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Buyers that make offers and don't pay...
Summary: ras3172 is frustrated with buyers who submit counteroffers on eBay but then fail to pay, leaving items unsold and without penalties for the buyers. They suggest funds should be immediately withdrawn like 'Buy It Now' purchases. eastlaneave explains that such counteroffers don't mark items as sold until payment is made and suggests countering back instead. mr_lincoln mentions the Auto-pay feature which can charge buyers after offer acceptance but notes it doesn't apply to counteroffers, which ras3172 confirms is part of the problem.
I have been selling on eBay for over 20 years. Lately I have had more than usual buyers who make an offer on one of my items that I accept only to have them not pay. When I try to communicate with them about payment- they dont respond. This is frustrating because they made the offer. It wasn't a mistake or they accidentally hit buy it now or anything - they typed in an amount to offer and hit send. Now when I accept it they don't pay nor does it show up in my unpaid items column and there is no penalty for buyers that do this. It is a waste of time- funds should be automatically withdrawn from the buyers account once the offer is accepted no different than buy it now. I feel ebay has dropped the ball allowing this to happen... is anyone else experiencing this more often lately?
mr_lincoln
Mentor2 weeks ago · EditedHi @ras3172
Actually, you DO have some options for getting paid opposed to getting stiffed on an accepted offer by either party. The process is called Auto-pay and can be turned ON or OFF for both Auctions and the Offer process near the bottom of this page in your account: Buyer management | eBay
Buyers have to submit a payment method BEFORE bidding on auctions or participating in the Offer process. THAT payment method will be charged one hour after an auction ends or an offer is accepted by either party. Buyers can change their payment method within that hour but either way THEY ARE CHARGED.
For myself I don't use it, I don't use Best offer but I sell a lot Auction format. Some Buyers want or need longer to pay for auctions and the number of UPIs I get in the course of a year is low. I don't use Best Offer for a few reasons, the main ones are 1) the price I list is the price I will sell for to hit my target profit margin and 2) Best Offer may send the wrong message, like my price is not my price and 3) Offers just drive prices down.
ras3172
OP2 weeks agoI actually have this set up this way already - but it doesn't work on someone that counter offers you- only for offer or buy it now. Sorry- I should have specified that. I only use buy it now or best offer so I send discounts to watchers but if they counter offer it is not viewed as an offer and them charged- the product remains available until they pay or in some cases don't pay for which there are no consequences to the buyer for failing to pay. Doesnt make sense.
mr_lincoln
Mentor2 weeks ago@ras3172
No that doesn't make sense. Every once in a while I get someone who messages an offer to me. On BIN items there is a Reply with offer. If they seem reasonable and I am ready to move the item I will consider the Reply with offer but do not permit counter offers. This year out of hundreds of sales I may have done that 2 or 3 times max.
eastlaneave
Mentor2 weeks ago@ras3172
Most offers from buyers will show up as sold, awaiting payment.
When a buyer counteroffers an offer from a seller, and
the seller accepts that counteroffer, then
it doesn't show as sold.
The item is available for anyone to buy until the 'buyer' pays the offer amount.
I don't fully understand the reason why it's set up this way, but it's helpful to understand.
ras3172
OP2 weeks agoYes- this is what I am talking about- it is a counter offer (i should have specified that). It doesn't show as sold or count as unpaid item - it should be no different than the buy it now and payment should go through once I accept their offer.
eastlaneave
Mentor2 weeks ago@ras3172
I agree it should be the same. But for now, it isn't.
One option is not to accept a counteroffer, but instead counter back.