Buyer changes their mind two days after purchase...

[calsof]

No explanation. Just a message two days after purchase to say that they want to "return" (sic) the item, haven't paid and it has not yet been sent.

I replied politely and let the buyer know I will be happy to cancel the transaction but would also be happy to help if there is a reason for the change of mind - change of product etc. No reply two days later.

What's the best course of action?

Should I just go ahead and lodge an unpaid item case?

If I do lodge an unpaid item case, should I do so as a "transaction cancellation"? At that point, Ebay has a warning: "Make sure your buyer has already agreed to cancel the transaction. If your buyer doesn't accept your cancellation request, you won't receive a Final Value Fee credit."

Any other suggestions?

Obviously, not too worried about losing the dollar of a FVF. Just wondering what the best course of action would be in future with these. It's the second time this has happened in my short Ebay career and I'm not sure what to do each time.

This week I'm on a roll. I have another unpaid item case pending. With that one, I didn't get a message. Buyer just hasn't paid. Other times I send a short message as a friendly reminder with those. I never get a reply but I put in a final effort. This time I didn't bother, just pressed the "unpaid item case" button.

I'm not sure if I'm doing the right thing. Too many messages and it might be said you're pressuring the buyer to pay. Not enough, and it may be taken as lack of communication.

I know we all hate non-paying buyers here but we need to remind ourselves sometimes that people do have a right to change their minds. However, I still don't get it. From my point of view, when I press the BUY button, I've already made up my mind and, if I do change it, bad luck, I've bought it, I've left the store and I keep it or give it away... or sell it again on Ebay 😉

What do other people do with non-paying buyers here?

Thanks in advance,

Calli

[calsof]

I had one telling me they had made a mistake and they didn't want the item. After I cancelled the purchase, I checked in their bought items and they had bought the exact same item for 50 cents less than I had mine listed from somebody else 🙂

I was angry at myself for having acted so civilised in my messages to them 🙂

[koalablue12]

See, not everyone is as nice as you, it is a shame, but they are out there.......wonder what they bought themselves with the HUGE saving they made! ? Certainly not customer satisfaction and service  they would have got from you Cal 😄

[calsof]

Thanks, hun (Blush blush blush)

🙂

[nicegreenpetticoats]

I don't mind if the buyer changes their mind, lets me know and then I will be happy to do a mutual cancellation.

Sometimes people buy and find they already have the book on their shelves, at one point I had 4 copies of Wilbur Smith's River God in my keeper collection.

Don't ask me how I managed that, but I have had a couple of buyers with the same problem.

I only do the NPB case if I don't hear from them for over a week, usually I send a second invoice then in case they missed the first and give another 3 or 4 days.

There is no point forcing a sale if the buyer isn't happy, I buy and sell on ebay because it is fun and I get some awesome bargains, if you start to stress or get nasty it isn't fun anymore.

Jenny

[i-once-was-bump]

The watch list is there for buyers to put items they are interested in until they decide whethere to buy or not.  Once they press the buy button, they are committed and they have removed your item from sale so no one else can purcahse it.  Even B+M stores don't hold an item while you decide whether you want to pay for it or not.

Actually a lot of B&M stores hold items for up to 7 days without any deposit.

[phorum_junkie*]

nicegreenpetticoats I am sorry but no way would I go down that road. It is unfair to other sellers and leaves you open to a risk of both losing your FVF refund and receiving neg feedback.

The only time I ever offer mutual cancellation is if a newbie buyer has bought more than one of the same thing by mistake or if somebody had purchased the wrong size/colour in a multi varient listing and then only after they have purchased the correct item.

There is no other reason other than a death certificate that will  cause me to leave myself and other sellers open to serial non payers, if it is their first strike it will give them a wake up call and they may not do it again, if it is not their first time then they are blocked by all sensible sellers.

[bright.ton42]

I'm afraid I have to agree with the others to open an unpaid item case and that's that.  Buyers have plenty  of time to make that decision to buy -   the Watch List,  the clicking on the Buy and then the third button to Commit.  All that time messing around with changes of mind can be put to far better use in my view.