What is a reasonable time to wait for contact from a buyer?

[crago10]

I sold a couple of items today and sent invoices immediately after the sale with phone numbers and request to contact me regarding collection of items. Both items had bids placed by the winners in the last few minutes of the sale, so they must be aware that they've won the items. It's almost 8 hrs later and no contact from either one.

Am I being unreasonable to expect action sooner than this?

I really expected to have cash in hand today for at least one item, if not both.  I'm destitute and relying on this money to cover living expenses, so my desperation may be a little obvious here.

So, what is a reasonable time to expect contact?

I don't see anything in the T&C's to answer this.

[lind9650]

You are impatient. The buyer may have had a snipe bid. That is an agency takes over for the buyer and bids in the last minute or seconds.

The buyer may be working and not on the computer when auction ends. You may hear from them later tonight or tomorrow. Otherwise you have four days before opening a Non Paid Item dispute, and only after contactting the buyer and you get no reply.

Then eBay will give the buyer another four days before you can close the case and relist.

I hope your buyer will contact you soon. There is no such thing as getting instant money wen selling on eBay.

Good Luuck,

Erica 🙂

[*sparklz*]

What Lind said.

ebay allows 8 days for the buyers to pay.

You can do a request for contact details and phone them but you need to be patient .

If it is that hard and you are destitute how will you pay your ebay fees?

You might see your self deregistered if you can not pay but better that and have food on the table though.

[carly2579]

depending on the payment too paypal isnt  always instant either for example someone paid me  via E cheque so i have to  wait until the 10th for 4 bucks LOL

[crago10]

Thanks for the replies.

Ebay fees don't come out for 3 weeks, so I don't see why that would be relevant. The payment for the items always comes before the fees.

I always leave a few dollars in Paypal to cover fees.

 I guess some people just need to feel superior by posting judgemental stuff.

So, 8 days. Great. Thanks for the unsolicited judgement.

[carly2579]

no one is judging anyone   you asked for a opinion and i hate to be blunt but if you are that poor can you not sell your computer???

[*sparklz*]

LOL C&J

OP some have the ebay invoice in the middle of the month and some at the end of the month.

I was not having a go at you at all just wondering if you are as destitute as you say then putting food on the table is more important that ebay fees.

IF the buyers pay that is great but if not then you still do not have that money as you need it so fast.

[phorum_junkie*]

Did you say in the listing that items must be collected by DD/MM?

Did you include your phone number and ask them to contact you in the winning bidder email the buyer receives, I would look at that to see if the info was there for a pick up item but would not go back and look for an invoice, many sellers, myself included, do not send them out until a few days later as a reminder.

There is absolutely no ebay rule that says a buyer has to contact a seller, the only enforceable condition is that the buyer has to pay within 4 days after which time they have another 4 days to make payment after which the seller can close the dispute and get their FVF back.

There is no way you can insist the buyer pays straight away and you risk them refusing all together if you try and force the issue.

You can pull the buyer's contact details and give them a call to try and hurry things along but I would be VERY polite as they may just refuse to deal with you and, for a pick up item, would easily get an unpaid item strike removed.

[leader-of-the-band]

I sold a couple of items today and sent invoices immediately after the sale with phone numbers and request to contact me regarding collection of items. Both items had bids placed by the winners in the last few minutes of the sale, so they must be aware that they've won the items. It's almost 8 hrs later and no contact from either one.

Not necessarily.  They may have used a snipe service because they are unable to be at a computer at the auction ending.  They may not be aware that they have won until they check their eBay messages or email.

[crago10]

So, thinking isn't your strong point.