I won a vintage Eclipse fountain pen on e-bay two weeks ago. I paid around $18 including shipping through PayPal. Shipping was supposed to take 5 to 8 days. I did not get the pen yet, and the seller does not respond to my polite request to inform me if the item was shipped to my address.

What is the best thing to do in my situation, so I wouldn't spoil my reputation as a good buyer?

By the way, does anyone know anything about the Eclipse Fountain pen? Please check the link below.Check it out

Thank you,
Rita

It should only take a couple of days if it's within CONUS!

At least the seller can no longer retaliate with bad feedback.

I bought several items recently on ebay one from Hawaii and one from Florida. The Hawaii one showed up in three days but the Florida items took two and a half weeks. (I'm in Arkansas) All depends on how crisp the seller is about getting stuff in the mail. The worst thing is when you pay extra for 2 day or overnight and the seller drags around a week and a half before they ship! I hope nothing is wrong and your pen shows up soon! Many times some correspondance will get them stirred up to hit the post office and get your stuff on the way! I find that I don't get a quick answer in this case but they do answer after they finally get it headed out.

I keep my hopes positive. Waiting is so tough.

I'll give him another week.

Ebay will allow you to request the seller's contact info (mailing address and phone number). When you do, it will send them an email telling them that Ebay has provided you with such, and that email will also give him your info (since he's shipping you an item, he already has that....no skin off your back).

I normally request the info when a seller (or buyer) doesn't communicate, and 9 times out of 10, that will promt a non-responsive seller/buyer into replying. If that hasn't prompted a reply in one or two days, I start calling. If the phone number is bad (out of service, etc.) notify Ebay immediately. That will get them working for you (the only Ebay help you'll get, in this case).

Not to be alarmist, but do keep an eye on your transaction date and make sure you don't let your credit card issuer's claim period expire. Your transaction is below Ebay's cutoff amount, so there is no "buyer protection" for this auction. Your only recourse is your credit card company or legal action.

I see that the seller indicated shipping would be by USPS First Class Mail.

My experience with using First Class Mail is that the delivery time can be very unpredictable, as it can take from 3 days to more than a week for the shipped item to reach its destination. Once, I bought something from eBay and had to wait for close to 2 weeks after the seller told me she had shipped the item. I later learned the item was shipped via First Class Mail.

You can contact the seller and ask him or her when the pen was shipped, and the seller should rightfully respond to your question.

After looking at the sellers information it looks like they may be a little slow on shipping but they havn't stiffed anyone. I don't think you need to worry but all the advice given is good.

Rita;

His/her feedback indicates that they are really slow to ship. I really think you'll get your pen but, with the small amount involved I don't think the seller is that excited to make sure you get it as fast as possible. Probably in the next week maybe two it will show up. At least it is not coming from Canada. I had done a deal with a guy that got suspended from EBay (probably on a single dispute - feedback was solid) and it took over 6 months as it ended up in customs forever. In over 800 ebay deals I've rarely had anything seriously go wrong. Be a little patient.

Roger W.

Hi Rita,
It looks like an Eclipse "Hooded Knight" model to me (I have one in clear green---a demonstrator-type model). There is some info on the pen here: http://www.richardspens.com/?page=ref_info/hooded_nibs.htm, halfway down the page.
Hope you get your pen soon!
~Maja

Thanks for the link, Maja. It does look like a Hooded Knight. Interesting information.

Six months!!!!!!!!!!! Wow! I hope that I am not that "lucky". I hope I'll get it next week. Patience is a quality that I need to grow.

I finally got it yesterday. The seller also apologized for the delay.

It's quite a humble-looking pen, but its nib writes very good. Goes to my vintage collection.

I need to be patient, I know. Thank you all for helping me through my difficult days of waiting.

Rita