Still haven't heard from.....

[Nella]

1,5 week ago an arena member has reserved some pony's. She said to pay on the 7th (today) but she is not responding to any of my messages (since then) and therefore I still don't know exactly what she wants (shipping option etc). I haven't been able to calculate the total amount and therefore payment would be difficult today..   

She has been active on the forum..... I send messages through the forum and also e-mail.

What to do?

[Khayman81]

Sorry to hear that, as long as you haven't send them you can always try to relocate them if the buyer doesn't give any sign... but still she should at least confirm or not if she's still interested.

[tulagirl]

I have had that happen to me several times.  People do not always tell you they are not interested after all.  I am not sure why.  If you can't reach them after a reasonable amount of time you are safe to just sell them to someone else.  It is a good idea to put that time limit on your sales thread too. 

[Khayman81]

I agree. 

[Kiwi]

Yup, same here. I got a shipping quote for someone (I was delayed in doing so but kept up communication along the way).... after sending the quote, and a follow-up after a week or so....they couldn't be bothered to send me a simple "sorry not interested" message back. Despite reading both messages and still being active on the boards.

Since this person asked to pay today, I would say if they don't bother to contact you today, take the ponies off hold and put them up for someone else to buy.

[Nella]

No way.... Friday a message that she would pay the same day (7th). Today a message that things have changed and she won't be able to buy anymore?

I never received the payment.....

I'm very upset at the moment. This is very rude to me as a seller.

[Khayman81]

Did you send the ponies?
If you did then :-(
But if you did not then put them back on sale and too bad for the first buyer. Maybe someone else will be happier to buy them.

[hathorcat]

Unfortunately circumstances change for people. Holds are offered by sellers as courtesy to buyers and I know I have been fortunate enough (and very grateful for) to be allowed them in the past. However, sometimes people drop out of purchases - its just one of the most frustrating parts of being a seller.

If holds dont work for you, perhaps you should not offer them? Tell your buyers that you wont hold a pony and that only when payment is made is the purchase complete?

[northstar3184]

While it's very rude that she left you without a response while still being active on the arena after committing herself to paying, I would follow Hathorcat's advice and let buyers know upfront that you can't hold ponies or that you can for a very limited amount of time (like 24 hours). That way you can dodge these sorts of scenarios.

But I totally empathize. These situations are a real letdown.

[Nella]

I have no problem with holds. And I completely understand circumstances can changes and mean that a sell can't follow through. But, and that is the main thing.... keep communicating! If you keep in contact, or let me know at due date that you can't  go through with it... ok. But on the due date telling to pay and than only reply a few days later is just not ok in my eyes.

I haven't shipped the pony's by the way. So they are back for sale again.

[squishy turdl]

Nella. I replied to you 3 days later. This post is really unnecessary.

I also found you to be very pushy and actually quite rude. I explained to you very kindly that my situation has changed and the rude email you replied with was really uncool.

I was very apologetic (and embarassed) and did not ignore you at all. We stayed in contact throughout the 2 week period.

My paypal account has been hacked (by someone who used my facebook password) and I'm down a real lot of money right now so I'm just not in the position and apologized profusely.

After multiple transactions and positive purchases/sale on here this is the first and ONLY time I have ever cancelled a sale.

I understand you are disappointed and as I told you already, I am very sorry to let you down.

I don't want to butt heads over this but this but the multiple emails you sent me where really uncool and would suggest if you want to keep trading on here you really need to chill out. 

[Nella]

Hi Carly, I never meant to post your forumname or whatsoever. The only purpose I had with this thread is some help from other members who may have encountered the same.

My biggest issue was that I have not heard anything from you in the 1,5 week before the 7th. I had asked you a few things and needed an answer to be able to calculate the total amount. The lack of reply made me send reminders (which in my opinion were not "uncool"). That's it. And my question to other members was how I should handle in that case.

Last Friday you indeed replied in the end and I calculated the amount to be forthcoming to you. Sunday you said you can't pay. That in itself is not an issue, but I had the feeling you were 'leading me on' (I don't know the correct term in English).

I hope you understand my frustration too. I completely understand what you say about your PayPal hack (you haven't explained that earlier). No hard feelings about cancelling due to that. My frustration came from the lack of communication.

[pinkkittywinks]

for you both

Squishy I'm really sorry to hear that your account was hacked that's terrible I hope you can get everything sorted out.

Nella communication is important you are right. Personally I like to get deals done quickly but sometimes it just isn't possible, especially if someone is in a very different time zone.

I always tend to give people here the benefit of the doubt

Love pkw xxx

[Taffeta]

This looks like a break down in communication to me. From both perspectives it helps to know what is going on. Even a quick message to say there's a problem or a delay can help. Though I think putting a time limit on a hold is helpful, I admit I've never really been good at doing it myself.

I've dealt with Nella when she bought from me ages back and that was the package that got sent to China. She was amazingly patient with it once she understood the situation and that it was Royal Mail at fault, and thankfully the ponies made it there safely. So I think that any communication made was probably just Nella trying to ascertain that her ponies had a new home.

Obviously from the buyer's point of view, with all kinds of other bad stuff going on, the last thing at the forefront of the mind is a PM on the Arena. Trouble is when you're globes apart, it's hard to know what is going on in someone else's life. It's difficult to know if the buyer has been hit by an unexpected issue, or the seller is selling those ponies to meet a particular financial deadline such as a vet bill or something else. It's rarely just about selling plastic, there are often other factors.

Hope all is now resolved and Nella finds a new home for her ponies.

[Nella]

Thanks pkw  . I prefer quick sales too, but I don't mind to wait if that is best for the buyer (just like in this case).

@Taffeta: that's indeed what I was trying to do. Most of all because she reserved Night Glider who someone else also wanted. She was first, so the other Arena member bought my other Night Glider who was in less condition. Now it turns out the sale is off so I feel a bit ashamed to the other member who could have had the other Night Glider instead...

Carly knew this, so if she would have told me earlier she wouldn't be possible to buy I could have arranged something with the other buyer. Not getting replies to my e-mails makes it difficult to know what is going on.