|
People
have probably told you that deadbeat bidding is a way of life on
online auction sites. Well, in many respects, they're right. But
that doesn't mean that deadbeats won't waste your time and
money. For instance, it's no fun spending $99 on a front door
featured auction listing, only to get burned and not be able to
have that money credited to your account. Here are suggestions
on what to do when you've been had by a deadbeat.
Make
It Clear
Deadbeat bidders are yet another rationale for clearly stating
your payment policies and expectations at the bottom of your
auction's item description (see Writing
Professional Descriptions) and for maintaining email
correspondence with high bidders. If deadbeat bidders see your
policies often enough, it's hard for them to plead ignorance and
ignore your policies. Also, if frequent deadbeats see that you
have a clear-cut policy, they might move on before they bid.
Finally, in your end-of-auction emails, be sure to request the
high bidder's name and shipping address. Most of the time, this
sparks some sort of response.
Cutting
to the Chase
Of course, it's better to find out sooner rather than later if
you are dealing with a deadbeat. The most annoying type of
deadbeat is the bidder who strings you along by promising
payment over an extended period of time, which prevents you from
relisting the item immediately or from contacting the second
highest bidder, who might still be interested. If too much time
passes while you deal with the hemming and hawing deadbeat,
you'll be out of luck--and money.
Here is a strategy for quickly
determining if a bidder intends to finish the transaction. The
day the auction ends, send your end-of-auction notice with your
address for payment (policies included) and request for the
bidder's name and address. If there's no response after three
days, send a second notification. If you don't hear anything
after another four days, send a third courtesy notice. If two
more days pass without word, notify the bidder that the sale
will be nullified unless (1) you receive payment by a specific
date, or (2) you are sent a payment status update the following
day. In all, you'll wait only nine days.
The
Reminder
If you prefer to give people the benefit of the doubt, you might
opt for a more gentle reminder system. You might state in your
initial notice that if there is no response after two weeks, the
item is subject to relist. After two weeks have passed, send out
a reminder with the auction and payment information. If another
week passes without reply, send a follow-up message and lay it
on the line, explaining that you will relist and leave
appropriate feedback if payment does not arrive in another week.
By then, it will be close to 30 days after the end of the
auction, at which point you can post negative feedback. The
value of waiting this long to leave feedback is that you'll
minimize the chances of receiving a retaliatory negative because
the auction listing will soon be taken down.
Don't
Believe It
Some folks will reply to your end-of-auction notice in ways you
wouldn't imagine. Take, for instance, the would-be buyers who
say their check or money order is in the mail and ask you to go
ahead and send the item. Don't do it. Some people have the nerve
not only to ask you to send your item before payment arrives,
but also inform you that they will be unreachable for several
weeks! Obviously, this is plain old common sense, but don't
compromise your payment policies to cut someone a break if you
don't really know them.
Closing
the No-Deal
If 30 days have passed and you haven't tried to contact the
deadbeat repeatedly, here's how to get some closure. Send in
your final value fee credit request online. Then relist the item
(which is free the first time at most auction sites), and send
your deadbeat bidder a note, informing him or her that you have
voided the transaction (also include the original auction number
for reference). Most importantly, tell the deadbeat bidder you
are barring him or her from your auctions and you will retract
any future bids. With that in mind, keep a list of all the
deadbeats you encounter so that you can refer to it during
future auctions. Finally, forward your email to the auction
site's customer service department and request that they keep
the information on file.
The
Neutral and Negative
Now comes the hard part--do you leave neutral or negative
feedback for a deadbeat bidder? You'll be more helpful to the
community at large if you leave a negative, but this does expose
you to a possible retaliatory negative. One rule of thumb is to
give a neutral to people who don't acknowledge your notification
from the get-go, and a negative to those who ask you to send the
merchandise before payment arrives or string you along for
several emails. If a deadbeat bidder's behavior wastes time or
even borders on fraud, then he or she deserves a negative.
Credit
My Account
If the second-highest bidder does not want to pay the high bid,
or if you are not interested in relisting the item, be sure to
request a credit for your final value fee and listing fee.
Typically, this can be submitted online. Although it might take
a while for the money to be credited to your account, it's easy
to do. Unfortunately, most sites do not refund the money spent
on featured auction plugs or listing enhancements.
Back to Auction tips &
tactics
by Vendio Services
|
