Buyer with strikes wants to buy your item....would you allow it?

[flashback_deals]

Looking for some opinions from sellers....

I have a message saying they want to buy one of my books, but because of my 'buyer blocks' they cannot purchase it

They also said their strikes aren't their fault, but they do have over 600 feedback at 100%

Their username is also very familiar and I am sure they may have purchased of me befor but cant find anything

As sellers, would you put them on the xemption list so they can purchase or would you think it is too risky for non-payment? They would have strikes for a reason too

[tonalidesigns]

Yes!

I was recently asked a similar thing ... and removed the blocks on the item. The buyer purchased and it  all went OK. Then a few weeks later they purchased again .... and have had a third sale as well.

Made me stop and review why I even have the blocks in place and just how many sales I might have lost because of them. Have started to progressively remove them, especially on my store items.

Some of the blocks are silly - eg buyers with feedback of less than zero when it's been years since buyers could get a neg (yeah, I know that they could have got that score for selling!).

If they really want to get round the blocks and do something nasty they can just start a new iD anyway.

If they don't pay, I just lodge a dispute and get my fees back so I have lost nothing, at least on store items. Most of them will pay and they are sales I would have otherwise missed.

(I would agree though that with Auctions or high value items - especially items you may only have a small qty of - that the blocks can be handy as a non payer can cost you lost fees and lost opportunities)

[motherbear2003]

No - once a buyer goes on my blocked list, he/she stays there; the strikes are never their fault:|  Too many people try to blame others for their own mistakes - jmo.

[the3coopers]

I was recently asked a similar thing ... and removed the blocks on the item. The buyer purchased and it  all went OK. Then a few weeks later they purchased again .... and have had a third sale as well.

Test by adding that Buyer's ID to the Exemption List - don't drop the block for everyone!

Do a few and see how it goes... stay wary!

[not_an_eloi]

make 'em go to a solicitor and arrange an irrevocable order, to pay ya

:8}

[davewil1964]

I had a potential buyer give me a spray asking why they were blocked. It was for strikes, which I told them. I also undid the blocks on the item they wanted, and told them that too.

Never came back.

[*new2vintage]

It's better to avoid a potential problem and not let a known non payer buy from you. Why ignore the protection from a NPB that ebay provides ?

[viewmont1071]

yes  I have had only success with letting blocked buyers through blocks.... at least 6 and prolly more ....everyone I let through  has led to a successful sale and in some instances repeat sales. in fact if i find buyers on my blocked bidders list that have not contacted me to ask why they cannot purchase I actively seek them to clinch the deal. If the block is becasue of too many strikes then the username does not appear on the list only asterisks.

 If the block is for another reason then the username does appear on the list

[healthwise2011]

Of course all unpaid item stikes are for a reason, but they can also be circumstantial and not reflective of a buyers current status.

I agree that you should be cautious before allowing a blocked bidder to make a purchase but that doesn't mean you have to be unreasonable.  Try each enquiry on an individual basis and follow your instincts - be vigilant and ask questions before giving them the freedom to purchase from you like why and how - check out their recent feedback and weigh up if they're worth the risk.

Everyone deserves second chances and you have the benefit of ebay disputes if the transaction falls over.

Communication is key.

[tonalidesigns]

Exactly what damage can a "known npb" do, especially with a store listing?

On the one hand if I block them I am guaranteed I won't get the sale or their money. If I let them buy there is a chance they might not pay but there is also a good chance they will .

If they dont pay they get a strike and I get my fees back. Nothing lost for most of what I sell. I suffer a bit of inconvenience but if 1 in 5 turns into a sale i am well in front

If they have some sort of malicious intent the blocks wont stop them, they can just set up a new ID.

As I said I have started removing restrictions as I edit or revise items ... only done around 10% so far.