bought a 12 dollar pair of jeans, so shes probably not the most wealthy person ever and obviously not a big spender. 

I donated an order once. It was quite awhile back... the items were clothing. She bid on a few of my auctions and won all of them. The next day I get a message where shes apologizing for not paying, but she hadnt gotten her disability check yet and that it came like clockwork on such and such a day ... she said she would pay as soon as she got it. I told her no problem, and then I just decided on my own to send them to her on me. After I mailed them I told her that I just sent them and to not worry about payment. She thanked me profusely and then sent me a thank you card later. I mean shoot, I made someones day with a bunch of Old Navy clothes that I was just going to donate. Best feeling ever. 

[fashunu4eeuh]

Dear Buyer,

I regret i cannot accommodate your request. However, if you wish to cancel the order, please advise. Your item is due to ship tomorrow at noon.

Sincerely,

Your Seller

[vintagecraze50]

Oh my goodness, that one is funny !!!

[rainbowcolorz]

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@noh8*all*love wrote:

I dont know, this totally depends on the circumstances. She bought a 12 dollar pair of jeans, so shes probably not the most wealthy person ever and obviously not a big spender. 

I donated an order once. It was quite awhile back... the items were clothing. She bid on a few of my auctions and won all of them. The next day I get a message where shes apologizing for not paying, but she hadnt gotten her disability check yet and that it came like clockwork on such and such a day ... she said she would pay as soon as she got it. I told her no problem, and then I just decided on my own to send them to her on me. After I mailed them I told her that I just sent them and to not worry about payment. She thanked me profusely and then sent me a thank you card later. I mean shoot, I made someones day with a bunch of Old Navy clothes that I was just going to donate. Best feeling ever. 

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That was very kind of you.   

[vintagecraze50]

I think I will go into Walmart  this week and bring a pair of jeans to the register and ask them to donate them to me. You think I might get them?

[gew6463]

@cubano4u & @magsmg101 : You are absolutely free to use it! 🙂 

[this*old*attic]

It doesn’t count against the seller when it’s at the buyer’s request. The form has that as a choice.

[lintbrush*]

Dear buyer,

I'd be more than happy to donate them to you.  The only thing I ask in return is that you donate $20 to me so I can pay my medical bills.

Think of our tax write-offs!!

[numisnorway]

What a wasteland ebay is becoming.

[turquoisetulips]

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@rcmbullion wrote:

Buyer made a low-ball (but profitable offer) that I accepted on a pair of women's jeans.  Asking was $19.xx with shipping.  Buyer came in at $12.49- good enough.  Paid promptly.  The buyer then messaged me asking if they were shipping today, an hour after they paid- roughly 4pm EST.  I replied that the mail had already come and that they would go out first thing tomorrow.  The buyer then replied asking me to donate them to her and that she was short on cash and having surgery.

This situation is so ridiculous that I'm actually questioning how to handle it.  Just to be clear, I'm not considering her request.  My concern is that she is trying to scam and that there will be a "problem" later either with delivery or SNAD/ fake/ return scam/etc.  Her feedback is 100% positive and her feedback left is nearly 100% as well on 50 transactions or so.  I would love to just cancel the transaction and dodge this one but I don't want to take the strike either.  I have one-day handling so they're going out tomorrow.  I'm afraid any explanation of why business and free don't go together will set her off and result in undeserved negative feedback.

At best, this may be an unusual buyer remorse request.  Or a scam designed to make me keep guessing on how I'm going to get screwed either by the buyer or my account stats if I don't play along.

Thoughts?

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In my life experience  people who are honestly short on cash  aren't shopping for jeans . I would ignore her message and ship out the order  like normal . Tulips