# How should I handle this? (Ebay buyer not paying) **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 2, 2009, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-handle-this-ebay-buyer-not-paying/508591 "2009-09-02T02:06:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![supergoose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@supergoose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/supergoose)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2009, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-handle-this-ebay-buyer-not-paying/508591/1 "2009-09-02T02:06:20Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2009, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-handle-this-ebay-buyer-not-paying/508591/2 "2009-09-02T02:15:14Z")
> [@supergoose](#): > > 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. 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. ---
**Author:** ![Velma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/85e7bf/32.png) [@Velma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velma)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2009, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-handle-this-ebay-buyer-not-paying/508591/3 "2009-09-02T14:25:43Z")
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! ---
**Author:** ![Mk\_VII](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Mk\_VII](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mk_VII)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2009, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-handle-this-ebay-buyer-not-paying/508591/4 "2009-09-02T16:39:28Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2009, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-handle-this-ebay-buyer-not-paying/508591/5 "2009-09-02T16:45:39Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2009, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-handle-this-ebay-buyer-not-paying/508591/6 "2009-09-02T19:01:48Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![supergoose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@supergoose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/supergoose)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2009, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-handle-this-ebay-buyer-not-paying/508591/7 "2009-09-02T20:53:01Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Santos\_L\_Halper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/santos_l_halper/32/1_2.png) [@Santos\_L\_Halper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Santos_L_Halper)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2009, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-handle-this-ebay-buyer-not-paying/508591/8 "2009-09-02T22:48:40Z")
Also put the buyer on your blocked bidder list.