Ebay ?: When do you gently remind a buyer to pay?

Raufus

I sold a set of Perth Mint commems. to a U.S. buyer on Sun. The sale was a BIN. The buyer has not yet paid. The buyer has stellar feedback w/a feedback # > 1000 so I have no doubt that she will pay. In fact, I would wait a week before sending a reminder to this buyer given her strong creds.

While this buyer I'm sure won't be a problem, this has happened to me before - days w/o payment nor any communiation. While I don't and won't "demand" immediate payment in my listings, I find this annoying nonetheless. I always pay instantly. If it's an auction, I keep in mind when it will end so that I can see if I'm the winner and pay as quickly as possible. If for some reason I could not pay instantly, I would let the seller know.

Just curious, when you sell, how long do you wait before you gently remind the buyer to please pay?

Thanks, R-

JamesMurray

I don't send a customer anything except the invoice with complete total after discounts where applicable.Ebay send reminders so it's not like the buyer isnt aware.If it isnt paid within two weeks it's safe to assume its not going to be paid and just open the dispute and be done with it.I don't get into messaging defaulting buyers.

Bochiman

Folks get too wrapped up in what 'they' always do....ie, "I always pay right away", "I always wait for an invoice", etc etc etc.

People are different and it shows on this board.....this thread will likely have responses from "I send invoices immediately and want paid right now" to "I wait a week or two then send a reminder" to "I wait the minimum time, file an unpaid item against the buyer, then want to relist".

Personally, I don't sell much on ebay anymore...too busy with other things....but here is what I have done, and would do:

* If I wanted paid immediately, and used a BIN, then I would have set it up so that it required immediate payment. That's an option. Use it if you want paid right away
* If an auction ends on the weekend, I wait until at least a weekday before I send an invoice. With today's ways of electronics, there can be times someone is ok with using ebay (smartphone/someone else's house/etc) but they don't want to do the paypal bit right then. There will be those that attack that thought, and that is fine, but that is trying to put THEIR way of thinking and forcing it upon someone else.
* If, after a few more days, no communication, then I would send a polite email through the ebay system. Something akin to: "Hello. Thanks again for purchasing the item. I do have it all packaged up and ready to go out to you once I have received payment. Best regards"
* If after a week, nothing, then I might re-ping with a "just wanting to make sure everything is ok as I know sometimes that email systems can mistakenly mark emails as "junk mail". As I mentioned before, the item you won, item#xxxxxxx blah blah blah, is already packaged up and just waiting for the address and payment. Happy to get it out to you asap once everything goes through and I will then send you the information from the post office once it is mailed"


But, that's just me.

cmerlo1

I wait a week. If the buyer hasn't contacted me about the payment, I send one message as a friendly reminder, then file the NPB 3 days from then, if payment or a response isn't received.

My auctions all have PayPal as the payment method, so I really don't see any reason why payment can't be made within a few days of the ending of an auction, besides emergencies and other unforseeable events. I have had buyers contact me during the auction to say that they may be out of town when the auction ends, and they may pay late, and I'm perfectly fine with that.

JamesMurray

It's very much a two way street as well , i won a coin on friday and thought..ok..by monday i'll have my tracking number and probably feedback.Here it is tuesday and there has been no indication from the seller whatsoever what is happening.A $390 coin isnt everybodies priority but it shouldnt matter if its a 3 dollar coin or a 3k coin.
I agree with Ron , people can't assume a buyer or seller is going to treat you as you might them,every transaction is different and needs to be treated as such.

LanceNewmanOCC

<< <i>I don't send a customer anything except the invoice with complete total after discounts where applicable.Ebay send reminders so it's not like the buyer isnt aware.If it isnt paid within two weeks it's safe to assume its not going to be paid and just open the dispute and be done with it.I don't get into messaging defaulting buyers. >>



also you may set it up so that unpaid item assistant opens a case after XX amount of days

i am patient with those that communicate with me but very hard on those that can't be bothered to at least take 2 min to send a message asking for a little extra time which i am MORE than happy to give as 99.5% of transactions are problem-free so i figure a few along the way is juts part of business with other humans lol.


if you do go down the road of resolution center, it is much better to do it via unpaid item vs cancel transaction - with unpaid item the buyer cannot leave feedback if the item is not paid for and/or if the buyer agrees to end the transaction. if you just do cancel transaction then the buyer may leave nasty feedback. that was the direct advice from the Trust and Safety Dept. at ebay.
.
.
I don't know how true it was but i've had a few buyers state that they were out of town, in the hospital yadda yadda, but normally those that even communicate those exceptions tend to pay inside of 10 business days and those are very rare
.
.

RichR

I usually wait at least 5-10 minutes...before I start sending naked pictures of myself...

Oh wait...we're talking about an eBay auction? Well then never mind...

DorkGirl

<< <i>I usually wait at least 5-10 minutes...before I start sending naked pictures of myself...

Oh wait...we're talking about an eBay auction? Well then never mind... >>





I used to wait 10 days.

BryceM

IME, people are going to do what they're going to do regardless of any "extra" reminders. Personally I've dealt with it by lowering my expectations when dealing on the 'Bay. Any transaction that works out OK is a pleasant surprise. If they don't pay, I just wait the sufficient time and start the resolution process. If they want to return something for a ridiculous reason - whatever. I refund their money and move on. Trying to coerce people do something you expect them to do or even that they've agreed to do can result in nothing but frustration.

I'm really starting to lean more and more toward the other auction sites like Hertiage. Sale and payment, etc. takes longer, but it's a lot less trouble.

BigE

I agree with Bochiman, and I hope its not just me----------BigE

Russ

I have a dozen buyers from Sunday that haven't paid yet. Chill out.

Russ, NCNE

OPA

I don't bother with that any longer. I let eBay handle the reminder(s) and NPB's for me automatically. Set up the parameters to suit yourself.

kryptonitecomics

I send a 2nd invoice 4 days after the auction closes.....I usually wait a few more days before sending a direct e-mail to the buyer and then probably at the 10-day mark I will open up a NPB if I haven't heard a peep from them.

LindeDad

<< <i>I send a 2nd invoice 4 days after the auction closes.....I usually wait a few more days before sending a direct e-mail to the buyer and then probably at the 10-day mark I will open up a NPB if I haven't heard a peep from them. >>



Something like this works for me to, actually find dealers seem to bid on Sunday and then get busy the first part of the week and pay when there is a slack time during the week.

TheCoinGeezer

I might wait about two days then come here and kvetch about how everybody doesn't do things my way and how they are trying to rip me off.
I'd then complain about what a snake pit eBay has become and vow to never, ever sell there again.
I might then add that the world was a much better place 50 years ago and the country is going to hell in a handbasket.

morgantype

It is my opinion and experience that a lot of the bullion type purchases will delay payment as Long as possible to see how the bullion market changes.

Constantine

Sending an invoice through eBay can look like a very automated thing to the buyer. I would just send the invoice through the eBay system when you feel like you want to. With 1000+ feedback the person knows the ropes and probably gets daily emails from eBay and Paypal all the time.

Point being is that I would not over think it. They bought the item; send the invoice (as a reminder) and take it from there.

TwoSides2aCoin

If he pulled the trigger, he needs no reminder.

drwstr123

You still possess the item,so ...patience.

coinhunters

Don't confuse an Invoice with a reminder that payment is due. Just like when you purchase coins from your local dealer, you get an invoice for items purchased, and than you pay, and you receive your items. Customers should be properly invoiced at the time the auction or purchased listing closed. Whether or not you prefer to send a " Reminder " to those customers who take advantage of delaying payments, is up to the individual seller.

relicsncoins

I don't mess around with emails and invoices. After 10 days and no payment, I give my friend Guido a call and he handles all of payment arrangments for the price of a couple canolies.

pf70collector

ebay has an option where you can request immediate payment. The option is "Require immediate payment through PayPal when a buyer uses Buy It Now". Its in the options payment section. Though now you need to be a premiere or business account holder. This option was open to regular account holders but not anymore.

fiveNdime

as a buyer, i frequently have limited internet access @ home (no ebay from work).
i do not mind a payment request, as ive overlooked single items between those with mulitple items from the same seller (while waiting for the rest to close).
I HATE IT WHEN THE FIRST REQUEST IS IN ALL CAPS.

a BIN is always paid within the hour.


communication is key.


as a seller, ive sent that message before. no reply after a week. NPB.
i also try to ship within 24 hours of payment.

Casman

I thought at some point ebay added an automated reminder that went off around day 3?

RedHerring

3-4 days here.

19Lyds

<< <i>Just curious, when you sell, how long do you wait before you gently remind the buyer to please pay?

Thanks, R- >>

A week at the outside if I'm paying attention.

One fella emailed me about an auction that had ended two weeks prior wondering where his item was at?

In an absolute panic, I did some research only to find that, while I had invoiced the buyer at auctions end, I never followed up and he had never actually paid!

I gotta pay more attention to this stuff as, like you, I am most comfortable with paying immediately. However, I have had occasion to stretch payment out until I had funds in my PayPal account.

paladin

Doesn't "everybody" put in their listings their payment requirements? Mine is 3 days. It's part of every listing. If I don't hear from them within 3 days I send an invoice, wait 24 hours, then send an email. After that they have to talk to the hand.

mrpotatoheadd

<< <i>Doesn't "everybody" put in their listings their payment requirements? >>

Even if they did, lots of people don't read them. One member here posted that he didn't think it was reasonable for sellers to expect him to actually read the entire listing before bidding.

As to the original question, I send out an email notice when an item sells. If I haven't heard anything from the buyer, the next notice goes out around two weeks later. A final notice is sent five days after that.

Peaceman

Whatever you put in your auction... IE "Payment must be made within 3 days of auctions end"

A friendly reminder would be: "Just a payment reminder, thank you again for your business"

I'll let if go 7 days while trying to contact them. If nothing, then file for your fees back.

Raufus

As always. thanks for your replies!!

mrpotatoheadd

One more thought- I don't "remind a buyer to pay". Instead, I let them know that "I have not yet received their payment". Maybe their check really *is* lost in the mail- it does happen.