Non paying bidders with 0 feedback

[autoandroid]

Last week I had an item sell to a bidder with 0 feedback...as we all start out with no feedback, it didn't seem like a problem - everyone's got to start somewhere. However, this newbie still hasn't paid for her item, & despite some polite messages from me regarding the matter, she has not responded. So I opened a case yesterday. Now I notice another newbie bidder (different username, but joined eBay about a week after the original non-paying newbie & interestingly, their username contains the first four letters of the NPB's actual christian name) has put a bid on one of my other items. Am I being paranoid in thinking that this is the same deadbeat under a different name? The item ends on Sunday & I am now worried that it will be another NPB wasting my time.

[davidc4430]

you need to set your buyer restrictions to eliminate 0 feedback buyers from bidding/buying your items.

use the help button at the top left side of this page. look up setting buyer restrictions

[autoandroid]

Thanks - I have just done that. Perhaps I shouldn't worry so much about the current bidder with 0 feedback - it does seem pretty weird that someone would deliberately target a seller under different usernames.

[heihachi_73]

As far as I was aware, you can't block people will 0 feedback, only those with -1, -2, -3... etc. for some stupid reason (despite it being impossible to have scores below zero in the first place; negative feedback hasn't deducted points from your feedback score for nearly a decade).

[autoandroid]

Yes, I noticed that too. I guess maybe it is so newbies at least get a chance, after all we all started with no feedback & most of us turn out to be okay. I am fine with giving people a chance. Pity that some turn out to be non paying, non communcating time wasters!

[davewil1964]

My experience is that there are just as many 100+ FB non-payers as 0 FB non-payers.

If somebody bids/buys on a whim (buys in my case as everything is BIN) their level of eBay experience is moot.

I open cases as applicable, close them when appropriate, add the buyer to my BBL if indicated.

I certainly don't take my business to public boards, open to the entire internet. Especially when the answers to almost every 'problem' have been posted numerous times in the past.

But that's just me.

[*tippy*toes*]

You can block low feedback buyers who haven't been phone verified. I've only ever had trouble with one 0 feedback verified buyer. They were shut down by eBay not long after, so I think they must have played up a bit with other sellers.

You can also block buyers who have 2 or more unpaid strikes on their account. That weeds out a lot of the pests. I have it set for 2 in 12 months.

I've had a few new buyers who were confused with the payment side of things. I spent some time talking them through it, even helping them set up a PayPal account if they hadn't already done so. They were very grateful for the help! Some have become repeat buyers. When a new buyer buys something, I send them a message saying if they are having trouble with the payment process, let me know and I'll talk them through it. A few have replied with "HELP"!

[autoandroid]

Thanks for your opinion. I've never posted here before in 10 years of being on eBay & I won't be doing so again. Just wanted to find out if others were having the same problem & if it was a common issue to have NBPs with no feedback.

[autoandroid]

I did communicate with the buyer but had no response. I am happy to help buyers but it is hard to do that when they don't reply.

[davewil1964]

You're welcome.

Always good to see members with that much alleged (592 over 10 years isn't up there, honestly) experience who don't bother to let the rest of the community have the benefit of their admitted limited experience.