Date: Thu, 12 Aug 2004 13:01:44 -0500
Reply-To: Bruce Nadig <motorbruce@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Bruce Nadig <motorbruce@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: purchasing stuff on e-bay (for your Vanagon)
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed
Eric,
Have you tried to contact the seller? How big and heavy was the tool?
Most eBay sellers don't have time to go to the post office or UPS or FedEx
everyday. It might have taken him a few days to get it in the mail to you.
Then you have to allow for shipping time.
If this was a big, heavy item it can take more time to box and shipment can
often take longer.
I sell quite a bit on eBay and I make my policies very clear. I will ship
the same day I receive payment in full or on the next regular business day.
I am fortunate in that I work for myself and I have the flexibility to be
able to make those arrangements. Not everyone can do that. I wouldn't start
to worry yet.
I also learned another lesson early in my eBay selling. Initially, once I
photographed an item for sale and placed it up for bid, I immediately boxed
it and had it ready to go out. All I would have to do is put on an address
label once I got paid. I found that inevitably some potential bidder would
want additional information or request additional photos. This would make it
necessary for me to unbox the item to get the information or take the
photos. Now I wait until I am paid before I box to ship.
I still do strictly follow my pledge to ship the day I am paid in full or on
the next regular business day. I have yet to miss that for a single
customer.
Before you bid, inquire with the seller as to the anticipated shipping
timeframe. Also be sure to check feedback for EVERY seller from whom you
wish to purchase an item. If it is all (or mostly) positive, you probably
shouldn't have any worries.
If you are still worried right now, send the guy an e-mail or call him (eBay
will supply you with the seller's phone number if you have won an auction).
Find out what the story is. Remember, for many people, eBay is supplemental
income to their regular jobs. They will ship in a timely manner, but it may
take a day or two or three.
Always ask for a tracking number also. This can help in dispute resolution.
In addition, because eBay owns PayPal, they can assist you if the seller
does not deliver.
I wouldn't sweat it at this point.
By the way, I am a Silver Level eBay Power Seller, so I have a pretty good
idea of how the game works.
My 2¢.
Cheers,
Bruce
motorbruce
motorbruce@hotmail.com
>From: Eric Zeno <vw4x4@FYI.NET>
>Reply-To: vw4x4@FYI.NET
>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>Subject: purchasing stuff on e-bay (for your Vanagon)
>Date: Thu, 12 Aug 2004 12:08:19 -0400
>
>I won a tool on E-bay, to be used on my Vanagon Syncro.
>I got a good deal on it and the seller knows it. I payed
>for it the very next day with paypal. I haven't heard
>from the seller, since I won the deal, 6 days ago. I think
>he knows that he is selling this tool to cheap therefore, he
>has made no effort to contact me. What would you do?
> Eric
