Unpaid item cases closed, buyer now wants to talk?

[bribri12]

Hi guys,

This is quite a long story, but I feel it's necessary to explain everything to let you know what's going on.

I had a buyer commit to buy 29 of 42 of my items at auction. I was pretty darn excited as that means savings on time spent at the post office and all the general organising involved in shipping lots of different items. Had them all boxed up ready for her to collect. She had asked me four different questions prior to bidding, and one of those was if she could pick them up. I had no qualms about this, and was happy she asked lots of questions.

What she didn't ask me prior to bidding was if it was okay to pay and collect these items two weeks after the auction had ended. She asked me this two days after the auction ended on Wednesday evening, and after I sent her a combined invoice and a congratulatory message.

I promptly messaged her back saying this was not possible, as I won't be in the state at that time. I stated that if she had messaged me prior to bidding, I may have been able to work out an arrangement with her. This was early Saturday morning. She did not reply.

That following Sunday evening is when the automatic unpaid item cases opened. I have them automatically open after 4 days of non-payment as I've had quite a few non-payers in the past, and I just want my fees back and to move on quickly.

She all of a sudden wants to be chatty after the UPIs opened (surprise surprise), and questioned why I opened them as she had "every intention of paying for them". I explained to her as stated above.

She then turns around and says her car is in the mechanic shop and she won't be able to collect them before Thursday (one week from auction end date, and also the last day I'm in the state). It is entirely plausible this happened, possibly untrue, but I decided to be a good little eBay seller and offer local delivery to her for free in exchange for her payment by Thursday. Having your car in a mechanic shop should not affect your ability to send through a payment, and she seemed on board with the idea.

The next round of excuses then started. She claimed her hard drive crashed so she couldn't send me a payment (don't know how that affects your ability to get on the internet and use eBay and PayPal in any way, or how that affects your bank accounts? There is also your phone and a public library if you don't have access to a computer, and she somehow managed to send me a message regarding the matter, didn't she)?

She then claimed she was waiting for funds to clear in her PayPal account from her bank account (I know for a fact that is not how PayPal works. It works the other way around. As a seller withdrawing funds from my PayPal account INTO a bank account, I have to wait a few days for the funds to clear. If you have the funds in your bank account already, and have sent it through PayPal, it will mark that you've paid me on eBay. I know this as I'm a buyer and a seller).

She then tried the whole: "Oh I'll pick them up when you are back in the state. When are you back in the state?" Not even entertaining that idea.

I then make one last final attempt to message her regarding the funds today (Thursday morning). She then tried to corner me by saying: "If I pay for them, will you hold them for me and deliver them at a later date?" I didn't reply to this, as that is beyond ridiculous. I only offered her delivery on the proviso that the funds were in the account by Thursday morning, for Thursday morning delivery at the latest. It was an incentive for her to pay me, and a way to help her out for her supposed car troubles.

So the unpaid item cases ended this evening. She sends through messages after this, which I didn't read. As far as I'm concered, the matter is over. She decided not to pay. I decided to open UPIs, and added her to my blocked seller's list. I've got my fees back. I can breathe again. Happy days.

I then get a message from eBay customer service. She's claiming I didn't send her a combined invoice for the items as her reason for not paying, yet she acknowledges that she needs to pay for said invoice throughout our correspondence. I have screenshots and photographic evidence to the contrary on this false claim she is making.  Why would I entertain the thought of sellling to her again, espeically when she can easily leave me negative feedback to be spiteful? 

The cusotmer service email also stated that "she's worried about losing her account". Good. She should be. You can't f**k around people like that and not be expected to be punished for it. Why would I want her account to be reinstated or left as is so she can f**k around other honest sellers like myself?

The woman is clearly a pathological liar who didn't have the funds to pay me or simply changed her mind, and didn't want to say so. She would rather make tonnes of accusations and false claims than actually be honest with herself and me about the situation.

I'm definitely going to offer the next bidders in line a chance to have the item through a second chance offer, as I fear she may open a new account and rebid on the relisted items just to spite me. It's quite annoying, as it makes me not want to relist anything for a long time just to be sure.

I've never been in a situation where the buyer has contacted customer service regarding unpaid item cases I have opened against them.

So finally, after all that information, my question being: Do I need to call customer service regarding the email, or can I just leave it be and let the system do its thing? I want her to punished to the full extent of eBay policy. I followed it, she didn't. It should be the end of the matter!

Thanks in advance. I appreciate any information you can give.

[chrysylys · Accepted solution]

I don't see any reason to call anybody.

[chiaretta]

If pick up in person was not an issue when you were still civil to each other why were you expecting her to pay by Paypal?

Cash only would probably have avoided you this headache

[dhbookds]

No, I wouldn't contact ebay.........let it be.

People are amazing.....and ebay/on line selling can bring out the worst.....and some of the nicest.....

That said, there is a place in site preferences where you can limit the # of items one buyer buys within a time period.....I think it works for auctions as well a f/p.    Some sellers in the past have used it after they run into a "serial" buyer like this.......

[starroute-us]

Block the ID here

Add ID/email here:
http://pages.ebay.com/services/buyandsell/biddermanagement.html

Cash on pick up only otherwise she could possibly claim not received and have an easy win. (No tracking)

Did you have all those listing as "local pick up only"?

Nothing to talk about, she is blocked from paying after the UID closed.

*Buyers* with excuse after excuse after the listing ends are a waste of time to try and deal with.:(

She was able to pull all your listings off the market for weeks:(

[bribri12]

Thanks for replying. She wanted to pay via PayPal. She had the option to give me cash on pickup if she desired. I stated that in my congratulatory message to her. Apologies for leaving that out of the post.

[bribri12]

Thanks for replying. I've seen your answers on a lot of threads, and I trust your opinion. Greatly appreciated 🙂

[retrose1]

As hard as it is to get a CS in the US that will be able to read and understand English and be able to do something, I'd just respond to the email by sending an email back to the CS saying to check out the messages between you and then move on.

By the way, Cash Only on pick up.  And when the buyer started saying there was a glitch in her paypal, I'd have said that's ok, you can pay cash when you come to get them and then ignored  anything else they have to say other than a time to pick them up.

Don't you feel sorry for people who have no friends that will let them use their computer, cell phone , car, ect for a short time?

[bribri12]

Thanks for replying, and I know! I've worked in customer service roles for the past eight years, and I've encountered my fair share of nasty people in real life. I believe the computer screen gives these pricks an added sense of entitlement. It's really sad. I generally enjoy my eBay selling and buying experiences, but situations like this start to make you lose faith in humanity.

I have my selling settings all to the max. I don't allow bidders with 2 unpaid item cases in the last 12 months. I don't allow foreign buyers as Australia's postage costs to send things overseas are ridiculous. I went through every single one of the criteria after this incident just to be sure they are all set up correctly.

I appreciate your advice 🙂

[bribri12]

Thanks for your reply. Blocked the ID already. Happy to share the ID with other sellers if you want to add her to your list too.

One of the items was listed as local pick up only. An assortment of glass jam jars. I didn't feel confident in sending these through the post, as it was a lot of glass and it was bulky. It would have cost the seller $20 shipping too, so I didn't list it this way.

Yes, it's really unfortunate that she wasted my time. The total for the items was $242. A nice little payday for anyone I reckon. Alas, my fortnightly pay from my "real job" came today. Life is good 🙂

[mr_lincoln]

@bribri12  Wow ... unbelievable ...comments as follows:

1. Way too many reasons not to pay on time so not being honest with you

2. With that many UPIs she will not be able to buy on eBay for the next year from anybody AND yes, eBay may close her account unless they believe on her stories ... and who knows what new yarns she spun for them

3. Delayed payment should always be discussed PRIOR to purchasing, if you advised her that your UPI Assistant was set for auto-filing after 4 days PRIOR to them happening that may have helped

4. What is her FB rating? And did you check the FB she left for other Sellers PLUS any FB left by Sellers for her that contained a warning?

5. I would definatley call eBay's Trust & Safety Department ... I forget offhand if FB can be left for you on a UPI but if it can you potentially could receive 29 Negative FBs which ... is ... not ... good.

6. If I read your story correctly, this person must live relatively close to be able to use the Local Pick up option correct?  If it were me, I would be just a little concerned about that since they have your address.

7. Combined Invoice ... shouldn't their be a record in your Sent file that the invoice was sent?  Possibly in PayPal?  There HAS to be record of that so not sure where the eBay rep is coming from on that point ... they said the Buyer said they never got the invoice, they did not say THEY as the eBay rep see that the invoice was not sent ... there is a difference there if you see it right?

8. Waiting for funds to clear in her PP account ... errrnt, PayPal now offers PayPal Credit ... she could have used that.  Or paid with an e-check which takes 3 - 5 business days.  She could have found a way to pay ... period.

Really sorry this happened, hopefully you can post an update on this ...

[bribri12]

Thanks for your reply.

I tried sending an email back explaining myself and with the photographic evidence. It wouldn't let me. I'm guessing it's one of those non-reply emails.

That's a good idea. I considered this, and messaged her offering this as an option immediately after auction, but she just kept d**king me around and wouldn't even set an exact date for me to drop off or for her to pick up. This is the behaviour of someone who did not have the funds, and is trying to lengthen the transaction out by any means possible. I was about done after the third excuse.

I think it was all an elaborate web of lies. Her excuses didn't add up. There was a time when I conducted all my eBay business on a public library computer and a mobile phone because I couldn't afford a computer or internet. I still conduct most of my business through my mobile phone, and I use my computer for invoices and other things that are hard to view and edit on a phone. There is no excuse for not paying your items promptly, unless the seller is a major d**k who violates eBay policy. That's a different story

[llllady]

If she was that high maintenance before paying and collecting the items, can you imagine how bad it would have been afterwards.

Consider yourself lucky that you dodged a bullet!

[bribri12]

Thanks for your detailed response!

Her feedback rating was okay. I always check when I'm in a situation like this. The buyers and sellers weren't raving about her though. Just the basic "payment received" standard comment.

She is also a seller. She has 25 items listed. She would have to know eBay policy, and that's why I was baffled that she would do this to a fellow seller.

I can't get negs after UPIs are closed. Been there, done that, checked a million forums on it in the process.

Thanks for the suggestion regarding the Trust department. Happy to look into this.

She does live relatively close (about a 20-30 minute drive), but I never gave her my address. I don't give the address for pickup until I receive payment usually, and I knew she was going to continue to d**k me around. Also, I have a pretty good guard dog here, just in case 😄

I have a copy sent to my email whenever I send an invoice. It's a good way to keep a paper trail, and there is a copy that I sent it on eBay messages too. Two copies.

I appreciate your concern and suggestions. Happy to update you on any new information as it arises.

[chrysylys]

Some of your word choices here aren't helping your case or credibility. They might make people have second thoughts.