Buyer didn't pay

[robscoobydoo]

 I accepted a counter offer from a buyer and a day later a message stating they'd pay that day but wanted me to confirm it was a genuine item, to which I replied.  No payment was received and I was told I had to wait 4 days to cancel and put a strike against the buyer.  I waited but then I wasn't able to cancel the order it just wiped off the system. Customer services said it was because it was an offer and they didn't pay so I couldn't therefore cancel?! That wasn't how it read on their help pages! Rather annoyed at this point because I feel the buyer should receive a non payment strike.  I know I can block them but then they can just do it to others and it's not fair.  When I put in a best offer that's accepted my payment is taken automatically.  I escalated my complaint on 11th Sept and I'm still waiting for an explanation.  Is it normal when a buyer makes an offer that they can just not pay and get away with it? 

[*vyolla*]

If the offer was accepted and the item showing as sold then you can cancel as unpaid, but eBay works in 24hr cycles so the option to cancel wouldn’t be available until 4 x 24hrs have passed. Maybe you tried cancelling a little too soon?

Set your Buyer Requirements to block bidders with two or more non-payment strikes in the last 12 months and add them to your Blocked Buyer List with this link:

http://offer.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?BuyerBlockPreferences

[john1297576 · Accepted solution]

If you accepted an offer then item sold. On day 5 then you would be able to cancel sale using reason “Buyer did not pay”.

I suspect you tried too soon, as it is 4 days, that is 96 hours before you can give an unpaid strike. 

However if you had Best Offer with immediate payment required then no sale took place so question of an unpaid strike does not arise, item would still have continued as for sale.