How long would you wait for someone to pay?

[Finbar]

Successful bidder has not paid in the two days since the item closed. Am I being impatient?
It just seems a bit rubbish if you bid on something, win it, get sent an invoice and ignore it for two days.

Love to hear what you think.

I would wait for 3 days in case they were away or something, and then send a reminder, stating that you will start the non-payment procedure if you don't hear from them within another couple of days.

I waited 9 days once, it took a couple of polite reminders asking if they still intended to go ahead with the purchase. They eventually paid but never responded to any of my messages, I found it very rude and irritating but had decided to allow 2 weeks before opening a dispute. I've had to wait 3-4 days on a few occasions, and I always write 'payment within 2 days of listing ending'. Think it's sometimes good to give people benefit of the doubt that they can't get access internet or something making it difficult for them. Unfortunately think it just comes with the territory.

this is quite common and 2 days is nothing unusual. I usually send a reminder on day 4 and open a dispute on day 7 or 8

Thanks for this. It is pants though isn't it - to bid on something and then go away, or lose yor internet connection and not make alternative arrangmetns...Id go and use a friend's PC, even just to see if I'd won.
Bah Humbug to me!

I have had a couple of very delayed payments - one happened midway through a month. I reckoned the buyer was waiting until she got her salary that month before paying me.

The other was for a small amount but it turned out that the buyer was having problems with her eBay account and couldn't get on. Once eBay sorted it for her she was very apologetic and thanked me for my patience.....

But I agree that it is a pain. If the money comes in in dribs and drabs you can end up with 4 or 5 visits to the Post Office following one "end day". It also means that I don't list anything for around 3 weeks before I go away on holiday just in case!

Ebay rules are in 7 days - I think it's perfectly ok for anyone to pay up to that time as it's part of the contract. Normal for people to wait til payday too.