Sold 3 items and no contact from buyers - unusual or the norm?

[AliBingo]

I usually buy stuff on Ebay and rarely sell. If collection item I contact seller when auction ends to arrange collection. Is that normal?

I just sold 3 items to 3 separate buyers last night around 6pm and none got in touch so I emailed them all (through Ebay messages) a few hours ago and still nothing.

Was I meant to do something else such as send invoice? What do I do if I don't hear back from them, how long should I wait?

Thanks!

[TeaAddict235]

Hi AliBingo,
its quite normal for buyers to take about 2 working days to get back to you. Yes, some are lazy and don't want to pay until their next payday, which could be weeks away.

But don't worry, I know, I know, its annoying. You may just have to wait, they may be working.

If you are patient, it usually pays off, they save you and they may be return/future buyers from you

The selfish ones don't rate

[Keztrel]

That's not unusual, though very annoying! If you're planning on selling more in future and it bothers you too much, you can opt to require immediate payment, though I suppose that might lose you some bidders. Buyers are much more badly behaved in my experience now that sellers can't leave them bad feedback!

[fergoose]

bit soon to worry - just wait 48 hours and if they don't pay open unpaid cases.

[Keztrel]

Re. invoice I usually send one if the buyer hasn't paid immediately but I'm not sure it makes much difference to how quickly they pay. I don't know what the rules are as to how long you should wait for payment (check eBay's help pages) but you can open an unpaid item case and the buyer will end up with a black mark against their name if they don't pay.

[AliBingo]

Thanks for the reply! Not worried about repeat business as I so rarely sell but I hope that I don't end up relisting the items.

Actually am also a bit annoyed how far buyers seem to travel these days - sold an item for a tenner last week and someone came from 90 miles away for it, and the buyer of my 99p rabbit hutch just sold seems to live 90 miles away too! The £12 rabbit cage is bought by someone 60 miles away. Surely the petrol costs outweigh any bargainous savings they have made?

I guess I will be patient for a bit! :)

[Keztrel]

x-post fergoose :)

[AliBingo]

Thanks for the further replies. The buyers all have 100% feedback on decent numbers, so hopefully they aren't rogues.

Have asked for cash on collection but seems strange they haven't been in touch. Perhaps I am just an over-enthusiastic buyer!

[fergoose]

a buyer can't receive neg feedback so their percentage means nothing.

[AliBingo]

Oh yeah - d'oh - why didn't I realise that. Argh! Can't believe that didn't occur to me before.

[AliBingo]

What do I do if they don't get in touch, how do I relist the items, do I have to tell Ebay/mark them as unpaying buyers or something? Thanks!

[fergoose]

you have to open unpaid item cases in the resolution centre for each item, then close 4 days later, then add to blocked bidder list and then relist the items.

[PlentyOfFreeTime]

Unfortunately non-payersd are becoming more frequent.

I've been ebaying for over a decade with no problems until this year when I've had 3 non-payers, one 'item lost in the post' and one 'I didn't realise it was collection only - I thought you'd post it to me'.

All time-wasters.

I'm now seriously considering just giving my unwanted stuff to the charity shop.

[AliBingo]

I used to Ebay quite a bit but haven't sold anything for several years now.

Two of the three buyers still haven't been in touch, I wonder if it is too soon to do the resolution centre thing? Auctions ended around 6pm Monday.

[sarahtigh]

next time you do collection only listings add a variation on thee following statements

" contact to arrange collection and payment in cash to be made within 48 hours of auction ending"

collection in all cases must be within 7 days in this case by thursday 20th june etc"

if applicable because of limited time/ availability say " pick up must be on thrusday/ friday evening or on saturday morning (20th-22nd June)"

personally with collection items I would email them with your mobile number as it is much easier to arrange with a phonecall than numerous emails

[sarahtigh]

regarding OP I would send an email now saying

hi,

Congratulations on winning this item in the auction ending on monday evening but I have not heard from you, I would appreciate you contacting before friday 8pm to arrange payment and collection this weekend my number is 070xxxxxxxxxx please call between 8am-9pm

kind regards Alibingo

[WhyMeWhyNot]

Your buyers could be having paypal problems. I never had a problem paying through my phone app until paypal/ eBay suspended my account for my own safety after I'd bought from a dodgy seller.

I can make bids, list and sell through my phone but only make payments through my home PC.

I work shifts and sometimes aren't at home for 3 days so my payments are delayed. I do email the seller though to bear with me.

eBay say its a paypal issue. Paypal say it's an ebay issue.

Have you checked your paypal account hasn't been suspended?

[AliBingo]

Thanks for your replies.

I will definitely add that extra information to listings next time, good idea.

I have contacted them again to ask if they still want the items, I didn't put a "contact me by xxx" clause in, wish I had.

Don't think it's a Paypal issue as 2 separate buyers and 2 collection-only, cash-on-collection preferred items.

Ebay can be a pita I have concluded!

[AliBingo]

Doh now one has been in touch to say they've paid via PayPal, which I didn't want but also haven't received!

[fergoose]

well I would still go ahead and open the unpaid cases

did you have the wrong address on the listing?

[AliBingo]

Yes I opened the cases and that's when one of them said they had paid. I just checked PayPal and it is in there now so I guess that's one case solved.

[fergoose]

so you need to refund and ask for cash on collection?

[AliBingo]

Is it OK to do that or do you have to takePaypal?

[fergoose]

yes it is ok, and no you don't need to take paypal for a collected item, if you do you lose all seller protection and risk losing your item and the money.

[AliBingo]

Thanks for all the advice. I have closed one case and had fees refunded and relisted. The other, am negotiating with buyer re collection so fingers crossed...

[AliBingo]

Argh the relisted item has sold at the buy it now price to a bidder with zero feedback, in Inverness. It's collection-only and I am in the South West!