Site users who bid for Collection-Only items but refuse to collect - is it only me?

[addoria]

I can't remember how long it is since I advertised a "collection-only" item where the winning bidder actually paid for and collected the thing!

In times gone by, it would occur very occasionally that someone would sheepishly get in touch to explain that they'd made a mistake and would have to withdraw their bid.

Now, every single item I sell ( or appear to have sold ) which is collection-only results in the bidder claiming that they did not know - despite the fact that "COLLECTION-ONLY" appears in the ad's heading in capital letters!  They refuse to pay, they refuse to collect.   

eBay do absolutely nothing to deter bidders from behaving like this.  Today is the latest in a long string of incidences of this nature.   

This matter could be resolved very easily - but eBay don't seem interested, despite the fact that they are losing out on commission.  

Does anyone else have a similar experience?

[gracieallen01]

General response ....

Unfortunately, there is no way that one person is not going to offend another person, somewhere, somehow, at some time by something they can think of saying correctly or not saying correctly. 

Even if one person doesn't offend that person, another person saying the same thing, to the same person that wasn't offended by the first, will be offended by the second. 

And, many times it has nothing to do with what was said, but by whom or where or when it was said.

(personal opinion - your mileage may vary)

[johnrj1226]

Spent some time England in London, Leighton Buzzard, Dunstable area  and  it is not  uncommon for the locals to refer to Americans as Yanks and The Superior Colonist or America Eagle.  Never was offended but was brought up with an old proverb "Sticks and stones may break my bones but  names & faces will never hurt me."  Being 1/2 Italian and Swedish  heard a few derogatory names but never cringed or whined about it and still don't.  Life is too short.  Similarly when I moved  South of the Mason Dixon line in '82 I was called a different name(s) - no big deal.