Non Paying "Negative"

Alloydy_2

As a regular seller on ebay, I have to admit that the doing away with sellers being able to leave negatives has not been a bad thing. It has certainly done away with a lot of the tit-for-tat negatives that used to be left, and so far (touch wood) has actually reduced my negative feedback.

However, I do think that ebay themselves should start to highlight, by way of either a negative or a new "visible to all non paying strike", all of the seemingly increasing flow bidders who are winning and not responding or paying.

Ebay could quite easily identify those people who have not paid for a reason, i.e. have engaged with the seller to work out a solution for not paying or appologised for an incorrect/unauthorised bid, and those who simply bid, win and then run.

Over the last couple of months, I have had an ever increasing number of these. I haven't changed my product or my listing, so why is a mystery to me. Some of these hit and runners have had several hundred feedbacks, so the fact that A) they do it, and they get away with it is extremely frustrating. If none payment showed up on peoples feedback, rather than simply being "noted" by ebay, at least sellers would be able to make their own choice whether or not to accept the bids.

Ok rant over, but am I the only one who feels like this?

steviebabes

Sellers should always issue a strike to non payers and not fear the feedback. This softly softly please don't ruin my feedback approach is no good for anyone. I do think that the strikes should be shown somewhere on the feedback page too.

Alloydy_2

Of course I always issue a non paying strike, but the problem is, no !!!!!! gets to see it.

TurkishDelight

It would be good- non payers are a real pain.

We got so fed up with them that we changed all our buy-it-nows to instant payment, and now due to ebays lack of basket system we are probably losing customers who want to buy more than one thing and can't be enticed by a postage discount. (We refund those who do buy different products, but it means two lots of paypal fees)

Not that you get much choice with a buy-it now but it might stop us accepting a few best offers. Also just the psychological issue of this badge of shame might make buyers think twice...... but probably not.

RFW

I think the point is Ebay don't want to shame buyers they want them to buy, sadly some buyers who are non paying bidders can also be another seller's good customer.
You can use buyer preferences to block non suspended buyers who have received strikes.

mrwoo_2

i also sell on ebay and have had non paying bidders and get cross i can't leave them a negative, i think they should have a programme that if a buyer pays by paypal as most people do, you can't leave a negative because they have paid, so no tit for tat negs can be left, if they don't pay and you file a dispute you should automatically be able to leave a negative

mrcol1000

I think some of kind of identifing how many items the buyer has brought and not paid for is good idea. Didn't Ebay use to list how many times you had bid for something and withdrew your bid? THe problem is that how many sellers check out the feedback of every person who bids on one of their items? Maybe a few. So your only be able to tell if there is going to be problems after the item is sold and your still have to wait 7 days before opening a dispute anyway. Still it is a nice idea.

Alloydy_2

Well I agree, that not everyone has either the time or the desire to check every buyer for negatives, however bearing in mind that a large percentage of people only have one account for buying AND selling, then I am sure that the thought of having one or two negative strikes visible to their own potential buyers might spur a few of these rash bidders to think twice.

I know that there will never be an ideal solution for everybody who uses ebay, however I do feel that winning an auction, and then never even being bothered to respond to the seller or to pay is far worse than some of the poxy reasons that buyers are able to and do leave negatives for (didn't fit / didn't like the colour / bigger than I thought)etc.