How can repeat offenders remain on eBay
Usually because sellers don't know the correct procedures or read the instructions.
1. 4 days after sale date an unpaid item case can be opened.
2. Buyer has another 4 days to pay. If they don't then close the case.
3. The buyer automatically gets a strike when the case is closed by you.
And cannot bid or buy with 2 strikes or more.
4. Neither party can leave feedback, you get a fee credit and can relist.
Seperately add the buyer to the BBL in site prefs, buyer requirements.
Also select the blocks you want to block past non payers or new accounts.
@vk5po wrote:i did follow the procedures.... I actually took the time to make sure I chatted directly to a rep.
its not as easy as I think it should bem to make direct contact with an eBay rep.
If you and the other sellers that had that non-paying buyer had gone through the NPB procedure and had your buyer blocks in place, the non-payer couldn't have bid on your auction.
As Stawks said "chatting with an eBay rep" does not stop non-payers, only you and other sellers can stop it by following the simple process eBay puts in place for you.
@vk5po,
As has been posted by kopenhagen, padi and imastawka, there's a straightforward way for sellers to deal with non-paying bidders. Unfortunately, non-paying bidders are a reality on eBay that can't be entirely avoided... but what you can do is minimise the chances of your encountering NPBs on your items, and also minimise the aggravation that such a buyer would cause you if one does get through your precautions.
kopenhagen has already set out exactly what you need to do, step by step. I'll repeat the information in a slightly different way, just to reinforce it (and because I can't take any more painkillers tonight and need to distract my mind).
PREVENTION (better than cure)
- Set up your Buyer Requirements to block buyers with Unpaid Item Strikes. Select the lowest possible number of item strikes over the longest possible period - i.e., 2 strikes over a 12 month period.
- If a blocked buyer contacts you with a sob story wishing to be exempted from your block, don't be swayed by the buyer's situation unless you can afford to risk a non-payment result. (Looking at the would-be buyer's feedback - both given and received - may often be enlightening.)
This is an example of what to select in your Buyer Requirements.
Select requirements
Important: Select buyer requirements carefully - they may reduce your selling success. The requirement(s) you select will be applied to your current and future listings, except as noted. eBay encourages you to learn more by visiting the Buyer Requirements Help page. Buyers with Unpaid Item strikes
☑ Block bidders and buyers who have received ② Unpaid Item strike(s) within ⑫ month(s)
This requirement can help you avoid bidders and buyers with a history of not paying for the items they have agreed to purchase.
Buyers in locations to which I don't post
☑ Block buyers whose primary postage address is in a location I don't post to.
This requirement can help you avoid buyers who agree to purchase your items without realising you don't post to their location.
Buyers with a negative feedback score
☑ Block buyers who have a feedback score of -1 or lower. (Not really relevant any more, as buyers cannot be given negative feedback, but tick this anyway.)
This requirement can help you avoid buyers who have received more negative than positive feedback from other eBay members bidding on your item.
Buyers who may bid on several of my items and not pay for them
☑ Block buyers who are currently winning or have bought ③ of my items in the last 10 days.
☐ Only apply this block to buyers who have a feedback score of ⑤ or lower.
Consider selecting this requirement if you are selling expensive items and don't want to sell over a certain number to any single buyer. Learn more about how this requirement works.
☑ Apply above settings to active and future listings.
Existing bids will not be affected.
Turbo Lister will pick up these settings after you sync each item with eBay. Third-party listing tools will pick up these settings after you synchronise the tools with eBay.
☑ Don't allow blocked buyers to contact me. (Buyer won't see the "Contact Seller" button on your Q&A page.) Note: Buyers can still contact you about existing transactions, unless you add them to your blocked list.
Non-paying bidder/buyer procedure
- You don't need to send multiple messages or invoices. The buyer is not left in ignorance about having to pay for their purchase.
- The buyer has four days in which to pay (before you can open a case). Just wait out the four days and if the buyer hasn't paid once those four days have passed, you can open a case by reporting an unpaid item.
- The buyer has another four days within which to make payment. There's no need to chat with the buyer or engage in back-and-forth if you simply want a smooth process. Just wait out these additional four days, and if the buyer hasn't paid once these four days have passed, you can close the case. You do this by going to the Resolution Centre and making sure that you select Receive fee credit. You must select the Close case option. Also make sure that you select the option indicating that you haven't received payment from the buyer.
- You have no more than 32 days from the date of the sale to open an Unpaid item case. If you don't open the case within that period, you won't be able to open it at all.
- Once you've opened an Unpaid item case, you have no more than 36 days to close it. If you don't close it (and select the option to indicate that the buyer hasn't paid you), you WILL be charged a final value fee (or won't be issued a final value fee credit)... and the buyer will not suffer any consequences.
- To avoid being confused by the different timeframes (32 days, 36 days), you should make it a practice to act within a consistent and clear timeframe. For example, you might want to make it your policy to open Unpaid item cases within 5 days, and to close Unpaid item cases within 5 days...
- Add buyer's username to your BBL (Blocked bidder/buyer list). This may seem like overkill, but sometimes non-paying bidders/buyers can become very angry if a UID is opened. Blocking a problem buyer simply prevents that eBay member from attempting a malicious purchase... and of course if that buyer contacts you later with an explanation and apology and a request to be unblocked, you can always make a decision to unblock the buyer... There are without doubt instances whether buyers have legitimate reasons/explanations - and the ball will be in your court.
- If a buyer doesn't pay, don't let yourself get emotionally involved. It's a straightforward issue, and you should have a straightforward business policy for dealing with it. Open UID (Unpaid item dispute) within x days, close UID within x days, no chitchat, no taking it personally, no back-and-forth with the buyer...
Result for the Non-paying bidder
- The NPB will receive a strike. This is invisible, but if the buyer has at least two of these strikes, he/she will be unable to buy from any seller who has their Buyer Requirements set up to prevent bids or purchases by such buyers.
- If you still feel any residual annoyance with regard to the NPB, you can mock up a nice image (head/shoulders shooting target with the NPB's username on it) and throw rotten tomatoes at it, throw darts at it, etc.
May your transactions go smoothly.
PS: I'm not distracted and in addition I've just been hit by a formation of mosquitoes.
PPS: Death to mosquitoes.
PPPS: I am going to make myself another brew. I still have about a fifth of a bag of Sulawesi Kalosi beans left... Must re-order...
