No payment before I left on holiday

aless02

Advice please!

I sold a valuable mobile phone on a 1 day auction, stating in huge bold letters in the item description that payment was required within 48 hours as I would be leaving the country on holiday after that.

Well guess what - the buyer didn't pay in time! I sent them 3 messages as reminders, the final one saying that since they didn't pay in time, they were effectively forfeiting the auction since I would not be in the country to post it to them.

But now I think they're either very stupid or don't read their eBay messages, as I got a payment through this morning *roll eyes* - I'm not back in the UK until 27/07. I sent them a message saying I'm happy to still sell them the phone, but I need to know if they would be willing to wait until 27/07 and if I don't hear from them before then, I will post it then.

Considering they never replied to my other messages, I'm not hopeful they will actually respond. I kinda wanted to use the money from the sale while I'm abroad, so just wondering what kind of clawbacks they could have if my messages clearly stated my terms that they DIDN'T meet...?? Would it be way too optimistic to withdraw some of the money in a few days? There goes my cheap travel money

cyberbob

Buyers have 4 days to pay. Whatever you put in your listing makes no difference as that is how long ebay give them before you can take any action.

You were very silly listing like this. I would expect very bad feedback for this. There is a chance they will open an item not as described dispute so don't withdraw the money as your asking for trouble. Just wait and see if they will respond.

Next time I wouldn't list anything 10 days before you go away

hermum

Don't you have to post within 7 days of payment to get seller protecion from Paypal? I'm not actually sure what protection they offer sellers.
I can't imagine that very many buyers would be happy to wait for a fortnight to receive a phone. I think that you could be between a rock & a hard place, if you refund now, they'll probably report you as a NPS, you'll have a strike against you & a neg. If you leave it & post when you get back they'll no doubt mark down your stars & neg you.
When did the auction actually end? Could someone else post it for you?

soolin

Why did you list so close to your holiday?

Many buyers wait a couple of days to pay and that is probably what has happened here.

Or, if you were feeling paranoid there is a more sinister reason, by stating that you would be selling without the benefit of any paypal protection you effectively marked yourself out as a 'target', you basically said to any scammer that you are a bit naive . By paying now and you posting after 7 days they can get a refund and you would have a hard time defending it. I'm sure I just have an over active imagination, but it makes you think doesn't it?

But now I think they're either very stupid

Unfortunately they are probably saying the same thing about you.

aless02

I'm just a person that sells extra items occasionally, so I didn't realise the 7 days thing. I didn't intend to list it so close to going away - I actually had listed it much sooner, but my 1st buyer had payment problems, no 2nd Chance Offers came through so I was forced to relist and thought I'd have enough time if they had managed to pay properly.

Guess I will just refund as I definitely don't want to be without Seller Protection. Thanks.

soolin

aless02 wrote: »

I'm just a person that sells extra items occasionally, so I didn't realise the 7 days thing. I didn't intend to list it so close to going away - I actually had listed it much sooner, but my 1st buyer had payment problems, no 2nd Chance Offers came through so I was forced to relist and thought I'd have enough time if they had managed to pay properly.

Guess I will just refund as I definitely don't want to be without Seller Protection. Thanks.

Be warned though that as you are a small seller a single NPS poor feedback and poor stars might mean the end of your successful selling. If your account does get hit badly (and when you get back ask on here how to check your expanded seller dashboard) it might be worth closing the account and starting again with a new one.