Part 1: Intro • Buyer Complaints • Seller Complaints
Part 2: Bidder Guidelines
Part 3: Seller Guidelines
Part 4: Understanding Auction Terms
Part 5: Buyer & Seller Communication
Bidder Guidelines (Part 2)
Communicate with the Seller
Sometimes during an online auction real life problems will end up delaying a payment being sent. Hey, it happens... but try and let the other party know about emergencies quickly, or have a friend or family member contact them with an explanation.
Remember, sellers are real people too, and will almost always try and work with you to resolve a problem- especially if you keep in contact with them. If a payment glitch arises, such as your bank putting a hold on a check that you deposited or transferred to pay for an item, be open and accurate about it.
Auction sellers are much more forgiving and understanding of real problems than they are of common delaying tactics, such as buyers who wait several days between e-mails or the old "what was your address again" ploy... Very lame.
Bottom line... "I don't have the money any more" for x and y reason is almost never a good excuse (except for medical emergencies)- if you cannot pay, do not bid.
Patience is a Virtue
So, you just shelled out seven bucks for that prized toy or memory from childhood, and you gotta have it like yesterday. You just won't feel complete until you do... Trust us, we feel your pain, because we've been there ourselves.
But remember, even if your seller averages only 20 or 30 auctions a week, they are probably up to their eyeballs in invoices, packing-tape and e-mails. This is especially true if they are a powerseller on ebay, or if they also sell items at yahoo, amazon, or one of the many other auction sites out there.
Unless it's an absolute emergency, give them the benefit of the doubt and wait a minimum of two weeks until you inquire about the item's whereabouts- unless, of course, you have agreed with the seller in advance (or have paid extra) for them to ship it via FED-EX or EXPRESS MAIL. In this case, fire off those e-mail inquiries... politely, of course.
Next part: Seller Guidelines
