Author Topic: How long is too long in eBay land? (Read 2472 times)

Goz · « **on:** February 12, 2005, 06:32:55 pm »

I won an eBay auction 2 weeks ago and haven't heard anything from the seller, of course it was a paypal transaction and I am a good ebayer so I payed within an hour of close of auction.

I've sent probably no less than 8 emails inquiring about shipment and have recieved no response. I guess my turmoil is that I just don't know when the acceptible ammount of time is to wait before doing a chargeback or getting eBay involved, etc.

I certainly don't want to do a Talem on the guy/gal.

So I ask you my peers... How long would you wait?

Thanks,

-Goz

JackTucky · « **Reply #1 on:** February 12, 2005, 08:26:50 pm »

since you paid already, i changed my vote to one week instead of two. if he is a power seller, it should be less than a week thougn.

Art

fredster · « **Reply #2 on:** February 12, 2005, 10:14:39 pm »

I buy and sell on ebay all the time.

I like to see something within 2 days, but I'll wait a week. I better see email in that time, or I'm very nervous.

When I sell something most of the time it was wrapped up ready to send the minute I'm done with the ad. Some people aren't like that, but I never waited a week without hearing anything.

I also guess it would depend on the feedback. Most of the time I cancel bids from 0 feedback bidders as a matter of course. I don't want to be a learning experience. I email them and make sure they understand what it is they are actually doing.

I don't like to buy from people with less than 98% feedback. Usually they are the best. I also pay attention to how many things they have bought and sold. I like to see where they have bought stuff too, that means they are wheeler dealers and usually pretty savy with it.

I won't buy from somebody who hasn't been online very long. I also ignore sellers out of country. It took me 3 weeks to get my item last time I bought even from Canada. I don't ship there either. I've tried 3 times to ship and there are always problems.

Most of the time stuff is lost or broken. Not good, not good at all.

Kremmit · « **Reply #3 on:** February 12, 2005, 10:57:49 pm »

I've had selllers that just flat wouldn't send me an e-mail, but then the package showed up anyway. Tracking# or postmarks showed that they had shipped very soon after payment- danged if I know why they wouldn't just send me a quick note to let me know it was coming.

I've also had sellers I was sure were ignoring me, but later discovered the Yahoo or Hotmail spam filters had blocked them. Check your Bulk/Spam folder if you've got one! It also never hurts to send them alternate contact info, in case mail to your regular email address just isn't making it through.

I've also been blocked by the other end- their spam filter was cutting me off without them ever knowing I was e-mailing. I finally got around this by clicking the "Ask Seller a Question" link on the original auction page. That way, the e-mail appears to come from Ebay- most sellers' spam filters will let this through.

I recently got burned for the first time. Paypal got back 75% of what I paid- which, considering I expected to get $0, is not that bad.

RayB · « **Reply #4 on:** February 13, 2005, 01:05:04 pm »

I've had LOTS of problems with spam-killed emails both from myself to a seller, or from a seller to me.

The best thing to do is use the Ebay "contact seller" feature AND regular email, and ask them to reply through the Ebay "contact buyer" feature AND regular email. Cover all bases.

That said, like was mentioned, sometimes you'll get your package soon anyways. So, you should only leave negative feedback acording to the ebay rules for non-delivery of item.

Goz · « **Reply #5 on:** February 13, 2005, 10:32:22 pm »

Thanks all for the replies and perspective.

I had attempted to contact this seller via the ebay messaging system as well as personal email. The seller has been a seller for over a year and has a 100% feedback rating. Some of my last emails/ebay communication pointed this out and that I didnt want to be the one to tarnisgh their record and that all they needed to do is tell me when they would ship, if they had, or if they never planned to ship to just set the expectation .

In this case, silence is deafening and will likely file a claim tomorrow if I dont hear back from the person. Its sad, because it's obvious that it is likely a person on this board or one of the others. Arcade PCB's were the what the auction was for.

Anyways thanks again.

-Goz

Sephroth57 · « **Reply #6 on:** February 13, 2005, 10:45:50 pm »

hmm thats pretty crappy gozur, you did the right thing though if you waited and waited you gotta eventually send a complaint in.

fredster · « **Reply #7 on:** February 13, 2005, 11:26:14 pm »

I agree. Eventually you have to complain.

Maybe something happened to him, like he had a car wreck, or his computer fried. Those things happen.

But if he had stuff online, then he should have been watching them if he was healthy.

2600 · « **Reply #8 on:** February 14, 2005, 09:23:44 am »

Let me throw this wrinkle in as a followup question.

I won an auction like a month and half ago on ebay. The seller only took payment by mail(somehow I didn't notice, I usually look for this), not sure if he was a power seller, but sold lots of items, good feedback, and still sells many items regularly today. After winning I sent him an email saying how to pay him, and he responded that he needed my zipcode for shipping. I never heard back from him. Sent an email through ebay and through my email account. I also had received an email from him previosily when I asked him a question about the item.

Now, it's been a month and a half, I don't even want the item any more. He hasn't complained to ebay about me. So should I ignore that the item is still saying it needs to be payed or is there some way to get this off of my record?l

tmasman · « **Reply #9 on:** February 14, 2005, 09:28:19 am »

before you just walk away, make sure to notify the seller...
He could potentially still leave negative feedback if he thinks you're just leaving him hanging (even thgouh you contacted him a month ago).

Just CYA...

- tmasman

Goz · « **Reply #10 on:** February 14, 2005, 11:32:57 am »

It turns out the one time I heard from my guy was 2 days after I payed in which he left me a positive feedback. Thats what makes this painful. I'm sure something bad must have happened to this schmuck.

At this point I am more interested in getting my $60 back in lew of the product.

-Goz

RayB · « **Reply #11 on:** February 14, 2005, 12:19:30 pm »

Quote from: Gozur on February 14, 2005, 11:32:57 am

At this point I am more interested in getting my $60 back in lew of the product.

That makes no frickin sense! The guy leaves you feedback, showing that he got your money... chances are your item is in transit right now (it's only been 2 weeks since the auction ended) and you're ready to forget about the item? Why?? Just to "defend yourself" at what you perceive to be poor Ebay communication? Just to make a point?

Has it even occurred to you to call the guy?? There's an option on Ebay to request a member's contact info. Use it.

Stingray · « **Reply #12 on:** February 14, 2005, 12:46:13 pm »

I get a little antsy if I haven't had a confirmation of the payment and some kind of info regarding when it will ship by the next day. If a week went by without hearing from him at all I'd file a complaint. Since he did leave feedback I agree that the item may be on it's way. I'd give it one more week before filing a complaint. At two weeks you're justified in giving it to him with both barrels.

-S

missioncontrol · « **Reply #13 on:** February 14, 2005, 02:20:32 pm »

2 weeks is a long time to wait if he's not communicating with you.... I sugest you try to contact him one last time about the transaction and that if he doesn't let you know something that you will have no choice but to leave a negative feedback......

Kremmit · « **Reply #14 on:** February 14, 2005, 04:38:26 pm »

Ray's got a point about the phone#- IF he's got his correct # listed with Ebay.

RayB · « **Reply #15 on:** February 14, 2005, 06:20:02 pm »

My point is this: If he goes and leaves negative feedback and then a couple days later he gets his item, he will feel like an ass.

If anything, that deserves a neutral at most. "Seller didn't respond to emails, but I got my item anyways and it was in great condition". What kind of negative would that be?!?

I hate nervous buyers. They are too quick to think they've been scammed. I once had a PayPal payment reversed because all my emails to a buyer just weren't getting through. Sucked! I lost money and she still got her goods.

Crazy Cooter · « **Reply #16 on:** February 14, 2005, 07:27:01 pm »

After 1 week I'd be sending my phone number through email & ebay contact saying I hadn't heard anything so please call. If I didn't hear anything for another week... blammo.

duffjr · « **Reply #17 on:** February 14, 2005, 08:20:06 pm »

My last seller was on vacation for three weeks and forgot about the listing. She shipped it the day she returned, supposedly. It's your seller's fault if he does not explicity say that he cannot reply to emails but will ship the item as soon as the auction is paid for. You have the option of receiving negative feedback at this point, but no one likes to tarnish a perfect record. If you happen to bid on a seller's auction who has below the high 90s in feedback rating, that seller might be unwilling to send the item after you've left the negative feedback. After all, it's better to take the negative feedback if you can avoid a fraud complaint. I usually wait a month for a chargeback.

I understand how someone selling a rare item is often a new seller who only accepts cashier checks or money orders by mail, but always avoid these auctions unless you are willing to lose most of the money. If the seller has at least 10/10 positive feedbacks with a few items sold of equal value, you can risk it.

If there is an auction for a greatly underpriced(~10-20%) of the market value for the item, it is usually a bootleg or imitation, regardless of the seller's feedback rating.

The feedback system on eBay is horrible. It forces buyers who are neutral to happy about auction transactions to leave positive feedback, buyers who are sad to neutral about the transaction leave negative feedback, and buyers from sad to happy to leave neutral feedback. I recently bought an RC that didn't work, but the seller sent me new batteries which didn't fix the loose wiring. I had to leave a positive feedback.

If you visit auctions.yahoo.jp, you'll notice 99% of sellers have 100% positive feedback.

Goz · « **Reply #18 on:** February 15, 2005, 01:54:20 am »

Quote from: RayB on February 14, 2005, 12:19:30 pm

Quote from: Gozur on February 14, 2005, 11:32:57 am
At this point I am more interested in getting my $60 back in lew of the product.

That makes no frickin sense! The guy leaves you feedback, showing that he got your money... chances are your item is in transit right now (it's only been 2 weeks since the auction ended) and you're ready to forget about the item? Why?? Just to "defend yourself" at what you perceive to be poor Ebay communication? Just to make a point?

Has it even occurred to you to call the guy?? There's an option on Ebay to request a member's contact info. Use it.

Ray,

You are right, it makes no sense, that is my point and why I haven't done anything yet. I figure the guy has probably has some justified reason such as he took a nail to the head in an industrial accident and cannot remember that he didnt ship it, etc..

It is not a defensive move; well technically yes it would be. But you do have to realize that if you do need to get eBay or PayPal involved that you must do so within a period of time no greater than 30 or 40 days after the transaction takes place.

The point of the post and poll was determine how long the majoriity of the folk here would go without a response to alot of connection attempts.

I've requested his phone number and will give the avenue a chance and will continue my plague of emails and using the ebay ask seller a question method (also daily attempts).

As a seller or in any business it is the responsibility of the seller / company to establish expectations, it is those expectations that is what people base their customer service experience on.

fredster · « **Reply #19 on:** February 15, 2005, 10:13:35 am »

Call him and find out what's up.

If you hit *67 before you dial, it hides your caller id.

RayB · « **Reply #20 on:** February 15, 2005, 10:43:56 am »

Also email him from a hotmail or gmail account. See what happens.

Goz · « **Reply #21 on:** February 15, 2005, 11:53:16 am »

I just did a tally and my estimates were off on the number of contact attempts, it felt low. I had actually tried the ebay ask a seller a question 5 times, sent 8 emails from my private domain 8 times (original estimate) and another 6 from my gmail acct.

I heard back from the seller today and all is going to be fine. Merchandise is on the way

Of course it is still a little disconcerning that the product only gets shipped after so many attempts to contact him were made and after the last email was basically an "I'm tired of trying" email.

Now the decision will be 'Neutral with comments' or 'negative with comments'

-Goz

RayB · « **Reply #22 on:** February 15, 2005, 01:49:02 pm »

Uh oh!
My point of view thus far was from the perspective of giving the guy a chance that maybe contact emails were being "lost". Now you have the added problem that he hasn't sent the goods yet?? Now that's bad news...

What's his Ebay account id?

Goz · « **Reply #23 on:** February 15, 2005, 02:25:15 pm »

Ok so now I hear back that he had to leave the country on urgent family business.

He has thrown in an additional PCB to make up for the delay, etc.

This makes it more complicated if anything, yeah free stuff is always nice... but do I take them at their word that this is a one time thing (family excuse) and just leave a neutral or do I ruin the guys record in order to warn others of one bad experience,

Their ebay ID is: ctretailer and they legitimately look like this was a fluke judging by the feedback.

-Goz

Stingray · « **Reply #24 on:** February 15, 2005, 03:21:04 pm »

I can be bought. If he really sends an extra PCB, I'd give him a positive.

-S

SirPeale · « **Reply #25 on:** February 15, 2005, 06:12:36 pm »

I'll second Stingray. Even though there was a delay, bad things happen to good people. He already left you a positive. He's attempting to make amends - at his expense. I gotta go with positive FB.

duffjr · « **Reply #26 on:** February 15, 2005, 07:59:39 pm »

positive, one negative feedback puts him in the bottom 50% of sellers.

gprime · « **Reply #27 on:** February 15, 2005, 08:47:01 pm »

Once I had to wait 2 weeks for a broken xbox. I was steamed, but the guy told me he was really sorry and threw in a couple of "extras." When the box came, it was *huge.* It had a *working* Game Boy Advance, N64 (green!) Light up shot glasses (3 or 4 of them), a but load of game keychains, stickers, coasters. Oh yeah and the xbox was hidden somewhere in there

He sure bought himself a positive feedback.

missioncontrol · « **Reply #28 on:** February 17, 2005, 02:15:16 pm »

if he's willing to make up for it with free goodies...then I'd say a positive....

Goz · « **Reply #29 on:** February 25, 2005, 02:17:40 am »

Just figured I'd let everyone know how this turned out. The seller gave me a USPS DC # and after about a week, USPS could not find the package in it's system so the seller sent me an appology letter and refunded my purchase price and shipping costs.

-Goz

duffjr · « **Reply #30 on:** February 25, 2005, 02:55:42 am »

sounds like he didn't want to part with that free PCB...

Paul Olson · « **Reply #31 on:** February 25, 2005, 04:36:33 am »

OT: How many of you have had legitimate delivery failures. I see it used as an excuse fairly often, but have never had it happen to me. I am currently at 241 transactions on eBay, am I just lucky, or do you think people make it up to avoid negs?

Paul

Edit: I forgot to add my opinion to the topic.

This transaction should warrant a Neutral at best. You didn't get the product you wanted. You will need to decide how upset you are about it. If you think that the seller is a good guy, and deserves his perfect feedback rating, be nice and give him a charity positive, or probably better in this case, just don't leave feedback. You already have your positive, so your decision won't have any affect on your feedback. If you are upset about loosing the boards, Neutral, or possible Negative would, I think, be justified.

About the time to wait, I get nervous if I don't hear anything within a day. I almost always pay within minutes of an auction ending, and if I'm not home then, I will pay as soon as I get home. I have waited 2 weeks for a seller to contact once. I didn't wait patiently, I emailed daily for a week, then got his contact info. The next week, I emailed and called daily. It turned out that he had gone on vacation. I eventually got my item (about 3 weeks total), and was feeling generous, so I didn't leave him a negative. I just never left feedback for him, but I would definitely never buy from him again.

There is no good reason for a seller to go more than a couple of days without contact (unless this is specified in the description). If he can't at least send an email within that time, he should not be selling, or should be selling less.

Paul

fredster · « **Reply #32 on:** February 25, 2005, 02:05:09 pm »

Quote

There is no good reason for a seller to go more than a couple of days without contact (unless this is specified in the description). If he can't at least send an email within that time, he should not be selling, or should be selling less.

Agreed.

Sometimes things happen. But if you are selling something, you should call or at least email if there is a problem. Too many people hide behind computers and never call.

When I sell something, I try to keep people informed. I've taken to always putting a delivery confirmation number on everything. I like to hear from buyers and sellers. I am always amazed how some people won't contact you either way. I think it's rude.


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Poll

How long would you wait hearing from a seller after winning an auction (shipping, etc) before you would file a complaint or leave negative feedback?

Author Topic: How long is too long in eBay land? (Read 2472 times)