What to do about message from non payer?

[amck5700]

Been selling a fair bit of stuff recently - nothing particularly high value - mainly the kids outgrown stuff although some items are unworn/still labelled.

Anyway, sold a new kids top last week - sale ended on Fri 26th, I invoiced Sat 27th then heard nothing - package is wrapped and addressed and ready to go. Anyway, I gave benefit of the doubt it being half term etc so send a message on Friday 2nd Nov - just saying "Hi, I invoiced for this last week and haven't heard anything. I presume that you may be away for half term or have simply forgotten - please let me know."

I get a message back just now saying "hi can u relist or second chances it. son has already got this very sorry. will leave u pos feedback. thank u"

Now, we are only taking about 6.39 plus postage, and she has good feedback, only one negative and that's in relation to something she sold not bought.

Presumably I will end up out of pocket - if I 2nd chance offer then I will get less but as it's so long since the auction ended, can't imagine that the person will be interested now. If I relist then i'll have fees to pay and may not get the same for it. I know it's only a few quid, but it's the fact that she took a week and half to bother coming back to me - but I am caught between a rock and a hard place as she can leave me negative feedback if I don't do what she says and I see the thing about leaving positive feedback as a veiled threat.

Soooo what would you do?

[fergoose]

open an unpaid item case, then close it in 4 days - you will get your fees back and buyer will get a strike - plus they won't be able to leave any feedback at all

[amck5700]

Ahh okay fergoose - I didn't know that. Is that what you would do or is it a bit extreme for the value? At the same time, I'd like to think I can rely on the feedback record but if people do this kind of thing and it isn't reported then it doesn't help does it?

[fergoose]

no not extreme at all - i will always open an unpaid case, then if they don't pay you are guaranteed to get the fees back, plus if they make a habit of it they will lose their account.

no exceptions I'm afraid. You could send a cancellation request, but if they are awkward and refuse it you don't get your fees back - plus they can still leave rubbish feedback.

also if you don't report them they don't get a strike, don't risk their account and can go about their merry way bidding and not paying for other items from other sellers too. So do an unpaid case, get your fees back, protect your feedback and do your bit for the ebay community is my advice :)

[tutu100]

I'm getting fed up with the number of non-paying bidders, it has increased so much in the last year. I now take Fergoose's advice. I invoice them the day after sale ends, then two after that and then if I hear nothing it's an unpaid item case opened on day 4. You can't close it for 4 days so that means it over a week before you relist.

I think you should do this. You have no idea how often this buyer does this as sellers can no longer leave negative feedback for buyers.

[amck5700]

Thanks fergoose - that's what my instinct and morals said but I work in Compliance and can sometimes be a bit too uptight about these things so just wanted to check what others would do - 36 things sold and no bother from anyone else - so far :)

[fergoose]

as long as you do it by the book as per ebay rules you aren't being too harsh - just get that case open and don't feel guilty - you haven't done anything wrong :)

[amck5700]

right, you've convinced me - I wont respond to her then? Just open case and ignore the message - or just go back and say, Sorry hadn't heard so opened an unpaid item case?

[fergoose]

nope - don't respond, just open your case, and close in exactly 4 days. Only respond if she pays for the item.

[amck5700]

What do I click? Resolve a Problem or Report this Buyer?

[fergoose]

res.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ResolutionCenter

'I haven't received payment yet'

[t0lk13n]

I had non payer and ebay contacted me after I emailed the buyer who had had her account 'hacked' by a'friend'. So be careful.

[amck5700]

thanks fergoose - i've done that, so if she pays she can still leave feedback? I guess if she leaves negative, I can get that removed?

t0lk13n I'm not getting what you mean sorry - can you run that past me again?

[fergoose]

if she pays she can leave a neg yes - but I am sure she won't pay

[amck5700]

well, I guess we will find out :) I'll let you know - wouldn't mind, but I used the last of my sellotape sticking the bleedin label on that one!

[Mamadadude]

amck5700 I am in the same position as you. I have just opened my first non-payment case after someone won my auction for a wardrobe then messaged me two days later to say "sorry my husband bid for this by mistake and it doesn't match the stuff we have already." She keeps messaging me asking me to cancel the transaction and has also used the "I'll give you positive feedback" line. I've been worried I'm doing the wrong thing. Really useful advice on here thanks.

[alemci]

i am also in the same boat. the buyer hasn't responded whatsover and i have opened an unpaid case. It was all packaged up ready to go etc. Why do people do this. I would be sympathetic if she contacted me to explain and would cancel - no big deal but to not communicate is terrible IHO.

looked on her page and she has 100% positive feedback even though there were loads of negative comments about her being a timewaster. How can this be right.

I think i opened the case last week and forgot about it. should I close it now and give her feedback which tells the truth. I did have an online chat about this to someone at ebay. what happens if I say she is a timewaster and hasn't paid?

[LineRunner]

I have opened and closed 8 non-payer cases since I started selling on ebay in the summer.

My experience is that neither side get to leave feedback once it's closed; and you get your fees back and can re-list.

[bureni]

Make sure you put the same buyer on your "blocked bidders" list as they may try to be a smart ass.

[amck5700]

well, at least mine is only for a few quid and is a small item, I would be fizzing if it was a big item like you Mamadadude. At least it's not just me that sees that "positive feedback" line as a threat. I think if the person who bought my item had messaged me straight away and said Sorry I already have this, I might have been more inclined just to 2nd chance offer it, but I think she just thought she could ignore the whole thing - it was a very distinctive character top btw so I sincerely doubt she didn't know her son had it.......unless of course he doesn't live with her which I guess is possible.

I hope you get your issue sorted out - I think on balance we are doing the right thing.

[alemci]

at the moment i think i can leave feedback whilst the case is open. I am sure in my chat with someone at ebay they said I could. should i leave some and then close the case. can i ring someone at ebay. do you hang on for ages and does it cost a fortune?

I did try to have a look.

may do another online chat. I want to leave a comment otherwise how will other people know.

could someone explain though why she has 100% when half the people have dissed her - thanks

[fergoose]

you must not leave bad feedback for a buyer on a positive comment - it isn't allowed.

[amck5700]

alemci - you only get the option to leave positive so people mark it positive then write negative stuff in the comments.

[fergoose]

but you aren't allowed to leave a negative comment - ebay will remove it and give you a slapped wrist too

[amck5700]

fergoose - I haven't done that, but i have certainly seen some like that- maybe the people haven't complained and ebay haven't seen?

[fergoose]

maybe so