Auction'd Item: Need Advice

[datgreenmonster.livejournal.com]

Alright, getting straight to the problem. 

I just recently auctioned off a hand painted munny vinyl toy I did recently to try to raise money to help pay off medical bills. There was only 1 bid, and I know the person personally. The bid was the base price of $30.00 and they won. I went to contact them about it, even though they kept pestering on how I did on the auction and to look to see who one, which was rather irritating since I already knew they won before the auction finished.

I talked to them about the payment and they tell me they will pay when they get back home, which I thought getting back home as in visiting their parents before flying off to France for the summer. Turns out they ment the end of summer so I won't be getting money from the auction till school starts back up. 

I'm rather frustrated about it, but not sure what to do in this situation. I plan to contact them and give them a fair warning before putting it back up for auction, but not sure if they will be easy to contact while they are in France. I've asked a few people about it and most of them say to re-auction the item, but others say to wait since it's just $30.00.

What do you guys think I should do? This is the first time i've had to deal with a situation like this.

Comments

[theblackdragon.livejournal.com]

I know it doesn't help for this particular situation, but most auctions I've bid on for eBay had a time limit for payment -- 'payment is due 7 days from close of auction or negative feedback will be given and the item relisted', that kind of thing. since you know this person personally, though (and are friends with them?), is it possible to tell them you'll paint them another Munny around the end of summer (when they're able to pay) and then go ahead and relist the one you're trying to sell right now?

[kwolf13.livejournal.com]

If you want your money sooner than that, maybe you should try to negotiate a deadline that works better for you. See if you can compromise? That's all I can think of, it's an iffy situation.

Be sure to tell them that if they miss the deadline, the item will be re-listed.

[ljmydayaway.livejournal.com]

This really sucks, because it's you're friend being so jerky about it!

I would email him and say, "Dude, if you had told me before bidding you wouldn't be able to pay until the end of summer, I would have told you not to bid. I need the money now. If you can't pay by x days from now, I'm going to relist it. Sorry!"

I'd also rethink the friendship, if it were me.

[funkicarus.livejournal.com]

considering who it is, i'd actually shoot an email their way and ask if it's okay to relist it. i'm pretty sure he'd be okay with that, knowing him.

i don't think he intended for it to end right before he had to go overseas, and he does have a lot of other family related problems on his plate right now (or so CC has told me).

if it was anyone else, i'd pass much harsher judgement. but i think this individual was more looking for a way to help you pay medical bills than to actually get the item. i think he'd be okay with you relisting if you explained how that isn't really helping you out - waiting all summer, etc.

edit: he's been okay about communication so far, he responded to some comments of mine while he was in England and he's now in France and was able to respond to the last update to the comic i posted. so i'd email him, i'm sure he's checking it at *least* once a week.

[sinabu.livejournal.com]

You need the money now for medical.. Even if that wasn't the case I'm not waiting that long to get payment for an item..

If this is a friend they will understand. I would allow them some time to pay 7-10 days but after that move on and relist the item.

[tunavoice.livejournal.com]

Even if it were a friend or family member, be a stickler to rules and sales regulations. A "pay within ___ amount of time" limit would help- do this if you re-list the auction item. They weren't very clear on communication with you, and they're giving you a long time to wait for money you need.

I say re-list it, but only after sending them an email about it. Maybe give them a short amount of time's notice (a week or so) before you re-list the item, to give them time to respond.

[zaulankris.livejournal.com]

At the risk of sounding like a huge meaniepants... relist it if they won't pay within a reasonable time you give them.

I remember seeing this on FA and you were very clear about this being for medical bills. I don't know about you but when I see auctions that use words like "food" or "bills" or "rent" I know the artist selling it needs the money NOW. It is beyond rude to think it's okay to promise to buy something leave you hanging in such a case.

[chronidu.livejournal.com]

Just going to repeat the notion of sending them a note of "I'm sorry, but if I don't receive payment by X date I will be re-listing this auction."

Expecting you to wait until the end of summer for payment for your auction is completely unreasonable and would be met with a flag for 'non-paying bidder' on any other auction site.

[growly.livejournal.com]

A LOT can change over a summer, it may very well be that in three months they come back and say "Oh, I don't want it anymore", or "I don't have the money, sorry". I would never hold an item that long. My policy is usually payment within 24 hours - 3 days, depending on who I am selling to. Honestly, three whole days is still rather generous.

I would be rather peeved if a friend tried to take advantage of me by postponing payment for an extremely long period of time like that.

[actonrf.livejournal.com]

Did you use EBay? if so send him a warning first then after a few day you want to submit and start a non paying bidder complaint on him to start the process. If he pays the ship the item; if he doesn't contact you or want no further contact you close the complaint he takes a strike the bid is canceled and you relist. Do block him for and future auctions.

[radiocatastrophe (from livejournal.com)]

Might be a good idea on any future auctions to put a deadline for payment or the auction piece will be put back up or given to next highest bidder.

But personally I'd tell the winner that you'll be relsiting the piece for a week or so and if any of the bids are higher than theirs then they forfeit the piece. So until they pay their item is up for grabs since this is for medical bills and not just some leisure money.

[dizdzi.livejournal.com]

Not a single soul will think you were in the wrong (besides the winner of said auction) if you simply put it up for re-auction if they do not pay within a week. If they did this on an auction they won off of anybody else, nobody would put up with it. You also wouldn't allow it if it was anybody other than somebody you knew. :/ I know it sounds harsh but you need the money, you don't need it to sit around for 3 months. If nothing else you can offer to let them pay you $30 to paint up another munny, though that $30 barely covers the munny itself (..though I guess that depends on which size you used)

[galagya.livejournal.com]

I agree with the majority on this. Re-auction. Of course let them know in advance, and maybe allow an extra day or two for payment(if at all possible; I know they said they'd pay later but still). Explain the situation to them("I'm really sorry, but I misunderstood the time you were expecting to pay - it's too far away for me and I'd like to work with you before trying to re-list it", something like that). That way they will have a chance to get it still, and you won't have to wait forever for payment.

[thaily.livejournal.com]

I think most auction sites have a "pay within two weeks" clause, and while you may not have specified in your auction if it was held elsewhere, I think it's implied that when you buy something it's not "pay whenever dude".
If he doesn't pay up and it was on an auction site, leave a negative review and relist. He's taking advantage of your friendship (which I think he might presume is a friendship) by assuming he doesn't have to pay promptly, despite the fact he knows what you need the money for?