Thread: Swap Intent to pay policy

What is your policy on people stating intent to pay on your bhuz purchases? I have some items that people intent to pay but...12, 24, even 36 hours later...they do not pay.

98% of Bhuz buyers pay within a few hours.

What is your policy?

Just sucks because I turn down other offers to allow these people a "chance".

I realize circumstances arise which is why I give chances.

Just wanted to know what other do...

I too would love to hear what others think!!

I think unless you work out a deal with the buyer directly and are ok with that, then a swap intent ready to pay should be taken first. I have always said if they need to pay later, then I ask for a deposit of some kind to hold it. Like a payment purchase plan...but I'll only offer that if I do not need the cash quickly, or if the cossie has been sitting for a while on the boards. My$.02. Cheers!

I would PM the buyer and ask when they are going to pay for the item. Ideally everyone who bids has the $ to pay asap. I'm guilty of asking people to wait until I can get more $ into my paypal. I don't keep much in there because I would spend it so for me it's a way to control what i buy. I always PM and ask early on if it's ok and understand it it's not.

I was selling a costume a long time ago and found it really irritating when the person who said they were going to buy backed out a few DAYS later....the other buyers were no longer interested so I lost the sale. That type of thing is super irritating. A similar thing happened with a DVD and I held it for a week then the buyer backed out.

Bottom line for me would be to have CLEAR communication on both sides. Ex. Payment needs to be received within 24 hours or something.... Or will only hold for 24 hours on "intent" without payment then it goes back up for grabs.

I don't buy high $$$ items so most people are ok with waiting for me to add $ to my paypal which can take 3-4 days. If they need the $ sooner I know it will go to the next person in line.

I used to post..Payment or arrangements for payment must be made in 12 hours of stating intent. I figured 12 hours would allow time for someone like if they post before bed.

I stopped doing that. Now, I think I will start posting that in my listing again...

Terms of payment.. hows this?

Payment must be made within 24 hours of posting intent (unless other arrangements have been made) or item will be re listed.

Why 24? ...dunno, nice round numbers... and sometimes I do forget where I bought what...that reminds me, must go pay for DVD...!

I've never had a Bhuzzer not pay for at least half of it within a couple of days. I can understand waiting until the end of the week to get paid, or things like that. Life happens. But if a week goes by and I don't get at least a deposit, I'd ask for my money and possibly put it back up. This is not fair to people who can buy the costume right away.

One thing I don't do anymore is long, drawn-out payment plans. If somebody can pay me over the course of 2-4 weeks, then perfect. But I don't think it's fair to other buyers or to me to pay little installments of $50-100 over the course of 6 months. No offense to anyone, but I'm broke, too!

What do you guys think about "waiting lists" for costumes? Do you try to honor the order in which people line up for a costume after it's been sold? Or does it work better to say "First to post 'I WANT IT!' gets it?"

I agree with Anala!
I think from now on, my own policy will be: If you are posting intent, contact must be made and payment (or arrangement for payment must be agreed upon) within 24 hours or the item will be offered to the next in line.
I don't think it's fair to keep people in line waiting just because people don't check their emails (for 2 or 3 days) after posting intent or aren't sure if it's in their budget.

I think 24 hours is fair. Less than that could be problematic. There are time differences, people have to go to work (and not everyone uses the internet for personal use at work), etc. But it shouldn't take more than 24 hours, and if it will for some reason, the buyer should let the seller know right away, so that s/he isn't left wondering what's going on.

That's my NSHO, anyway, as someone who has always been in the buyer's and never the seller's position.

Having not sold anything for at least a year or so and now trying to seel a few . . this whole 'intent' thing seems to have got out of hand! Now it seems to mean 'I want to be first in line but make other people wait while I ask a billion questions or think it over'. That's not intent! For me, the first person that actually offers to pay will get it!

Z

I've been a buyer. In my head I kinda assume that I have 24 hrs to get payment in unless there is a reason. If there is a reason (Like not having internet access for a day) then I try to state that in the post. It would be nice to always get a PM of total and where to send money to, There was one time I was interested in something and posted in-line since someone had already posted intent pending questions. It came to me but I didn't know it. I wasn't check the post regularly (assuming the other person got it) and there was no PM letting me know it was my turn. (This was a costume where the whole post was for the one thing not whre it was a bunch of things.)

Originally Posted by zafirah

Having not sold anything for at least a year or so and now trying to seel a few . . this whole 'intent' thing seems to have got out of hand! Now it seems to mean 'I want to be first in line but make other people wait while I ask a billion questions or think it over'. That's not intent! For me, the first person that actually offers to pay will get it!

Yes. This is what peeves me as a seller. Intent means intent, people!

Not "intent if and only if it fits, if I can afford it this week, and if a consortium of my husband, my dog and my 12 BFF's unanimously agree that it looks good on me." When you get 6 people doing this at the same time, it gets tedious and squirrelly really fast. Especially when people are simultaneously calling dibs on the thread, on your PM, on Facebook, and via e-mail.

On the other hand - if a person PM's me and says "Satin: I'm in UR paypal, sending u moneez," THAT is intent.

Sorry, I get riled up over silly things these days!

One thing I have started a while back was an "intent no questions" clause...LOL

If someone states intent pending questions and the next person says intent with cash in hand...I select the intent cash in hand.

There is a reason I am selling this item...because I need money!!

Do you think a cal dealership would wait on the person with questions if someone else has the cash in their hand?

I am - too - taken deals from people. One time, I was selling a costume and had a bunch of intents. Someone offered intent plus payPal fees. I took the intent with PayPal fees. My policy is HIGHEST BIDDER!!!

Some may think that is wrong but this is business..nothing personal...

As a buyer or even just a browser, I'll ask questions before intenting (ha).

I've asked a few questions privately, so that if someone who doesn't have questions can post their intent without feeling like they are jumping in line ahead of me (if they have no questions, hey first come first served).

24 hours is fair for a default, but if the seller specifies something like "payment must be within 8 hours of posted intent", that's fine too.

Specific layaway terms are also useful ("First deposit of X must be made by X, then payments of Y thereafter").

Originally Posted by yaalini

As a buyer or even just a browser, I'll ask questions before intenting (ha).

This is perfectly fine! I ask tons of questions, myself.

Just don't "intent" if you're technically still "inquiring" ..l;,

Having bought and sold here I think the 24 hours to get the actual payment (or down payment) as a default is perfectly reasonable. If I want something but have questions I would first post the questions and then post intent after I got the answers. If someone else posted intent before I got answers, well, they just wanted it more then I did and I certainly wouldn't hold ill will towards the seller for taking it.

I haven't really regarded "intent" as anything meaningful. If someone PMs me too, then I take it seriously, but only 24h. On the other hand, I don't have Paypal, so I have to wait to receive a check -- so I don't want to blow someone off if the mail is slow. So far, that's worked ok - although I am always a little nervous about cashing a personal check.

I would honor someone posting "intent, pending sizing question" if it was posted before someone posted "intent, will pay now" because I feel like I always need to verify the sizing information before I purchase. It doesn't mean I want to ask twenty questions or keep someone else from buying while I think about it. I just want to make sure that when the seller says B cup that it's not a 32B US size as opposed to a Pharaonics B cup or that the 37" length is measured while the garment is flat as opposed to on someone's body...
As far as Ravena's original question, I think you should tell the unknown buyer payment must be made within 24 hours if it's Paypal and if the payment is not recieved the item will be made available to the next in line.

I think anything over 24 hours is pushing it and I have often wondered why if you just told me you were going to pay for it, you don't do it right then and there. But I know we all get distracted every now and then. I don't mind letting 24 hours pass, or even two days, if I am not in a rush. Weekends and time-zones can get complicated, too, and I have seen threads on how someone was away from the computer most of the weekend so that's why no payment was made. As a buyer, I would like to see that policy on the thread, the same way it happens on eBay. You have three days (or whatever) to pay. As a seller, I think it makes the terms of contract a lot more clearer so no one comes back and whines. I do overlook some listings here on Bhuz because the terms are not specific enough for me. Do I have to go in and list out a bunch of questions, and then someone else will scream, I'll take it? Kind of sucks when you get all excited but you have questions...

I honor questions a lot...but I also get pissed when someone posts "Intent with questions" and then leaves the board for 3 days. If I intent with questions...I stay and monitor the board forever! I don't want to lose my chance. If I ask a question while the poster is offline, I will monitor the thread every few hours to see if there is a response.

I know - there is no way to really make this work. I guess...if someone who says intent but pays later keeps me updated...like maybe they are having Paypal login issues or maybe they are at work and cannot log in to PayPal....all I ask is that you keep me in the loop.

I have waited...sometimes...a week for payment but was ok with it because the person sent me daily messages keeping me updated. If you respect my request, I will respect yours and honor that commitment.

Yes, that's a good point - constant communication exchange is essential. NOone wants to be out there just hanging in cyberspace.

I don't mind an "intent" before "intent with questions" policy IF the seller has posted pretty complete info. However, often, for instance, people post just, say, 36C or "this would fit a C-D cup" for info on the bra and don't post the band length. I can never assume that a bra band will fit me, as I'm large around the rib cage in proportion to the rest of me. So, I would feel frustrated if I wanted something but needed to ask for the band size (because the seller didn't post that info), and I lost out because I had that question. That said, sellers certainly have the right to set any policy they choose. (Jus' sayin' how I'd feel.)

I think good communication from the buyer is key. I try to pay for things as soon as possible but I'll tell the seller my time frame. Sometimes it's 'I want this & I can pay you immediately', sometimes it's 'I can pay you when I get home in 6 hours'. Only recently I made my largest purchase here & worked out with the seller to put down a deposit & then pay the rest later. She was so good in working with me.
It's just best to know where everyone stands.

I'm pretty relaxed about it. I don't mind taking payments or waiting a while to get paid. However, if someone comes up who says "I'll take it right now" and I've been waiting on a payment for a week, I'll usually sell it.

Sometimes life gets in the way of stuff, so I try to give people the benefit of the doubt. But I have had people disappear on me before.

I haven't sold anything , but I have purchased. I work 12 hour overnight shifts at a hospital and I look at the board before I go to work. I have posted intent and known I will not be able to check back for Paypal info to pay them for around 14 hours. I have always let the seller know this when I post the intent and so far it has not been a problem.

I've got a small vent here- a couple of months ago, I posted a ton of stuff for sale. One of the items was a dress that quickly had a line. I contacted the first person in line with shipping. A few DAYS later, she responded with another question. I answered quickly. Nothing. I emailed to see if she still wanted it. Response- "yes." But no payment. I waited and a few days later, asked again. "Yes, I still want it. I'll pay for it, I promise." Literally, a week went by. Every time I contacted the person, she responded- yes, I want it, I'll pay. And no payment. By the time I went on to the next person, she had spent her money on something else. The next person in line had needed it for something specific and it was too late. I still have the item, when I wanted to SELL it! Now, I take responsibility for being WAY to patient and trusting- I won't do that again. I'm gearing up to list a ton of things again, and I will wait 12 hours for payment. If the person contacts me, I'll wait 24 (total- 12 original 12, plus another 12). After that, tough- if you still want it, I'll put you at the bottom of the line.

Stringing people along- preventing them from selling their things- it's just rude, you know?

Originally Posted by Nisaa_Iowa

I haven't sold anything , but I have purchased. I work 12 hour overnight shifts at a hospital and I look at the board before I go to work. I have posted intent and known I will not be able to check back for Paypal info to pay them for around 14 hours. I have always let the seller know this when I post the intent and so far it has not been a problem.

you do the correct thing.

You communicate your situation to the seller. I am willing to hold items for a long time as long as the buyer communicates with me their intent and maybe a deposit if it goes beyond a few days.

I basically just want communication which is what you do - I wish more would follow your lead

I have paid the seller immediately after I log onto the computer and if the shipping cost is reasonable. If the shipping quote is really high then I politely decline the purchase.

Sometimes, if I swim in the item after finding out measurement then I just politely "pass".

I have also had buyers on bhuz express intent then "pass" later. Sometimes, I have had to PM the buyer then usually they are in some tight financial situation. They sincerely apologize for not telling me earlier. Sometimes, my stuff just doesn't match a specific costume after tons of questions.

I also don't mind holding an item for someone. If they are financially tight then I may be willing to do a swap as well.

Originally Posted by Mayliz

I think anything over 24 hours is pushing it and I have often wondered why if you just told me you were going to pay for it, you don't do it right then and there. But I know we all get distracted every now and then. I don't mind letting 24 hours pass, or even two days, if I am not in a rush. Weekends and time-zones can get complicated, too, and I have seen threads on how someone was away from the computer most of the weekend so that's why no payment was made. As a buyer, I would like to see that policy on the thread, the same way it happens on eBay. You have three days (or whatever) to pay. As a seller, I think it makes the terms of contract a lot more clearer so no one comes back and whines. I do overlook some listings here on Bhuz because the terms are not specific enough for me. Do I have to go in and list out a bunch of questions, and then someone else will scream, I'll take it? Kind of sucks when you get all excited but you have questions...

I agree. I have been passed over numerous times just because I want them to measure the cups because in most cases if it says D cup it's really a C cup. I have never posted intent on something and asked 20 questions or needing to think about it. I just want to make sure they measured correctly. I'm sure we've all been burned by buying a costume and once we got it the seller measured wrong then we have to go thru the hassle of relisting it. Sometimes it doesn't sell that second time, then we're out the money entirely or have to take less. I agree that the intent thing seems be getting out of hand same as seller posting things without all the info like, measurements, pics, or price. Then you have a line of people saying intent pending pics, price, measurements etc... How can you even say intent if the info isn't there and how can you list something to sell without all the info. I also paying really fast. Once I have the info I send money via paypal immediately.
While we're on the subject the posts of not sure I want to sell unless there's interest. Either it's for sale or it's not. That's my 2 cents.

I agree about the subject of interest 'for a sale'. But only b/c it seems kind of redundant. Everyone who sells, does so because there's interest! So why post about maybe posting?

I also agree about posting as much info as possible. I'm mostly selling my stuff, but when I look at something that I might like to buy, I want to know right off the bat about sizing, picture of item, PRICE, etc. So I'm always a little embarrassed if I post something for sale and forget the obvious.