Odd buyers recently

[michael_atw]

With a substantial June sales slowdown, problems uptick. 

One recently - I had a buyer offer on one of my items to provide a prepaid label to ship it. 
The shipping was only $3. 

I was immediately suspicious because this buyer has (0) feedback - but moreso because in 11 years on Ebay and probably 15000 transactions or more, I've never had anyone want to do that.  It seems absurdly complicated compared to the very simple, pay $3 and I ship.  I can't recall any time where even a heavier, more expensive item had an offer like that.  He wasn't going to save money. 

I declined and said I'll ship it.   

So I ship a bit slow (5th business day instead of 2) because I was out of town for a few days and my post office compounds that by being absolutely awful; this is usually not an issue and at worst, I get an email asking "has it shipped"?  This person sends me a long msg:

"Hey Michael, mind telling me why you decided to be so hard headed about you stupid $3 shipping fee, then not bother to ship it until the day after I was supposed to receive it? I hope you don't wish to receive anything close to a good review, you have been rude and bothersome to deal with, and prove exactly my point of straying away from buying things on eBay. Good luck annoying future customers."

Keep in mind, our communication was centered around the offer terms (the $3 shipping stuff) and me responding plainly that if he wants it, I will ship it.  Simple as that, no other communication until this message.

I'm pretty sure this was some sort of set-up as the item he bought was a pictured-&-described partially defective item.  I assume I'll get a SNAD case opened up in a few days and have to accept the return.  I assume if I had done the prepaid route he would have tried an INR.

Too bad we can't see the problems before they arrive.   Should have blocked right off; however, I hate to be one to do that and like to give new buyers the chance to get skin in the game (as most are not a problem).  Assuming this person is new, anyways.  I'm hoping he'll fall into a malicious feedback situation.

[ittybitnot]

In order to free up "server space" or some such. helping out their 'high number, low quality or service" vendors, feedback no longer counts against your seller rating.   The threat of "if you don't do what I say, I will leave you the red donut" has no power.  There is no longer a button to push that indicates and improper ebay message.   Apparently, it was too much work for the venue. 

If I got "do this or I will neg you" message, likely my response would be "bring it on, dude, do what you have to do"......LOL

[michael_atw]

I certainly can respond the same way when the time is right.  I definitely don't care much about feedback insofar as it being levered on me to make me do something. 

I just find it interesting the smattering of events and how one person can produce a multitude of odd stuff. 

Apparenty he wanted to overnight the package (I'm still beyond confused why someone would want to do that in this specific situation).  I could have done that for him as well - for a $20-$30 charge (not sure how much it is these days, it's been a year at least since I did it last).  I rarely get someone wanting to overnight something and most of the time I tell them priority is 1/4 cheaper and nearly as fast and they're happy with that. He's also mad I took two days to respond to his offer, initially.

Someone with zero feedback wants to overnight a package, prepaid of a partially defective item which is worth not much more than the cost to overnight... gets mad when the shipping is a bit slow to the point of vulgarity, also mad because the offer wasn't responded to fast enough.  Huh.  

[dhbookds]

Can't speak to most of it...........but I don't know of alot of buyers that would be happy with delayed shipping and then PO problems, which I assumed simply delayed the item even more.........

[classicncollectible]

As I am steaming myself over unreasonable customers I find myself to your post, I learned long ago that many buyers need to be coddled thats first thing. I have to say though in this circumstance I give the buyer a degree of benefit of the doubt as I know there have been occassions I have paid excessive next day shipping fees in excess to the 2-3 day service simply because I was reselling said product for a very high margin of profit and the person buying it from me needed it right away. Your reaction to his request for using his own label should have been understanding but apologetic if you are unwilling to do it that way (although if his label contained the correct eBay address I would see no issue with it). I respond to all my offers as soon as possible often within the hour of receiving, even if I was out of town once a day minimum I would respond telling him as much. After he agreed to you shipping it the 2-3day service (2 days after his request for using a 1day label) you should have known to be very quick to drop the item at the post office.

Thats my personal opinion I would have either communicated ahead of time knowing he was in a rush or denied the order altogether when you had the chance. I understand your being upset I truly do but giving the customer the benefit of the doubt he didn't enter into the purchase with ill intent I lean towards you making a mistake in delaying the shipment nearly a week after his initial offer request of 1 day.

[zshoes]

He's probably also mad that it's your prerogative to opt out of abuse. Boundaries are healthy. /smile

[d-k_treasures]

Your reaction to his request for using his own label should have been understanding but apologetic if you are unwilling to do it that way (although if his label contained the correct eBay address I would see no issue with it).

There are major problems using someone elses label - they are the shipper of record and can redirect it to a different address and you lose an INR case.

Plus, if they printed it using a company or someone elses account, and it gets charged back, the seller would end up paying for it.

[tunicaslot]

I can understand not using the buyer's label - but not on the late shipping. Also so what if they had 0 feedback - it could be another seller that's been on Ebay for 20 yrs and decided it was time to have a buying account separate from his business account.

Delaying shipping is going to make anyone mad and the neutrals and negs you have and the way you respond - shows there may be more to the story here. You are certainly not professional.

If you were going out of town - you could have changed your handling time and informed your buyers if there was an emergency. You're leery of them  - but many of leery of their sellers also.