Awkward buyer wants to pay by cheque - advice!

Stranger_Than_Fiction

I have only started selling on eBay and so far things have been reasonably OK. I ask for payment within 3 days of the auction end and if I haven't had payment by then, I remind the buyer. I only accept Paypal so was surprised (OK, I'm new to this) when I reminded someone only to get a reply which said (and I quote) 'Keep your hair on - a cheque has been sent'.

When I send an invoice to the buyer, is my address given too? Would the buyer know where to send a cheque? It's not for a huge amount but this will delay things for ages until the cheque can be cleared and I can send the item.

I know it's not a really big deal but any advice would be very welcome.

Thanks.

Dizzie77

Do you specify paypal only? If you do - then your address shouldn't go to the buyer.
I only found this out recently....
If you don't specify paypal only, then they can pay by other methods and your address will have been on the invoice.

Welcome to the wonderful world of ebay...!!

steviebabes

If you only accept paypal your full address would not be on the invoice so they are telling porkies.

cyberbob

Stranger_Than_Fiction wrote: »

I ask for payment within 3 days of the auction end

Buyers have 7 days to pay so its pointless putting that in your listing. As long as you have specified Paypal only they won't have your full address. Email them and just politely say that payment is by Paypal only as specified in the listing

Stranger_Than_Fiction

Thanks for the advice. I am sure I will be back for more. I am always polite in my emails but it is so difficult sometimes!

Stranger_Than_Fiction

He now wants to drop the sale. I have someone else who bid so I can make a second chance offer but do I need to do anything else regarding the original buyer?

VanyaHargreeves

You could do a mutual with them, but it's not guarunteed that they'll be bright enough to click the right button. Judging by the way you've been spoken to, I'd open a Non Paying Bidder dispute on paypal.

Stranger_Than_Fiction

He now says he doesn't have a Paypal account! I feel a bit out of my depth so any basic step-by-step guide would be much appreciated. The auction only finished on Sunday afternoon, by the way, so I assume I'd have to wait until then before I can open a dispute. Is there any point opening a dispute if he doesn't have a Paypal account (I told you I was a complete novice)?

bigbullyweedave

Stranger_Than_Fiction wrote: »

Is there any point opening a dispute if he doesn't have a Paypal account (I told you I was a complete novice)?

You'll get your fees back from ebay by opening a dispute. Plus it gets them a non-payer strike that might stop them doing it to someone else.

alison999

Stranger_Than_Fiction wrote: »

He now wants to drop the sale....

i thought they'd sent you a cheque?

Stranger_Than_Fiction

alison999 wrote: »

i thought they'd sent you a cheque?

He SAID he had sent a cheque but as I hadn't given him my address and it doesn't appear on the invoice, I asked how this had happened and where he had sent it to. He then said he didn't have a Paypal account and wanted to drop the sale. All this makes me think he is not a particularly trustworthy buyer :rolleyes: