4 days No Payment or Email Contact

[dmh160161]

Hi, I have a question.  I sold an item 4 days ago, it was won on a last minute bid, I have had no contact from buyer, and no payment received.  This morning, I sent a friendly reminder, stating it had been 4 days and if there is a problem with paying to let me know and we can work something out.  I got an almost instant reply, stating "Sorry have had a death in the immediate family so this is the last thing on my mind atm". 

If it is the last thing on their mind, why are they on eBay, replying to my email within 10 minutes of me sending mine.  If they have to time to respond to eBay emails, why not just pay while on there.  Not sure if this is an excuse or for real, I did reply with "So sorry for your loss".  Should I be sceptical, which I am not usually, but seems strange, or should I give them time, and how much time?.  Need some advise how to handle this. 

[shahmink]

No, don't leave that feedback. It's antagonizing and condescending (although, brilliant lol)

I wouldn't leave ANY feedback. You can't leave neg or neut anyway, and never ever ever leave positive with a neg comment.

Just leave none and only reply to theirs with facts and no emotions. Also, don't use caps.

Mwah antagonizing and condescending - noooooooooooo. It really was me just being sarcastic and I wouldn't leave it either.:-)

[dmh160161]

The only thing I did wrong was asking after 4 days for payment, offering to assist if there was a problem, and waiting another 8 days patiently.  I should have opened case without contact. 

I did say sorry to her for her loss.  I found it strange she promised to pay by Thursday (12 days after auction) at the very latest.  Then on Friday after 5 minutes of me emailing her to remind her about payment, she tells me she is burying her husband that afternoon, then gets her neighbour to log into ebay and her paypal account and pay me straight away, she is one helpful trustworthy neighbour.  

With her apparent loss, she had her neighbour not only collect her mail (which is fair enough) but also open all her ebay purchases (51 since my auction ended) and leave feedback for every one (all same wording as previous feedback).  What if there was a problem with an item.  I am not a stranger to losing a loved one, it wipes you out, but making sure feedback for ebay was left, would be the furthest thing from my mind.  

[thecatspjs]

I reckon let it go and move on from this now.

[wargul]

"What are the odds of a sudden death in the immediate family in the first 48 hours after winning an item? Probably about the same chance of me winning lotto both in Aus and the UK on the same day"

You think?  Everyone one earth is going to have at least one, probably several immediate family deaths.  On the other hand you have 7,000,000 to 1 chance of winning Aus Saturday lotto.... let alone UK.  I agree its probably stalling tactics but buyers that move reasonable volumes are going to encounter people who are responding to all sorts of unexpected emergencies.  It is best to have a strategy in mind to deal with the inevitable cases.

[dmh160161]

All let go, I did let it get to me too much, but there is far more important things in life to worry about than my first red dot, LOL :^O