Big increase in buyers not paying..

[linen*junkie]

I realise sometimes this happens but lately I have noted a big increase in the number of buyers just not paying and I have to open cases, then all is lost, also ignoring my courtesy reminder emails, so don't know if I should offer to 2nd highest bidder, or relist or what !!!! anyone else notice this of late ?

[belindabargainhunter]

dimarkmax  I don't see why sellers would need to leave negative feedback. I have asked many times on these boards why sellers don't leave feedback and they all say it's not important and we buyers don't need it. So what difference would neg feedback back.

[thecatspjs]

I have added dozens and dozens non payers with comments regarding their non payment in their feedback, onto my blocked buyer list -identified in a range of ways including leads from threads on the boards, sharing non-payment info etc.

If ebay did not overturn non-payment strikes and if all other sellers gave buyers  non-payment strikes, IMO it would not be such a issue.

However, in the absence of adequate seller protection from these thoughtless timewasters, it is an issue - it costs time and money.

Whilst you may get final fees back - go do not get listing fees back including auction fees - thats $1.50 - $2.00 a pop for many of my auction listings.

As I sell one of stock on this ID, I get pretty peeved that on top of having to pay for the pleasure of the non-buyers, my goods have to be out of circulation for at least 8 days.  

So belinda, to me, non-payment comments do make a difference to me.   I would much prefer that a non-payment count tally would be shown in everyone buyings history, next to bid retractions.

Iin the absence of that information, I can only thank other sellers alerting me to bad buying behaviour.

Disclaimer: please note that I am not seeking to promote that sufficiently negative comments that warrant removal are left by others for non paying buyers, that would be against ebay policy. 

[belindabargainhunter]

Sorry catspjs I was trying to make the point of why sellers should leave feedback both good and bad. I just find it funny on here how everyone says buyers should stop complaining about no feedback being left when it has no importance. But in fact it does as you said it lets you know that a buyer doesn't pay so it does help get rid of those bad payers but I for one don't just want bad feedback as a seller would not want just negative feedback left.

[davewil1964]

Sorry catspjs I was trying to make the point of why sellers should leave feedback both good and bad. I just find it funny on here how everyone says buyers should stop complaining about no feedback being left when it has no importance. But in fact it does as you said it lets you know that a buyer doesn't pay so it does help get rid of those bad payers but I for one don't just want bad feedback as a seller would not want just negative feedback left.

If sellers went through the correct processes, which you as a buyer only wouldn't understand, then the NPB would get a strike. Feedback for buyers, even false positives, doesn't help sellers who list as BIN, or protect from snipers. Which has been mentioned a few thousand times on these boards.

[thecatspjs]

If sellers went through the correct processes, which you as a buyer only wouldn't understand, then the NPB would get a strike. Feedback for buyers, even false positives, doesn't help sellers who list as BIN, or protect from snipers. Which has been mentioned a few thousand times on these boards.

But there are sellers that do not through the unpaid dispute process for a wide range of reasons, the strike system does not work - proof of which has been demonstrated a few thousand times on these boards

You can say if, if, if sellers did this .... one million times, the current system simply does not work, there will always be sellers that are reluctant to open unpaid disputes for fear of copping a negative or have trashed stars ... the onus of protecting sellers from non-payers should be on ebay, not other sellers. 

[davewil1964]

But there are sellers that do not through the unpaid dispute process for a wide range of reasons, the strike system does not work - proof of which has been demonstrated a few thousand times on these boards

You can say if, if, if sellers did this .... one million times, the current system simply does not work, there will always be sellers that are reluctant to open unpaid disputes for fear of copping a negative or have trashed stars ... the onus of protecting sellers from non-payers should be on ebay, not other sellers. 

But, but, but sellers, if they bothered to read the rules, would know that a negative can't be left by a NPB, or if it is can be removed by pointing out that no transaction occurred. So ebay already protect the seller (if they bother to acquaint themselves of how the site works, a stretch admittedly), if the seller understands the TERMS and CONDITIONS they agree to and state they have read, when they sign up.

We all agree to ebay's T&Cs when we sign up. How many actually read them? And how many problems are a result of members agreeing to terms that they don't bother reading?

it would seem the problem is a lack of member acquaintanceship/understanding of the rules, rather than a site problem

[thecatspjs]

When we sign up to ebay we are not told we must open unpaid dispute. 

It is an individual and/or business decision to do so or not. So not sure what you are getting at ??

[davewil1964]

We are, however, told that that is an option.

I realise, in this day and age, that people need to be dragged into the obvious, but that doesn't mean that eBay or any other company has to do the dragging. They provide the option, they tell us the option is available, we agree that we have read and understood that the option is available, some of us choose not to avail themselves of the option (usually because they tick the box WITHOUT having actually read or understood what they are agreeing to). Whose fault is that? Not eBay's.

"I sign up to all these sites. They all want want me to read stuff. I don't have time to understand what I'm letting myself into. I just want to sign up, so I tick the box. Why is it my fault when it comes back to bite me? I ticked the box to say I'd read about this stuff, but they didn't FORCE me to actually read it. They could surely have a camera on their website to watch my eyes. Hang on, they are monitoring me?! I'm going to sue the arse off them for invasion of privacy!"

Pffft

[thecatspjs]

I don't give a hoot about what other sellers do. They pay to use the service, if they don't want to issue strikes it is their choice.

I also pay for the ebay service I am provided, and my expectation is a safe trading environment, as is promoted by ebay. 

Ebay has responsibility for leading the way on creating that - and improving it when it needs improvement - whether that be for buyers or for sellers.  They have billions of dollars at their disposal to do that.  It would in turn contribute to seller and buyer confidence and public perception of ebay overall.

I am happy to do my bit and issues strikes, but a limited number of sellers issuing strikes on an ad hoc basis is not a solution to this problem. 

[cns0804]

This trend is appearing to grow in popularity as users find that there is no repercussions for their actions. 

Mark my words: this trend will be the end of auction style sales on eBay if its not addressed.