HELP - I think I may need help navigating a sell for a mentally-challenged buyer

[andles92]

So I had sold an electronic item a week and a half ago, waited 7 days and after two invoices, cancelled and relisted the item. I didn't think much of it as the item was gaining traction again, but then he filed a case against me for not shipping the item. Hard to ship an item I don't get paid for. I sent him a less than polite message explaining my cause to relist it and that was the end. Then my item sold again. To the same guy. With a slightly changed username. I had never received any communication the first time he bought it. I was frustrated and messaged him asking to pay for the item this time around. I got back a message than was less than coherent and got me wondering. If I am dealing with a person with mental challenges, maybe that has no support in their bidding, how do I navigate the sell? He told me he was "saving money", and something about July 4th. Even from now, that's almost two weeks after he won the item. Do I bite the bullet and wait it out? I've contacted eBay with zero help. I'm conflicted here.

[scga912]

Why some are concerned... you can't just cancel because the buyer doesn't pay.  You have to go through the Unpaid process.  Now if they ask to cancel, you have a legit reason to cancel.  A non-buyer-requested cancellation hurts your selling status.  The Unpaid hurts the buyer's status.

[luckythewinner]

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@andles92 wrote:
I totally agree. For some reason, eBay had told me I could not file a case until two weeks after. I wasn't patient, basically said f--- this guy and relisted it. 

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eBay has an unpaid item dispute process that has been in place for well over a decade. It's one of the few things about eBay that works consistently and reliably.  

There is absolutely no need to talk to eBay or have Bay talk to you. You don't even need to wait for communication from an unresponsive buyer.  You simply file the UID, wait four days, and then close it.

If you try to get around that process by relisting or canceling transactions, you are risking collateral damage in the form of defects, negative feedback, and ending up with two buyers for the same item. 

[wpt05]

In the future use the Unpaid Item Assistant Preferences.  Click below.  

http://rebulk.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?UPIPreferences

This will:

- Automatically open an unpaid item case in the time frame you specify.  

- Automatically close the case, if they buyer does not pay.  

- Give you the option to automatically relist the item, if closed without payment.  

[ravenm._71]

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@andles92 wrote:

QUICK UPDATE: 

He sent me another message stating in his words "I Wait Until Are By My Good Birthday Is July 4 For Get This One". 

My reply was pay now or cancel. Regardless, the case is opening against him in a few days.

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If he pays, your feedback might take a hit...

[soh.maryl]

There are times when we tend to over-think things.

A seller can open an unpaid item case 48 hours after the end of the listing.

He can return to that case and ask eBay to step in 4 days later.

There is no need for back and forth messaging or sending any further invoices.

There is no need to worry about his mental status.

If you want to treat eBay as a business, it's a good idea to use ALL the tools eBay offers you.

One of those tools is the unpaid item case.  

[slati_2013]

Turn your Unpaid Item Assistant on.