Buyer wants to pay in a months time!

keasden

I sold a watch on ebay yesterday and was contacted by the buyer today saying they can't pay till 20th Dec and asking if I would wait till then?! I am actually not in any desperate rush for the money but am just a bit concerned as to why someone would bid for something they can't afford (it sold for £130) and then offer payment in a months time. I am not a massive ebay seller and have not experienced this before, is there any scam at play here and should I be concerned?

I was thinking of asking the buyer to pay me £30 as a deposit now via paypal to confirm their intention to buy and then I would wait till 20/12 for the remaining £100, does that seem reasonable, and in fact is it even allowed by ebay?

Many thanks in anticipation of any replies.

Crowqueen

Pay-day probably, or waiting on some money of their own, but yes, that does seem a bit excessive. Personally I've waited a week or two, but not a month.

It would only really be a scam if they were asking you to send it right now. Otherwise I don't see what they would get out of it.

A deposit via Paypal negates their buyer protection, so would be unwise from their point of view. You can say that you aren't happy to wait that long, and you could offer the option of a cancellation.

mrbadexample

I think it depends on how much you expected it to go for - i.e. is it worth your while?

If you only expected £80 for it, then hang on. If you thought it might make £150, tell them cash now or no sale. They should have asked before bidding, not after, so you hold all the cards.

Strapped

Open a NPB dispute after 4 days then when they don't pay, sell to the next highest bidder.

soolin

You only have 32 days to open an NPB so be careful that if you do agree that you don't exceed that time limit and get stuck with the fees.

Personally though as buyer didn't bother asking before bidding I would 'accidentally' open an NPB on day 4 regardless. It would be a different matter if they had asked beforehand.

If this buyer doesn't end up paying you will have missed the Christmas market and it might not sell for the same price after Christmas.

gavjbrown

What a cheeky buyer. He should have asked you this before bidding.

How does he know you don't need this money for xmas presents etc.

Gothicfairy

I had a women win something from me and wait 2 weeks for the payment but the big difference was that she asked before she bid, we talked about it and her feedback was great etc.
She paid first thing the morning it was due and it was posted that day. No problems at all but that was because it was already sorted out and I knew if she won I would have to wait, it is not quite the same in my mind to bid and win and then ask for a delay in paying.

Crowqueen

gavjbrown wrote: »

What a cheeky buyer. He should have asked you this before bidding.

How does he know you don't need this money for xmas presents etc.

Buyers don't think that way. In fairness, they are probably in the same position: want something but need the money to come through first. I don't know the situation of the person who is behind the screenname and it really shouldn't enter into "who needs the money more". Until they are happy with the product, it's still the buyer's money.

I agree it's a bit cheeky, but I suppose about people who ask this kind of thing they reason that the seller can only say no. I'd say no, though.

EssexGirl

Just had a thought whilst reading this, chances are the watch is a Christmas present, so if they pay you on the 20th will you be able to get it to them in time for Christmas?

GregtheHammer

EssexGirl wrote: »

Just had a thought whilst reading this, chances are the watch is a Christmas present, so if they pay you on the 20th will you be able to get it to them in time for Christmas?

Thats what I was thinking, you will be getting emails asking for immediate delivery, more hasle than its worse in my opinion.

Personally open a NPB dispute on Day4.

timbo58

Agree with most of the above posters, buyer should have asked before even placing a bid.
You could not defer payment in a real auction.
Just say no and remind them you'll have to file a NPB to get your fees back or offer it to the next person -nothing personal.
That would make me think again if I were them anyway.