Non-paying buyer

Did the NPB respond to the dispute?

If not, the buyer's neg will not count against your neg total (although the comments still show up).

http://pages.ebay.com/help/feedback/losing-feedback-privileges.html

No, she didnt' respond at all. I never heard from her at any time throughout the process. If I leave her negative feedback, how does this keep her from leaving negative feedback for me?

2purrcats

quote from ebay:

quote:

When a buyer does not respond to an Unpaid Item notification and the seller issues an Unpaid Item strike against them, the buyer can still leave a feedback comment, but the feedback rating they leave for the transaction will not appear and will not count toward the seller’s feedback score.

The comment will show up on your feedback screen, but it won't count against your percentage.

Thanks for your help. I missed clicking on that nice link you gave me - sorry to make you have to explain it again!

I'm also interested in knowing what the feeling is as to whether negative feedback should be left for non-paying bidders - perhaps as a warning to others? Would love to see what you all think.

2purrcats

I'll chime in on this one, because of an experience I had in just the last couple of days.

I have a non paying bidder that I've been chasing for nearly a month with unpaid reminders, and was just going thru the same agonisation about "do I leave neg f/b". I was on the receiving end of an unfair one years back, and never really got over the sting of it.

Then, I got a message from another seller saying "don't hold your breath this one stiffed me too a couple of months ago". I found myself being madder at the seller, than at the deadbeat buyer. The reason may be silly but it's real...this buyer has 100% positive f/b because "kindhearted" sellers like us don't do anything to keep an honest man honest. I'm figuring now that the f/b system can't work if we don't cowboy up and use it as it was intended...not abuse...just use. Warn the next guy, or the next guy could be you! *climbs off my soapbox & marches off to go take my own advice*

2purrcats, in your case, I would not hesitate to neg the guy.

The comments will be off of the first page of your feedback in no time anyway.

Thanks to all. I agree - I would like to warn other sellers. BUT -- I don't see how it really IS a warning, because we can't block a bidder based on feedback. I block bidders who have rec'd a non-paying ding, but I don't think there's a link to the f/b system as such.

(Either way, I think she deserves negative feedback because she has broken the trust that is built in to the eBay system - a trust that she agreed to abide by.)

2purrcats

quote:

Originally posted by 2purrcats:
I don't see how it really IS a warning, because we can't block a bidder based on feedback.

We CAN, however, cancel bids for pretty much any reason, including bad bidder feedback.

I didn't know we could do that! Thanks!



2purrcats

I have 2 non payers right now. Both won auctions at the same time on the same day. I have sent each of them 2 "gentle" reminders and 1 that was not so gentle asking for payment. How do I do the Non Paying Bidder thingee?

Eligibilty to raise an unpaid item dispute occurs on the 8th day after the listing closed and will be visible in your 'My eBay'.

Once raised some pay up, some ignore, some argue.

Whatever you do do not get into a slanging match. Send 2 or 3 gentle reminders over 7 days. If no payment arrives raise a dispute and then get on with other more interesting things.

eBay will mail you if they respond. If they do not respond within 7 days you can close it regardless and claim back the final value fee and relist.

See earlier post in this thread regarding non-response and feedback options from biscuit.

Oh and I usually block them from bidding in future, this option also becomes available on dispute closure (but can be accessed any time).

Regarding feedback, buyer first, seller second.

Why ?, sellers who give feedback even after payment are asking for trouble. The 'deadbeat' buyer is then immune from receiving a red from you and can do whatever he wants. He has increased his profile postively and further enhances his cloak of respectibility ready to sucker another generous seller.

Thanks ChooChoo. Turns out after my last not-so-gentle-reminder-to-pay, one of the non-payers decided to do the right thing and pay up. Sadly, the other one still hasn't seen the light.
However, since I'm trying to be patient, I sent one more personalized email through eBay suggesting that they send payment immediately.
Tomorrow will be the 7th day and I will do what I need to with eBay at that time.
And, regarding feedback, I wait until the buyer leaves me feedback before I leave any for them. Otherwise, you run the risk of getting a negative from someone for some silly, petty reason, pretty much like you said in your last post.

I too have a non-paying bidder. I was happy that this person outbid two others who had extremely poor feedback. Well, now I'm not so happy because tomorrow is the 7th day and nothing. I sent a gentle reminder and they responded, "Thanks for the reminder, I will pay tonight through PayPal when I get in". Nothing. Next morning, received an email stating their hard drive crashed at home and couldn't access eBay through work, so would stop by the library after work to make payment. Nothing. I emailed them that night, stating that I understand things happen......etc. and wanted to work with them, but couldn't have listing still out there and that sometime the next day I would make a 2nd chance offer to next highest bidder and if they wanted to pay for it, they should do so immediately. Well, after figuring out if I didn't wait and go through filing unpaid item process, I would be out a good hunk of change on final value fee. I don't really want to wait for the whole process to take place with filing, but I have just one more day so I may. This is sooooo frustrating. Buffy1qt, let us know what happens with your non-paying bidders and I'll post an update regarding mine. Any thoughts or recommendations would be appreciated. Thanks.

quote:

Buffy1qt, let us know what happens with your non-paying bidders and I'll post an update regarding mine. Any thoughts or recommendations would be appreciated. Thanks.

Well, folks, luckily (I guess) after 3 reminders, one of my non-payers paid, without a peep. After my note through the eBay email system, the other one responded that they were having trouble with their internet and they would pay the next day. You see I kind of let them know, in a very kind way, that if I filed a non paying bidder dispute and left negative for them it would be very difficult for them to build their feedback up again. I went on to explain that I was under no obligation to tell them any of that, but that I didn't want to take that step if I didn't have to. Well, I got the internet sob story and a promise of payment and guess what? No payment. I'm a sucker, I know it. But I have gotten negative before and it is very hard to come back from and if the reason was legit I didn't want to screw the person over. So, I send another email and said if I don't get payment by Monday, I will file the dispute and I won't be sending anymore emails. I don't know what else to do. I try to believe the best in people, but sometimes that gets me into trouble.

I can only suggest that you be patient and file the dispute when you reach YOUR point of "I can't wait anymore". Mine will be here Monday. Like you say, you have to get the final value fees back and be able to do a second chance offer. In my case, my buyer was the only bidder. Sad day

Hope all turns out okay. Keep us informed and I will let you know what happens with me. I wonder what Tony Soprano is doing these days, just kidding

From my earlier post:

quote:

I too have a non-paying bidder............ I don't really want to wait for the whole process to take place with filing, but I have just one more day so I may. This is sooooo frustrating.

Well, I did file the unpaid item dispute yesterday morning and so far nothing. I wanted to get opinions on whether to wait the full 10 days I believe it is and if nothing still I then would be eligible for the final value fee. Well, through My Summary Page, Items Sold.....for this buyer, when I click on drop down to contact buyer, there is a link at top to send invoice to buyer. On it there is the persons name, address, and phone #. Usually, when one requests through eBay to request emergency contact info. they will give it to you, but also will give yours to them. Not sure if this would be okay or not, but would you recommend calling this evening and asking what the ?? they want to do. (just kidding) I'd be professional about it. This way if they do not or at least give me some sort of what's up at this point... Last week they supposedly had computer problems, but yeah that was last week. This way if they say no they are not going to pay, I could offer second chance offer or get the listing back up sooner. If I do get an answer and can close the dispute, will I be able to still get my fees back or do I still have to wait 10 days. Thanks.

crjebay, wait for reply, preferably no reply because if none comes after 1 week you have the option to close the dispute anyway (this is indicated in the dispute section of your my eBay).

Then you can claim back your FVF and leave feedback (if you wish) to which they cannot respond as they relinquish their rights to feedback by not replying to an unpaid dispute.

I would then add them to my blocked bidders list to prevent subsequent acts of lets say vandalism to your auctions.

Do not get involved at a personal level by making verbal contact, it is unproductive and unverifiable if it gets ugly. Any communication should be by contact buyer/seller.

What ever is said by eBay, a winner cannot be forced to pay except by suing them for breach of contract at your expense !

eBay will step back and say we are only a venue, tough

Please see my and biscuit's earlier posts on this thread, then sit back and do something more useful like preparing more listings for the worthwhile buyers.

P.S. sending an item to defaulter who has been coerced into paying up, may leave red feedback saying you were an impatient bully. Worse falsely claim for non delivery, worse still start a charge back fraud. Beware

2purrcats regarding your post on 12th April, you can block and unblock bidders anytime you want to for what ever reason you want to. I have had bad buyers id's passed to me by seller friends and I have added them to my list.

Cancelling bids only works if you have time to, highly sought after items are either manually bid for in the closing seconds or by using sniping software. By you time you see their bid it would be too late.