What is a sufficient amount of time to assume a backout?

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Haight ( 422 )
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What is a sufficient amount of time to assume a backout?

Post by Haight »

Hey all,


So this has been happening to me a lot lately, and frankly, i'm kinda pissed off about it. Everyone hates backouts, absolutely.

What i want to know is this:


1) deal is done (as in "it's a deal" exchanged in some kind of format). I don't care if no deal is reached, this is on actually reaching a deal - if there's not a deal , no issue. People change their mind (though a courtesy response is nice).

2) Person drops off the map - doesn't log in, or worse, doesn't respond to pm's.

3) What time period is acceptable to tell the person "clearly you're not serious, i'm relisting the items".


I'm just so frustrated, this keeps happening - deal made, then poof, Houdini the trader disappears without a trace. I don't think its fair that i sit in limbo for 10-14 days holding onto a lot, and missing opportunities to re-list it.

What is the socially acceptable amount of time. Personally, if i'm the seller, and i'm not paid in two weeks (unless we discussed a different time frame), that is really pushing it for me. For most people that's 1-2 paychecks, unless you're paid monthly.


What is the rule of thumb others go by ?

PS: i'm pissed off because in the last 2 weeks, this has happened 3 times to me - all three have been agreed upon trades or sales in excess of 200.00, and it's irking the crap out of me. I'm literally sitting now on almost everything i have up for trade, because it's caught in goddamn limbo - a deal agreed on, but a partner that has up and vanished or stopped responding (thankfully i insist on the rule of "lower rating ships first", and all three of these were lower ratings...)
My Rules:

1) I accept paypal. Offers good for 24 hours.

2) My "$$ XYZ shipped" lot costs are only valid for continental United States. HI/AK and international shipping costs will be born by buyer. This will be reiterated in PM.

3) I only ship on Saturdays.

4) Trades: lower rating sends first. Sales: buyer pays first.

5) Don't waste either of our time, Read the Whole Ad.
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kturock ( 592 )
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Re: What is a sufficient amount of time to assume a backout?

Post by kturock »

If the item was supposed to be shipped on tuesday with an arrival date of friday; I'd wait until the following tuesday to send a pm asking, what's up.
If no reply or he doesn't log on for a couple days, send a pm asking about the deal, and then wait another week.
If nothing, then file a send 1 more pm saying you're going to file a backout.
Give it a day and then file.

If you're not getting replies, especially if they've logged in to b-town, file.
Heh, I was called a Grognard. ;-)


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Haight ( 422 )
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Re: What is a sufficient amount of time to assume a backout?

Post by Haight »

Thanks Kturock for the reply, sound advice.

Your timeline pretty much matches mine as well. I gave the people i'm "dealing" with 48 hours to respond, or i'm assuming they have backed out due to lack of communication and their end of the deal showing up first as agreed.

Also mentioned at my sole discretion, I reserve the right to file Backout reports.
My Rules:

1) I accept paypal. Offers good for 24 hours.

2) My "$$ XYZ shipped" lot costs are only valid for continental United States. HI/AK and international shipping costs will be born by buyer. This will be reiterated in PM.

3) I only ship on Saturdays.

4) Trades: lower rating sends first. Sales: buyer pays first.

5) Don't waste either of our time, Read the Whole Ad.
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luxion ( 176 )
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Joined: Fri Oct 14, 2005 5:39 pm
Location: Mission Viejo, CA

Re: What is a sufficient amount of time to assume a backout?

Post by luxion »

*sigh*

I'm in a similar boat. I've been back and forth with a trader for the last 1.5 months. We've agreed to a final price. After waiting on PayPal to verify his funds, he replies, "Verified! Will send payment tonight!", followed by, "how much for models X and Y?"...

One week later, we come to a new total, and once again I'm waiting on payment. The potential buyer hasn't dropped off the map and has been responsive (sort of). Gave him a 60-hour ultimatum. My question is, if they decide to cancel ("No thanks.") or I cancel because of my ultimatum, am I in the right to file a backout/deadbeat report for this user?
Anthony Nguyen
aka luxion

"It's just a fading dream."
- Maria from "Aria de Mezzo Carattere", played by Celes
MagickalMemories ( 832 )
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Re: What is a sufficient amount of time to assume a backout?

Post by MagickalMemories »

If you've come to an agreement on cost, who ships/pays first, then yes. You have a legit backout.

@OP - Five to 7 days with no response is acceptable for a backout, IMO, provided you give them a 2 to 3 day warning, in advance. Keep in mind, though, that someone who's run into legitimate issues and logs in to contact you, only to find a BO on him, will not likely be interested in completing the trade, after all.

Eric
Lower rating? You ship first.

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I think what this situation needs is some imagination.

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optimusprime14 ( 100 )
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Re: What is a sufficient amount of time to assume a backout?

Post by optimusprime14 »

@OP I personally do not de-list and item until cash is in hand. I will amend my post and mark the item as pending but I will still have in in my trade. I have done this and managed to trade an item after someone had inquired about it and then decided against it, I already had someone else interested in it.

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