Buyer slow to pay, feel like I'm being conned somehow

beneficentluge

Hi all,

I don't usually sell on eBay nor do I have much experience doing so but decided to list a computer tablet which I rarely use.

Anyway, the auction ended on Saturday night and the buyer messaged me saying they would pay Monday morning.

Monday morning comes and still no PayPal payment, I message them saying they didn't pay as promised and they replied saying they would pay tonight after work.

Well now it's tonight and no payment? I checked their address and it seems to be in a dodgy inner city area which seems shady.

Am I being conned somehow?

What's the best thing to do in this case? I don't have time for all this since I'll be away soon for Christmas vacation. I was hoping to send it today and get this all over with but I'm still waiting for their payment!

Should I cancel the transaction via my ebay?

Cheers for any insight.

Flyonthewall

Open a non-payment case.

If they don't pay do not leave feedback. They will get a strike against them.

If they do pay then package really well and send the item tracked. Only send to the paypal address given.

Items with screens aren't always covered for damage which is why you need to make sure it's packaged really well.

Write down any serial numbers. If you have any issues and it is returned you'll be able to see if it's the same one you sent.

Keep proof of postage for at least 6 months.

Chances are they're not trying to con you, they're just keeping you waiting for a payment and you may not get it.

mrcol1000

You can open a case for no payment. They will then have a further four days to pay. Personally I think it is too soon to do that. Not everyone pays straight away. You can't really cancel the sale because they living in a place you do not like. You can open a case though. If they don't pay you will get your fees back and they will get a strike for no payment. They can not leave you feedback. If they pay though then they can leave feedback and will expect you to send the item.

beneficentluge

After I open a case for no payment and they then pay me, can I still cancel the transaction and refund their PayPal payment? I honestly don't feel comfortable dealing with this buyer. What if they send back a totally different item and I lose out? My time is very limited since I'm leaving end of this week.

Flyonthewall

beneficentluge wrote: »

After I open a case for no payment and they then pay me, can I still cancel the transaction and refund their PayPal payment? I honestly don't feel comfortable dealing with this buyer. What if they send back a totally different item and I lose out? My time is very limited since I'm leaving end of this week.

If they pay you, you could cancel and refund, but they may well leave you negative feedback.

You need to wait and see if they pay first.

If they do pay and you send it they may not send it back, they may be perfectly happy and just slow at paying. I mentioned writing down serial numbers just in case (as you can't do it once sent), but that doesn't mean they will send it back. If they did you'd have to refund them. They may well have just changed their minds and then they'd send the same one back. If, in the worst case scenario, they sent a different item back you'd have to appeal the decision to refund them and show ebay the proof (photos, serial numbers).

By doing what has already been mentioned you're covering yourself.

Up to you, but just be aware that, as already said, they could leave you negative feedback. You may also not get your fees back if they don't agree to cancel.

beneficentluge

To be honest I don't mind the negative feedback if it makes me feel safer not dealing with this buyer. It shouldn't count after a year right?

I thought that the cancellation case automatically closes after 10 days if the buyer doesn't respond and I will get my seller fees credited anyway?

Alarm bells are ringing since they keep promising to pay but don't fulfil their words. If they can't pay at once then they should at least have the courtesy to tell me. I feel like I'm being kept on a thread.

Even in my listing I stated I require payment soon after auction ends.

Cheers for the insight so far much appreciated all.

Flyonthewall

beneficentluge wrote: »

To be honest I don't mind the negative feedback if it makes me feel safer not dealing with this buyer. It shouldn't count after a year right?

Correct. It'll still show on feedback, but won't have an impact on your seller rating.

I thought that the cancellation case automatically closes after 10 days if the buyer doesn't respond and I will get my seller fees credited anyway?

Actually ebay says "When you need to cancel a transaction, it's good practice to first contact your buyer to let the buyer know you're canceling the transaction and why. You can cancel a transaction:

• Up to 30 days after the sale.
  
• Even if your buyer has already paid for the item or requests to cancel it.
  

You won't be able to cancel a transaction if:

• The buyer has already opened an item not received request.
  
• You have already opened an unpaid item case."
  

But to answer the question for getting fees back it says "Receive a final value fee credit

• The cancellation must be complete for you to receive a final value fee credit. To receive a final value fee credit, the cancellation request is complete when:
  
  • The buyer's PayPal account is refunded, if the buyer paid with PayPal.
    
  • The buyer confirms they received their refund, if the buyer paid with a method other than PayPal.
    
• When the cancellation is complete, we credit the final value fee to your account 24 to 48 hours after the cancellation request is complete. Learn more about requesting a final value fee credit.
  
• If you'd like your credit refunded to you, you can request a refund of your eBay credit balance.
  • If you refunded the buyer and they haven't approved the cancellation, you can submit an Unpaid Item request in order to get your final value fees"
  

http://pages.ebay.co.uk/help/sell/cancel-transaction-process.html

Alarm bells are ringing since they keep promising to pay but don't fulfil their words. If they can't pay at once then they should at least have the courtesy to tell me. I feel like I'm being kept on a thread.

Even in my listing I stated I require payment soon after auction ends.

Cheers for the insight so far much appreciated all.

Some buyers are just really bad at paying, some just change their minds/regret bidding/buying and a few are scammers. Sadly some buyers think that the seller will happily wait and wait until they feel like paying.

beneficentluge

So now I messaged the buyer and they once again say they will pay tomorrow morning saying they are very busy...3rd time in a row that they are delaying payment...

It seems they don't even have the funds? Even if they are very busy it doesn't take a minute to send paypal payment surely?

Flyonthewall

Well give them a third and final chance. If they haven't paid by tomorrow evening either cancel the transaction or open a non-payment case.

beneficentluge

Flyonthewall wrote: »

Well give them a third and final chance. If they haven't paid by tomorrow evening either cancel the transaction or open a non-payment case.

Will do, this is the last straw.

Cheers

campdave

I'd stop messaging them and just open a NPB at the earliest opportunity, or send a final message, with a deadline for payment, stating after which you will be opening a NPB.

Life's to short to chase idiots.