non response of buyer

[abbeygirl99]

What is the protocol when a buyer pays for an item but then doesn't respond to any further communications regarding the pick-up of the item they purchased?  I clearly said it was pick-up only as it was a used boxed game - they seemed happy to bid and then pay the price but have not responded in nearly 4 weeks!  I can see that they have bought other things since that time so obviously have been in contact with other sellers.  Am I responsible for refunding the money even if I don't hear from this person?

[padi*0409]

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@maranock wrote:

There laws that tell you when and how you can dispose of an item after a person pays for it but does not pick up, even for non-business transactions. These laws say how long you have to keep it and what steps you have to take to advise the buyer before you can take any action at all. From memory it is something along the lines of a month or six weeks, and a registered letter (and maybe a newspaper ad if my memory is correct).

I haven't looked up the regulations for a long time so I can't quote them out of hand, but it is best not to take chances.

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From memory maranock those laws vary from state to state as well, probably a lot easier to refund and move on rather than wade through pages reams of confusing legalese .

[maranock]

You are right, I did forget to say that I think that refunding is much easier and safer.

[brerrabbit585]

That's why I said better to refund now while they know they can still get their fees back. If they wait too long they won't be able to get their fees back but there are no guarantees that the buyer won't be able to get a refund later.