Ebay Woes
I recently put a Macroeconomics book up for sale on ebay. I expected to get about $50 out of it, which was fine with me, even though the book cost over $100 (some money is better than no money right?). I was afraid no one would bid on the auction because the semester had already started and I was afraid that everyone had bought books already. It turns out that the book ended up getting bid up to $73. I was excited, the buyer contacted me, things were good. Another email from the buyer. This time he tells me that he has an assignment due in class the next week and that if I can’t get the book to him fast enough he will have to buy one from the bookstore. I check his ZIP code, anticipation surging through my body. Yes! He lives in California. Priority mail should make it in two days. I decided to look up the rate for overnighting the book. It is only going to cost me about $5 more than originally anticipated. I want to make this sale, so I offer to overnight the book at no extra cost. I send an email. No response. I send another email pleading for a response, because if there was danger in selling my book as late as I did the first time, surely I am past the point of no return now. No response. I tried everything to get rid of the book, second chance offers, personal emails to interested parties. Nothing worked. I relisted the book today and I have almost no hope of selling it to anyone. I left a negative feedback for the original buyer. Now all I can do is wait for the backlash that always comes when you leave a negative feedback, no matter how justified it was. I am feeling far to vindictive, so I should probably end this narrative.
