Ebay question - Unpaid item

jmski52 · June 23, 2011 12:26AM

When you sell a coin and the buyer doesn't pay, is it better to open an unpaid item case and 1) pursue it to the point of putting an unpaid item strike on the buyer's feedback, or 2) close the case and move on?

SaorAlba · June 23, 2011 12:30AM

There are many scenarios possible that haven't been mentioned - did the buyer drop off the face of the earth with no communication? Did the buyer communicate with something along the lines of "Sorry sucker"?

llafoe · June 23, 2011 12:30AM

How much was the coin? If you file a claim, you'll get your fees refunded.

drwstr123 · June 23, 2011 12:37AM

Patience...think about it.

pf70collector · June 23, 2011 12:38AM

If no communication from the buyer, I open an unpaid item case. I only did this once, where I sent an item before I got payment. It was by mistake, since I was shipping several items at the same time and the item was not meant to be mailed before I received payment. Turns out the buyer was dishonest. Got the item and did not pay for it. After I opened the case, ebay I believe had him expunged. Either that or he left ebay on his own. I like to think it was expungement from ebay. Makes me feel somewhat better.

OPA · June 23, 2011 12:39AM

Set your account up where eBay handles it for you automatically. This will avoid a potential neg. fb from the seller.

coinhunters · June 23, 2011 12:49AM

The responsible thing to do I believe, is to post the " Unpaid " action after all other attempts to have this buyer settle their bid with you.

blu62vette · June 23, 2011 12:54AM

Is there a mutually agree to end transaction option? Any idea how that works. Rather curious if that gets the seller the fees back.

OPA · June 23, 2011 12:57AM

<< Is there a mutually agree to end transaction option? Any idea how that works. Rather curious if that gets the seller the fees back. >>

Yes to both of your questions.

jmski52 · June 23, 2011 1:27AM

I did contact the buyer after 4 days, and he said "I will send the payment as soon as possible". He didn't indicate how, or when he would pay. That was 2 days ago. I opened up an unpaid item case because I haven't heard from him since.

Should I just go ahead and close the case? I find it rather curious that a buyer can leave a negative feedback if he does pay, even if he is beyond ebay's guidelines for making a prompt payment, (if you call 4 days prompt).

airplanenut · June 23, 2011 1:32AM

<< I did contact the buyer after 4 days, and he said "I will send the payment as soon as possible". He didn't indicate how, or when he would pay. That was 2 days ago. I opened up an unpaid item case because I haven't heard from him since.

Should I just go ahead and close the case? I find it rather curious that a buyer can leave a negative feedback if he does pay, even if he is beyond ebay's guidelines for making a prompt payment, (if you call 4 days prompt). >>

I do call 4 days prompt. I think you're jumping the gun, and nothing will come of this other than pissing off the buyer. I suppose if you require payment in fewer than 4 days, then the buyer's breaking the rule, but I never found it worthwhile to go after buyers so quickly. After 10 days, I send them a polite email asking for a payment status. Sometime after that, I'll file an NPB, but I never close them on the first day they can be closed, unless the buyer really deserves it (ie, they've said they won't pay).

19Lyds · June 23, 2011 1:37AM

<< Is there a mutually agree to end transaction option? Any idea how that works. Rather curious if that gets the seller the fees back. >>

Yes there is. I recently had a buyer back out of 7 proof sets which he bid and won.

In an email exchange with him after 8 days of no payment, he claimed that his PayPal and eBay accounts had been frozen and requested that I cancel the transaction.
I did that citing the reason as I had not received payment yet and after another 5 days of waiting, eBay cancelled the transaction and refunded my FVF.

You'll have to open a dispute and follow the prompts.

If your buyer has not made any contact within 16 days, an unpaid item strike is usually warranted. I know that folks do take vacations but there are a lot of folks that receive their email on their Iphones so IMO, no email contact after 16 days is just unwarranted. After all, they did take the time to bid enough to win.

Russ · June 23, 2011 1:39AM

I send an invoice at the end of the auction, and a second invoice at seven days. If no response or payment by day 10 I file the UPI. I give more leeway to buyers who communicate with me. Buyers who simply ignore me get a UPI filed and a strike issued. If you file a mutual cancellation, the buyer can still leave feedback. If you file the UPI and close it with a strike, they can't. So, what you do really depends on your feel for the buyer.

Russ, NCNE

devious · June 23, 2011 1:45AM

<< I did contact the buyer after 4 days, and he said "I will send the payment as soon as possible". He didn't indicate how, or when he would pay. That was 2 days ago. I opened up an unpaid item case because I haven't heard from him since.

Should I just go ahead and close the case? I find it rather curious that a buyer can leave a negative feedback if he does pay, even if he is beyond ebay's guidelines for making a prompt payment, (if you call 4 days prompt). >>

In the old days, 7 days was the waiting period for payments. I don't know if people still follow this, but I do. I guess I got used to it since 1999. People do bid on things they cannot afford in the moment, but await payday to pay for the item. So, call me patient, but 7 days is my time scale for payments before I begin to worry about filing a non-paying bidder, but not before I contact the buyer and wait 24 hours for a response. :-) Just my two cents on the matter.

JamesMurray · June 23, 2011 2:12AM

<< If no communication from the buyer, I open an unpaid item case. I only did this once, where I sent an item before I got payment. It was by mistake, since I was shipping several items at the same time and the item was not meant to be mailed before I received payment. Turns out the buyer was dishonest. Got the item and did not pay for it. After I opened the case, ebay I believe had him expunged. Either that or he left ebay on his own. I like to think it was expungement from ebay. Makes me feel somewhat better. >>

That happened to me recently , my auctions always close around 9pm est - 11pm est and ive found usually im paid by morning so i go ahead and get everything ready for mailing.Those that paid along with ebayers that havnt yet paid but good feedback history i send that next morning. I do this as the post office is not handy for me and i thought myself a good judge of feedback.
I sold a rare british east africa coin to one female ebayer with nearly 600 sterling feedback and every one a coin , i didnt see a problem as the coin sold kinda cheap too , real cheap for what it was actually.
Delivery confirmation showed it delivered , she would have got an auction end email , an invoice email days later , a request for payment message after 7 days and then the unpaid item dispute emails , through all of this she was buying other coins and recieving the same sterling feedbacks , even though she had just stolen my item without missing a beat.
I left feedback indicating ebayer is not to be trusted and didnt pay after getting the item , i didnt recieve even one reply at any point and last i checked ebay let that feedback i left stand.

morgantype · June 23, 2011 2:50AM

I send the invoice after 1-2 days.

If no payment I send a message saying, no biggie if you changed your mind, just let me know so I can get my fees refunded.

If there is still no payment, I file te UPI.

I have no problem witha buyer backing out, just let me know.

cheezhed · June 23, 2011 4:32AM

The default ebay seller account setting opens an unpaid item after 4 days.

M · March 21, 2013 6:12AM

Revisiting this thread, is the 4 days default what most sellers use for coin auctions? I sent an invoice 1 day after auction end but got no reply. Buyer is a seller with 1000+ feedback and has bought other items (and with + feedback no less) since my auction closed. Don't think I can assume he's on vacation or ignorant of the rules...

OPA · March 21, 2013 6:17AM

<< Revisiting this thread, is the 4 days default what most sellers use for coin auctions? I sent an invoice 1 day after auction end but got no reply. Buyer is a seller with 1000+ feedback and has bought other items (and with + feedback no less) since my auction closed. Don't think I can assume he's on vacation or ignorant of the rules... >>

I don't know what most use, but mine is set up for 4 days. ( eBay handles that whole procedure for me automatically) BTW, the 4 days is being reduced to 2 days with all the so called "money savings" for ebay sellers coming out shortly.

Wabbit2313 · March 21, 2013 6:18AM

If you follow eBays in place system, 4 days, put in unpaid, 4 days later close the case. What is not mentioned here is that you might have run an auction for 7-10 days, so you have lost 15-18 days of time on this. I don't want those people bidding on my stuff, and have non payers blocked.

M · March 21, 2013 6:21AM

At what point do you block them, after you get your fees refunded? Is that automatic too?

mrpotatoheadd · March 21, 2013 6:25AM

If it's someone who's never bought from me before, I'll send an invoice after a purchase and if I haven't heard from them in 8-10 days, send a reminder. Since I have repeat buyers who will make purchases over a period of several days and then pay in order to get all their coins in one shipment, I do not use eBay's automated system as I don't want buyers like this to be getting unpaid notices.

OPA · March 21, 2013 6:25AM

<< At what point do you block them, after you get your fees refunded? Is that automatic too? >>

Fees are automatically refunded if the buyer does not respond within the prescribed time frame. You'll have to block the d.b. after the FVF have been credited.

M · March 21, 2013 6:35AM

<< If it's someone who's never bought from me before, I'll send an invoice after a purchase and if I haven't heard from them in 8-10 days, send a reminder. Since I have repeat buyers who will make purchases over a period of several days and then pay in order to get all their coins in one shipment, I do not use eBay's automated system as I don't want buyers like this to be getting unpaid notices. >>

Seems like a long time to wait for payment (8-10 days). I did have stated payment due within 2 days, so it was per auction rules, not open ended.

Wabbit2313 · March 21, 2013 6:40AM

<< At what point do you block them, after you get your fees refunded? Is that automatic too? >>

I have my buyers requirements set to not accept bids from anyone with 2 unpaid items. This weeds out most of the riffraff.

M · March 21, 2013 6:41AM

<< 

<< At what point do you block them, after you get your fees refunded? Is that automatic too? >>

Fees are automatically refunded if the buyer does not respond within the prescribed time frame. You'll have to block the d.b. after the FVF have been credited. >>

Thanks, will go ahead and let the automated system run then block buyer after fees are refunded.

M · March 21, 2013 6:45AM

<< 

<< At what point do you block them, after you get your fees refunded? Is that automatic too? >>

I have my buyers requirements set to not accept bids from anyone with 2 unpaid items. This weeds out most of the riffraff. >>

Buyer has over 1000+ feedback and sells too. Is still buying coins and not paying for mine, I don't get it, but he should know he what he owes and probably wouldn't like his buyers not paying.

mrpotatoheadd · March 21, 2013 6:49AM

<< Seems like a long time to wait for payment (8-10 days). I did have stated payment due within 2 days, so it was per auction rules, not open ended. >>

You asked what others do and I was just relating what works for me. I didn't mean to say you should do the same.

M · March 21, 2013 6:59AM

<< 

<< Seems like a long time to wait for payment (8-10 days). I did have stated payment due within 2 days, so it was per auction rules, not open ended. >>

You asked what others do and I was just relating what works for me. I didn't mean to say you should do the same. >>

Oh I know it works for you and appreciate the info. I don't have regular customers, just sell here and there. I'm just not used to non payers as most of my coin sales are BIN and payment is required at time of purchase.

telephoto1 · March 21, 2013 7:19AM

Since ebay essentially forces people to use Paypal now, there really isn't any excuse for significant delays in payment.
Initial invoice (obviously) goes out with the auction; 90% of the time that's all that's necessary.
At 3 days I send a reminder email.
At 7, final reminder.
After that, NPB.

1Mike1 · March 21, 2013 8:22AM

Last two eBayers I dealt with were not quick to pay up. I waited 14 days for the first one and had to file through eBay to get the person to pay. The second eBayer I waited only 7 days and filed a case and they paid up. Nver before had to file to get paid.

ebaybuyer · March 21, 2013 8:28AM

unless its a big ticket item, i allow 14 days to pay, why ? well, i get annoyed with an unpaid reminder after a few days when i buy something, sometimes its a matter of not having enough in paypal, id give it at least a week before you do anything, then send a reminder, after a week or so with no response, its apparent that your buyer isnt gonna pay, then file a non payment. four days after that you can close the case and get a FVF refund

LeeBone · March 21, 2013 8:31AM

<< unless its a big ticket item, i allow 14 days to pay, why ? well, i get annoyed with an unpaid reminder after a few days when i buy something, sometimes its a matter of not having enough in paypal, id give it at least a week before you do anything, then send a reminder, after a week or so with no response, its apparent that your buyer isnt gonna pay, then file a non payment. four days after that you can close the case and get a FVF refund >>

I may be here

M · March 21, 2013 10:03AM

Well, it's over 1k and that's big ticket to me! My auction had terms when payment was due, so if potential bidder knows he can't or won't pay in that timeframe, why bid on it? And if he's going to be several days late due to unexpected delay, why not just shoot an email of explanation? No payment, no response to invoice. Unpaid Assistant gets to take over now, but I don't like doing it this way and probably will block him even if he pays up before the time lapse.

OPA · March 21, 2013 10:09AM

<< unless its a big ticket item, i allow 14 days to pay, why ? well, i get annoyed with an unpaid reminder after a few days when i buy something, sometimes its a matter of not having enough in paypal, id give it at least a week before you do anything, then send a reminder, after a week or so with no response, its apparent that your buyer isnt gonna pay, then file a non payment. four days after that you can close the case and get a FVF refund >>

If you owned a B&M would you allow a stranger to come in, purchase an item & then wait 14 days to get paid? I sure wouldn't. As mentioned before, PayPal is used 90%+ of the time and the ease in paying makes it a "child play." On the other hand, if you don't have the funds for your impulse purchases, you're sol..same is true for eBay auctions. If you ain't got de funds, don't bid.

LindeDad · March 21, 2013 10:29AM

I put the presets in place and let eBay worry about it.

OPA · March 21, 2013 12:22PM

<< I put the presets in place and let eBay worry about it.

>>

Did the same about 1 year ago .... avoids getting a retaliatory fb from the db buyer

derryb · March 21, 2013 12:36PM

buy it now with immediate payment requirement eliminates headaches like this. It also saves fees on higher dollar items for those without an ebay store.

mrpotatoheadd · March 21, 2013 12:39PM

<< buy it now with immediate payment requirement eliminates headaches like this. It also saves fees on higher dollar items for those without an ebay store. >>

Plus- you can offer "free shipping" and not have to pay for it yourself.

Cougar1978 · March 21, 2013 12:49PM

Yes I open a case - always. I would love to be able to neg these people which I did automatically in the past. Be sure and block the non payer.

Ebay has a feature where you can have them open a case automatically when there is a non payer.

A guy I know in my coin club hates non payers so much that if they are a seller he will buy multiple items from them just to neg them on all.

I give them 7 days to pay, then open a case. One interesting instance was a guy buys a coin takes 6 days to finally pay. About two months later buys another item and he goes past the seven days so I open a case and block him. While I like repeat customers have no use for repeaters like that.

M · March 21, 2013 12:51PM

True about BIN, but sometimes an auction generates some interest in an otherwise boring or stale category where everything else is BIN. And I can understand that "only" buyers will try to stiff sellers, but a seller who won't pay another seller? Not getting this one.

coindeuce · March 21, 2013 1:17PM

<< buy it now with immediate payment requirement eliminates headaches like this. It also saves fees on higher dollar items for those without an ebay store. >>

I believe I interpreted correctly that one of the upcoming new policies of eBay will add a twist to BIN items where the seller doesn't select "immediate payment required." Going forward, on BIN items that previously allowed a window of time to pay after confirming a BIN, the item will remain available for competing buyers to grab. I believe it would be regarded as "first to pay, first to be served." No more "reserving" BIN items and paying several days later, unless one wants to risk being trumped by another buyer at the same price.

M · March 22, 2013 8:17AM

Unpaid buyer assistant is in effect as of today. "Buyer" still buying and apparently paying some of the sellers! Just bought another coin for about 500 bucks and seller leaves this feedback: Fast Payer! Great Customer! Wonder if I can contact ebay that he is making additional purchases before paying for previous ones?! Anybody ever reported this?

FullCameo · March 22, 2013 9:35AM

You can always get the buyers phone number and try to give him a friendly call. I had a buyer a couple weeks ago who didn't pay after two weeks. After 3 calls he finally paid me this Wednesday. I have a feeling if I didn't call, I never would have been paid. Good Luck!

OPA · March 22, 2013 11:32AM

<< Unpaid buyer assistant is in effect as of today. "Buyer" still buying and apparently paying some of the sellers! Just bought another coin for about 500 bucks and seller leaves this feedback: Fast Payer! Great Customer! Wonder if I can contact ebay that he is making additional purchases before paying for previous ones?! Anybody ever reported this? >>

Don't waste your time with that possibility...If a buyer accumulates enough unpaid item strikes against him, he'll be NARUD. Also if you set who can bid on your auctions, there is a Parameter which will not allow buyers with more than 2 unpaid strikes in one month to bid on your auctions.

Ebay question - Unpaid item

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