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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to think ebay buyers ...

25 replies

teacherandguideleader · 27/10/2013 22:13

AIBU to think ebay buyers should pay for their items within 24 hours of an auction ending?

I had a range of items for sale and ended them last night, so people would have 24 hours before I needed to package them ready to take to the collect+ point first thing tomorrow. Two people haven't paid yet. It isn't fair of me not to send the items for the people who have paid so now I have to make two trips.

I know this is really trivial but it really bothers me. I have a number of errands to run tomorrow so had timed the sales to fit in with that - it seems to happen every time - some people take up to a week to pay (usually happens towards the end of the month when people are waiting to get paid) and I end up backwards and forwards to the flipping not-on-my corner shop.

Once it took someone so long to pay I couldn't get to the shop as I was on my way on holiday so ran into the post office on my way to the airport - the postage she paid didn't cover recorded so I just sent it standard. She claimed it never turned up - I guess she noticed I said I would post it collect plus tracked and it arrived royal mail untracked and decided to chance it. I had to refund and I strongly suspect she had the item.

Sorry, rant over!

OP posts:

HicDraconis · 27/10/2013 22:24

Well, put that in your listing conditions then. I've often bought things from ebay where the description states clearly items will be relisted if payment not received within 24 (or 48)h of auction finishing.

Conversely, when I know I can't pay within 24h (takes up to 5 days for me to transfer money to my uk bank account sometimes) I don't bid on items with those conditions or I contact the seller to explain before I bid.

YANBU to want people to be prompt payers, YABU not to do something about what's irritating you.

And if you want proof of delivery then you have to send it tracked. In that situation I'd have contacted the buyer to inform them I would be away, that payment had taken X days to arrive and I would dispatch the item promptly on my return in Y days time. The postage she paid is presumably what you charged? Hardly her problem if it cost more than you'd charged for it. You have no idea if she received it or not - strong suspicions based on what? YABU on that one.

SoonToBeSix · 27/10/2013 22:33

Yabu 5 days is about average

PerpendicularVincentPrice · 27/10/2013 22:33

I only buy stuff from ebay if I can afford to pay for it straight away. As soon as I win an auction I pay automatically, otherwise I know i'd forget - it's also unfair for the buyer to wait.

YANBU, but I agree you should make your conditions clear when selling.

celestialbows · 27/10/2013 22:35

I recently bid on an auction that was due to end whilst I was on holiday. I had planned to watch the auction from abroad but it transpired that the wifi signal didn't work in our rural location.
It wasn't until I returned home a week after winning that I discovered that I'd won the item.
I messaged the seller and she was very understanding.
Not everyone is able to check online regularly. Definitely put it in your description if it causes you trouble. In my listing I prefer to use the option of posting parcel within something like ten working days so that I can wait until all items are paid for and post at the same time.

CremeEggThief · 27/10/2013 22:51

YABU. I only sell on eBay these days and as I post within five working days of receiving payment, I feel it's only fair to give buyers a few days to pay. People have a lot going on, and where's the harm in being patient?

Original poster

teacherandguideleader · 27/10/2013 22:52

I always pay promptly so just assumed everyone did the same. I will certainly make it clear in the conditions when selling in future - didn't realise that was the 'done' thing - in fact I hadn't thought of it before as I've never seen it on items.

I may be being unreasonable about the item that didn't arrive - it was just a hunch I had as some of the questions she asked about the postage were a little odd - I didn't follow it up as I knew I should have sent it tracked - but I was trying to be nice and ensure it got sent before I went on holiday. The postage she paid was what it would have cost to send it tracked via collect +, but the same service on royal mail was twice the price. In hindsight, I should have paid the extra, as I ended up out of pocket.

OP posts:

Xmasbaby11 · 27/10/2013 22:53

You didn't leave long enough. If you want to post everything together, leave it for a few days and do it all then. YABU.

Ilovemydogandmydoglovesme · 27/10/2013 23:00

Yes you do have to state in your listing that you expect payment by a certain time. If you don't it is kind of assumed that there's no hurry. I do sympathise though. It quite clearly states it in my listings yet I've had people win items that take forever to pay. Any reminder to read the rules seems to be taken as impatience.

I love three miles from my nearest post office. It's a pain in the arse having to run into town specially.

Original poster

teacherandguideleader · 27/10/2013 23:11

Ilovemydog - I am the same, it is such a mission getting to and from a suitable posting location.

I'm not quite ready to accept that I'm being unreasonable expecting people to pay promptly but I will certainly put it in my listings in future (and hope people take notice).

OP posts:

Daddypigsgusset · 27/10/2013 23:26

I state in my listing that items are posted on X date and if not paid for by 9pm the evening before then I will post the following week. It would never occur to me to bid on something if I didn't have means to pay. V. Cheeky imo

Lightupatnightpants · 27/10/2013 23:41

I think it's weird that people don't pay immediately, especially if they bid in the last minute of the auction. They're online, presumably have money or the wouldn't be bidding, why not pay straight away then?!

Less weird if the bid 5 days ago and may not realise they've won.

I always pay straight away and if I sell I always post the same or next day.

I think eBay rules are you can open a non paying bidder case after 4 days and get your fees refunded. The buyer will also get a strike.

I don't think stating lots of " rules" in your listing is wise though- they're not enforceable and it puts me off when buyers have 10 lines of "no returns" etc. some even say if item not received I will post you the "proof if postage" but not refund!!

Ilovemydogandmydoglovesme · 27/10/2013 23:55

People also bid on things that quite clearly say 'collection only' when they are miles away from said item. Seen that complained about a lot on here. Then they try to arrange couriers or apparently end up just not paying.

Have to say my dh has nearly done this a few times. Luckily he always comes and checks with me first. Because I'm the eBay expert in this house.

steppemum · 28/10/2013 00:15

I have just sold a large heavy item and the winner lives 200 miles away!

We have specified collection only, and cash on collection. I was all braced for an argument with him about not sending it by courier, when he emailed to say he was driving down to get it and would xx time be convenient. I am somewhat surprised!

I don't think you can expect people to pay same day, within 48 hours is pretty reasonable.

GhostsInSnow · 28/10/2013 08:18

Lightupatnightpants, last minute bidders might not be online ands might be using a sniper tool which bids on your behalf in the dying seconds of an auction so don't presume that the bidder themselves placed the bid.

Op yabu I'm afraid. And it's always wise if you have auctions ending to end them at least a week before you take a holiday to allow for these situations.

lljkk · 28/10/2013 08:25

OP can't insist that they pay in 24 hours; but Ebay allows 48 hours before can open a NPB and then another 4 days to close that. So Ebay mandates they have up to 6 days. Seller's preferred T+C don't count for squat nowadays.

sarine1 · 28/10/2013 08:25

Ebay is a changing place to sell - much more 'professional' than it was with buyers being very intolerant of delayed posting etc. Ebay have been regularly kicking off sellers who don't keep their star ratings high by posting promptly and keeping their buyers happy and the drive to make sellers offer free postage is relentless.
Much harder to sell on their than it used to be IMO.

Tuppenceinred · 28/10/2013 08:30

People aren't always on-line to bid. Ebay will bid automatically up to their highest bid, and they could also be sniping.

FortyDoorsToNowhere · 28/10/2013 08:51

I always pay once I have won an item.

Don't want to risk my star rating which is 100% on a blue star.

lljkk · 28/10/2013 09:17

I don't understand what you're trying to protect, Forty. You have to work very hard to damage your f/back as a buyer.

If you don't pay you could get strikes on your account and SOME sellers don't allow bidders with recent strikes to bid. Also, if you are very difficult buyer then some sellers will find ways to leave snarky feedback and this could get spotted by some sellers in time to get you on their BBL. A tiny % of sellers might get a chance to check your feedback in time to cancel your bid if they didn't like your FB. And if you're a truly nasty buyer you might get your name on a site like ebaysucks.com. Most sellers don't bother with any of that, so very hard to damage your buying prospects.

The most telling thing is the feedback you leave for others. If it looks persistently negative & like you have many problems then I'd put you on my BBL. But I can only do that if someone gives me your Ebay name.

DixonBainbridge · 28/10/2013 09:18

Unless my auction finishes at a silly time or weekend, I'm always surprised if people don't pay the same day.

I'm always so pleased to have won anything myself that I pay straight away so it'll be in the soonest possible post!!

I have used a "Sniper" for auctions that finish at silly-O-Clock though & then paid in the morning....

GhostsInSnow · 28/10/2013 09:24

Forty Don't want to risk my star rating which is 100% on a blue star.

Those are automatic and just change colour as your feedback gets higher. As a buyer there are no stars for you, a seller just leaves you feedback and can't leave anything but positive feedback for you anyway.

When leaving feedback for a seller you get to rate them with the star system but a seller cannot rate a buyer in the same way.

Original poster

teacherandguideleader · 28/10/2013 09:26

Juice - with the holiday example the auction actually finished 10 days before my holiday - it took her that long to pay.

OP posts:

Awomansworth · 28/10/2013 09:34

I always stipulate in bold that payment is required within 48 hours of auction end and not to bid unless you are able to do this. I do though find it odd that people don't pay straight away as they have been on the net to place the bid at the end of the auction, so why not pay at the same time.

I certainly don't want the hassle (or petrol cost) of numerous trips to the post office. I usually list all my items at once, so can have 10 or more to take at once.

LividofLondon · 28/10/2013 11:15

I've seen listings where the seller has said they only post on certain days so if the buyer wants it quickly they need to pay within 24 hours. Perhaps put something that says they they need to pay within 24 hours or else they have to wait a few days longer for you to dispatch it? Personally I always pay as soon as I win something because otherwise I might forget and also that I get excited at receiving the item so want it quickly. I think it's a bit off to make a seller wait for payment, but it seems that it's no big deal to many.

Crowler · 28/10/2013 11:51

I find this very irritating. It's one of many reasons I don't really sell anything on ebay anymore, I just give it all to goodwill. Ebay is really a buyer's market. Eventually this will change.

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