topic Re: Cancelled Purchases Because Of Death In The Family in Selling

Cancelled Purchases Because Of Death In The Family

arb_games — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 07:40:47 GMT

I have just received my 3rd request in the past 2 weeks to cancel a sale due to the death of a close family relative.

I am not a heartless person, but I am also not stupid. I know that this reason for cancelling a sale is being experienced by more and more sellers.

So what do I do?

Do I presume that all the buyers are telling the truth, or do I presume that more and more buyers are using this reason to get out of a sale.

Re: Cancelled Purchases Because Of Death In The Family

nicegreenpetticoats — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 08:07:29 GMT

I had a very late payment once where the buyer said they had been in hospital because they electrocuted themselves.

You got to admire a bit of creativity :0)

Jenny

Re: Cancelled Purchases Because Of Death In The Family

bigbrickshop — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 08:36:28 GMT

Yes, you presume they're telling the truth.

Cancel the sale and send them a Sympathy card.

Re: Cancelled Purchases Because Of Death In The Family

lane-ends — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 10:55:04 GMT

What do you do?

cancel the sale and move on, its clear they are not going to pay, what matter the excuse.

I find it easier to neither believe nor disbelieve excuses as you will never know and it makes no difference anyway. they are either going to pay or not, thats all that matters.

Re: Cancelled Purchases Because Of Death In The Family

crypsynight — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 11:09:24 GMT

They may be telling the truth, or they may not.

I think the way i would look at it is - if you cancel the transaction but they weren't telling the truth, then you are slightly inconvenienced, but that's it,

However, if they are telling the truth and you dont cancel the transaction, it could come across as you not believing them, which could emotionally really hurt someone already suffering.

And also the fact that they emailed you letting you know is worth something.

Re: Cancelled Purchases Because Of Death In The Family

phorum_junkie* — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 12:33:47 GMT

Who cares if there has been a death in the family? That may be an excuse for not paying for a couple of days but within 8?????????

I am glad I am the only one in my family who uses ebay and then mostly to sell, it appears that being the relative of a buyer leads far too easily to an early demise;-)

I don't care what excuse they come up with, if they don't pay they get an unpaid item strike.

Re: Cancelled Purchases Because Of Death In The Family

lyndal1838 — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 13:10:31 GMT

That excuse works both ways...I had a seller tell me she could not refund me for a broken item as she needed the money to pay for her husband's funeral.

I waited for a while and she continued selling but made no effort to refund so I hit her with a chargeback. She was very dirty about copping the extra $15 fee. In my book it was the equivalent of a buyer's strike.]:)

Re: Cancelled Purchases Because Of Death In The Family

icollected — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 13:40:47 GMT

As a seller, it makes no difference whether you believe an explanation or not. They're not going to pay. Cancel it. Relist and move on.

Don't let eBay turn you into a paranoid pessimist. I always give everybody the benefit of the doubt; one of those people who would come running even after the sixth crying-wolf call.

Re: Cancelled Purchases Because Of Death In The Family

the3coopers — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 13:55:41 GMT

Re: Cancelled Purchases Because Of Death In The Family

kayedonproducts — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 15:17:59 GMT

Well, I'm sitting here feeling absolutely horrible.

I am fortunate to have good buyers and have had ony 3 unpaid item disputed in the 6 years I've been selling.

I had one in the last few weeks and closed it today after no replies from buyer. Received an email tonight (16/8) apologising for delay in payment as there had been a terrible tragedy in the family and buyer had not checked emails. They wanted to know amount to pay. Following that one was another email advising they had just discovered I had closed the dipsute.

I believe this buyer, as they are a long term buyer and have great feedback. Besides, my instinct told me something was wrong - only wish I had listened to my instinct!!!!

I'm hoping somehow I can sort it out with eBay tomorrow, as I don't what this buyer to have suffer any more hassles..

Re: Cancelled Purchases Because Of Death In The Family

superscanner4 — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 07:32:27 GMT

I was given that excuse too by a buyer who became deregistered shortly after.

Re: Cancelled Purchases Because Of Death In The Family

junkyardmomma60 — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 07:47:06 GMT

arb_games, you may well be receiving fake sob stories BUT from one who had a healthy 19 year daughter collapse and sent to a hospital 40mins away and then transferred 31/2 hours the opposite way....

We spent a week with her to no avail.

I can tell you the last thing on my mind in those 8 days were not my selleing here & yonder or my buying either.

However I would not begrudge a seller or buyer for lodging a dispute against me.

Unfortunately there really are deaths everyday and I hope Karma is not watching those who cry wolf.

........momma

Re: Cancelled Purchases Because Of Death In The Family

kopenhagen5 — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 09:28:51 GMT

WOW momma, I hear ya, don't know if I could ever feel your pain.

arb, I think post no 4 hit the nail on the head. If there is any nonsense, let it stay on their side of the fence.

Re: Cancelled Purchases Because Of Death In The Family

beach_and_home — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 10:02:52 GMT

If they have time to send you a message then they have time to pay.

Re: Cancelled Purchases Because Of Death In The Family

*sparklz* — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 11:25:05 GMT

Look at the purchase history and check to see if they have left feedback during the time of there bereavement.

It is amazing how many still buy, pay and leave feedback after death but do not want to pay others.

What b&h said I agree.

It would take less time to pay then to send a message.

Re: Cancelled Purchases Because Of Death In The Family

phorum_junkie* — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 13:36:10 GMT

I believe this buyer, as they are a long term buyer and have great feedback. Besides, my instinct told me something was wrong - only wish I had listened to my instinct!!!!

I'm hoping somehow I can sort it out with eBay tomorrow, as I don't what this buyer to have suffer any more hassles..

It is very easily sorted out if they are genuine, just thank them for getting in touch and tell them if they make a payment within the next couple of days you will post their item off and ask ebay to remove the strike.

Issuing a strike and getting your fees back is just a normal ebay process, it is not a personal attack on the non payer, it is just the way the business works. If you can't be unemotional about a purely business decision then you probably shouldn't sell on ebay.

I have no trouble at all opening disputes and closing them again, I am also very happy to get them cancelled again if the buyer pays up while the item is still available.

Re: Cancelled Purchases Because Of Death In The Family

zanadoo_56 — Sat, 18 Aug 2012 00:58:47 GMT

I've had this excuse given to me by sellers too - why my purchase hasn't been posted, is the wrong one, forgot to include something, item damaged etc.

At one point the reasons were so similar that I wondered if selling on eBay included a drop down box of excuses and sellers could just tick one. Please tell me it isn't so!!! 😮

Re: Cancelled Purchases Because Of Death In The Family

looking! — Sat, 18 Aug 2012 13:02:06 GMT

Ha, ha. I have had some beaut excuses over the years.

The best one was from a guy in Qld who said he had been abducted by aliens and had only recently been released!

He never di end up paying.

Re: Cancelled Purchases Because Of Death In The Family

kayedonproducts — Sat, 18 Aug 2012 13:41:55 GMT

I believe this buyer, as they are a long term buyer and have great feedback. Besides, my instinct told me something was wrong - only wish I had listened to my instinct!!!!

I'm hoping somehow I can sort it out with eBay tomorrow, as I don't what this buyer to have suffer any more hassles..

It is very easily sorted out if they are genuine, just thank them for getting in touch and tell them if they make a payment within the next couple of days you will post their item off and ask ebay to remove the strike.

Issuing a strike and getting your fees back is just a normal ebay process, it is not a personal attack on the non payer, it is just the way the business works. If you can't be unemotional about a purely business decision then you probably shouldn't sell on ebay.

I have no trouble at all opening disputes and closing them again, I am also very happy to get them cancelled again if the buyer pays up while the item is still available.

phorum, I have emailed buyer and advise them to pay if item still required and strike can be sorted out.

Have to admit I take offence at your comment about the fact if I "cant be unemotional". Everybody is different in their reactions to situations, and I did feel for this person. I don't think feeling emotional at times means I shouldn't be selling on eBay - maybe by having some compassion, makes a buyer realise I care. It is not my personality to come across as as a hard nosed business person, as I'm not. I also think at my age, I have had enough life experiences to know most of the time if a person is not being honest, and trying to put one over me..

Re: Cancelled Purchases Because Of Death In The Family

phorum_junkie* — Sat, 18 Aug 2012 14:02:31 GMT

It is precicely because I am now in my sixties with a LOT of life experience that I realise that emotion has no place in an ebay transaction. I can feel sympathy on a personal level but I will not let that alter the way I conduct what is purely a business transaction.

If I had believed and taken to heart every excuse including murder, rape, death, disease, hospitalisation, car wrecks etc etc etc that I have heard in over a decade of ebay selling then I would now be an emotional mess and my selling account would be down the toilet.

Unfortunately a lot of buyers blatently lie about why they have not paid and every time they get away without a non payment strike because they have played on the seller's emotions they are free to go on and do it again.

If a buyer is genuine then all they have to do is make the payment after the srtrike has been issued and it can be removed, no emotion involved just good business practice.