Invoice discussion: to send or not to send, that is the question

[beastiebabe007]

Morning, all!

The purpose of this thread is to get some input from other sellers (buyers too, if any want to comment) on whether or not to send an invoice after an auction or best offer (I use IPR with BIN, so doesn't apply to that one). I have been sending them so the buyer has it for his/her records. My logic behind that comes from working in my grandparents' security company, where everything got an invoice. It was pretty much automatic. So, when I began selling on eBay, I naturally sent invoices to my buyers.

However, I have seen in some other threads that invoices are only sent if the buyer doesn't pay for a few days and could potentially be taken the wrong way. My custom has always been to send one to the winning bidder immediately following the close of my auction, just as a business practice; no snarky intentions. The invoices include a thank you, repeat my shipping terms, and give info on my return policy (all the nice topics eBay says to include in the message to buyer). Thus far, it hasn't bitten me on the rear, but I'm just looking for some input from you knowledgeable folks.

Is it offensive to buyers if I send an invoice? Or is it an acceptable business practice?

Thought about posting this in SC, but I'm more comfortable posting here. 🙂

Discussion is good, as long as its done respectfully 😉

Thanks!

[beastiebabe007]

ACK! Yep, that is the kind of thing I'd be worried about. I do put in there "This invoice is for your records" so it doesn't look like I'm harassing for payment (which I'm not!). I have always just sent it for their records, as I did with my family's business.

It has been awhile since I bought anything on here, and when I did, I paid immediately so I don't remember seeing what eBays notices look like. Are they actually an invoice or just a notice that the buyer has won the item?

Ughh...someday MAYBE I will get the hang of eBay. At which point I will be running listings from my retirement home as a crazy toothless old lady LOL

Until then, live, learn, and probably make many mistakes lol.

[kali-the-pup]

Ughh...someday MAYBE I will get the hang of eBay...

Hi babe :-D, I don't think we will ever entirely get it. As honda says, there's allot to learn.

I notice that every time I get to thinking, I have the hang of things...
eBay makes some changes and the learning process starts again.

That's what I like about our board, you get to learn through shared experience.

B-)

[beastiebabe007]

That's what I like about our board, you get to learn through shared experience.

B-)

Hi 2M2M! Yep, this is an awesome board! I have posted many a dumb question and no one ever gets snarky with me, or points out that I am a dumb-@$$. I do read and occasionally post to some of the other boards, but I'd be afraid to post a thread or ask a question. I have seen some downright NASTY replies on some of those boards! I come here to learn, not to get ripped to shreds! Fortunately, there are the Pharties :-x

[hondamedic]

Fortunately, there are the Pharties :-x

And now you are one!

Wear your badge proudly. Contribute when you can. Soak up the experiences of others, good or bad. Offer a shoulder to cry on or an ear to listen. Now that you know what Phartie's are all about, bask in the knowledge you see the difference between here and other Phorums!

[beastiebabe007]

Fortunately, there are the Pharties :-x

And now you are one!

Wear your badge proudly. Contribute when you can. Soak up the experiences of others, good or bad. Offer a shoulder to cry on or an ear to listen. Now that you know what Phartie's are all about, bask in the knowledge you see the difference between here and other Phorums!

Thanks Honda! It is an honor to be awarded this official Phartie badge and be accepted into the Phorum by my Phellow Pharties 😄

I have learned much from this Phorum and I'm sure I will continue learning every day. I hope other new sellers take advantage of all the knowledge here, as it has definitely helped me. As I gain knowledge (someday lol) I will gladly pass it along to others.

Thanks again for accepting me into the Phabulous Phartie Phorum!

(sorry couldn't resist having a bit of "phun" 😉 )

[sheba*]

My 2 Cents....

My TOS Terms indicate payment is expected within E-Bay's 4 day guideline.

I don't send an invoice at auction close (except for multiple purchases) because E-Bay sends a notice out.

If I don't receive payment I'll wait till the 5th or 6th day (depending on if it's a weekend or not) and send an invoice with a note: Please don't forget about me.

I've never had a non-paying bidder. (Knock on wood)

If I would not receive payment within another few days without some communication from the buyer (again, depending if it's a weekend or not) would then open a non-paying bidder action.

[hondamedic]

http://forums.ebay.com/db2/topic/Feedback/Pos-Feeback-But/5200014176

Condensed version:

"The user won the auction on Friday(only bidder)
After 2 days and not receiving payment I sent a note asking if there was any problems that I should be aware of. He paid shortly there after.
Monday before I even shipped the item I noticed that he left me positive feedback, 1 word 'great' but noticed that my DSR was lower and now on my dashboard shows 1s or 2s on all rows.

left me positive feedback(great) but low DSR's(1s? or 2s?) before I even shipped the item.

I realize it wasn't an invoice but contacting this buyer didn't work out well for the seller. I also know that you could go for years without having this problem, contacting buyer shortly after auction ending with what would seem like "Where's my money?!" type note, but it can.

Be patient. Give your buyer some time. eBay sent them a notice they won. They'll pay when they get around to it. If they don't, let the UIA take care of it. Just my opinion of course.

[ed93013]

I send them, but I have everything set so that they don't really get anything else from me. And I have a little standard blurb in there that says:

Hi (name),

Congratulations on winning this item!

You can make your PayPal payment at any time in the next 4 days. At that time, your item will be shipped within 24 hours and a tracking number will be provided.

I know you're going to love this (item.) If you have any questions - before or after you receive this item - feel free to contact me.

Thanks again,

(name)

Since I started doing this a couple of years ago, I notice that I don't really ever have that group of special people who drop me an email two seconds after they pay see why their item isn't there, where their tracking number is and how come I've not gotten in touch with them, etc.

I know everyone has different styles and some sellers will think this is overkill, but for my type of customers, for my merchandise, it somehow works better than not sending, which I tried for a while and it was just a lot of....work.

[hondamedic]

Seller Sends Reminder

"I have not received payment from you so I am assuming that you did not get my invoice. I want you to know that in the listing for the jeans it said to please pay within 4 days, which has passed by now. I would appreciate it if you could please pay by 12pm tomorrow. If not, I will have to re-list the item and file a non-paying buyer claim. I'm sorry"

Buyer responds:

"yur a vry RUDE seller and i will mk a point to nvr buy from u again oh an ull be getting bad feedback from me...sooooooo sorrrryyyy"

Can you see what went wrong here? eBay sent an invoice, seller sent an invoice then seller sent that as a reminder? The "ultimatum" is the straw that breaks the camel's back, 'Pay by high-noon tomorrow or you'll suffer the consequences!'.... All the "please" and "sorry" from the seller is useless when you threaten action that will not be well received. As a seller, how would you feel if a buyer sends a message with "........I will leave poor FB & low DSR's if you don't".....? Exactly.

[wolf9494]

personally, I kind of see sending an invoice in the same light as beating a dead horse

ebay sends one, thus I have no reason to do the same

so far I have been fortunate, and My buyers have all payed within an hour of auction close

when I buy on here, I pay immediately

My opinion is simply, if it has been several days since the close of an auction and no payment has been made, a quick message to the buyer is all thats needed at most

naturally, this should be carefully phrased, so as not to bring the hounds of hell upon ones self

just My 2 cents worth

~whats the FVF on that ebay ? ?  ?~

[workingtomuch38]

I wait till the morning of the 4th day!

[niecyann79]

I see that my policies are echoed in some others responses but...

If a buyer (no matter which way they purchase an item) does not pay immediately, I always send them an invoice.

On the invoice I of course thank them for their purchase and let them know my payment terms and that I will ship the following business day.

If the buyer has won or selected the buy-it-now option on multiple listings I will do my best to give them a discount on shipping.

I will send out a second invoice if the buyer doesn't pay I will give the a second opportunity just before my auto-report kicks in.

[pepper_rocks]

Ebay doesn't send out "you won" notices or invoices anymore. I haven't gotten one in over a year and I didn't block them from coming to my email. Ebay doesn't even send out the adjusted invoice notices either. It is now the buyers responsibility to thoroughly check their my ebay summary page to see what's going on if they need to.

There will always be buyers who will stall in paying but I'm starting to wonder if the confusion is because ebay isn't communicating. It could be their strategy to weed out more sellers from the dsr's getting slammed.

[hondamedic]

 Morning Pepper.

You sure? Please check......

Home Page > Account Tab > Communication Preferences >  (Under Buyer)  Buying Activity Show (Under) Send me an email what is showing in the Won Box?

Thanx!

[pepper_rocks]

 Morning Pepper.

You sure? Please check......

Home Page > Account Tab > Communication Preferences >  (Under Buyer)  Buying Activity Show (Under) Send me an email what is showing in the Won Box?

Thanx!

Honda did you get my message because I checked my sent messages to see if you received it and its not listed in my sent messages. Weird.