Unpaid item dispute - cannot work out what to do?

stormCat99

Hi,

About 3 weeks ago I sold an item on eBay, but the buyer never paid. Despite several contact attempts, they did not contact me back.

I therefore found the option to start an unpaid item dispute, and started that. Since then nothing has happened.

Today I thought I would at least go in and leave negative feedback for the buyer - I have never had to do this before but want to warn others off. But when I go into that auction item, my only option is to leave positive feedback!! I can't even leave neutral feedback, what is that all about?

I then went back into my dispute, to try and work out what I should do next, but all I can see is the option to close the dispute.

I'm probably being stupid, but I can't see how I am meant to progress this? Thanks.

iieee

If memory serves, it should say something along the lines of "close the dispute and issue a strike" so do that. An unpaid item strike is more damaging to them than a neg, as other sellers can block buyers with strikes.

Assuming that they haven't responded to the dispute, closing it now will also take away their right to leave feedback for you.

frivolous_fay

As above... in addition, it's no longer possible to give buyers anything other than a positive.
Don't be tempted to give them a pos with a negative comment - why increase their score? It's also breaking the rules and the feedback may be removed.

stormCat99

Thanks for the super quick reply! I saw the 'close' button for the dispute, but I had assumed that it would just close the dispute and be done with it, as it had text next to it, saying to close the dispute if you had agreed with the buyer, etc.

Having read your post, I have just clicked the button and selected the option for them to get an upaid item strike.

I am really surprised by this though - I can't believe that the buyer's feedback isn't impacted, and I have just looked on their profile and can't see the unpaid item strike anywhere.

I rely totally on feedback when buying and selling, and it's scary to think that someone could collect lots of strikes and you wouldn't even know about it :mad:

frivolous_fay

boots_babe wrote: »

I rely totally on feedback when buying and selling, and it's scary to think that someone could collect lots of strikes and you wouldn't even know about it :mad:

The point is that a strike will prevent buyers bidding on certain listings :beer:
Check that you have blocked bidders with strikes.

stormCat99

frivolous_fay wrote: »

The point is that a strike will prevent buyers bidding on certain listings :beer:
Check that you have blocked bidders with strikes.

But that doesn't help you if you're a buyer though? As a buyer, I definitely want to know if someone I am considering buying from has got unpaid item strikes, as that is a very good indicator that they are unreliable and cannot be trusted.

soolin

boots_babe wrote: »

But that doesn't help you if you're a buyer though? As a buyer, I definitely want to know if someone I am considering buying from has got unpaid item strikes, as that is a very good indicator that they are unreliable and cannot be trusted.

I think you may be misunderstanding a little. Only buyers get unpaid strikes as only they can not pay for an item. Sellers cna continue to get negs..so a bad seller will probably have negs..and bad buyer will have unpaid strikes which will mean that if you have set your selelr preferences correctly they can't bid on your auctions.

Obviously not every seller with a neg is a bad seller, we all run into trigger happy buyers at some point, but a history of negs for selling should be enough to make you think twice about buying.

scarlet74

I had exactly the same problem (at almost exactly the same time!) and I'm at the same stage as you.

If you close the dispite like this, do you know if you get your final value fee refunded, as well as the option for a free relisting as an unsold item?

I wonder if it was the same buyer...?!

stormCat99

soolin wrote: »

I think you may be misunderstanding a little. Only buyers get unpaid strikes as only they can not pay for an item. Sellers cna continue to get negs..so a bad seller will probably have negs..and bad buyer will have unpaid strikes which will mean that if you have set your selelr preferences correctly they can't bid on your auctions.

Obviously not every seller with a neg is a bad seller, we all run into trigger happy buyers at some point, but a history of negs for selling should be enough to make you think twice about buying.

Yes, but most people buy and sell at some point. So if they get an unpaid item strike when they are in the role of buyer, then I would definitely want to know about it when I am then considering purchasing something from them, as it is a very clear indicator that they are unreliable and untrustworthy. Given that you cannot leave feedback for someone when an unpaid item strike occurs, there is no trace that they have caused problems.

stormCat99

scarlet74 wrote: »

I had exactly the same problem (at almost exactly the same time!) and I'm at the same stage as you.

If you close the dispite like this, do you know if you get your final value fee refunded, as well as the option for a free relisting as an unsold item?

I wonder if it was the same buyer...?!

When I chose to close, there were then 3 sub-options. I can't remember exactly, but one was basically saying that you were ending it amicably, in which case I don't think anything happened.

One was saying you wanted to end comms with the buyer, and in that case they get an unpaid item strike, and you get your final value fee back (but rather annoyingly not your insertion fee, this whole process seems very flawed).

There was also a 3rd option but i'm sorry i can't remember what that was.

Cute_'n'_Quirky

scarlet74 wrote: »

I had exactly the same problem (at almost exactly the same time!) and I'm at the same stage as you.

If you close the dispite like this, do you know if you get your final value fee refunded, as well as the option for a free relisting as an unsold item?

I wonder if it was the same buyer...?!

Yes you get the FVF refunded