posted on June 10, 2004 04:15:13 PM new
20 days in both cases.
Always a few that don't reply to invoice. Since I don't pester them with reminders, the first they remember that they bid on anything is when they get the NPB alert notice from eBay. (10 days) Same is true for those that acknowledge that they won, and reply to invoice but don't pay in 10 days.
"The only thing more expensive than an education is ignorance" B. Franklin
posted on June 10, 2004 04:41:57 PM new
I relist on a non-contact after 9 days, and 20 for those who contacted me regarding payment.
9 days seems like a short time, but I do specify in my auction terms to contact me within 3 days of the end of auction. I send a reminder on the 5th day, and file a NPB warning on the 7th day. that gives them 48 hours to contact after that. I've seen an increase in the number of good rating bidders as well which is frustrating. They ignore the reminders as well. Generally the NPB warning gets them rolling.
If I have to file a FVF and they suddenly contact me to pay for their item I charge them a $20.00 FVF removal fee during the first 30 days, and $50 after the 30 days. I've now had two takers on this, one for $50 and one for $20. I'm simply tired of managing these people like they are children. If they need a babysitter and still can't get it done right, then I'll charge them for it. I figure if they can register to use ebay and can figure out how to place a bid, then they should be able to follow the rules of my auction.
posted on June 10, 2004 04:58:30 PM new
I don't worry about whether or not they contact me after the auction ends.
I send a reminder if payment is not received in approximately 14 days, and again in 21 stating I will have to file NPB through Ebay if payment is not received in the next 10 days. Then, at the end of 30 days I file NPB, 40 days FVF and relist. I had a whole bunch of deadbeats in February, but I usually only have to file NPBs on 1 or 2 people a month and 90% of them pay as soon as they get the letter from Ebay.
That may seem like a lot, but it is all set up through form letter emails and reminders can be easily sent to all who need them at one time. I only deal with these once each week. I can also tell at a glance when the auction ended.
Edited to add:
85% of my buyers pay through PP as soon as the auction ends so it really doesn't affect but maybe 5 people a week at most.
posted on June 10, 2004 05:33:22 PM new
A lot depends on my current mood, but I usually give the buyer the benefit of the doubt. I send an EOA message, then 3 days later a "second notice, please reply" message. I think about 20 days or so is my limit, especially if I've heard nothing from the winning bidder.
Things do happen in people's lives. Even I, perfect though I may be!!, have overlooked the need to pay the seller--once. I was grateful for a reminder e-mail.
___________________________________
As I've matured, I've learned . .
#2. . . that the people you care most about in life are taken from you too soon and all the less important ones just never go away. And the real pains in the butt are permanent.
posted on June 10, 2004 07:09:00 PM new
I use the standard procedure. After 10 days & the NPB, I relist & file for FVF.
[ edited by sanmar on Jun 10, 2004 07:09 PM ]
posted on June 11, 2004 06:44:05 AM new
I give them the benefit of the doubt -- 21 days if no contact at all. Sometimes these people send checks without telling you, and they come after several weeks.
14 days - 2 weeks is long enough for anyone to answer your emails and notices.
But I would send a "final notice" via email at the 10-day mark warning that the item will be re-listed on day 14 if they don't respond.
2) The bidder confirms winning the auction, but doesn't send payment?
20 days - Since eBay has that 30-day window where if you re-list and it sells, you get a credit for one of your insertion fees, I wouldn't let it go past 20 - 21 days.
Here, too, I would send a "final notice" warning the buyer that he or she risks losing the item to a re-listing. I would make it clear that any check that arrives after the item has been re-listed on day 20 will be marked "void" and returned and a NPB will be issued.
I've had only one auction where I re-listed and the check finally arrived the next day. But before I re-listed, I sent a "final notice" giving the buyer 24 hours to contact me and let me know if the check had been mailed or to make a payment via PayPal. He didn't respond, so I went ahead and re-listed. I wrote VOID across the check, xeroxed it and kept a copy, and returned it. He sent me some nasty emails about the NPB, but I pointed out that I had the whole email trail over X number of days and a record of my long-distance call to Ohio to prove that I had made every effort to contact him and he had had ample time to respond, and if he kept sending me nasty emails, I would forward them to "trust and safety." He went poof and disappeared.
