Cancelled Purchases Because Of Death In The Family

[arb_games]

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.

[nicegreenpetticoats]

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

[bigbrickshop]

Yes, you presume they're telling the truth.

Cancel the sale and send them a Sympathy card.

[lane-ends]

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.

[crypsynight]

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.

[phorum_junkie*]

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.

[lyndal1838]

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.]:)

[icollected]

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.

[the3coopers]

[kayedonproducts]

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..