Being a middle man on ebay between 2 parties....what to do?

G

GarageBoy

Feedback: +4 / =0 / -0
Joined
May 23, 2003
Messages
5,952
Ok, I was helping a "friend" by helping him bid on some $200 sneakers..The thing is, this has been a month already and my "friend" has stopped replying to his phone calls. The thing is, I don't have $200 of disposible income right now to pay off for him. He's sent 2 M.O.s priority mailed and both have gotten lost and I'm beginning to think he sent them to wrong address, since if it was stolen, he wouldn't have been able to do a reclaim. The seller has been very paitent and has made a final request of payment by Nov 6th 2005 or be neg repped. The ebay account is my dad's being run by me, since he's a net noob..So..what should I do.
 
It sounds like your buddy is an ass. He has put you in a very untenable position. You allowed him to use your dad's account, so if you don't want your dad to get negative feedback then you are going to have to figure out a way to purchase the running shoes.
 
Pay the shoes off, find your buddy and stuff them wear the sun doesn't shine. I think you have been shown that you need to re-evaluate your friendship. Furthermore, what does your dad think about this wanker getting his ebay rep a negative ding? You could find a way to buy the shoes and then put them back up for sale on ebay to recoop your funds.
 
Peter La said:
Why not just tell the seller you cannot get them?
Click to expand...
In my opinion, that's just not an option. You bid on something, you make good on it. Bailing out and being a no-pay, "deserves" a negative tag, so, that's just the worst option, the guy who deserves bruising is the "goof friend", not the seller...

(To the original poster here), in hindsight, obviously, only be willing to be exposed like that if you're willing to jump the hoops if you get stuck.

I'd find the money and BUY the deal, and immediately re-list the item. Maybe even let the seller know you WILL be doing that, "and hey don't be offended if I rubber-stamp your photos and text", I'm going to re-list the item since my goof-friend wouldn't come through with the money.

Telling the seller YOU are having to monkey-jump for a friend will lighten his usual reaction of wanting to tag you a bit with feedback, if he knows you are making it right even though your friend has made things bad for you, you're more likely to get the waters settled without the dad getting bad feedback. (If you absolutely can't get the $$ together, I'd work out with the original seller that he re-list the item and YOU pay the difference if it sells short, that's what I'd do, if push came to shove).

I'd buy it and re-list it if at all possible to get the original seller out of the loop and protect your dad's name, that's just the right thing to do (and your friend can pound sand). Do it even if the items only brought 80% of what had been bid earlier, you'd get most of your $$ back, AND, you can let your "friend" drop, not even having to ever call him again to get "payment". Let him chew on some well deserved guilt. And you get to keep your pride, not needing a nickle from the jerk.

He ain't no friend. (edit, I see ProGunner had some of the same thoughts there, should have read his post first...)

Frank H.
 
He said he cannot pay for the sneaks. Looks like he needs to contact the seller and explain ASAP.

And take the negative hit for his 'Bro".

What are "Brothers" for anyway:p :D
 
Bros are there for you to test you new DorkOps knives on in the blood splatter category.
Thanks guys, I'll see what I can do..and for a fact, I know HE has the money, he's just an idiot and can't send it to the right place and doesn't know the importance of answering the phone
 
IMHO, when you agreed to do the buying for your friend, you took it upon yourself to complete the transaction as if he wasn't even a part of it. That means, you should have had the cash set aside, just in case. The "Negative" hit that you'll probably end up taking isn't even yours; it's your Dad's. Not good. Your Dad didn't do anything wrong, and he gets the hit. :thumbdn: I would find some way to pay for the shoes. Period.

Occasionally, I will let a friend talk me into selling one of his knives. I do this with the understanding that it's ME selling it, and it's MY deal only. My reputation is at stake, not his.
 
GarageBoy said:
and for a fact, I know HE has the money,
Click to expand...
No, he doesnt.

he's just an idiot and can't send it to the right place
Click to expand...
He hasn't sent JACK s**t anywhere.

and doesn't know the importance of answering the phone
Click to expand...
He's ducking you.

You're still young, my friend, and this is probably the first time you've been burnt by a friend who you completely trust. Learn from this experience and from now on you will be able to spot the danger signals pinging away even before the guy finishes giving you his pitch.

He left you holding the bag, and probably doesn't even feel guilty about it. He's probably irked at you for trying to hold him to his end of the bargain. Live and learn, grasshopper!
 
You did vouch for your buddy and he threw you for a loop.Explain to the seller you can't pay for the item,but maybe you can pay his e-bay sellers cost and relisting cost on the item.( this has happend to me while selling on e-bay before) ask him not to send you negative feedback and make sure you send him Praise on his feedback.

It just might work,and if it does make sure you never play middle man again if you can't cover yourself. Make sure you learned a good lesson from this.

Frank
 
What Danbo said and I'm thinking your wallet's gonna' take a hit in this fiasco.:thumbdn: :eek:
 
I'd suggest that you ask the seller to offer the shoes to the next highest bidder and offer to make up the difference
 
Andy_L said:
I'd suggest that you ask the seller to offer the shoes to the next highest bidder and offer to make up the difference
Click to expand...

That is certainly something to try, but it has been a month, so don't be surprised if the runner-up bidder isn't interested any more.
 
At the least, you could offer to pay the sellers listing and final value fees, for positive feedback, or no feedback left.
 
you friend probably came to hsi senses and realized $200 for $3 china made sneakers was a bit much. I suggest contacting the seller and trying to work something out as already mentioned. Might want to tell your dad too if you haven't already.

You can get a MO refunded after a certain amount of time.
 
Well he payed for the last 4 pairs $200+ sneakers, so yea, he has the money. Also contacted him using all the phones I've gotten my hands on. Not defending him, just stating the facts. Thanks guys
 
I know youve been very responsive but the fact is by you being the highest bidder im out money that I would have received from the next bidder who would have paid not just auction fees. My policy is my policy and I have over extended already for you with the intent that I would receive payment. For you to have lost 2 money orders through the mail is not beleivable. it has been over 5 weeks since you were the high bidder and eventhough you stated you were biding for a friend in the end you are the one responsible for payment.If I dont receive payment by nov 6th I have no choice but to contact ebay, relist the shoes and write negative feedback for non-payment. I have spent my time writing emails back and forth for over a month now expecting payment and your final email is not acceptable. Figure out a way to resolve this or I have no choice.

Phil


Final email was where I offered to pay him for his fees plus something extra
 
Frag that buddy of yours man! He definitely needs his boys slammed in a drawer. The stand up thing to do is protect your dad's rep, pony up the cash and list them darn shoes on Ebay yourself when you ge them. Oh yeah, don't ever bid for any one else on ebay unless you get $ up front and only if they are a relative after that.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top