Poll of the Day > Why do people bid on things on eBay and then just not pay

(+) Yeah! (+)

Happened 3 times in the last couple months. They dont even respond to any messages once its apparent they dont want to pay for the item either. Like if something happens its understandable, Im not gonna tear someone a new one because they changed their mind or need the money for something else.

It normally means relisting the item since other bidders have usually gotten the other item by the time things get resolved with the non-payer. Its just an annoying waste of time. One dude asked for a few days so he could pay when he got paid, which was fine, but then he just never responded after that or ever paid for the item.
---

That's never happened to me when selling anything, but it sounds like it sucks. Selling on there is stressful enough as it is

Pretty sure they're just hoping you'll send them something and they'll just get to take it for free.
---

Mead posted...

Happened 3 times in the last couple months. They dont even respond to any messages once its apparent they dont want to pay for the item either. Like if something happens its understandable, Im not gonna tear someone a new one because they changed their mind or need the money for something else.

It normally means relisting the item since other bidders have usually gotten the other item by the time things get resolved with the non-payer. Its just an annoying waste of time. One dude asked for a few days so he could pay when he got paid, which was fine, but then he just never responded after that or ever paid for the item.

what? it says on ebay that if you win the bid that you are bound to buy it. Ebay doesn't enforce this?
---

UT1999 posted...

Mead posted...

Happened 3 times in the last couple months. They dont even respond to any messages once its apparent they dont want to pay for the item either. Like if something happens its understandable, Im not gonna tear someone a new one because they changed their mind or need the money for something else.

It normally means relisting the item since other bidders have usually gotten the other item by the time things get resolved with the non-payer. Its just an annoying waste of time. One dude asked for a few days so he could pay when he got paid, which was fine, but then he just never responded after that or ever paid for the item.

what? it says on ebay that if you win the bid that you are bound to buy it. Ebay doesn't enforce this?

They arent really in a position to as far as I know, despite their terms. If the item was received by the buyer they might have cause to compell them to pay up I would guess

I think it just puts a negative mark on their eBay account and they close it if it keeps happening
---

I hate when that happens. I actually got a negative feedback from some piece of shit who decided not to pay for an item after two weeks (my policy is one, so Douchebag got an extra week). I canceled the order and then he decided to be cute and pay for it after that.

I refunded the money and everything and still got a negative.

Fucking asshole.
---

ebay should enforce it, it clearly says it when you bid. You were the seller and guys keep doing this to you?
---

rexcrk posted...

I hate when that happens. I actually got a negative feedback from some piece of shit who decided not to pay for an item after two weeks (my policy is one, so Douchebag got an extra week). I canceled the order and then he decided to be cute and pay for it after that.

I refunded the money and everything and still got a negative.

Fucking asshole.

so sellers really fear a negative rating? I thought it was kinda no big deal. One time one dude basically told me to go ahead and give him a neg. rating and that he didn't really care.
---

UT1999 posted...

rexcrk posted...

I hate when that happens. I actually got a negative feedback from some piece of shit who decided not to pay for an item after two weeks (my policy is one, so Douchebag got an extra week). I canceled the order and then he decided to be cute and pay for it after that.

I refunded the money and everything and still got a negative.

Fucking asshole.

so sellers really fear a negative rating? I thought it was kinda no big deal. One time one dude basically told me to go ahead and give him a neg. rating and that he didn't really care.

I dont fear it, I just hated the situation. I dont like having my reputation tarnished because some fuck face decided to play games. Plus, there are buyers out there who only buy from people with 100% positive feedback rating.
---

How would they enforce it though? Sending the debt to collections isnt a guarantee that they will pay and can take a long time even if it works. Plus eBay would have to pay the collections agency.

Ive sold a lot of stuff and most people pay immediately when an auction ends. Its just the rare scumbag that bids with no intention to purchase I guess
---

what percent would you estimate win the bid and don't end up paying? i've wondered around how often it happens to sellers
---

UT1999 posted...

what percent would you estimate win the bid and don't end up paying? i've wondered around how often it happens to sellers

Maybe 5% at the most
---

They get caught up in the heat of bidding then later decide they don't want it at that price? Or maybe sometimes they bid on multiple auctions for the same thing then decide to go with the lowest?

idk, a few times when I've tried to get a seller to cancel my bid when I made a mistake or found something else, they never responded and I've paid for everything I've won -- although I've been stiffed at least a few times but, because the seller stalled out the window, I wasn't even able to leave negative feedback let alone get my money back.

Not to mention the times when a seller has sent me the wrong item then wanted me to pay the return shipping on their fuckup.
---

Zeus posted...

They get caught up in the heat of bidding then later decide they don't want it at that price? Or maybe sometimes they bid on multiple auctions for the same thing then decide to go with the lowest?

idk, a few times when I've tried to get a seller to cancel my bid when I made a mistake or found something else, they never responded and I've paid for everything I've won -- although I've been stiffed at least a few times but, because the seller stalled out the window, I wasn't even able to leave negative feedback let alone get my money back.

i've kinda had this happen too. Not bids cause i never bid, but a seller will see that you're trying to cancel the order, like maybe 3 mins. after you pressed order, they should check if you want to cancel before they ship out, but maybe they see it and don't care figuring you'll just keep it anyway, what's he gonna do?
---

there's a setting in selling preferences to automatically block people from bidding who received more than one unpaid item strike within 12 months, enable this setting problem solved

If you don't pay, your account should be closed.

Zeus posted...

They get caught up in the heat of bidding then later decide they don't want it at that price? Or maybe sometimes they bid on multiple auctions for the same thing then decide to go with the lowest?

That isn't how it should work though. eBay tends to bend to buyers' wants, but you're not supposed to bid if you have no intention of paying.

Rockies posted...

Zeus posted...

They get caught up in the heat of bidding then later decide they don't want it at that price? Or maybe sometimes they bid on multiple auctions for the same thing then decide to go with the lowest?

That isn't how it should work though. eBay tends to bend to buyers' wants, but you're not supposed to bid if you have no intention of paying.

Sure. It's not suppose to be like that. But people suck sometimes. So, they'll do it.

Also, they could be trying to sell the same item. So, they pretend to bid on yours so that people can buy the one they're trying to sell... Possibly...
---