How quickly do you open an Unpaid Item Case?

[edzzz_vinyl]

I just started selling records on eBay a couple months ago (been selling on DIscogs for years) and this past weekend a few of my auctions ended. I’m in the US and someone in Australia bid on 2 at the last second and won them at the starting price. Fine with me, but since they are going to Australia shipping was set at $25 per album. 

After my auctions ended I actually weighed those 2 records in the cardboard mailer and looked up combined shipping cost by weight on USPS.com. $35 was the cost so I combined items on one invoice and sent it to the buyer with the new shipping rate.

That was over 48 hours ago and I haven’t received payment or heard a peep from the buyer.

I googled and read that if no payment has been sent in over 48 hours the seller can open an Unpaid Item Case, but I’m wondering if that’s common practice? Do most eBay sellers escalate that quickly or do they give the person a little longer to respond? I thought about messaging the buyer again, but I don’t want to be pushy. Although I also don’t want to sit in limbo waiting for payment that’s never going to come.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

[mam98031]

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@tunicaslot wrote:

Thank you mam - very nicely put.

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Your welcome.  Glad you enjoyed it.

[castlemagicmemories]

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@castlemagicmemories wrote:

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@wpt05 wrote:

@castlemagicmemories 

I had my customer service hat on.  I try to be courteous at all times.  Having done customer service in different forms I've learned to not take things personally and remain calm.  You never know what a buyer's situation is.  They may be having a bad day, or month, or year.  

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Outstanding, you are restoring my faith in humanity.  Many here don't have your experience, and that can lead to problems, but one would think courtesy and common sense like yours would prevail.  

Hopefully what you have is catching!

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Unfortunately there is an adversarial situation that may play out, and Ebay did not create the adversarial situation, IMO.  It's refreshing to know that you "get" it!  The very tone of these boards is detrimental.  Buyers have posted on this Board and others that they hate what sellers think of them, having read the Selling Board.  Yet they don't understand that this hurts sales.  Frequently the blame is put on the buyer, without any justification.  That hurts sales as well but...you know it is always easy to blame someone else.

I commend you! 

[luckythewinner]

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@edzzz_vinyl wrote:

How quickly do you open an Unpaid Item Case?

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I wait three weeks before I even send a reminder.

Then I file a UID after four weeks. 

90% pay same day. 99% have paid after 3 days. 100% have paid by week two. 

I haven't had to file a UI in three years at least. 

[mam98031]

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@luckythewinner wrote:

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@edzzz_vinyl wrote:

How quickly do you open an Unpaid Item Case?

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I wait three weeks before I even send a reminder.

Then I file a UID after four weeks. 

90% pay same day. 99% have paid after 3 days. 100% have paid by week two. 

I haven't had to file a UI in three years at least. 

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Dang that is running way to close to the time when you can't file a UID for my liking.  If I'm off by a couple days, then I would just be out of luck as you have to file a UID within 32 days.  But of course we all have the right to make these choices for ourselves and I'm glad your policy works for you.

[castlemagicmemories]

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@luckythewinner wrote:

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@edzzz_vinyl wrote:

How quickly do you open an Unpaid Item Case?

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I wait three weeks before I even send a reminder.

Then I file a UID after four weeks. 

90% pay same day. 99% have paid after 3 days. 100% have paid by week two. 

I haven't had to file a UI in three years at least. 

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I see that your policy works for you, and works very well!  Congratulations!  Obviously you know what you are doing, but then again, I never doubted that.