How should I handle this? (Ebay buyer not paying)

In My Humble Opinion
1

I’ve been selling a few things on ebay and the winning bidder for one of them (an item that ended on August 15) has yet to pay.

He/she is apparently new to ebay (no feedback or buying/selling history) and requested an invoice several times, each of which I responded to but where never paid.

So then I was thinking that maybe he or she used a bunk email address and wasn’t getting the invoices (they don’t show up in your ebay messages, as far as I know) so I used the contact seller form to send a message that would show up there basically just gently telling this person about where the invoices would show up. I tried to not be condescending or anything, and didn’t apply any pressure to pay even though my auction listings all clearly stated that I requested payment within a week of the auction ending.

Well, it’s been over two weeks now, so a day or so ago, I sent another invoice with a message requesting payment or that he or she contact me asap.

How long should I give him or her to respond to this before I send a sterner message (saying basically pay now or I’m reporting you to ebay as a non-paying bidder and you lose your claim on the item)?

Thanks. I’m new to this, obviously.

2

I have over 2000 sales on eBay and a 100% rating. Your chances of getting paid are pretty small, especially with a new buyer, at this point. You need to enter this as an unpaid item so you can get your buyer’s fee credited back to your account ASAP. EBay will send a stern note to the buyer, but if they are determined to stiff you there’s not much you can do. It will take 7 days to get your credit back, assuming the buyer does not respond to eBay. It’s the cost of doing business. Re-list the time and move on. Trying to get deadbeats to pay is usually (not always) a big waste of time.

3

Did you have any specifics in your listing as to how long the buyer has to pay? I know often an item will say “item must be paid in 7 days or will be relisted.” or some such. Either way, 2 weeks is more than enough time. I would send a final message stating "payment must be received by Sept. 3 (or whenever) or item will be relisted. Then enter it as unpaid to ebay.

Non-communicative people on ebay are my pet peeve!

4

I had this, and after 14 days I entered a case about it on their dispute resolution thing. After another seven days with no response I closed the case, and relisted it.

5

Right, file as an unpaid item and relist.

Don;t get stuck into the idea that he’s some sort of deadbeat or that he owes you. He doesn’t- you haven’t shipped him anything yet.

Now, he is someone that doesn’t follow through on their commitments.

6

It could be that your email is going into his spam box on the server which will never been seen unless he logs on through the internet. I’ve had this happen a number of times for no reason beyond it was a replied-to email. For reasons I can’t explain my server dislikes certain people and if I just used my email software I would never see the message. I have to log in through the server internet site.

If you’re responding to an email try sending him a fresh email and use a receipt to see if it is opened.

7

I do state in the listing to pay within a week.

What I’ll do is send a final message asking for payment by Sept 5 (three week mark) or I’ll open a case in the resolution center. And then on Sept 6, I’ll do so.

Thank you for the advice and experience, everyone.

8

Also put the buyer on your blocked bidder list.