How long to leave it to chase progress?

Marvel1

Won item, paid, item not sent yet.

Not saying how long in between yet, just want to gage replies first.

Seller messaged apologising for delay as death in family and will send asap, but no update as posted yet on  Ebay.

How long would you chase up from the message?

soolin

I would give them as long as the despatch time showed, plus perhaps an extra day , so possibly 4 working days or so? - but after that perhaps drop a polite note with condolences but asking when they thought they would be able to post. If their estimate for postage was unreasonable or they failed to respond in 24 hours or so  I would send a cancellation request.

If I really really wanted the item though I would wait longer. 

MyRealNameToo

Marvel1 said:

Won item, paid, item not sent yet.

Not saying how long in between yet, just want to gage replies first.

Seller messaged apologising for delay as death in family and will send asap, but no update as posted yet on  Ebay.

How long would you chase up from the message?

You need to compare how long they said it would take them to dispatch to how long it's actually been. If they said it would be 5 days and you are on day 4 then it's too early to have sent your first message let alone a chaser. 

In a prior life we had a customer who'd called up about 4 times over 6 years saying her mum had died that weekend so could she have more time to pay... I mean it could have happened if her dad keeps remarrying and she calls her step-mum mum but probably unlikely. It isnt work calling people out on these things. Personally would probably respond saying that you are sorry to hear about their loss but you would appreciate it if they can confirm when they are likely to be able to send it.