Buyers that do not pay

[piperrs-33]

I am a new seller on eBay.  I'm trying to build an account but I am becoming discouraged by the number of "buyers" who make offers and then do not pay for the item.  The item gets taken off my for-sale page and is stuck in limbo. How do other sellers deal with this situation? Thank you for any suggestions.

[nobody*s_perfect]

The only way to avoid unpaid item is to list in fixed price format, and check off the "Immediate payment required" (IPR) option.  

Unfortunately, IPR doesn't apply to completed auction-format listings, nor to accepted offers or counteroffers.  IIRC eBay is starting to roll out a requirement for buyers to provide payment info when sending an offer, but this is just starting out.

[chevymontecarlo88]

As nobody*s_perfect stated, the immediate payment required option does not work on Best Offer options. 

When i get offers, i typically will message the potential buyer with a question to see if they respond and if they are committed to the offering price. You can click on their name and add the item number (reference to item offer) to send them an Ebay message. Some times you will get a quick response and other times crickets. 

Some customers are not familiar with Ebay and/or do not check their messages often.  (Ebay or Email)

By reaching out before hand, it may give you an insight on how they communicate before you decide to accept the offer. 

It can get frustrating to accept offers during peak times (holidays, weekends ect. ) just to have your item sit in limbo until it is cancelled for non payment. Once cancelled so you can relist, they window of opportunity may have passed. (holiday ect. ) 

By sending a message before hand may soften the impact of non payers. 

-Chevymontecarlo88

[katzrul15]

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@piperrs-33 wrote:

I am a new seller on eBay.  I'm trying to build an account but I am becoming discouraged by the number of "buyers" who make offers and then do not pay for the item.  The item gets taken off my for-sale page and is stuck in limbo. How do other sellers deal with this situation? Thank you for any suggestions.

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@piperrs-33 

As a brand-new Seller with no FB, you may be getting targeted some by scam buyers on these "offers".

1.  Be sure to Add these Buyers to your Blocked Buyer List that do not Pay. 

2.  Set your settings so that these Buyers receive a "strike" for non-payment.

3.  Consider buying a little and building some Feedback on this ID.

Good luck to you - better sales await!

[pickermall]

Fixed price listings with "Immediate Payment Required" does the trick every time!

[ckimodog]

Avoid auction style listings with best offers and list all your items at a fixed buy it now price with immediate payment required checked off.  Sport bidders and non-paying bidders steer clear of these listings as they must pay instantly.  Also-Do not add the best offers option with the BIN or they can still annoy you and not pay.

Good luck!

[soh.maryl]

Do you know what to do when you have a non-paying bidder?

If that bidder hasn't paid in 96 hours, you cancel, citing "buyer didn't pay" as the reason.

Buyer gets a strike and you are free to relist the item.

Incidentally, you refer to buyers who "make offers and then do not pay for the item".  

Buyers who only make offers are not buyers.  Unless you accept the offer, the buyer isn't required to pay.

[luckythewinner]

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@piperrs-33 wrote:

I am a new seller on eBay.  I'm trying to build an account but I am becoming discouraged by the number of "buyers" who make offers and then do not pay for the item.  The item gets taken off my for-sale page and is stuck in limbo. How do other sellers deal with this situation?

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If you touched a bare wire three times and got an electric shock each time, would you touch it a fourth time?

If you are accepting offers and people are not paying, then stop accepting offers. If you like an offer, change your listing and sell it at the offer price instead.