Good business 101

[OSCAR]

I have purchased most of my knives online for many years. I am new to AAPK. 1st knife I bought here, immediate acknowledgement, followed by promp email that knife was shipped. Had a tracking number and received in 3 days.
2nd knife I ordered here,( different vendor) no confirmation. It’s been 3 days. I messaged vendor to please send confirmation. 3 messages I sent (each day) through AAPK.
NO RESPONSE. I may be old fashioned but, I would neither recommend this vendor to anyone, nor will I purchase anything from them again. I’m not saying they are fraudulent, I’m saying they are bad business people. I will NEVER order from them again. If I get in a few days I’ll be happy. If I don’t I’ll cancel order payment which was charged to me and post who they are. Either way, it’s a matter of principle. I want this knife but, even if it’s platinum for a dollar, I don’t do business with a vendor that obviously doesn’t care about their customers. For what it’s worth .....

[Steve Warden]

I wonder sometimes just what our current society and the demand for instant gratification has lead us to.

Life happens, often unexpectedly, sometimes with tragic events.
Now I have no experience buying here on AAPK, and I certainly have no idea who you're dealing with about this issue. But if I may be so bold to suggest giving the dealer a week before writing him/her off as a a no good, low down, cheapskate. Life may have thrown them a curve ball they are having a tough time handling.

[OSCAR]

Am I wrong to want to know my order status? I don’t need instant gratification. I just think that if I give my business to a company, they acknowledge it and inform me of its status.

[rea1eye]

Unless the individual has had some person tragedy, you should expect response from your
buyer. Only time will give you the answer to that.

Recently, I have had no responses to questions on several ebay items. Unless I want to take a crap
shot at a knife for little money, I rarely buy from those sellers. I rarely buy something if
the seller gives no response.

We have approached to getting immediate response, questions, and pictures for just about
everything. Still there are a lot of people who don't communicate well or even accurately.
I usually ask at least 2 questions on ebay items. Rarely does the seller answer both questions.

A previous boss would always comment communication is an ART.

Bob

[edge213]

I'm with you Oscar. It's only common courtesy for the seller to notify the buyer to confirm and then send tracking information.
Most of the sellers I have purchased from on AAPK have done this.
I don't sell, just buy. I as a buyer I notify the seller when I have put payment in the mail and also notify them when I receive the knife.

[Steve Warden]

Am I wrong to want to know my order status? I don’t need instant gratification. I just think that if I give my business to a company, they acknowledge it and inform me of its status.

You are not wrong at all for wanting to know order status.
I'm just saying three days may need to be extended to a week as a courtesy. And you're not dealing with a company, you're dealing with an individual. Big difference.

[cody6268]

If something's not updated, or hasn't shipped (or is stuck someplace), I always as a rule, wait a week before saying anything. I have dealt with sellers that did not have a computer at home, and were using library/public computers. On eBay, I've dealt with sellers before that seemingly had an odd habit of rarely not shipping what they sold--and I just so happened to be a victim of that happening. Big deal, except the items I purchased were quite hard to find (a Corgi ambulance for the French market, and a belt buckle for a fire apparatus manufacturer in town). I wanted the items, but PayPal at least got my money back.

[Quick Steel]

I would counsel patience and giving the benefit of the doubt. So many right now are being affected by flooding, tornadoes, power outages, etc. your seller may be struggling and unable to respond. If it becomes obvious there is no legitimate reason well, then, time enough for calling him out.

[Mumbleypeg]

I would counsel patience and giving the benefit of the doubt. So many right now are being affected by flooding, tornadoes, power outages, etc. your seller may be struggling and unable to respond. If it becomes obvious there is no legitimate reason well, then, time enough for calling him out.

+1. Don’t know who or where the dealer in question is located but Missouri, Oklahoma, Ohio, etc and now Texas are all dealing with tornadoes, flooding, power outages and other weather-related tragedies. People often have to deal with family illness and death, which become a higher priority. You’re right to expect a response, but especially since you’re dealing with an individual, not a corporation, I’d say some patience is in order. JMO

Ken

[KnifeSlinger#81]

You are not wrong at all for wanting to know order status. I'm just saying three days may need to be extended to a week as a courtesy. And you're not dealing with a company, you're dealing with an individual. Big difference.

I would counsel patience and giving the benefit of the doubt. So many right now are being affected by flooding, tornadoes, power outages, etc. your seller may be struggling and unable to respond. If it becomes obvious there is no legitimate reason well, then, time enough for calling him out.

Don’t know who or where the dealer in question is located but Missouri, Oklahoma, Ohio, etc and now Texas are all dealing with tornadoes, flooding, power outages and other weather-related tragedies. People often have to deal with family illness and death, which become a higher priority. You’re right to expect a response, but especially since you’re dealing with an individual, not a corporation, I’d say some patience is in order. JMO

Ken

I agree with all of these statements.

[doglegg]

I have bought several things here and from ebay. Some folks great communicators, some not at all but I've got what I ordered so I really don't mind either way. I'm not looking for a new friend but for a knife. I almost always respond when I receive something. My Son bought me a couple of knives from here for my Birthday, using my wish list. I have not responded on those knives as I have not seen them yet. I guess to each his own but patience is a lost art.

[Sharpnshinyknives]

As a seller, I try to make my SOP to be what you expect. Acknowledgement of the purchase, sometimes an email about the knife to the buyer. Tracking number when shipped. Try to always ship the next business day or the day after that. Answer any questions promptly and deal w/ any issues that arise after delivery.
However, a thought crossed my mind Monday night while I was watching a funnel cloud move toward my house and pass right over us: what would I do if all those knives got blown away, along w/ my Ipad and IPhone. My inventory would be lost and the orders awaiting payment would be lost. How do I handle refunds when I can’t communicate? Will I find my knives out in the field? Funny the thought didn’t occur to me that I might die.
So if the person that sold you the knife did go though that or a flood, be patient. But do contact an administrator to see if they know something that maybe isn’t public about that person.
SSk

[WillyCamaro]

I think you made the best post Mark
Life happens, what can you do.
Most of the guys i'v dealt with on ebay have been awesome. Odd guy out there makes everyone look bad. Same thing everywhere. Best be careful and fully understand what you are doing before taking the plunge.

[OSCAR]

Didn’t know there were tornadoes around. I never watch the news. In light of this, I will give more time before I cancel payment. I really don’t care if it takes weeks. It’s not like I cannot live without this immediately as I have over 200 in my collection. I prefer good communication but as the guy might be having difficulty due to inclement weather, I’ll give more time. I have NO idea where he is located so perhaps that is the case.

[kootenay joe]

People get sick or injured and die or end up in a hospital ICU. Weather events destroy homes or knock out power for days. Family members get ill and need all your attention. Etc.
We get so focused on "knives" we forget that 'the rest of life' continues to happen, every day, to all of us.
I worry that someone might pay me for a knife and then i drop dead before i can pack it up and get it shipped. No one is going to go through my computer and emails to see what needs to be followed up or completed. Being obsessive i leave a note "Ship to: person's name and address" sitting out with the knife that has just been purchased 5 minutes ago. A hand written note is likely to get followed up.
kj

[XX Case XX]

I don’t do business with a vendor that obviously doesn’t care about their customers.

Like the others have said, I would advise patience here until you get all the facts. Case in point:

I bought an item on eBay. Seller never shipped. I contacted seller. Seller never replied. I was not happy. I contacted eBay for assistance. eBay got back with me a few days later with the details as to why the item never shipped.

On the same day I bought the item, the seller was involved in a car accident. He was in ICU for several days before he passed. His wife knew of his eBay store but I assure you that was the last thing on her mind.

She got back with me a week later to explain. After that, I learned not to pass judgement on someone without knowing all the facts first.

____________
Mike

[just bob]

Several years back on Ebay when a seller could leave negative feedback for a buyer I left negative feedback for a buyer that never contacted me or paid for the item. About 6 weeks later I get a message from the buyer's daughter saying that the buyer had a heart attack and had died a few days later. They were forwarding me the payment he owed because they didn't want any black marks against his name and I could just keep the item. Made me feel about 2" tall - over so few dollars. Patience is a virtue and kindness is contagious.

[OSCAR]

Mike. Thanks I never thought of it that way but something may have happened to delay the purchase that is beyond their control. Thanks for pointing it out.

[Doc B]

Any luck, on getting your knife?