Ebay: Item sold in May still not collected

Holepunch

I find the whole ebay process a bit of an enigma and not sure how to proceed with this.

On 17th May 2013 I sold a heavy and bulky piece of Farm Equipment, by Paypal, for collection only for £51.02, to someone not local. (I now know that taking Paypal on collection items is an error - but did not know that at the time). Payment from the buyer was received promptly. I provided the buyer with my address and phone number.
I didn't hear from the buyer and called him. (I cannot recall the date) He was apologetic and said he had had car troubles and would arrange collection the next week. I told him no problem, no rush and he could arrange collection when ready.
I didn't hear from him again, so chased him up with a brief message on ebay on 9th July saying simply "Can I chase this up? No problem or rush from my perspective, just wondering what your intentions are regarding collection.". I didn't receive a response.

Its now over 3 months since the sale - and the buyer has not made any contact with me since 17th May (though I spoke with him when I contacted him, maybe a fortnight after this).

On the item on ebay I have the message "You can no longer contact this member because the transaction ended more than 90 days ago.". I dont really want to contact him by phone again (outside of ebay tracking).

I now do really want to get rid of the equipment. What's my best course of action?
Am I clear to relist the item on ebay? Or do I have to give the buyer more time?
If I am clear to relist the item, should I just refund the original buyer? (and can I?) Or should I wait until he chases it up? Should I refund the full amount he paid, or make a deduction for ebay fees?

He does have a good reputation: 100% (621), so I dont really doubt the integrity of the buyer. I see on his feedback, 3 transactions in the last month - so still seems to be active.

clumsy_cupcake

You should have opened a non payment or cancelation request as you have still had to pay the final ebay fees.

As the time has phased you are free to list or dispose of the item

clumsy_cupcake

clumsy_cupcake wrote: »

You should have opened a non payment or cancelation request as you have still had to pay the final ebay fees.

As the time has phased you are free to list or dispose of the item

I misread your post, the buyer paid you and never collected??
You should refund the buyer the money they paid and relist if you wish.

qazitory

I had a simlar situation but with a fridge. They had paid on paypal but never turned up! I waited over a month, but then sent them a message with a deadline on when they were picking up the fridge and if not, did they want a refund?

I never heard anything, so the fridge went to the scrap man lol The whole 99p was left in my Paypal account

porto_bello

This once happened to me, years ago (before I learned of the Paypal and Pick-up scam). The sale was something like £80, so I couldn't understand what the buyer was up to. After a never ending circle of profuse apologies and promises to pick up, then silence for weeks, I'd had enough...

After 3 months, I gave them a deadline of 28 days and stated that after that time, I was giving it to my local charity shop, in support of the local hospice. The time passed, it went to the charity shop and I heard nothing more.