How would you handle this situation? Ship or wait?

[s_mack]

First off, this has nothing to do with Zen-cart... I just thought it an interesting scenario to share with other business owners for discussion.

Let me back up a little: My shop is set up so that I sell in-stock items, and I also have a "request" system where customers can request (not order) out-of-stock items and I do my best to bring them in... no obligation to either party. When/if I do get them in, the customers are contacted in order and the item is held specifically for them for 7 days. That's a mod I developed specifically for my situation.

Now... I've been out of stock of a certain $600 item for a couple months and I have a lot of people waiting a long time for it - it is by far my best selling item, but the factory closed down for retooling so I ran out and am only just now getting them in.

Ok, so Mr. Senior was one of the first to request the item... back in March. It took until now for it to finally come in. As dumb luck timing would have it, I'm leaving on vacation on Monday and not returning until August.

mr. Senior emails me saying he's having troubles with the checkout process. I phone him, and he sounds about 90 years old and has no idea why he's getting an error. I don't either... PayPal is rejecting his card and giving no reason.

I tell him he can pay by cheque, but then of course I won't get it until after I leave and normally, he would have to wait until August for me to ship it. A real disappointment for Mr. S to be sure! Furthermore, he happens to be visiting his son who can help with the installation (its a car part) and it would be ultra-convenient for him to receive it ASAP.

So... instant payment isn't working. He wants to pay by cheque and have me ship it immediately. I won't be able to deposit it until August, and can't clear it until probably late August at that. Furthermore, he wants me to ship it to an alternate address.

Do I ship? Or do I just say tough luck and wait?

Shipping would go against every fraud-prevention tip in existence... alternate address is a classic, and cheque-kiting is the oldest trick in the book. But on the other hand, I have absolutely no reason to suspect him... he seems like a genuine old man that wants his part. On top of that 90% of the inconvenience is the timing of my trip, and the delay of the factory (10% is his card being rejected for unknown reasons).

What would you do?


For the record: I shipped. I decided to be trusting and give the benefit of the doubt.


- Steven

[kuroi]

You're a nice person. I would probably not have shipped, taking the rejection of his card as a red flag, unless I'd done business with him before.

My fingers are crossed for you though.

[Kim]

Consider COD the next time- at least you have a better chance of getting paid.

[pipc]

Hi
I would not ship.
I had a lovely genuine sounding woman, who ordered a costume of me, needed it by Friday. (This was wednesday)

She would send the cheque that wednesday evening, I would send the costume.
I had the item in stock, wrapped it and I was going to post it.

My partner said no way, wait for the check.

I am still waiting for the cheque, , but she luckily for me is still waiting for the costume.

She even had the cheak to phone me Friday in a temper to say her costume had not arrived...

[s_mack]

I hear you all... I hope it wasn't a mistake.

My main reason for thinking he's genuine... is if he's a scammer, he's a scammer of opportunity, not purpose. The only reason there is even a possibility that I would send before the cheque arrives and clears, is that I'm heading out of the country for several weeks... and he didn't know that.

As for the card getting rejected... PayPal rejects a lot of cards that are completely valid, including my own. I've twice had my card rejected for no know reason and with no explanation. Credit good, nowhere near my limit, address exact...

Kim. COD. Damn. Wish I had thought of that. Filed away for next time, thanks. In Canada, COD is so uncommon I didn't even think it was done any more, but I just checked the CanadaPost website and sure enough, it is an option. I can't do it through my normal online shipping tools... only at the counter, but still.

Cheers.

- Steven

[s_mack]

On second thought... COD (in Canada) is a bit of a farce it seems. I just phoned to see how exactly it works. I pay them $6 for the "service" and they collect the cheque... made out to me... and forward it to me. What's the difference?? If it bounces or stop payment is made, its still the same result.

And they don't accept credit cards through COD.

So either I'm missing something, or its $6 to me just to save $0.51 in postage to mail the cheque.

- Steven

[Kim]

With COD even if the check bounces at least you can go after them for the bad check ...

[Ajeh]

I would of had the younger son attempt to use the credit card ... or sent a manual PayPal request payment where you could walk him through this or the son walk him through it or PayPal walk him through it ...

That delayed order for a theif is not instant gratification ... so that should be a plus in your favor ...

Most likely a nice, harmless old man whom you have made very happy ...

Let us know how it turns out ...

[kuroi]

On second thought... COD (in Canada) is a bit of a farce it seems.

Ah. You're assuming that COD is for the benefit of the seller. It's as much, if not more for the buyer, allowing them to delay payment that might otherwise be required upfront until they have confirmed that the goods are real and delivered. It does a fine job of that.

[swguy]

I like the idea of a PayPal invoice; I also like having Google Checkout as a backup option on another page (not hooked up to the cart, just as a backup to be pulled out in situations like this).
Hope it works out for you. 85% of the people in the world are completely honest - trouble is, you don't know which 85%. :)

Scott