eBay Non-Paying Bidder?

Teague · 06-13-2006, 11:30 AM

I need some advice, guys. I've sold stuff on eBay here and there over the years, but I've never had this happen, and I'm not sure what the procedure is from here.

Basically what happened is this: I put out a full run of the Grant Morrison Seven Soldiers of Victory maxi-series, and got five bids total. The winner of the auction e-mailed me later that night with this: "I can't pay for this. Sorry." I e-mailed him back and said "I'm sorry? Explain to me what's going on. I don't want to leave negative feedback or get eBay involved, but you can't just not pay for an auction you've won." He writes me back this morning: "I'm very, very sorry sir. You can go ahead and give me a negative. I deserve it. It's my fault." Sigh.

Obviously, this is a kid with an eBay account, and probably got cut off from his folks' credit card. I checked the kid's feedback (which had been 14, now down to 13), and sure enough, he just did the same thing to someone else for a Justice League DVD set, and got a negative. Apparently did the same thing back in September of last year. (Pisses me off, though, that if that's what happened, the parent is just leaving the auction sellers high and dry to make a point to his kid, instead of honoring the contract and then not letting the kid keep the books...but I digress.)

Anyway, this kid is a lost cause, I realize, but here's my question: what do I do from here? I'm going to give the kid a negative, for sure, but beyond that? In terms of eBay? The only thing I've found is that I can send a "second chance offer" to the next highest bid. Is that worth it? And how do I let eBay know what's going on, so I don't pay fees on this lot?

Thanks for any advice, guys.

**MONSTER** · 06-13-2006, 11:42 AM

I hate it when this stuff happens. You need to file a non paying bidder alert:

http://pages.ebay.com/help/tp/unpaid-item-process.html

This will get you you final auction fees back.

Once he gets three complaints, ebay will boot him off.

galactus · 06-13-2006, 11:44 AM

Well, if you do a second chance offer and it's accepted, you'll get charged fees anyway. Also, be careful he doesn't leave you a negative just for the hell of it.

**MONSTER** · 06-13-2006, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by galactus

Also, be careful he doesn't leave you a negative just for the hell of it.

That's why I don't bother leaving negatives for non paying bidders. I am always concerned about revenge feedback. I'd just file my complaint and get my fees back.

**Vince-Vell** · 06-13-2006, 12:51 PM

I had a non paying bidder while back, and just asked what happened and why he couldnt pay. Gave some lame excuse, so i just did a second chance offer (since it was $2 less then the guy who didnt pay) and it sold. I just never contacted him again and never filed a claim or left neg feedback. So it just went away and i still sold the item.

DFury · 06-13-2006, 01:25 PM

Me, I would file a non-payer alert and get my fee's returned and leave it at that, relist the item and try again..

The negative is due, but not worth the chance of it getting returned.. All that I would really care is that I dont have to pay the fee's

df

bomen · 06-13-2006, 02:30 PM

file complaint, wait the time, get fees refunded, and immediately block the little SOB's ID...and for all future bids, filter on 10+ or better IDs,no "shades",no non-paypal accounts, etc. every little bit helps.

**JadeGiant** · 06-13-2006, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MONSTER

That's why I don't bother leaving negatives for non paying bidders. I am always concerned about revenge feedback. I'd just file my complaint and get my fees back.

ditto, hurts you more than him, and he doesn't care

PAINKILLER · 06-14-2006, 01:06 AM

You cant say Obviously its a kid, you dont know what the situation is. Everybody has problems time to time, you guys are quick to judge with no reason to. Its not that serious, just relist it with second chance offer.

sylvan · 06-14-2006, 01:25 AM

I am in a different situation. I am the buyer and i have sent a money order (his request and he had good feedback) . I sent it via registered mail and i have got unpaid item reminder from ebay. I have sent a photo of the m/o and the registered mail slip to the seller. I know It will work it self out eventually but trying to sort it out is a pain as i have done all in my power to forfill my end of the bargain. I am new to this site and love it. All keep up the good work