Having a hard time with a uncommunicative buyer

Buccaneer · October 10, 2007 9:52AM

I sold a 1957 Kubek PSA 8 for good money on Sept. 30. My auctions states that payment is due within 10 days. I sent the seller an invoice and one week later, I have not heard anything and I resend the invoice. Yesterday I emailed saying that I need to hear from you because today is when payment is due. Nothing came in the mail and no paypal received. I then saw that the seller "Checked Out". I emailed again asking why the checkout? I am ready to file a non-paying bidder dispute in the morning. Would you? Do I risk a negative, esp when I have 100%?

samspop · October 10, 2007 9:57AM

Yes, I would file a NPB and leave it to him to pay you. Once you file the NPB, this documents the transaction with eBay/Paypal.

Get your money!

vintagetoppsguy · October 10, 2007 10:07AM

Yeah, what Mike said. From personal experience I find that buyers usually pay right after they receive the NPB email from eBay.

zep33 · October 10, 2007 10:07AM

What's "Checked Out"?

if he really checked out, you'll have to get the dough from his estate

grote15 · October 10, 2007 10:28AM

What's "Checked Out"?

if he really checked out, you'll have to get the dough from his estate

If the auction ended at an agreeable price to you, I'd give it a couple of days to see if his payment arrives by mail. If you file an NPB, you still have to wait 7 days to claim your FVF anyway, so why bother having to relist the card as long as he does send in his payment? Just my .02.

Buccaneer · October 10, 2007 10:29AM

Because I could go with the runner-up with a second-chance offer.

rube26105 · October 10, 2007 10:35AM

ask him if his fingers are broke,thats what i do, can ya type ,yer fingers broke lol
once ya file something against somebody it usually gets em movin or they just go away naru!
randy
p.s, dont worry about negatives,ya gotta take a lump every once in a while,all mine usually comes with some goober with a 2 that buys alot off people one day, and never pays for some reason

Bosox1976 · October 10, 2007 10:38AM

Checking out seems like an act of somebody who intends to pay. Wait until Friday, then do the NPB.

bigfische · October 10, 2007 10:41AM

Checking out means they marked their side as "payment sent".

grote15 · October 10, 2007 10:50AM

Because I could go with the runner-up with a second-chance offer.

You could try that route, but in my experience second-chance offers are about as successful as on onsides kick in the NFL.

As Mike said, a buyer who "checks out" is not usually the routine for a non-paying bidder. Plus, with amailed payment you're making a few extra bucks off Paypal fees.

Buccaneer · October 10, 2007 11:09AM

Makes sense, I'll wait it out.

SoonerCowboy · October 10, 2007 11:26AM

I usually give 14 days before I hit'em with a npb. I'd won a PSA10 rc from a guy and he swore up and down that he shipped the card one day after the auction ended. I filed with Ebay 13 days after the auction ended. It showed up the next day and sure enough the postmark showed that he did mail it the day after. It took a card 13 days to get from New York to Oklahoma. So it wouldn't surprise me for a payment to take that long.

vintagetoppsguy · October 10, 2007 11:33AM

Sooner,

Agreed! I have had similar experiences. But I think the point that everybody is missing is the fact that the buyer is non-responsive to Steve's emails.

Steve, you need to file a NPB today!!! If you receive the payment in the next few days then you simply cancel the NPB - no harm done. However, if you give the buyer the benefit of the doubt for a few more days and he still doesn't pay, you've now wasted even more time.

Mayimbe · October 10, 2007 11:52AM

I file NPB after 7 days. I think people need to pay up as soon as they buy an auction. I can understand they send money order, but at least do the checkout and let me know when you're paying.

I do this all the time and I've never got a negative for this.

$0.02

cardbender · October 10, 2007 12:56PM

Maybe he checked out, mailed his payment and it got lost in the mail. Could be a lot of scenario's. Maybe he mis-addressed the envelope and you will never get it and the buyer will say he mailed it.

If the buyer's feedback is solid, then I wouldn't file a NPBA on them until it hits 15 days without payment. Once you file, that will get their attention and I'm sure they will then email you with the status of their payment. Or make a paypal payment to clear it up.

Some people only get online once a week too, so that could be another reason why he's not communicating with you.

rube26105 · October 10, 2007 1:06PM

i always seem to miss the deadline to fill one out lol-think its 45 days deadline or something like that,ill go thru my shelf of boxes i put mailers in for stuff every 2 or 3 months and find people that havnt paid or already got kicked off

so i just gotta relist or got to 2nd bid, most of my stuff is buy it now though

mknez · October 10, 2007 1:27PM

Don't know the specifics of your auctions, but if a seller has a fair shipping policy for additional auctions, I usually wait until the end if he has open auctions, just in case I feel like bidding on them. More times than not, I'll buy something else just because the added shipping cost is none or minimal.

my .02

mike

Buccaneer · October 10, 2007 1:34PM

Well this was an unexpected turn of events. I just heard from his wife and she told me that her husband was in a serious accident in Nebraska and has broken his back. She said she had been trying to get caught up and will mail the payment soon. She gave me her full name and I will let it go for a little while.

mknez · October 10, 2007 1:37PM

the old "Nebraska Accident Scam". Haven't seen that one used since '98.

I'm kidding, of course \

I hope it all works out.

mtcards · October 10, 2007 1:55PM

See, I told you bidding on auctions is dangerous, not only to the buyer but his family as well. Dont believe it, check back on all the auctions that missed a payment because a relative died or was in an accident or the buyer himself just got out of the hospital. I cant take that chance anymore, no more ebay buying for me

Bottom9th · October 10, 2007 8:51PM

I usually file an NPB, but I would definitely file one if they are un-responsive. Hope it works out for you!

Bob....

ebayaddict · October 11, 2007 3:06AM

People need to get their act together....file it!........I bet you will get paid ASAP!!

cardbender · October 11, 2007 8:30AM

I hope the buyer recovers. Back injuries are bad. People get in accidents, die, land in jail, all the time. I'd give it 30 days , or you could see if the guy just wants to mutually agree not to complete the deal now. Then you get your fee's back and can offer the item to the under bidder or relist. It sounds like you have a high demand card, so there shouldn't be any problem selling it on the second go around.

Good luck with the sale.

Having a hard time with a uncommunicative buyer

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