Question about non-paying eBay bidders

18 years ago

I've had only a couple of non-payers since I've been selling. I ignored the first one because eBay allowed retaliatory feedback (a practice I disagree with), but filed a dispute on the next one. That was several montha ago, and I heard nothing from eBay or the buyer. Perhaps I was supposed to take some further action I was unaware of.

Anyway, on January 26 one of my auctions was won by a woman who had zero feedback. I let her bid because I figure we all have to start somewhere. However, since the auction ended I've heard nothing from her despite the two invoices and a note I sent.

Her bid was $86. The next bid under hers was $85. I looked up Second Chance Offers on eBay but can find no specific rule on how much time should elapse before a Second Chance Offer is made. It just says an effort should be made to resolve the matter with the original buyer. It's been two weeks. Is that enough time?

Thanks!

Susan

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Comments (11)

sjarz
18 years ago
More than enough time. I would offer it to the second chancer , if that first person was going to pay they would have at least contacted you by now.
For future reference, especially with the changes at ebay regarding negative feedback, make sure you say in your listings something like this:
Payment expected within (3) days - if no contact from buyer within that time I will relist the item or offer it to the second chance bidder.
The (3) is an example, use whatever you like. But state clearly what your policy is on non payment, and then you don't have to sit around for two weeks wondering. You can also just relist the item after whatever time you have stated, often an item will sell on relist.
Hope this helps.
Suzan J
chubby_rat
18 years ago
If you tried to email her and got no response...I'd say it was enough time.Most sellers say if an item isn't paid for in 10 days it's re-listed or sold to second bidder.
I'm having a time with a seller right now...won't answer emails,I paid for item on Jan 25th and haven't gotten it yet.Since I bid on this he's gotten LOADS of bad feedback for not shipping.I think something happened to him!
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alisande
Original Author
18 years ago
Thanks! I sent the Second Chance Offer. We shall see......
marygailv
18 years ago
I'm not an e-bay purchaser or seller, but it seems to me I read something the other day that they were no longer going to rate sellers??
yborgal
18 years ago
I would suggest filing a non-paying buyer dispute. You have 45 days from auction's end to file.

In order to close a dispute you must take additional steps besides filing the dispute. If you leave a dispute in limbo, then it is automatically closed after 90 days and you have no recourse and you don't get your fees refunded.

If the buyer doesn't pay, then close the dispute by saying you no longer wish to communicate with this buyer. This gives her a strike, which is different than a negative feedback. 3 strikes and a member is kicked out.

I would not offer a second chance to the next bidder unless a dispute has been filed. Your buyer could file a dispute first and claim you were a non-performing seller and sold the item she won to another bidder. It's unlikely this buyer would do this, but it has happened in the past.

Talking about past options...it's not the end of the world if you get an undeserved neg. You simply post a reply and state that the neg was left in retaliation and give the facts. Those that take the time to look at feedback can see the true story.
Now, eBay has changed the rules and we won't be able to do that.
alisande
Original Author
18 years ago
Now, eBay has changed the rules and we won't be able to do that.

Mona, do you mean that we will no longer be able to state that the neg was left in retaliation? Or can retaliatory feedback no longer be left?

Thanks for the info about disputes. Do I email the buyer to say I no longer want to communicate with them? Or is this something I should contact eBay about? (If so, how?)

Sorry for so many questions!

Susan
heather_on
18 years ago
You could also request their contact information and give them a call. At least you would get an idea then if the bidder was just someone playing around. Often just requesting contact information is enough to get them going as ebay sends out a letter saying you requested it.
lydia1959
18 years ago
Once you've waited the specified amount of time, go to the eBay resolution page (look at open disputes)you can choose that you no longer want to communicate with the buyer (thus closing the dispute) so that you can get your fees back. You do not have to email the buyer. eBay will do that.

It is my understanding that buyers can leave any feedback they like (they may be even more honest in their feedback) and sellers will not be able to leave any feedback unless it is a positive. I think sellers will be getting a lot more negatives and neutrals (even if they are undeserved).
yborgal
18 years ago
Susan, that's an issue that hasn't been directly addressed in the discussion forums. Some members think that retaliatory comments will be pulled if they are left. The new feedback system is so that buyers won't fear negs from sellers so neg replies would be harnful to them.

But a neg from a buyer isn't the only thing sellers need to worry about. You know those stars that buyers rate sellers with? About speedy shipping? Communication? etc. Well, those will carry more weight now when sellers' ratings are calculated.

All I'm sure about is that we can still leave false positive feedbacks.
glenda_al
18 years ago
Guess that is another reason why I don't buy or sell on ebay!
junkyardgirl
18 years ago
I remember reading once about how this one ebay scammer went on and sold some nice stuff really cheaply, racked up some great feedback, and then started stiffing people. He'd offer something for about 1/4 what it was worth, and then never shipped. He sold like $10,000 worth of stuff in a month, claiming to have like 150 or 200 of each item, so he got lots of offers. Of course, the stuff never existed. They never did catch him, because he moved and didn't have that IP address any longer, or live at the address he gave the IP.

Question about non-paying eBay bidders

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