Hi, everybody! I've been away from my desk since ... January! I missed you guys, and I'm so happy to see so many familiar faces still here. Feels like coming home!
But I guess the joys of eBay haven't changed much, have they? I've only been back listing for 3 weeks and I've already had 2 NPBs, 1 media mail 'where's my package?' that shipped just 5 days ago, and this afternoon one of my favorites... 'Are you going to ship my item' after NO response to my thanks-for-paying-please-confirm-your-address email or my 'your-item-has-shipped' email.
The last one has gotten my goat because the USPS DC report shows the item was delivered last MONDAY.
Here's my response, am I being too icy?:
Hello XXXXXX,
Thanks for your message. I shipped your item to you on September 22nd, 2006 (First Class Mail with Delivery Confirmation. According to the USPS, the item was delivered this past Monday, the 25th of September. The DC number is xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx. Here is the Delivery Report from USPS:
"Label/Receipt Number: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Status: Delivered
Your item was delivered at 1:57 pm on September 25, 2006 in VIRGINIA BEACH, VA 23452"
Here is a link to the USPS website: http://trkcnfrm1.smi.usps.com/PTSInt...abelInquiry.do
I have sent you two emails regarding this transaction, the first being a message thanking you for your prompt payment and confirming your shipping address as provided by Paypal:
XXXXXX XXXXXX
XXXXX XXXXXX XXXXX
XXXX XX XXXXX
I also sent you an email on the 22nd telling you the item had shipped.
I can provide copies of these emails (with complete headers) if you wish. If you have not received your item, please contact your postmaster with the Delivery Confirmation number.
Thank you,
xxxxxxxxx
I was thinking of offering to contact my Postmaster about it, but after the two NPBs (in only 12 sales, not a great ratio) I'm not sure I'm in the mood. BUT, I'm not absolutely positive, so I'm here asking for opinions.
Anyway, I guess I'm back into it with both feet. At least if I'm having problem buyers, it means I'm having sales, right?
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I also forgot to ask, what does everyone do these days regarding NPB's? How many reminders do you send? How long do you wait to file? I'm starting to think seriously about requiring Immediate Payment on everything...
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Gosh, I think that's a great letter. Firm but not nasty, polite but not obsequious.
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dmh, thanks!!
I used to be so eager to please, to the extent of be a real doormat sometimes. Since I've been away from it & come back I just don't feel that way anymore. I'm getting ready to file NPBs on those two buyers I mentioned and one is only 7 days from the end of auction. I used to give them soooooo many chances, but now I feel more like one reminder is enough. What do you think?
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yes, one reminder and that is it. They then pay. Or you get fee refunded.
If they still want item after that, they will come through with payment and ebay won't get their final value.
That's all. Real simple stuff. Want item, then pay.
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Your email to the buyer is great. To the point and not too gruff.
One reminder is enough. I have only had 2 non paying in 7 years so I'm not real up on this stuff but I think you handled it just fine.
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Any chance your emails aren't reaching your buyer? Some of the modern spam filters are a little TOO effective...
Ms. C.
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Great letter! I don't think it's snippy at all.
I use My eBay to track my NPBs. Unfortunately, due to the volume I list, I have at least 1 NPB that results in FVF refund about once every 2.5 months. The other laggers eventually do pay, especially once I send a "hey you, where's my moolah" message through eBay. There is something about getting the reminder through eBay that has them taking it seriously, I guess.
Once I send that reminder, eBay tracks it all the way to FVF refund eligibility. Once they tell me I'm eligible, I get my refund and relist the item.
Oh, and I leave the necessary neg when I'm in the mood. I'm told that once the FVF fee has been reversed, the offending party can't "neg me back."
-Nancy
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Thanks for the replies everyone! Ms. C, I thought of that - but since I restarted listing I've been using the eBay system for my emails (with copies sent to me). I've clamped down security on my own email, so I figure everyone else has as well.
Did I mention that the email my buyer sent saying "when will you ship" had a different from name than the buyers name? Y'know how on outlook you have the From column? This person's "from name" was completely different. Different first name & different last name. Both seemed to be female, but the from name is foreign (slavic?) and I could be wrong. I think that's what put me on my guard about this.
Also, the Paypal confirmed address was to a business name, but same address as the buyer's user registration info. The user's registration name is XXXXX XXXXX, and the Paypal address was XXXXXX's Collectibles, same street address, etc. I shipped to the Paypal confirmed address.
I sent the email above to her last night, so far no reply. I'll let you know if I hear anything.
Thanks again, everyone. It's so nice to be back on here!