Lack of communication. How long before calling trade off?

[smilbuta]

Hello,

I currently have a trade that im wondering whats going on. The trade is a HE ship then I Ship upon receipt format. No items have been shipped and nothing has exchanged hands. Last communication was on 1/16, supposedly two days prior to shipping stuff. I have not heard anything since then. MY PM on the 21st to the sender sits in my outbox and has not been read.

How long does one wait expecting a reply before calling the deal off??

[H W Raney]

smilbuta,
I don't think there is a hard and fast rule on this sort of thing, pretty much whatever you're comfortable with and is reasonable. I'd say give it about another week, if no response, send one last PM that due to lack of communication, the Deal is off. Be correct and polite, there may be a good reason for the silence but move on.
Also, if you have his E-mail, give him a ping that way.
Just my two pence
Good luck
Wayne

[flagg07]

Correct me if I'm wrong: The other trader stated they shipped on January 16, 2008.
9 days isn't too long to start worrying about dead trades. Even the lack of communication isn't a "tell", though I do feel your pain on the issue.

Did you guys agree to a specific postage? Priority? 1st Class?
If not, they may have used the cheapest shipping method which is likely the slowest also.

Is the trade within the same country? Customs may be responsible for holding your stuff up.

Did they send you a delivery confirmation #?
If so, did you attempt to track it?
If not, it doesn't say anything other than the trader hasn't learned to use this to cover his ass.

I'd give it a minimum of 2 weeks before you start to worry and possibly call it dead at the month mark, assuming you're both in the continental U.S. I can't advise on other country's postal service nor customs issues.

[Rhaalidor]

I've had USPS First Class mail that took eleven days to go from Ft. Myers, FL to Lakeland, FL. That's 115 miles as the crow flies. But, the box had to go to Jacksonville before it came back to me (another 400 miles). Sometimes the Post Office is really quick. And, sometimes they are as slow as Christmas. UPS is even worse. My wife ordered some bedding from a company in Tampa (40 miles away). They shipped 3 days ago. Shipped via UPS. Today, no package. 3 days to go 40 miles. I could have walked over and picked it up and walked back by now. But that's the way it goes.

I'd give the other party a little longer.

[smilbuta]

Just for the record. I dont belive he has shipped yet (no confirmation number or PM saying so, as requested ). I am wiling to give another week to get confirmation of at least a ship of the items.

[specs.esd]

Whenever faced with these sorts of dilemmas, just ask yourself:


What'll happen to me when Lin sees this?

Just because I banned him doesn't mean it's open season. Be polite. And yes, Richard, this is your formal warning for breaking rule #6.