“2 out of 3 is bad” – Non-paying buyers

[mrrimmer]

Lately, I’ve had a frustrating run where 2 out of my last 3 auction winners simply didn’t pay.  That leaves me relisting items, missing out on genuine buyers, and wasting time.

What I don’t understand is why there seem to be no real consequences for this behaviour.  As sellers, we can’t even leave negative feedback to warn others.

Is this just bad luck on my part, or is it a common tactic people are using now?

Would be interested to hear if others are seeing the same thing.

[jckl1957]

There are 'real consequences'.

You have to wait 4 days after the sale and, on day 5 cancel the sale using the reason 'buyer did not pay'.

The buyer gets a strike on their account which lasts a year.

Sellers can set up their accounts to automatically block any member with 2 or more such strikes.

So, such bidders will be blocked from bidding on items.

Obviously, you should also add any non-payers to your own blocked list.

[john1297576]

You need to find what happens when you cancel a sale AFTER 4 days for non payment. Buyers do have 4 days to pay so you can cancel for non payment from day 5.

 Buyer gets an unpaid strike, sellers can block any member with two or more  unpaid strikes, and NO FEEDBACK can be left.

It is up to you to block members with two unpaid strikes, if you had it in place chances are they would not have been able to bid.

As far as feedback goes, IF you were able to leave negative, buyer would give you negative, then you would have convince ebay to remove it. 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/help/policies/payment-policies/unpaid-item-policy?id=4271&st=3&pos=2&query=Un...

[tressygirl]

When I was selling most of my items were of a Buy it Now format as they had a ' ceiling level' of price therefore no need to place in auction.  The Buy it Now had an immediate payment option ticked,  helps with the ' non payment peeps! '

The few items which deserved to be in auction yes,  I found not non payers,  just late payers,  as many did not realise they had won the auction and a polite message a couple of days after prompted them to pay profusely apologising.

Block non payers though,  you don't want them returning.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/bmgt/BuyerBlock?

@mrrimmer 

[plpmr]

Adding to the advice already given -

Leaving false positives for buyers is looked upon as serious feedback abuse that can damage your account if the buyer reports it.