As a buyer it depends on which site you have purchased as to the minimum time you have to make payment. If you buy from an Australian seller then you have 4 days before they can open an unpaid item dispute, if you purchase from a US seller then they can start a dispute after 2 days.
Some sellers say in their listings that they will wait a few more days but unless they do so you should always pay within the time appropriate to the purchase site.
Sellers can also have their accounts set to open disputes automatically so if you are not going to be able to pay within those times you should contact the seller before you bid or buy and ask if it will be OK.
As a seller you really should open disputes asap after the 4 days unless you state in your listings you will allow longer as ebay send a reminder after 48 hours and it is a good idea to send a tactfully put pay up or else reminder on day 3 then it should come as no surprise if you open a dispute at the end of day 4.
As for the " Accident, Hospital, Family Matter" etc we have heard them all before, in the vast majority of cases if you check their activity it has not stopped them bidding on and buying other items. Also if they have the internet access to email and tell you they cannot pay then they could have used that time and connectivity to make a Paypal payment.
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It says in this book I am reading that by 2065 80% of women will be overweight.
See what a trendsetter I am?
