How to Avoid Non Paying eBayer Buyers

It is a great feeling when you make a sale.  Even if you sell 20 or more listings per day on eBay.  It would be an even better feeling if all of your Buyers Paid For The Purchase when they were supposed to.  As soon as a sale is made, eBay sends the buyer an automatic notice that they won the listing and how to pay for it.

After a sale is made I also send the buyer an invoice.  On the invoice I give them the shipping options if any,  thank them for their purchase and let them know that payment id due within 2 business days.  If payment is not received after 2 days I sent them a 2nd invoice.  A third invoice is sent to them 3 days later with a friendly note saying their payment is now overdue and I ask them if they still want this product.

If payment is not received and especially if the buyer has not even responded to you, then you can open up an unpaid case with eBay.  The buyer then has one week to make payment or eBay will give them an unpaid strike on their eBay account.  If a buyer receives enough strikes their eBay account may be closed down.  Many eBay sellers mark their buyer acceptance options to not allow anyone who has more than 2 unpaid strikes within the past six months.  This is protection for the seller and another incentive for the buyer to pay.

eBay allow you to open up unpaid cases individually.  An easier method is to opt in for the unpaid assistant option.  eBay will automatically take care of the process for you.  Once you have choosen to have the unpaid assistant work on your behalf, you can also add buyers who do not pay to your Block Buyers List.  This prevents the same buyer from causing you this same problem again.  You can add anyone to your Block Buyers List you want, including very difficult buyers and people who have left you negative feedback.

As an ebay Seller you have a few options here.  If a buyer sends you an email asking you to cancel the purchase, you may choose to honor their request and check that both the buyer and seller mutually agreed to cancel the purchase.  The buyer does not get an unpaid strike and you still receive your listing fee credit back.  You can do this whenever you feel it is warranted.  However, if you really want the buyer to go through with the sale, then you will probably choose the unpaid case route.