Monday, March 09, 2009

what would des readers do?

Remember how sometimes I sell jewelry? (Yeah I barely remember either, that's ok.) But I got a message via etsy the other week asking if I would take "well concealed cash" as a payment instead of paypal, which is the standard. I'll admit, I'm hurting for money and it was only $7, so I said yes. Then she changed her mind and wanted a cool necklace that I've had for a while. Fine, more money. I had to "remind" her to actually purchase the item through etsy, and she could send payment that way.

So today Jay gets the mail while I'm at work. He calls me, which is weird because normally he would just text or email. Well, the cash certainly was well concealed. The outer envelope is completely covered in scotch tape. Inside, there's a receipt of sorts, with order #, price, etc. This is also covered in tape. Inside this is another envelope. Inside this is a bundle of tin foil and a note that says "please send change with necklace." Then there's the cash.

She sent me $40 instead of the $35 that she needed to.

Is it really so hard to break a twenty dollar bill? So I'm a little annoyed. After all the pain in the butt, I'm expected to send her proper change. What makes her think I have a better chance of breaking that 20 than she did?

So I'm conflicted. I think I'm going to keep the extra $5. Yes, I would hate for someone to not send me my change, but then again, I would not ever require change for my purchase. I would have sent the proper amount. Actually, I would have just used paypal. Sure, the seller takes a small hit, but it's so much easier.

What would you do?

16 comments:

Wayne said...

sounds like a tip to me, for being such a wonderful person and accepting the payment without going through Etsy.

You can always paypal her the 5 bucks in change. :)

super des said...

I like the way you think Wayne. :)

mar said...

i wouldn't want to return her 'change', but i'd be worried about getting badmouthed on any other site you were selling on. (not likely, if she didn't go through regular paths of purchase)

super des said...

She's purchased a lot of things on etsy, but I don't know if she left feedback for all of them. I do know people left HER feedback.

But even if she does leave me bad feedback, I never told her I would give her change.

super des said...

Interesting note: her "receipt: did not show that she gave me $40, even though she wrote out the prices for the necklace and shipping. I guess there's no proof that she overpaid, huh?

Anonymous said...

Keep the change!!!

SUEB0B said...

It sounds like she may be kind of nutty. I would just send her the $5 (after taking the $40 to the bank to make sure it is real) to avoid trouble.

Anonymous said...

I am anonymously writing as one of your FB lexulous partners... I am soooo mysterious.
I would give her the money back. Yes... she should have given you the correct change... but she didn't.If you don't give her the $$ back, you are guaranteeing that she won't buy from you again.
I guess I am just trying to to channel what I think my mother would say... and what I would want my daughter to do.
I also told you to not get a tattoo on your face. I am just squashing all your dreams this week.

Count Mockula said...

I'd send the change back, too. She sounds a little nutty, but it's the right thing to do.

super des said...

Damn you people with your morality!

LittlePea said...

Um... How come you're not freaking out that this crazy person actually has you address? Cuz I would be.

You should definitely send her the change because she might go nuts and show up at your house one day with all her tape and aluminum foil...I'm just saying....

super des said...

Well for one, we prob won't be at this address much longer. Two, it's in an apartment building that she can't get in, AND it has a "back" door. Three, she couldn't take Jay and/or the dog. Her writing indicated that she was very feeble. :P

ClunkClunk said...

Send her the $5 back in pennies and be sure to deduct the extra postage cost.

super des said...

That's a conundrum... I don't think there would be anything to send once I used the $5 to pay for the extra postage... very circular.

Max said...

Sorry....one more vote for morality. I know you will make the right choice.

super des said...

Oh great, more pressure.

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