Ebay Non-Payment Query

[Prudie]

How long is acceptable to wait for non-payment after a bid has closed before you get ebay involved (and several polite emails sent to buyer without response)?

[heathfield]

All is revealed here...

http://pages.ebay.co.uk/help/sell/unpaid-items.html

[rccatnap]

If you've not had a reply after a week, start the non-payment proceedings, as illustrated in the link sent in the previous reply here.
It is frustrating as I've had that happen to me a couple of times. It is possible that the 'buyer' has had problems with their computer, or they're ill, but more likely they've changed their mind and haven't got the basic courtesy of telling you. People who do that regularly should be thrown off EBay. There's nothing to stop your giving a previous bidder a 'second chance offer' straight away. It's up to you. Good luck, whatever you decide.

[Prudie]

Thanks both, I guess we've been unlucky. After a clear out we put about 8 items on ebay and 3 different people have won the bids on 3 items and not paid. We've started the procedure in the link but the best outcome seems to be you get the seller's fee back but that's all. As all this time passes you can't re-advertise. I'm not sure why people do this.

[rccatnap]

Why do they do this? If there is no 'legitimate' reason, it's because they're self-centred mindless morons who don't give a damn about anybody else.
It is perfectly permissible to state in your details, when putting something up for auction that, due to previous time-wasters, if payment is not received within 48 hrs. of the auction's end, or contact is not made stating reason for delay in payment, then it will be taken up with EBay and the item will be withdrawn or offered to previous bidder.