My Ebay Vent

[buttrfli]

Ok..... I sold an item on ebay to a new user (only 1 feedback). This person sent me a money order (which took 12 days to get :rolleyes: ) When I got it to the bank, they informed me that since the buy did not sign the front of it and put their address, they can not cash or deposit it.

So I go home, e-mail the buyer and explain to him that I will send the money order back and he can just sign it and send it back.

No problem so far....

I get the envelope that the mo was sent in and look at the return address and I can barely read it! Sooooo I e-mail the guy again and ask that he e-mail me with him mailing address so that I can send it back. Those 2 e-mails I sent last monday. I sent another last friday to see if he had received my first 2. I haven't heard anything from this person at all. So today I got the user info from ebay and I called the # that was givin... disconnected.

So what now? Do I try to descramble the address and take a chance? If I don't hear from him by this friday I am going to offer the item to the next highest bidder since I sell for the money and I can't wait forever, but what do I do with the money order?? I have absolutely no intention on keeping the money order, but what do I do?? How long is appropriate to wait?? I am very specific in my auctions that I expect payment within a certain amount of time (10 days) and I am almost going on week 3 waiting on this guy.

I realize that people have lives other than ebay and the net, but normally when I buy something off ebay, I expect to hear from the seller about shipping and such so I check my e-mail. Do I sound unreasonable in the amount of time that I have let this go with no contact??

I just don't know what to do :(

[YankeeMary]

DO you still have the envelope it came in? I would reseal it and send it back kinda like return to sender...I then would relist the item...I think 3 weeks is plenty time for any transaction...then I would leave feedback stating that communication was very poor...good luck to you.

[cpbaby]

Either do what YankeeMary says OR fill the thing in yourself. It might be wrong, but I think thats what I wouldve done.

[advocate]

Yep, fill it in, a money order is negotiable just like cash, even a stolen money order can be cashed, they arent protected. They can be traced but not usually recovered. Unless it looks suspicious, fill it in.

[buttrfli]

I have thought about filling it in HOWEVER One of my best friends works at a bank and said that probably wouldn't be a good idea. There are so many fake money orders floating around and on the off chance that this could be one, I don't htink I want to take the chance. I will seal the envelope back up and sent it back with a note inside.

I realize that me getting busted by signing someone elses name on a fake money order is about 1 in a billion... but I am one of those people that it would happen to me LOL

Thanks fr the ideas!

[Bohemut]

If his phone has been disconnected he probably doesn't have internet access right now so he can't check his e-mail. He probably hasn't thought about using the computer at the library. Didn't he ever give you a shipping address? It's a shame you can't make out his return address. Since you can't, even if you fill out the mo and cash it you can't send him the item. So in your place I wouldn't feel right about cashing the mo. JMHO.

I just get this picture in my mind of someone waiting for their package to come, and no package. :( I realize that you're doing the best you can, I just can't help but feel sorry for the guy.

Good luck whatever you decide to do. :)

Editted to add that we must have been typing at the same time. :) I'm glad to see you're sending it back to him. Me and my big heart...

[MrsManxieCat]

ya woudl send it back as well with the note explaining why! It sux that he loses the item and such but your right what more can you do? Your doing the right thing so just stick to that!

[Willow]

Did he use the pay now feature? I normally do that when I win an auction and then it tells you to click on which payment option you will be using ( I always pay by money order) and then it shows the sellers address. The seller should also receive an email with the buyers address. You could probably find it that way if he used that feature.

[buttrfli]

Well I am sending the mo back today. I am sending a note along with it that I will wait 7 days from the time he receives it to get it back to me and we can finish the sale, but if I don't get it, the item goes to the next person... Persoanlly I think I am being more than fair at this point.