posted on July 26, 2001 12:43:10 PM new
I have a situation, and can't quite decide what to do.
On Sunday one of my auctions ended at a high price -$100. I had researched the item (a book), and mine was identical to some others that sold in the last month at $125 - $150. The one I had was even in better condition, so I was surprised it didn't go higher than $100. But that's okay, I only paid $9 for it myself, so I was happy.
The high bidder's user ID suggests that they buy a lot of this type of thing, and when I checked their feedback & clicked on previous auctions won, that was indeed the case.
Their feedback is good, all positives with 2 recent neutrals saying it took 35 days for them to pay.
So here's my problem - the auction ended Sunday, now it's Thursday, and despite 3 emails (one when the auction ended, one yesterday, and one this morning), I haven't heard a peep from them.
I can't yet file a NPB alert, but will do it Sunday if I haven't heard from them. I really would like to finish the transaction & get my hundred bucks. On the other hand, I maybe I should relist the item, block this bidder, and see if I could get more for it.
I know it's only been 4 days, but I am getting worried. I have had very little problem with non-paying bidders, after having sold hundreds of items. But most of those NPBs had bid on low-priced items and it wasn't a big deal.
Any thoughts on this? How long should I wait before I give up & relist or offer it to the next-highest bidder?
posted on July 26, 2001 12:47:07 PM new
I would say if they have no negatives, just sit on it until they pay. They will probably come around. Four days is a little early to start to worry. I don't usually get around to checking on the stuff that was never paid until a couple weeks later.
posted on July 26, 2001 12:48:47 PM new
Send them a second notice asking them (nicely) to contact you by such & such a date. State that failure to do so will result in an NPB.
One thing to consider--are they with AOL? AOL users often are troublesome to contact (they might even not have gotten your first notice). If that is the case, ask another AOL user to contact them for you & pass on the message.
posted on July 26, 2001 12:50:46 PM new
10 days on NPB notice and if you don't have satifactory communications on their part in 10 more days relist and leave negative saying..Non paying Bidder,,Several e-mails with no response or payment and move on
posted on July 26, 2001 12:57:32 PM new
bunnicula, yes, they do have an AOL address. I don't know another AOL user who could forward the message. But the first two messages I sent were from my own email account, and the third one was sent using eBay's "email this auction" feature.
posted on July 26, 2001 01:28:37 PM new
Why are you sending this bidder an email every day? Is it in your TOS that they must respond or else?
I have many, many buyers who pay me promptly, yet never send an email to let me know they're paying me. It's nice when they do, but I don't worry about it when they don't.
posted on July 26, 2001 01:43:04 PM new
We give buyers a full 30 days to make payment, after which a non-paying bidder alert is filed. We then wait 10 days and file for NPB credit if payment is not received.
The above may seem like a long time, but you would be surprised how many folks take 3 weeks plus to pay.
Because we have a liberal one month payment window, we avoid all of the b.s. excuses non-paying bidders use for late or non-payment. With a full month to pay, there's no reasonble excuse not to have successfully completed the auction. Especially with the easy access to online payment services that are offered today.
The above approach has saved us a great deal of time. It's monitored by computer software and is executed in a methodical manner.
posted on July 26, 2001 01:49:56 PM new
In my end of auction notice I tell them that they must reply within 3 days with their name & address, shipping choice, and method of payment.
After three days I sent a reminder.
I waited another 24 hours then sent another.
Still no response.
I do worry, very much, when I don't hear from a bidder. It usually means that they are not going to pay - as a matter of fact, the only other times I haven't heard from a bidder after several emails, the bidder has always turned out to be a deadbeat & I have had to file for NPB.
I am really very flexible with buyers taking a while to pay - it's when I don't hear from them after the auction ends that I worry.
posted on July 26, 2001 04:39:47 PM new
Glad to see this question and the answers. You have helped me realize my 'plan' is not cruel and unusal. I had to figure out a specific scheduel for this problem and I came up with this, and I am sometimes (not always) a day or so behind about being exact.(never before the alloted TOS) My TOS states that payment is to be REceived with 10 days of notification from Seller, not from Ebay. If no payment then I send a 2nd notification with a requested email response within 48 hours on what the bidder intendes to do (you have a problem-explain ect.) If no response I send a 3rd and final notice with a 24 hour request. This adds up to 10+2+1=13 days for at least a response. (I try and go along with the bidder about problems ect.) No response I file a NPBA which is another 10 days. 10+2+1+10=23 days. If I receive no payment/response I file a FVF and leave a neg stating all the above and amount of time involved. I have had payment drag out to 50 days (a few longer BUT NOT MANY anymore) I am trying to make a profit here, I have an investment, and my time is important. (at least to me) and the bidder has givin their word/contract to follow through on their own steam. I make some angry at me because they say I am 'hounding and/or demanding' but this 'plan' seems to make my business and life a lot better. Hope this helps.
posted on July 26, 2001 04:51:29 PM new
I state 10 days in my auction. However, I wait 15.
15th Day I file. I dont email again and ask where payment is. 10 days after that, if I dont have the payment in my hands I relist and get my FVFs back.
Ok . . . here goes my story.
I had one bidder who did not respond on a Buy It Now! I mailed and mailed. I am very patient and will wait for up to 30 days.
My wife said to "stick it to her."
I said "wait, there could be some reason."
The buyer finally did get back saying that her father had died and she had forgotten all about the auctions.
If the story is true and I believe it to be so then sometimes we worry too much. She did pay and sent an apology for taking so long.
Patience is a virtue.
Four days is a little early to start to worry. I don't usually get around to checking on the stuff that was never paid until a couple weeks later.