posted on March 9, 2001 01:58:54 PM
Hi, I'm new to the board here and recently started selling (my unwanted items) on ebay. I'm not new to the aution/online shopping world. But, here is my delema and I'm sure everyone asks this question at some point. I had a lot of 22 video games up for sale and the winning bidder has not responded to any of my emails. I sent 2 separate emails 2 days apart. How long to wait to report as a nonpaying bidder? Do I report him? I only have 16 + with 0 -. Should I offer the items to the next highest bidder or just repost. Sorry for all the questions but I'd like to complete this one way or another without having nasty untrue comments in my feedback. Thanks in advance ~~Nikki
posted on March 9, 2001 02:18:40 PM
Hi Nikki - First of all, when did the auction end? Not all bidders respond via email, they just send the money. Give it time. If your auction ended within the past few days, it's MUCH too soon to be thinking about "reporting" him or selling to the next bidder.
I wait 2 weeks, if I haven't received payment I send the bidder a reminder. If I don't hear within the next week I file for the NPB (non-paying bidder) alert where eBay sends them a reminder. If I haven't received payment by 30 days I file a request to have my FVF (final value fees) refunded by eBay. This also puts a sort of "black mark" on the bidder's record; if they get three of these they are suspended for, I believe, 30 days.
posted on March 9, 2001 04:26:54 PM
Thanks! I was way off. I've always paid in 2 days when I won an auction, lol. I've seen quite a few lines on peoples autions that state they report people after 10 days if they haven't recieved payment. It's only been 5 days since the end of auction. The thing that struck me as odd was he he has 0 feedback and had shades on at the time of winning. His shades are gone now so all that tells me is he has had that username for a month and I specifically asked him to reply to my email (for my records) and he has chosen to not respond to that request 2 times. Maybe I'm just being a little paranoid.
posted on March 9, 2001 04:47:38 PM
Same here Nikki, but with one difference. I make it a point to leave a NEG for the deadbeat before requesting a FVFC.
posted on March 9, 2001 09:04:32 PM
I give a seller 14 days to get their payment to me. After 14 days I file a NPBA form and send them a reminder - 8 days after that I send them an email and tell them I have to have payment in the next 48 hours or I will file for my FVF refund. Give them some time, I just had a check show up today, about a month after the auction ended - the buyer had put the wrong zip code on it! Of course, I had already filed for my FVF refund - so I'm just sending it back to him.
Good Luck.
posted on March 9, 2001 09:31:02 PM
I guess I must be an ol' grouch compared to some sellers. I expect a response to my e-mail "congratulations" note. If I don't hear from the winning bidder within 72 hours, I send them a gentle reminder that I need a response to my notice, and their address for shipping. If they still don't contact me, I put in a request for contact info with eBay. Usually, that gets their attention, since they are notified when someone asks for contact info.
Occasionally, the winner will just pay through Billpoint or PayPal within that 72 hours, but not send any email directly to me.
I would never wait 2 weeks for a payment if I didn't receive any communication from the winner. However, I will wait past my stated "within 10 days" as long as they're keeping in touch. Recently had a winner who put the wrong ZIP, and discovered her mistake after asking me if I'd received payment (and I hadn't yet). Payment came 2 days later after taking a side trip to California.
posted on March 9, 2001 10:44:50 PM
I have just the opposite. I won an auction February 27 sent immediate PayPal payment. Never received an email stating that they received my payment and haven't received the package. I have emailed 2 times last two days to please inform me of the status of my auction. No response. They have a 200 feedback and sell new items. What would you do? It is only $19.99 but I need my money just as much as they do. My EOA says pleae respond before 3 days to this email. If they don't I email them again.
posted on March 9, 2001 10:59:02 PM
What I would do is wait 4 days after your EOA email and send a second email as a reminder, if you still don't hear from them in 2 days, contact them again and let this be your last email and state that in your email that this is the final email you will be sending and tell them you would like to hear from them within 2 days or you will contact ebay as they are a non paying bidder.
And do just what you say you are going to do or don't say it.
There is another thing to remember that some people have trouble with there email either coming in or going out so you need to be a little patient because that has happend to me where I jumped the gun at the 10th day.
And here comes an email or even payment in the mail.
So now, as long as I do hear from them I have learned to be patient and understanding. I do not do things according to time limit any more.
I just had a buyer who when I sent EOA email
he didn't contact me for 4 days, and when he did there was no message in his emails.
so i emailed back and said just send the payment, because I see you are haveing email trouble, and if you get this email just email me back with no information.
I received his money order on Monday, and I mailed his item on Wed. I emailed him to tell him I shipped his item, We'll today I get a email from him telling me what is taking me so long to ship since he sent me a money order what's the wait.
I told him Oh! it's ok for me to be patient and understanding with you, and now you write me an email like this, I sent him a copy of the shipping email. and ended it.
In return he emailed me 8 times with blank emails like at the beginning.
So I emailed him and said, See your haveing trouble again with your emails! Very convient isn't it.
posted on March 10, 2001 07:56:53 AM
Nikki.....please keep in mind , also, that sometimes the other side of the transaction has computer problems. Unfortunately, that excuse gets used a lot by deadbeats, but occasionally it IS true. Their computer could have gone down shortly after. I have had that happen and had to drive over to a friends house and contact my bidders/sellers. Some people can't or don't think to do that. I am not saying its what happened...but it could be one alternative....I would send a follow up saying that , per Ebay guidelines and your TOS they MUST contact you within 48 hours so that you know they recieved your EOA. Unfortunately, I have also had 0 feedback bidders that bid and disappear so I know it can be frustrating wondering whats going on. Good Luck!
posted on March 10, 2001 09:10:34 AM
When I first started selling and buying it was hard to be tough on bidders, stuff happens right? Well after several hundred purchases and several hundres auctions it became clear that unless you spell out your expectations in the auction description and HOLD BIDDERS ACCOUNTABLE you will get walked all over time and again. I've seen people win my auctions, fail to respond to emails but continue to bid on other auctions; then they use lame "my dog ate my homework" excuses for late payment and lack of manners.
My standard practice is to offer some form of online payment, clearly state that payment is expected within ten days and report deadbeats on the 11th day unless they have clearly communicated with me regarding delays, etc. Once I clearly explained my terms and made instant payment available there have been very, very few deadbeats.
Bottom line, be heartless. Nothing short of hospitalization is going to keep a bidder from returning your emails. You can always grow a heart after the fact.
