# Ebay Etiquette **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 11, 2008, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-etiquette/459560 "2008-08-11T02:48:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Red\_Barchetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/da6949/32.png) [@Red\_Barchetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Barchetta)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2008, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-etiquette/459560/1 "2008-08-11T02:48:02Z")
So I recently got into the Ebay game and started off by posting 45 auctions! Not too bad, right? Anyway, they have all since ended, and while some winners were very prompt with the payments, others have yet to pay. So I have a few questions: 1. After an auction ends, is it customary to contact the winner at any point? 2. How long should I give someone to pay me? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2008, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-etiquette/459560/2 "2008-08-11T02:50:01Z")
Have you sent invoices? ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Barchetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/da6949/32.png) [@Red\_Barchetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Barchetta)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2008, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-etiquette/459560/3 "2008-08-11T03:00:52Z")
…No. How does that work exactly? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2008, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-etiquette/459560/4 "2008-08-11T03:05:07Z")
[QUOTE=Red Barchetta] …No. How does that work exactly? [/QUOTE] There will be an option for you to send an invoice. I don’t remember where it is, but I think it’s on a drop-down menu in Items I’m Selling. It should have the final price in it, and there will be a place for you to add shipping charges. Then just sent it off. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Barchetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/da6949/32.png) [@Red\_Barchetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Barchetta)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2008, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-etiquette/459560/5 "2008-08-11T03:13:23Z")
[QUOTE=Johnny L.A.] There will be an option for you to send an invoice. I don’t remember where it is, but I think it’s on a drop-down menu in Items I’m Selling. It should have the final price in it, and there will be a place for you to add shipping charges. Then just sent it off. [/QUOTE] I see. So is this something I should do, even if the shipping price was part of the auction? Thanks ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2008, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-etiquette/459560/6 "2008-08-11T03:19:54Z")
[QUOTE=Red Barchetta] I see. So is this something I should do, even if the shipping price was part of the auction? [/QUOTE] When I buy things on eBay I often get invoices after I pay. I reckon those are automated, although the payment email and invoice may cross in cyberspace. The only time I don’t pay immediately is when shipping isn’t stated. In that case I’ll either receive an invoice from the seller, or else I’ll click Request An Invoice. I’d send out an invoice the next time I went to eBay after an auction has ended. If you haven’t heard from the buyer, he may be waiting for you to do that. Or he may need reminding. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Barchetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/da6949/32.png) [@Red\_Barchetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Barchetta)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2008, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-etiquette/459560/7 "2008-08-11T03:21:21Z")
Right on, good to know. Many thanks ---
**Author:** ![sugar\_and\_spice](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e8c25b/32.png) [@sugar\_and\_spice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sugar_and_spice)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2008, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-etiquette/459560/8 "2008-08-11T03:36:31Z")
I usually pay instantly, but I don’t feel obligated to pay until I get an invoice. I see an invoice (or any sort of email, really), as the seller’s way of saying “I’m not on vacation, I do have the item in my possession, and I’m ready to ship it to you.” You might think that was a given but it is not. As always YMMV, I’m not a heavy ebay-er. ---
**Author:** ![LurkMeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2008, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-etiquette/459560/9 "2008-08-11T04:00:53Z")
It’s been a while now since I sold anything on eBay, but when an item I had listed sold I always got an email informing me of the sale which included a link for sending an invoice. I generally tried to send those out ASAP, but occasionally before I could do so I would get a notice from PayPal that payment had already been received. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2008, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-etiquette/459560/10 "2008-08-11T04:45:39Z")
I give em a week to pay. Most usually pay within a day or so, without ever contacting them. But then again, I usually only sell crap that is rare and the buyer _really must want_. Ah, the discontinued (unobtainable) part. My best friend. ---
**Author:** ![Illuminatiprimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/illuminatiprimus/32/11520_2.png) [@Illuminatiprimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Illuminatiprimus)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2008, 10:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-etiquette/459560/11 "2008-08-11T10:39:05Z")
I’ve only ever paid instantly for a product - why would you wait? (using paypal, that is.)