An impatient ebay seller question

[frannn]

Seems like I'm running into a lot of sellers on ebay that are impatient lately. I won an auction, and according to the terms listed in the auction, paid on the 7th day following auction end (yesterday). Not only did I get a reminder to pay (which is ok with me, as it is just friendly communication), but yesterday when I logged onto my ebay account, a box popped up saying "non paying bidder warning" or reminder, or something similar. If I am given 7 days to pay, and things get busy and I manage to pay via Paypal on the 7th day, why did I get a non paying bidder reminder? I didn't wait till the last day on purpose, and paid in the AM. I read on the ebay help pages that you can only get 3 non paying bidder warnings before your account is suspended. I brought this up to the seller and she thinks what popped up will not affect my account at all, and she does this with all the buyers when she sends a reminder to pay. I asked her to let ebay know I paid, but she doesn't think its necessary. Do I need to worry about this? And yes, I normally pay on time and have amazing feedback.

 

[tinaluis]

You seem to be running into all the impatient sellers lately. I followed your "neutral" feedback thread awhile back. I think the seller is right about the NPB reminder not counting against you as long as she doesn't actually follow through and request a credit for non-payment. Good luck keeping away from those impatient sellers

 

[nuke]

I'm just wondering why you wait so long to pay. When I win an auction I pay immediately. I understand that we all get busy sometimes but 7 days is a long time after an auction especially if you are paying with paypal.

Also there is no need for the seller to contact ebay as ebay and paypal are connected and they know you paid.

 

[wendyl]

I am an ebay Seller and Buyer, and honestly--7 days is a long time to wait to pay. When I bid, I always pay right away--why else would I bid unless I really wanted the item. When I sell, it is frustrating to not get paid within the first day or two. I am exctied about earning money for my Disney trip--and excited when my auctions end and I know I am that much closer to WDW.Then when days go by and buyer hasn't paid or contacted me--it really takes the wind out of my sails (especially after experiencing a non-paying bidder recently).


It's just curteous to the seller to pay right away. If you know funds wont be available on the day the auction ends--don't bid, or at least send an email explaining this--and when you will be able to pay ( I have had several customers do this--and it was much appreciated). If you DO have funds available--then pay when it ends.

Put yourself in their shoes---imagine watching your sales all week and then finally getting to the auctions' ends, and then not getting the money for days (and wondering, after no contact, if you are going to get it at all).

 

[frannn]

but what about sellers that only accept checks and money orders? Even if you send payment out the morning after auction end, it still takes a few days for them to receive payment. Usually I do not wait 7 days to pay, but sometimes I get really busy. If the seller has specified a 10 day payment window, I do try to pay asap. There are honestly some weeks that are crazy for me. I will be sure to watch this in the future.

 

[ceecee]

I always send an email reminder within a few days, then if I don't hear from the buyer I send a reminder through Ebay. With so many non-paying bidders you just never know. I always pay immediately too.

 

[summerrluvv]

Maybe next time if you are going to wait until the 7th day to pay, you should just let the seller know, that way they won't think you don't plan on paying.

I pay for my auctions as soon as they end. I hate it when I get buyers that don't communicate AT ALL for 7 days then send payment only after I have started the Non Paying bidder process.

 

[maggiew]

Regardless of whether or not you think 7 days is too long to pay, the sellers terms were payment within 7 days. The OP followed that term. The seller just got impatient. Personally I think sellers on eBay have become very impatient and expect immediate payment. I allow 10 days for payment in my auctions. I do not start sending reminder emails until that time.

Maggie

 

[MommyBoo!]

Wow, things sure have changed on ebay! 7 days is not a long time. If a seller wants payment immediately, they can select the immediate payment option when posting the auction. Also, a seller should post a payment time frame and not email you until that time frame is over. Sellers expect buyers to stick to their TOS and they (the sellers) should as well.

I find that most people pay immediately but those who wait until the last day don't bother me. I set the terms, after all.

I do try to pay immediately when I win an auction though. I just like to get my stuff quickly. Sometimes I'll wait to pay because they have another item I want to win. I usually email them to let them know I will be bidding on another item and will pay for both together (as long as their auctions state they combine shipping). I never go past three days apart for the wins though. I don't want to drag things out.

 

[Az Pirates]

I think the seller was hasty in even starting the NPB process. If the TOS in her auction stated payment was expected within 7 days - she should wait until the end of the 7th day before ANY type of NPB action is started.

If a seller really needs/wants payment sooner than that - it should be clearly stated in the auction.

I usually offer a shipping discount if payment is made via paypal within 24 hrs. I find most people take advantage of the offer - that way I can package, ship quickly and make just one trip to the PO.
I certainly have no problem with buyers that wait to pay though and their reasons are really none of my business - as long as they meet the terms stated in the auction.

I'm not sure how the NPB works - I would think that since you did pay for the item, it would not count against you.

 

[summerrluvv]

Originally posted by Az Pirates
I think the seller was hasty in even starting the NPB process. If the TOS in her auction stated payment was expected within 7 days - she should wait until the end of the 7th day before ANY type of NPB action is started.

If a seller really needs/wants payment sooner than that - it should be clearly stated in the auction.

I usually offer a shipping discount if payment is made via paypal within 24 hrs. I find most people take advantage of the offer - that way I can package, ship quickly and make just one trip to the PO.
I certainly have no problem with buyers that wait to pay though and their reasons are really none of my business - as long as they meet the terms stated in the auction.

I'm not sure how the NPB works - I would think that since you did pay for the item, it would not count against you.

If the buyer didn't contact the seller AT ALL within that 7 days I think it's justified. Ebay says contact must be made with the seller within 3 days. The seller probably thought the buyer had no intentions of paying.

As for the non paying bidder alert, all the OP got was the "reminder" to pay. If ten days had gone by after the seller sent the alert, and the buyer had still not paid, then it would be marked on her record and the seller would get the fees back that he/she paid out to list the item.

 

[etwinchester]

The seller will have to RETRACT the NPB claim, if one was filed.

As a seller, I had a buyer who didn't pay, well until I filed an NPB claim and they were suspended.

My auctions clearly state 10 days. I have no problems if they wait till the last minute to pay but they should still contact me within 3 days to let me know how they will be paying and when. I understand if people aren't on the computer everyday as we have other things in our lives to prevent daily usage. I don't even have a problem if they have a situation that it can't be paid within that time frame, as long as they email me and it is agreed upon by both parties.

After 15 days, I decided to file a alert. No reponse within that 10 days. Then filed the NPB claim. Apparently, it was the buyers third offence and they got suspended. I noticed they were the high bidder of several (like 15) other auctions. The buyer decided to mail me a letter of apology along with payment (7 days after the NPB claim, now 32 days later) and asked me to retract the alert so their account could be reinstated. They weren't allowed to complete the other transactions, let alone contact the other sellers to explain. They were really in DEEP DOO-DOO. After payment was rec'vd, I did retract the alert.

One part of me didn't want to since they were prone to doing this. I really didn't want this to happen to other sellers. The other part of me said to retract it since payment was rec'vd. I also could've kept the alert since they didn't pay within the time frame, even though payment was made (32 days later, which is TOTALLY unacceptable).

Still don't know if I made the right decision...but I did block that buyer from bidding on my auctions again...

What would you have done?

 

[summerrluvv]

Originally posted by etwinchester
The seller will have to RETRACT the NPB Alert.

The buyer did not get a non paying bidder, she only got the "alert." Two totally different things.

 

[etwinchester]

Sorry, missed that part. The alert is just like a reminder email to pay within 10 days of the ebay alert date.

If they actually filed NPB status, then it could be retracted if payment was made. That would be left up to seller discression.

 

[fam4jc]

I buy and sell on ebay. My policy states to pay within 72 hours on paypal or make money order arrangements. I'll wait but I expect the buyer to make every effort to pay timely, even if it means putting the money order in the mail before the fourth day out from winning the auction. I am still waiting on payment from one item from a June 26 auction! What do I do now? I've emailed her every day this week that I have not received her money order with no response. I am using what little ebay profit to partially fund our wdw trips also. so this money is near and dear to my heart. I don't want to hurt anyone's rating though. maybe she is on vacation. Am I too nice for ebay?

 

[disneychrista]

Originally posted by frannn
If I am given 7 days to pay, and things get busy and I manage to pay via Paypal on the 7th day, why did I get a non paying bidder reminder?

Did you contact the seller?? I know that if you do not contact the seller they are well within in their right to send reminders and alerts. And since you have to wait a full 7 days (down to the second) before eBay will allow you to file a NPB alert, it seems to me that you would have had to have paid past the 7 days stated in the auction.

And there is nothing needed to do in regards to "retracting" the alert, it is just an "official" last chance reminder.

 

[floridagirrl2]

With most buyers paying almost instantly with Paypal, I do think sellers on Ebay have become a lot more impatient. I guess I am "old-school" , I still give people 3 weeks before I file any alerts or NPBs.

 

[Morganpics]

I have to agree with other posters who mentioned why you wait to pay. If I win an auction (and it's not the middle of the night) I pay immediately if they accept paypal. If not, the next business day I get a cashier check and mail it that same day. I then send the seller an email to say I sent the money. I just know with my 50 ish year old memory, if I don't do it right away, I'm apt to forget and I really don't want any negative feedback.