How long before you chase a bidder??

VH

Just sold my first item on ebay, a mobile phone. The guy contacted me straight after the auction and asked me to provide my contact details, which I did, on the invoice.
I followed this up with a more personal email a few hours later, thanking him for his custom, etc.

I have heard nothing yet...despite his first email which said he would immediately pay by Paypal as soon as I contacted him. No payment.

It's been over 2 days since this happened. I know he's still using Ebay as he's sold several items since my auction ended.

I checked his feedback and it looks rather strange, he's sold 10 items but never bought anything. All buyer feedback is positive. But he's never left feedback for any of his buyers. My instincts tell me something is up, am i right?

How long should I give him before I contact him again, and what's the best approach for prodding him for payment?

Hintza

Get his contact details from e-bay if you are worried. Check things are OK eg phone number and postcode all tally.

I would phone him on Saturday or Sunday if he has not got in touch.

After 7 days you can report him to e-bay.

paulcdb

why do people bid on things when they've no intentions of buying... i'm having the same problem although mine refuses to pay because i don't take paypal... even though i made it clear on the auction >:(

stupid people!

soolin

Unless you have good reson to suspect something, then back off a little. I never worry about chasing a buyer until at least day 7, you have nothing to lose by waiting a little longer.

On about day 7 send him a gentle reminder and then a few days later if you still haven't heard anything get his contact details and give him a  call.

If you push too hard for a quick payment you might get it mentioned in his feedback to you. With his own feedback in double figures he is unlikely to be a problem, scammers and such like rarely bother building up feedback that high and if it was a hijacked account he would have chosen a better one.

The only thing I would watch for, just in case, is if he suddenly asks to pay by a method you don't accept. If for any reason his paypal account isn't working (there have been problems recently with paypal and individual accounts) and he suggests something different then stick with a payment method you are happy with. Don't forget as well to ensure that the phone is posted using recorded or registered (signed for) with the correct amount of insurance to protect yourself against chargebacks.

As for never having left feedback, that happens quite a bit. In fact I usually leave my feedback as soon as I send out an item to the buyer. However, I automatically now check their own feedback left, and as, often happens, they never leave feedback I don't leave it for them at that point either.

Soo

VH

Thanks for the advice everyone. Although he has feedback in double figures, he has only been a member for about a week. However, address and postcode appear to check out, so I will give him a few more days yet and then send him a friendly reminder.

I think I'm probably just being overly paranoid, as it's my first sale; I just thought it a bit odd that he contacted me seconds after the auction finished, and said he would pay me immediately.... then nothing!! I've heard so much bad stuff about deadbeat bidders that I just assumed I had one!

soolin

Thanks for the advice everyone. Although he has feedback in double figures, he has only been a member for about a week. However, address and postcode appear to check out, so I will give him a few more days yet and then send him a friendly reminder.

I think I'm probably just being overly paranoid, as it's my first sale; I just thought it a bit odd that he contacted me seconds after the auction finished, and said he would pay me immediately.... then nothing!! I've heard so much bad stuff about deadbeat bidders that I just assumed I had one!

I agree it's weird when people are prompt in contacting a seller and slow in paying but it happens.

The only other thing to consider is that his mail is bouncing. If you wanted to put your mind at rest a polite e mail along the lines of. 'I know sometimes email with ebay in the subject line can bounce and am just emailing you to ensure that you received the invoice and payment details as requested. Could you please therefore acknowledge receipt of this e mail, thank you'. I use an e mail like that sometimes when I think there may be a problem, just in case!

Soo

VH

Cheers Soo, I will give that a try this weekend!

angelcake

I have just reported 3 npb's!! its a pain in the bum! I had 2 people contacting me saying the money is on its way so I don't mind but these three people all have feedback under 10! If they decided they couldn't afford it and my listing fees weren't too high I wouldn't be bothered about it, I am not a hard person ...but a bit of communication goes a long way! I have held a parcel for someone for a month before because she kept in regular contact and really wanted the item but couldn't afford it quite yet! I wouldn't do this with everyone otherwise I would lose a lot of money but sometimes .....grrrrr >:(

angelcake

....it has been 9 days since all three auctions ended!! I state please pay after 5

VH

I emailed my NPB last night, more than 5 days after the auction ended. Just a polite reminder asking if they received the invoice OK.

The buyer sent me a very apologetic email less than an hour later, stating that he didn't have his wallet on him when he won the auction, then he went away for a few days afterward. Strange that, he was still selling things and mailing out to buyers while he was away!

I have been promised payment tonight but nothing so far, we shall see what happens!!!

I bought something on Ebay a few weeks back, and paid up less than 10 minutes after the auction ended, maybe I'm too fast?? Why can't everyone do that, it would save a lot of messing around?

I think that 5 days is ample time to either pay up or at least contact the seller to acknowledge the invoice.

VH

This really is taking the mickey! No pament again, I have just sent bidder another polite email. ::)

Now 11 days since auction ended, 2 broken promises of payment.

The buyer has sold over 10 items since my auction ended so he's obviously active.

Looks like my instincts where right.