Should eBay start charging non-paying bidders?

[whatagoodprice]

I like many sellers are annoyed with the constant array of non-paying buyers.

Although eBay does compensate final value fees (by using the unpaid item dispute process) listing fees for fixed listings are not refunded.  

All buyers receive is a strike which is nothing compared to the consequences handed out for those who participate in shill bidding - no restriction on buying/selling on eBay no tutorial which buyers must complete so they understand that non-payment is unacceptable.

Perhaps if eBay fined non-paying buyers between $2-$5 every time they refused to pay it would stamp out this practice of non-payment. This would also save eBay effort and the money raised could be donated (at eBay's discretion) to benefit local charities.

I look forward to other buyer's opinions on this issue...   

[markcosilver]

So theoretically your saying its not costing the seller anything apart from a few seconds of their time.  Have to disagree with you there.  Its cost money and time in the first place to buy the product before you even get to taking photos, editing and finally listing it.

When you go to an Auction House to bid on items they have your Bank details, ProoF of Identity 100 point check.  Rules are crystal clear when bidding.  Buyers pay a commission at the fall of the hammer.  Even though I may be new here in selling, already I

have encountered 2 non-payers and it looks like I am about to get another one.  Have not been that concerned because they are low price items.  However, if i find that higher priced items are going to have similar problems, my only option will be to have "Buy it Now" and "Best Offer" rather than put it up for Auction. 

Who can afford to be messed around when high price items are not selling because of non-paying bidders?  If you are in business and are paying for a store, the $50 store fee per month is a fixed cost plus the cost of the listing as well as your labour time to relist.  If you are a high value low volume Seller, the sale within a certain timeframe can mean the difference between running at a profit or a loss at the end of the month.

I would like to see PayPal automatically take the funds out of the Buyers account once an auction is completed.  That would detract a few non-payers from bidding and would give a more level playing field for the seller.

[patchoo78]

So theoretically your saying its not costing the seller anything apart from a few seconds of their time.  Have to disagree with you there.  Its cost money and time in the first place to buy the product before you even get to taking photos, editing and finally listing it.

When you go to an Auction House to bid on items they have your Bank details, ProoF of Identity 100 point check.

Yes, but when you paid for the item you were buying it with the intent of selling it, it wasn't bought specifically for one buyer who didn't pay. If the buyer doesn't pay you can just relist the item; you haven't lost any money, you still have the item.

Once again, ebay is not an auction house, more like a tender centre

[2106greencat]

Same here patchoo.  I went looking for ceramic tiles to redo my bathroom  Saw some I liked in one shop.  The saleswoman looked me up and down and announced,  "These tiles are VERY expensive." 

Aww they did a "Pretty Woman" on you... A fav quote from Absolutely Fabulous comes to mind when that happens: "You can drop the attitude, you only work in a shop you know" :^O

Love it

[phorum_junkie*]

Its cost money and time in the first place to buy the product before you even get to taking photos, editing and finally listing it.

At the end of an unpaid item dispute you are back in the position you would have been if the item didn't sell, all those things you have mentioned have to be done regardless of it selling or not.

[jensmanchester-australia]

A non paying bidder costs next to nothing except possibly a listing fee and a few seconds of time. If you have all your blocks in place it is not something that happens to you very often.

Sorry PJ - have to disagree that it doesn't happen very often. I have blocks in place but in December 8.9% of the items I sold ended up as being unpaid - that was over 100 items for that month alone. It is frustrating and time consuming having to deal with so many buyers who just merrily hit the BIN button or win an auction and then just disappear into thin air.

[k1ooo-slr-sales]

I would like to see PayPal automatically take the funds out of the Buyers account once an auction is completed.  That would detract a few non-payers from bidding and would give a more level playing field for the seller.

This wouldn't work for someone like me who has a bank account that is only used for eBay purposes.  When I buy something I go and deposit the funds into the account to cover a PayPal payment.  If PayPal were to take the money as soon as an auction finished I would be overdrawn on my account and therefore incur a penalty fee from my bank.  That type of situation would deter a lot of buyers.  Less buyers equals lower prices on items.  I'm sure sellers would not like any measure that reducers the number of genuine buyers.

[k1ooo-slr-sales]

not to mention the trouble with immediate payments when a buyer is planning to buy multiple items from the one seller and get a combined invoice.  Imagine the uproar from sellers if they were not able to get single payments for multiple purchases and getting a 30 cent PayPal fee for every item sold rather than for each combined payment.  Buyers would be charged postage on every item without the opportunity of getting postgae discounts from sellers.  Sellers would have to send each item seperately from others to ensure seller protections through proved postage.  Buyers would have problems nominatiing the delivery address if payment was automatic once they won an item.  Lot of problems with automatic payment.

[thecatspjs]

I think the claim that it is not costly is really only relevant for some that sell at a relatively low volume and sell low priced items (with/without BIN).

It can be be very costly if you are a high volume seller and/or sell higher priced items and/or use auctions.

[bsal6160]

And how about an extra fee for all sellers to list. Lets say 30% of the asking price for the item and that's just to list the item. It could be automatically deducted from the FVF if the item ends up selling.

[goulter123]

Can anyone tell me what happened to mac3464. He was a real hoot. Some of his posts were just so funny.