eBay buyer refused to pay for items won and is now threatening me

Wizzbang

I sold a batch of very low cost items, most transactions passed smoothly. But one particular buyer sent me a message the day after the auction ended saying:
"circumstances have changed can't buy both halo figures. sorry for any inconvenience"

I responded reminding them they had placed a bid and that was a legally binding contract. If they failed to pay, I said I would report them to eBay.

They immediately went off on one, using bad language, spamming my inbox with half a dozen messages within the space of 15 mins and threatened me. I reported it all to eBay. They also left me negative feedback which eBay very quickly removed.

Now they get in contact saying
"You opened a case for the unpaid items. I asked you to retract my bid and you declined. I've spoken to eBay regulators on the phone and they've told me that if you don't retract my bid and withdraw the case, it will be taken as a violation of eBay policy. Your account WILL be shut down, so I suggest you withdraw the case and tread lightly from now on."

As you can see by my first quote, they never once asked for a bid retraction- they just told me they weren't paying!!! I think I'm perfectly within my rights to open 2 unpaid item cases as they refused to pay. They should get 2 strikes on their account for this kind of behaviour IMHO.

Can anyone advise me how to proceed? I bloody hate time wasters like this, as if it would've killed them to pay the few pounds for the items they legitimately bid on and won! I'm also sick of hanging on the phone for hours to speak to someone vague at eBay because these bloody awkward buyers are becoming an all too common thing for me, the last few months!

bxboards

Ignore the silly threats - don't get into any sort of dialogue with the buyer and close the Unpaid Item cases as soon as you get a chance.

easy

Surely this isn't worth making a fuss about?

Whatever you do, this person isn't going to pay, so I would just retract the bid and re-list - or second chance offer or whatever.

Seriously, you are just getting yourself stressed out over a situation you can't get put right.

Move on.

Wizzbang

bxboards wrote: »

Ignore the silly threats - don't get into any sort of dialogue with the buyer and close the Unpaid Item cases as soon as you get a chance.

If I close them now, do they still get the unpaid strikes? I know I will get a fee credit. I just really want their behaviour to be punished.

To the other poster- People like this shouldn't be allowed on eBay and if you had seen the threatening and profane emails they sent me, you would be bothered about this too!

19lottie82

Block the buyer. Report any messages to ebay. You can do this through live chat, or request ebay "call you". Ignore all messages.

In future it's easier to accept any cancellation requests from mistaken bidders. I know it's not ideal, but it is often easier in the long run, as your situation shows.

RFW

19lottie82 wrote: »

Block the buyer. Report any messages to ebay. You can do this through live chat, or request ebay "call you". Ignore all messages.

Just that really, block, report and forward messages, move on. Close the disputes as you normally would.
Hopefully they'll get booted off Ebay.
If you get any further hassle via email or anything else you can report to the police.
These idiots are rare but you'll find them anywhere. I do know from personal experience that they can affect you far beyond how they rationally should. In my experience the more vicious messages are usually from weedy herberts who wouldn't carry on like that in real life.

soolin

easy wrote: »

Surely this isn't worth making a fuss about?

Whatever you do, this person isn't going to pay, so I would just retract the bid and re-list - or second chance offer or whatever.

Seriously, you are just getting yourself stressed out over a situation you can't get put right.

Move on.

Sellers cannot retract a bid once auction has ended, buyers either pay or they get an unpaid item strike. Sellers pay a great deal of money to eBay now in fees, and just allowing a buyer to walk away from a completed sale is nonsense, some process, and for me that is the unpaid item process, needs to be followed to get the FVfs back.

Also, whilst eBay has already removed the feedback, if this buyer had been still to leave feedback that would be possible- unless seller completes the NPB.

Unfortunately the buyer will only get one strike for this which means unless he already has one he will be able to do this again to other sellers.

OP ignore this buyer, close the NPB as soon as you can and remember to block them.

bxboards

Wizzbang wrote: »

If I close them now, do they still get the unpaid strikes? I know I will get a fee credit. I just really want their behaviour to be punished.

They wil get strikes as soon as you close them. You can only close them 4 day after you opened them, not before.

Make sure when closing you select the 'I've not recieved payment' option - do not be bullied into changing this into a mutual cancellation under any cicrumstances. Simply ignore the buyer, and close the case when the 4 days is up.

pulliptears

Wizzbang wrote: »

I responded reminding them they had placed a bid and that was a legally binding contract. If they failed to pay, I said I would report them to eBay.

That was your mistake. There is little point in engaging in dialogue with this type of buyer. You can't force them to pay.

Easier to just file a non paying bidder report and let eBay deal with them.

Wizzbang

Thanks for the really useful and informative replies. I've already blocked the buyer- I'm surprised they can still send me messages!

Soolin- that information is extremely helpful. Thank you.

Bxboards- thank you, I thought there was some kind of time delay.

pulliptears- usually they pay up when I respond and remind them of the legalities. Now I am clearer on my position, I won't waste my time in future and simply use the unpaid item process.

DoctorFoster

Wizzbang wrote: »

Thanks for the really useful and informative replies. I've already blocked the buyer- I'm surprised they can still send me messages!

Soolin- that information is extremely helpful. Thank you.

Bxboards- thank you, I thought there was some kind of time delay.

pulliptears- usually they pay up when I respond and remind them of the legalities. Now I am clearer on my position, I won't waste my time in future and simply use the unpaid item process.

Has anyone ever been prosecuted for not paying?

All you're really doing is winding them up.