Can someone explain when an 'unpaid item' case is used?

[brenata-uk]

I recently had to cancel a sale after waiting 4 days for the person to pay (they sent me an offer on 19th which I accepted the same day).  Buyer didn't respond to my messages or Ebay's invoices.  I then cancelled the sale on 23rd and relisted (ended up selling to a different buyer).

I was scrolling through 'orders' and saw the cancelled order then noticed a drop down menu and one of the options was to 'report buyer' - I opened it and saw a whole section of choices (have attached image of this below) and wondered whether I was supposed to 'open an unpaid item case' because at the bottom it specifically says 'if your buyer has not paid please open an unpaid item case'.  I don't even know what that is.

I just waited the 4 days, cancelled and relisted so is there something different that happens with an unpaid item case? Do I need to do this?

The really strange thing is that I also saw a partial message on my 'overview' page dated 29th from the buyer but I had cancelled the order by 23rd and blocked them so no clue why the buyer messaged me a further 6 days later.  When I clicked on it expecting it to take me to my messages there was nothing there, is that because I had blocked them? But you would think it wouldn't show me any of that message. It's all very strange.

One last question (sorry 😬) what do the numbers mean where it gives my feedback score at the top of the page below my name - it says '100% positive feedback (771) - what is the 771 referring to?

[tressygirl]

When you cancelled the item what reason did you give?

A buyer is alowed 4 full days and it is timed to the second from when they purchased the item to pay.  eBay send a reminder to pay too,  after 48 hours.  When this time lapsed,  some  sellers will allow a little extra time to pay,  you need to cancel the order selecting the reason ' Buyer Has Not Paid'.

This gives the buyer a deserved unpaid item strike on their account.  One doesn't do much harm,  but if they gain another they will not be able to buy from the majority of sellers for a full 12 months.  If they keep getting those strikes,  its likely eBay will remove their buying rights,  permanently.   Cancelling this way is certainly worthwhile.

Blocking a member doesn't happen automatically,  I think the buyer was making an excuse here that you are not replying to messages.  You need to block a member yourself, manually and I suggest you do so for this buyer here:

https://offer.ebay.co.uk/ws/ebayISAPI.dll?BuyerBlockPreferences

The feedback score,  yours is now 775 , is the amount of feedback you have received from sales and purchases . Click on the 775 brings you to your Feedback Profile page.  Scroll down a little you can click on the tabs... Received as Buyer / Received as Seller to see the comments left by those members .  Go far right and click on Sort By >>  Most Recent.

@brenata-uk 

[plpmr]

adding to the advice already given -

If you send an invoice chasing payment that resets the 4 day clock to restart and run again.

[jckl1957]

I think that 'unpaid item case' line is just a leftover from the days when there were 'unpaid item cases'.  You have not been able (or needed to) open an unpaid item case against a buyer for years.

[brenata-uk]

Why is it still listed there?  Just makes life on Ebay even more confusing 🤔

thankyou x

[brenata-uk]

I didn't know that, about sending an invoice gives the buyer ANOTHER 4 days to mess you about - that's crazy. 😯 my clock didn't reset though I was able to cancel the sale after 4 days, maybe I didn't send another invoice.

[brenata-uk]

Hi tressygirl

you helped me with this at the time it was happening!  I gave the reason for cancelling as 'buyer has not paid' but had to wait 4 full days before that phrase appeared on the list of reasons.  Then I was able to relist it.  I then went into my settings and added that buyer to that blocked buyers list.  That's what confused me though when the seller sent a message 6 days after the sale was cancelled but it wasn't in my messages page (just a partial one on the 'overview' page).

If no-one uses the 'unpaid case' thing, why is it still shown as an option on that 'orders' page? 

Re the numbers (below my name) I hadn't got a clue that referred to feedback, it's very rare that I get any these days which is a shame, I give feedback when I buy and when I sell - it's just the polite thing to do, I post my stuff the next day, wrap it well and have usually reduced the price, when that happens to me as a buyer I am delighted and just have to tell the seller that I'm really happy and I know the seller appreciates it as they usually write back .... but I'm sure I used to get more feedback years ago .... 🤔

Once again, thank you for your advice - you're a star and I always hope you reply when I post on these forums! xx

[tressygirl · Accepted solution]

Hi Brenata, yes I remember helping you out in previous posts, I'm always happy to help no matter if it's a major issue or just a trivial issue always come back to us here,  always someone around to help, I'm prob around too much!

With feedback,  it definitely has been noticed by many that fewer are leaving feedback.

  In my humble opinion a lot can be blamed when eBay changed the method of leaving feedback whereas it was very straightforward before,  now asking for Reviews of an item and feedback , it looks to some that you Have to leave a long verse almost , but a word or two is sufficent too.

End of the day it's voluntary for both parties,  but an easier format for leaving feedback I'm sure would show an increase in feedback left.

@brenata-uk 

[brenata-uk]

yeah I agree and I don't think those automated emails asking buyers to leave feedback before they've even got their parcels helps much, they really annoy me when I get them and it looks like it's the seller who has initiated that - when it's not 🤣

Another thing that drives me nuts is the listing process, I've written lots now but I always get some random thing where it says I need to add a specific detail e.g. long sleeved or type of collar but yet it leaves out the important stuff like brand or size from the heading part .... good news is, I've just made another sale .... gonna go print my label ....😁

Ren

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