What is the protocol regarding the disposal or otherwise of unclaimed / uncollected PAID items.

[lucys-locker]

What is the protocol / regulation regarding the disposal or otherwise of unclaimed, PAID for items held for pickup?

I have one item held since February for an interstate buyer who said she was arranging for a family member to collect, then after several prompts from me over a course of 7-8 weeks, said she would pay postage for me to post... but, surprise, didnt.  It is now almost 5 months.  I have another similar situation with a local buyer who is blase about pickup. Postage cost out of my pocket would totally negate any small margin on the item/s concerned.

It is frustrating.  Can ebay contact them to nudge them along? Do I have to pay for postage myself  to get the items moved and is it recoverable? And... would I have to refund them the purchase price paid if I was to treat the items as "unclaimed", can I legally charge a small storage fee for items held over, say 3 months....  ??  If it is possible, is there a formal notification/ procedure I need to initiate with the buyer?