Hello all, Well, the other day I bid on a group of coins and won. The final price was just under $20 + $2.50 shipping. I was very glad to have won them at that price, there looked to be some nicer coins in the lot. Anyway, right after I won I went to check out. However, on the checkout page the shipping costs had somehow jumped up to $4.00. No biggie, just an extra $1.50, but, still, I have never run into something like this before and thought I'd let the seller know. Sent the first message letting her know about the inexplicable rise in shipping cost late Monday night, but no response. Then, yesterday, I sent another message simply asking if she had received the first one, and also mentioned that I would still pay for the $4 shipping, but would really like some sort of response and/or explanation. Still nothing. Today I woke up and noticed the coins had been shipped! Not just that they had been marked shipped, but a tracking number had been added which indicated that they really were already on the way. What!?!? Of course, I messaged the seller once again asking what in the world is going on here. No response. The seller has been on eBay since 2005 and has 100% positive feedback. I suppose this would be a bit more understandable if the seller was brand new to ebay, but, for a seller who's been doing it over 10 years, it's very strange. Like I mentioned before, I have no problem paying the $4 shipping cost - even though the entire time I was watching the auction the shipping cost was listed as $2.50 - but what I do have a problem with is the lack of any sort of response. I mean, c'mon, it takes less than a minute to type up a quick message. The part which confused me the most is that when I went to actually send the payment this morning after noticing the coins had been shipped, I wasn't able to. Error message every time. Another message sent, and another message not responded to, at least not yet. Anyone have a similar story? How did you handle it? Thanks
The seller "may" have been in the hospital, unable to respond, or something else dire. You should call eBay support merely to document the facts (not necessarily to complain) on this specific transaction, then sit back and wait for the coins. Then?
Seems like there is a good reason for the 100% feedback. You complained about the shipping, and they sent you the coins for free! Don't look a gift horse in the mouth.
I'm very hopeful that isn't the case, and am thinking it truly is not. Perhaps she had another person take over her eBay, if she is really ill or if it is another dire situation, because within the past three days she's listed more for sale and, obviously, she had added the tracking number to my order. Of course, though, those listings could have been already scheduled. I didn't exactly complain. As I mentioned, I told her I would pay the $4 shipping, but would just like some sort of response. Well, I guess all I can do is wait for a response so her and I can figure out how I am to get her the payment.
What sort of volume does the seller do? If they've hundreds or thousands of coins listed, there's a good chance other people are involved and able to drop the ball themselves.
I would do the same. If the person wanted their money and contacted me, I would do the right thing and pay, but I would also hope for no contact, as free coins are the best coins!
I'd say small volume. Approximately only 50 auctions when I began watching the listing I won, and a new 50 on the night the first 50 ended.
Odd, then. That's small enough for one person to keep track of. Well, the best default for your own peace of mind is to trust that something unexpected went sideways for the seller. Optimism isn't always rewarded but it's always the least-stressful of the alternatives.
UPDATE: Got a response! And what a kind woman she seems to be. She apologized for the increased shipping cost, mentioned she didn't know how it happened, and sent an invoice with the original shipping cost I saw on the listing the entire time. She also explained that she mistakenly left the package with my order in it at the post office drop box last night and was unable to retrieve it before it was sent out this morning. Of course, my response consisted of an apology for the multiple messages and lack of patience. Her payment has been sent, thanks to the new invoice she sent, and all is well!
Just an an FYI in the U.S.the fact that the item has a tracking number does not mean it is shipped. It only indicates that a shipping label with a tracking number has been printed. I have an item I purchased that was assigned a tracking number on February 16th, but it has still not entered the postal system.
