Buyer wont pay as they were drunk when they bought the item

[tripping_daisy]

Hi,  I have had a buyer who purchased a dress off me 5 days ago.  They didn't pay or reply to any of my invoices or messages until today.   I recieved this message:   

"I'm sorry but I don't remember purchasing this dress bloody drunk eBay shopping ! The lady I purchased it for isn't keen on the print so I won't be purchasing !"

Is this acceptable?   I mean, I don't want them to give me negative feedback, but it doesn't seem like a very good reason- I have been charged fees for the sale by ebay....

If I open a case can they still give me negative feed back?   Or what is the best course of action- it was only a $38.00 item -but still it just seems wrong,  ive bought stuff before in the heat of the moment and regretted it, but I would never not pay- it was my mistake not the sellers!

[some999]

Open a dispute, you will get your fees back & be able to relist.

They have 4 days to pay or get an unpaid strike against them.

No, they can't leave you feedback & neither can you leave any for them

[kopenhagen5]

If you open an unpaid item case, once it's closed the buyer cannot leave feedback.

And if they leave feedback before it's closed, you contact ebay and they will remove it.

Open the case and close it as soon as you can, 4 days later. 

Buyer gets a strike, you get your fee back and are free to relist or offer to an underbidder.

[digital*ghost]

Open the unpaid item dispute, then close it after a full 4 days have passed - they could leave you feedback, but if they don't pay it will either be removed after the case is closed, or you can contact eBay to request removal and they should do it fairly quickly. Your final value fees will also be credited back once the case closes without payment (I certainly wouldn't be prepared to pay nearly $4 for someone else to drunkenly window shop, at any rate).

I would reply to the buyer thanking them for getting in touch and letting me know they won't be going ahead with the purchase, and that I will initiate the process to cancel the transaction (unpaid item dispute). As they have already indicated that they won't be proceeding with the purchase, they don't need to do anything further and the cancellation process will be finalised on X date (where X is 4 days after the dispute is opened.

Add them to your Blocked Bidder list if you don't wish for them to find and buy your stuff the next time they have a few. 😄

[tripping_daisy]

Thanks guys!