Anyone else notice non paying bidders getting worse?

[ProtegeMoi]

Had a pram for sale, buy it now or best offer.

Bidder made an offer, I accepted.
We exchanged emails agreeing a time for them to collect.

On the day I waited in and no one showed up.

I sent several messages over a week with no reply to any, opened case, closed in my favour.

The week after I am selling some cloth nappies via auction, postage price clearly listed, discounts for more than 1 purchase with a full listing of what 1,2,3 or 4 will cost in postage (exact cost charged to me by Royal Mail and not a penny over.

One buyer wins 2, another wins 1.

Buyer who won 2 immediately emails me asking for an invoice with combined postage which I immediately send. They then reply asking if I can do postage cheaper.

Well no I can't, like I said I combined for the 2 items and charged the exact Royal Mail cost, I can't set their prices.

No reply now and no payment, also ignoring messages.

Buyer who won 1 has been sent an invoice and still no payment.

About to open 2 more cases.

This is all in a 2 week period!

4 items sold and none paid for, its so frustrating!

[badgeroncaffeine]

Yes, buyers have no concern about anything now. The worst that can happen is that you get an unpaid item strike (most sellers would rather cancel the transaction than go down that route). If you do get a strike, all you need to do is contact eBay with your excuse and they remove it.

[ProtegeMoi]

Yeah seems like there is no comeback, especially now buyers can't get negative feedback. How are sellers supposed to protect themselves from this.

It's cost me money as well as while eBay refunded my final value fees for the pram I was charged to relist so ended up having to pay twice :(

[PlentyOfFreeTime]

Yes, I was about to post the same myself.

I've been ebaying almost since it started - buying and selling.

In the last few weeks I've had my first 2 non-payers. They just ignored the invoices and never paid. I opened cases and got my selling fees refunded.

In the last 3 weeks I've also had my first 'I didn't receive the item you posted to me'. It was a pair of new Crocs - one of 4 pairs I posted at the same post office on the same day and everyone else received theirs.

At the moment I'm waiting for buyers to pay for 2 items they won on Saturday - no contact from them so far.

Can't understand why it's suddenly got so bad?

Have also noticed that sellers can give buyers negative feedback - I thought that had been stopped years ago?

Confused.

[fergoose]

can sellers leave negative now??

[PlentyOfFreeTime]

No - I'm wrong. Sellers can leave positive or can report the buyer - no negs allowed.

[mirandabee]

Agh. I have been ebaying for a few years now, and have just had my first non-paying bidder. I have just opened a case - is this the best thing to do? Does it take a while to resolve? I just want to sell the item!

[sarahtigh]

it takes 4 days if they pay you send if after 4 days they have not paid you can close case and get your fees back they get a non paying bidder strike

[HormonalHousewife]

make sure you have your settings set to block bidders with 2 or more strikes against them.

I've just finished selling about 20 items and I've just checked the log and was amazed to find 6 seperate potential bidders were blocked.

Phew... saved my self a lot of bother there !!