Fear of Impending Suckiness

[HorrorFrogPrincess]

I ordered a custom necklace from a craft artist on Deviantart, and paid in advance. Artist said she'd try to get it mailed by late last week or early this week. I haven't heard anything about it since the 26th, and sent another message yesterday.

Frankly, I'm about ready to take this to Paypal if I don't hear anything soon. But I worry that I"m being too impatient.

[spark]

As somebody who's livelyhood is selling custom stuff over the internet I'll say that while taking longer than anticipated to get something made and mailed out is very much par for the course, failing to respond within three days at most to somebody's questions about their order is a very bad sign. So if you don't get a response to your message soon, I'd be going to paypal, yes.

I've been months late on orders, life sometimes happens like that, but I've never failed to let a customer know what's going on when they ask.

[HorrorFrogPrincess]

I wouldn't mind if she's having trouble with the setting, or doesn't have enough stones for it. I'd be fine picking a different type of stone, even.

If I don't get a response by Friday, then. That'll be 3 days since my last note. Thanks for the tip. ^^

[mikoyan29]

Good luck going through Paypay.

[Arm]

Paypal has a relatively decent system for STARTING a dispute. Don't know if they're any good at resolving them. But once you start it, the seller has a time period within which to attempt some resolution, and if I remember correctly, the money will be taken from the seller's account and simply held by PayPal until something changes.

I had a customer who ordered something out of stock- great big warnings all over the website, on the checkout page, etc. All saying to allow an additional three weeks, for delivery of the out of stock item. They started a dispute with PayPal within a week- and hadn't even ordered priority shipping. If I'd had the item IN HAND and shlepped it to the post office that very day, they'd still not have had it. I wound up refunding the money and canceling the order... they were simply not worth the trouble of dealing with as customers.

Your first item of business should be to ask the seller what's going on (you did that already, of course). If the seller doesn't respond, wait a day or two, and then try again- but give an ultimatum. Respond, or I take it up with PayPal. Wait for them to respond (another day or two) and then go to PayPal. There's no reason you should let yourself get scammed. But PayPal shouldn't be the first option, either. It's a hassle.

[HorrorFrogPrincess]

Welp, still haven't heard anything, so I'm gonna try and at least get my money back.

Which, actually, would be a bummer. It's a really nice necklace. T-T

...I'd really rather have the necklace.

[HorrorFrogPrincess]

She went on vacation to Montreal.

Yeah, I got a response finally. I should be getting my necklace in the near future. So... why did she say it'd be sent out in, like, 2 weeks? This is my annoyed face. -_-

But at least I get my necklace!

[Andara Bledin]

Ugh! What the hell is it with sellers who decide to go on vacation in the middle of a transaction without letting anyone know about it?

I've had to deal with my share of these morons back when my old boss was winning a dozen auctions a week.

Pro Tip: Always pay via PayPal backed by a credit card. That way, if you don't manage to get your money back from a scummy seller through PayPal, you're free and clear to go through your credit card company. If you have a debit card, check with your bank regarding purchase protections, as they can sometimes be less complete.

^-.-^

[HorrorFrogPrincess]

Ugh! What the hell is it with sellers who decide to go on vacation in the middle of a transaction without letting anyone know about it?

That's what I'm saying!

I should be getting it soon, though. I hope it gets here soon, anyway. I bought a shirt just because the blue will look great with the silver.

[HorrorFrogPrincess]

I'm more upset that the necklace wasn't sent when she said it would be. I ordered this like 2 weeks before she would have left. And she SAID when it would be mailed.

[PepperElf]

i have to agree...

there's nothing wrong with going on vacation. however, if someone has given her word to someone else on accomplishing a task, then she owes it to that person to notify them that the item will be late, etc.

[alacazar]

I personaly have no trouble delaying a vacation for a week if it means tieing up my work obligations so they dont come back to haunt me.... That being said, I have no problem if I have ordered something to be custom made, and the seller find that they are not able to complete it befor heading on their vacation. I do however expect to be contacted and told there will delay in shipping. They dont have to sate why. trust me, saying any variation of

I am sorry I was delayed, and I cant finish the thing your orderd for a few more weeks cause im on vacation

is asking to be broudsided by an very loud SC to rip you a new one. But one should realy advise the buyer that there will be a delay, even if you cant be specific.

[persephone]

Also, she knew she was going on vacation, so maybe she should have factored that into the time she figured the necklace would take. And besides, you don't even have to say WHY it's delayed, just let the buyer know that something has come up and the product will be delayed, but it will be sent out as soon as possible and you'll let them know as soon as it is. I'm sure that would have made HFP happy.

No one's saying she can't go on vacation -- or that anyone can't. But if you ARE going on vacation, plan your job around it -- don't list e-bay auctions to end during that time, don't promise product that you won't have finished, ect. When I make things for people I ALWAYS give an estimated time of double what I think it will take because you never know what will happen. And that way, you're usually early too.

[Andara Bledin]

As others have stated, the issue has nothing to do with the seller going on vacation and everything to do with the fact that she didn't tell the buyer she would be gone.

That, right there, is a sucky seller. It's recoverable, but it could have been completely avoided, too.

^-.-^

[WhiteRose]

duly noted.

SPEAKING of selling...does anyone have a need I might be able to fill?