How long to wait for a buyer to finish purchasing the item?

[cde.dec.gv5lf048j]

A buyer won an item that I had up for auction. He is unresponsive to my requests for payment. How long do I have to wait to cancel the order and will I receive any financial penalty for it?

[mtgraves7984]

If your buyer hasn't paid after 96 hours, then on Day 5 you can cancel the sale citing 'Buyer didn't pay'.

You will only be out the $.30 Transaction Fee (no additional 'penalty') and will be free to relist. Good luck.

[fashunu4eeuh]

eBay allows buyers four full days to pay before the seller can cancel for non-payment and then be given a no-pay strike on the buyer’s account. There is no penalty for the seller.

[ckimodog · Accepted solution]

@cde.dec.gv5lf048j 

A buyer has 4 days to make payment.  If payment is not received by day 5, cancel the sale citing buyer did not pay.  The penalty is they will get a strike against their account.  You should also block them from further bidding on any of your other items:

https://www.ebay.com/bmgt/BuyerBlock

New sellers are targets for sport and non paying bidders.  If you would like this behavior to cease,  list all your items with a fixed price, buy it now and immediate payment checked off.  No best offers either.  You will seldom if ever get a non paying bidder again.

Good luck and happy selling!

[redmodelt]

And after you have canceled for nonpayment add to your blocked buyers list; 

https://www.ebay.com/bmgt/BuyerBlock

[chapeau-noir]

Also, no need to be sending requests for payment - eBay pesters them already with invoices so they know.  They'll either pay or they won't - sending reminders is just wasting your own time.

Be sure you cancel for non-payment if they don't pay - they'll get the non-payment strike.  Sellers can set up their buyer requirements to block buyers with 2 or more non-payment strikes in a rolling 12-month period.