Seller not paid and I'm off on holiday

ailey

Someone purchased an item from me 4 days ago and still has not paid. I sent an invoice as a reminder the following day and have sent a message Monday, Tuesday and today to ask if she could pay so that I can get the item posted as I'm off on holiday in a couple of days. Still no payment and no reply.

I don't like marking an item as unpaid too quickly as there can be genuine reasons why it remains unpaid eg going on holiday and forgetting about the purchase, computer not working (although we now have internet phones, tablets etc where payment could be made), someone being unwell etc. The buyer is a long established buyer with a lot of feedback so obviously understands EBay well. If only she would send me a message to let me know the situation as I wouldn't mind keeping the item for her if she has a problem paying for it. Communication is so important.

What would other sellers do after 4 days? I know I should just mark it as unpaid but I'm never happy to do this in case the buyer is unwell or whatever. If I wasn't going on holiday in a couple of days, I would hold on a few more days before taking any action.

Alter_ego

So the buyer hasn't paid?

mrcol1000

I have had exactly the same thing happen to me a few times. In all cases I opened a case and never received any payment or contact.

If they are ignoring your messages then you have tried your best and I would just open a non paid case. It is unlikely they will now pay. I understand your position but really you can not do much more than you have.

theonlywayisup

In future, don't have listings ending when you are off on holiday.

If you aren't happy to open a non paying bidder, what do you want people to say? We can't make the buyer pay.

How long are you away for? What will you do if they pay the day after you leave and you aren't back for 7/10/14 days?

ailey

mrcol1000 wrote: »

I have had exactly the same thing happen to me a few times. In all cases I opened a case and never received any payment or contact.

If they are ignoring your messages then you have tried your best and I would just open a non paid case. It is unlikely they will now pay. I understand your position but really you can not do much more than you have.

I think I do need to just open a non paid case. I just hate doing that to people in case there is a genuine reason.......if she would only communicate. Thanks for your reply. It's just good to get a consensus of opinion.

theonlywayisup wrote: »

In future, don't have listings ending when you are off on holiday.

If you aren't happy to open a non paying bidder, what do you want people to say? We can't make the buyer pay.

How long are you away for? What will you do if they pay the day after you leave and you aren't back for 7/10/14 days?

My listings ended almost a week before I head off on holiday. I never have listings ending too close to going away but I would have thought a week was fine as most people pay very quickly.

As I said above, I just wanted a concensus of opinion on what other people do in the same situation.

pinkshoes

So you sold Saturday, sent an invoice Sunday, then messaged Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday... They might think you are a bit of a psycho stalker nutter!!!!

Personally I would just leave it now, and if they pay when you are away, dispatch when you get back. If they leave a neg, respond saying how long they took to pay.

I also never have anything ending a week before I go away. 2 days to pay, then a NPB opened, then they have 4 days to pay and I get one day to post should they pay.

ailey

pinkshoes wrote: »

So you sold Saturday, sent an invoice Sunday, then messaged Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday... They might think you are a bit of a psycho stalker nutter!!!!

Personally I would just leave it now, and if they pay when you are away, dispatch when you get back. If they leave a neg, respond saying how long they took to pay.

I also never have anything ending a week before I go away. 2 days to pay, then a NPB opened, then they have 4 days to pay and I get one day to post should they pay.

Psycho stalker nutter? I actually never pester people with messages but just thought, as she hadn't paid the following day, that I would send the invoice. I did send a nice message on the Monday just as a little reminder and explained on the Tuesday that I was resending in case she hadn't noticed the first one. Today I just explained that I only have until Thursday to post her parcel. All perfectly acceptable messages but just in the hope that she would see them in her emails if she missed them in her EBay messages. I'll be in the UK on holiday so will open a NPB and take the parcel with me in case she pays while I'm away.

theonlywayisup

ailey wrote: »

I actually never pester people with messages

ailey wrote: »

I did send a nice message on the Monday just as a little reminder

ailey wrote: »

and explained on the Tuesday that I was resending in case she hadn't noticed the first one.

ailey wrote: »

Today I just explained that I only have until Thursday to post her parcel.

As pinkshoes' post 6 above then?

ailey

This time was an exception because I was going on holiday. Anyway I've taken action now so thanks for your replies.

theonlywayisup

ailey wrote: »

This time was an exception because I was going on holiday. Anyway I've taken action now so thanks for your replies.

What was an exception? Just because you are strapped for time doesn't mean the buyers are.

You are going on holiday, it's the worst time to have listings ending, as you have found out. Open your NPB, but be prepared for them to pay at the last minute.

forgotmyname

Take the item with you and post it when they pay? I have done that before.