Winning bidder refusing to pay, what's the eBay etiquette?

[Bellebelle]

I've been a 'light' ebayer for many years and been lucky enough to never encounter any problems with buyers. However over the weekend I sold a jacket for almost £200, the winning bidder has now contacted me to say that she has changed her mind and is not going to pay.

The next highest bidder was only a few £'a less so hopefully will accept a second chance offer but what's the done thing with non-paying winners. Do I report this to ebay somehow or just say fair enough and let it go?

You will need to file a non paying bidder dispute against them from the resolution centre - you must do this to get your 10% fees back plus issue them with a strike. Then 4 days later after the case is closed you can then do a 2nd chance offer or relist. You must do in the correct order and wait until the case is closed properly first. Btw make sure you send with adequate insurance - an item of that value will need Special Delivery or a courier with extra insurance, recorded post or standard will not be enough or protect you if lost or buyer is fraudulent.

HERE is where you open the case, but you need to wait 48 hours after the end of auction to be able to do it.

You could send a cancellation request. It gives you the option "buyer changed mind". The buyer has to agree the cancellation and you get your fees back as soon as they agree. I am not sure then how you offer to next highest bidder unless second chance is on the drop down box next to your item? Might be a quicker way than opening a case?

but if the buyer refuses the cancellation request, which if they want to be a nuisance they may well do, you don't get your final fees back plus they can leave neg feedback. £20 fees could be lost this way - also they are a non payer, you should issue them with a strike against their account so they hopefully won't do this to another seller again - or if they do they risk losing their account with ebay.

Depends whether you want all your fees back - on £200 final selling price that would be quite a bit. If so you need to go through the dispute thing of non paying bidder.

otherwise I would just send a cancellation request via ebay which the buyer can complete immediately, then offer as 2nd chance.

Often though the 2nd chance people don't want it as they (like me) are wary of sellers who get friends to bid and bump the price up, then obv you don't sell it to a friend, you offer it as 2nd chance to the next person.

Trouble is on the couple of times this has happened to me I never get as much if I have to relist the thing!

Thanks for the advice, I really don't want to loose my fees so I think I'll open a case. I'll write to the buyer to explain why I need to do this and try and keep it pleasant!