How long do you wait for someone to pay?

turtlejd · Jan 18th, 2007, 02:02 AM

I'm new to eBay and just sold a few things. In one of the auctions, the winner has not paid and it has been over 24 hours. She asked me a bunch of questions before bidding and bid at the last second. I have sent her an invoice and an e-mail inquiring about when I should expect payment, but I have had no response. How long should I wait? or what should I do? Thanks! Any advice would be appreciated.

noshoepolish · Jan 18th, 2007, 02:36 AM

eBay gives them a week. You can't file for non-paying bidder until the 8th day.

Usually I have something in my auction saying paypal due within 5 days, money order or cashiers check due in 10 days. Please notify me within 3 days of auction close with method of payment.

You have to remember, buyers might be sellers, waiting for money to come in. Most people pay within 3-4 days tops. I get a few who push it to 8 days. If they don't pay by the 8th day, the almost always never will.

noshoepolish · Jan 18th, 2007, 02:37 AM

Make sure you check your spam folder for a reply from the bidder.

deedee52 · Jan 18th, 2007, 02:37 AM

I've sold on eBay for the last couple of years and it is not uncommon for someone to take up to a week to pay. You shouldn't even give 24 hrs. a second thought. A little advice for next time would be to post your payment expectation right in the payment detail section of your listing. For now you emailing this person about when to expect payment is great. Don't worry. DeeDee

turtlejd · Jan 18th, 2007, 03:18 AM

Thanks for the responses. I feel a lot better knowing that some people take longer to pay. I had 3 things for auction and 2 of the paid the second they won...and then the 3rd...thanks again though. It's making me less worried.

Lexie2000 · Jan 18th, 2007, 05:12 AM

It irks me to have answered a bunch of questions from a person, see that they bid and bid at the last minute to win it then you hear NOTHING for 3 days. When I bid at the last minute and win I pay within 30 seconds of that eBay email.
But it takes all kinds. I usually don't get paid for 3-5 days even though my auctions state they have 3 days to pay by paypal or the check or MO must be postmarked within 3 days of end of auction.

dogsb · Jan 18th, 2007, 07:12 AM

I've known people win items on say a Friday, who don't have internet access over the weekends, so they're unable to pay until the following Monday, so 24 hours is a very short period of time in which to get worried. I'm sure it'll all work out fine!

Swanky Mama Of Three · Jan 18th, 2007, 10:51 AM

24 hours is a little ambitious unless you require it, which you can't really do/enforce.
I ask for Paypal payers to pay within 5 days and all other to get payment to me within 7.
I file on the 8th day no matter what, if they pay on the 9th day, I just close my case.

hildav · Jan 18th, 2007, 02:42 PM

i send a payment request soon after the auction is won (unless it's late at night-then I wait for the following morning). Then send a reminder three days and final on seventh. Luckily I haven't had any issues.

Hilda :)

lorihmatthews · Jan 18th, 2007, 02:44 PM

I agree, 24 hours is not usually a fair amount of time to expect a buyer to pay. I ask for 5 days but if a buyer is sending me a money order it always takes longer than that.

I didn't see your auctions, but you should always clearly state in the description when you expect payment. Generally 5-7 days is reasonable.

siworae · Jan 18th, 2007, 06:29 PM

i usually pay right away... because i'm always eager to get the item i won.

i've only sold twice on eBay, and both times the buyers paid within 24 hours. i think it's normal for some buyers to take a bit longer... ebay does allow 7 days before you can file NPB

leanbeanee · Jan 19th, 2007, 02:04 AM

I don't mind waiting for payment. It's when buyers go quiet without making contact that bothers me. I ask that all buyers contact me after auction ends, even if it's to say hello. It's nerve racking when they don't.

Irissy · Jan 19th, 2007, 03:55 AM

I usually put in my descriptions that I expect payment within 3 days. Most of my buyers usually pay within 1 to 2 days but I do let some people slide if they go over 3 days (as long as they let me know via email). I love buyers that pay immediately as soon as they hit BIN or when the auction ended. I'm one of those buyers that pay asap after the auction, but then I don't expect everyone to be like me.

kathyrose · Jan 19th, 2007, 03:18 PM

Unless you stated you wanted it in 24 hours, give them a few days.

joolluver · Jan 19th, 2007, 04:07 PM

I give buyers 7 to 10 days, I'm pretty lenient about this because eBay won't allow you to file an unpaid item dispute until the 8th day. Technically ebay gives buyers 7 days to pay and sellers 7 days to ship from the date that payment is made.

I know it gets frustrating sometimes but I tell myself to remember that people have their own circumstances when it comes to money. I once had a buyer bid on something that was under ten dollars and she told me she couldn't pay until payday which was 14 days from the end of the auction and I told her that's fine. She paid and I shipped all was well. I've had lots of people who pay on day 10. If it's only been 24 hours don't sweat it.

Jan 18th, 2007, 02:02 AM	#1
turtlejd Member Location: Los Angeles	How long do you wait for someone to pay? I'm new to eBay and just sold a few things. In one of the auctions, the winner has not paid and it has been over 24 hours. She asked me a bunch of questions before bidding and bid at the last second. I have sent her an invoice and an e-mail inquiring about when I should expect payment, but I have had no response. How long should I wait? or what should I do? Thanks! Any advice would be appreciated.

Jan 18th, 2007, 02:36 AM	#2
noshoepolish Addicted to Coach	Re: How long do you wait for someone to pay? eBay gives them a week. You can't file for non-paying bidder until the 8th day. Usually I have something in my auction saying paypal due within 5 days, money order or cashiers check due in 10 days. Please notify me within 3 days of auction close with method of payment. You have to remember, buyers might be sellers, waiting for money to come in. Most people pay within 3-4 days tops. I get a few who push it to 8 days. If they don't pay by the 8th day, the almost always never will.

Jan 18th, 2007, 02:37 AM	#3
noshoepolish Addicted to Coach	Re: How long do you wait for someone to pay? Make sure you check your spam folder for a reply from the bidder.

Jan 18th, 2007, 02:37 AM	#4
deedee52 Member	Re: How long do you wait for someone to pay? I've sold on eBay for the last couple of years and it is not uncommon for someone to take up to a week to pay. You shouldn't even give 24 hrs. a second thought. A little advice for next time would be to post your payment expectation right in the payment detail section of your listing. For now you emailing this person about when to expect payment is great. Don't worry. DeeDee

Jan 18th, 2007, 03:18 AM	#5
turtlejd Member Location: Los Angeles	Re: How long do you wait for someone to pay? Thanks for the responses. I feel a lot better knowing that some people take longer to pay. I had 3 things for auction and 2 of the paid the second they won...and then the 3rd...thanks again though. It's making me less worried.

Jan 18th, 2007, 05:12 AM	#6
Lexie2000 Pursonally Affected Location: Wild Wonderful West Virginia	Re: How long do you wait for someone to pay? It irks me to have answered a bunch of questions from a person, see that they bid and bid at the last minute to win it then you hear NOTHING for 3 days. When I bid at the last minute and win I pay within 30 seconds of that eBay email. But it takes all kinds. I usually don't get paid for 3-5 days even though my auctions state they have 3 days to pay by paypal or the check or MO must be postmarked within 3 days of end of auction.

Jan 18th, 2007, 07:12 AM	#7
dogsb Member	Re: How long do you wait for someone to pay? I've known people win items on say a Friday, who don't have internet access over the weekends, so they're unable to pay until the following Monday, so 24 hours is a very short period of time in which to get worried. I'm sure it'll all work out fine! __________________ www.dogsb.com

Jan 18th, 2007, 10:51 AM	#8
Swanky Mama Of Three Location: Dallas Area	Re: How long do you wait for someone to pay? 24 hours is a little ambitious unless you require it, which you can't really do/enforce. I ask for Paypal payers to pay within 5 days and all other to get payment to me within 7. I file on the 8th day no matter what, if they pay on the 9th day, I just close my case. __________________ Holy inappropriateness!!! - a la Bethenny

Jan 18th, 2007, 02:42 PM	#9
hildav Member	Re: How long do you wait for someone to pay? i send a payment request soon after the auction is won (unless it's late at night-then I wait for the following morning). Then send a reminder three days and final on seventh. Luckily I haven't had any issues. Hilda :)

Jan 18th, 2007, 02:44 PM	#10
lorihmatthews Persian Love Location: San Francisco	Re: How long do you wait for someone to pay? I agree, 24 hours is not usually a fair amount of time to expect a buyer to pay. I ask for 5 days but if a buyer is sending me a money order it always takes longer than that. I didn't see your auctions, but you should always clearly state in the description when you expect payment. Generally 5-7 days is reasonable.

Jan 18th, 2007, 06:29 PM	#11
siworae I ♥ Hyun Bin Location: 612/952	Re: How long do you wait for someone to pay? i usually pay right away... because i'm always eager to get the item i won. i've only sold twice on eBay, and both times the buyers paid within 24 hours. i think it's normal for some buyers to take a bit longer... ebay does allow 7 days before you can file NPB __________________ My Collection 성시경: 6집 여기 내 맘 속에/ Sung Si Kyung Vol. 6 *"안녕 나의 사랑..."*

Jan 19th, 2007, 02:04 AM	#12
leanbeanee MOA Location: Aussieland	Re: How long do you wait for someone to pay? I don't mind waiting for payment. It's when buyers go quiet without making contact that bothers me. I ask that all buyers contact me after auction ends, even if it's to say hello. It's nerve racking when they don't.

Jan 19th, 2007, 03:55 AM	#13
Irissy Meow?! Location: California	Re: How long do you wait for someone to pay? I usually put in my descriptions that I expect payment within 3 days. Most of my buyers usually pay within 1 to 2 days but I do let some people slide if they go over 3 days (as long as they let me know via email). I love buyers that pay immediately as soon as they hit BIN or when the auction ended. I'm one of those buyers that pay asap after the auction, but then I don't expect everyone to be like me. __________________ Wish List: black suhali lockit MM damier azur speedy 25 B-bag RED twiggy

Jan 19th, 2007, 03:18 PM	#14
kathyrose The Bargain Hunter Location: Norman, OK	Re: How long do you wait for someone to pay? Unless you stated you wanted it in 24 hours, give them a few days. __________________ "I'll have to walk a thousand miles just to find the ground deserving of your feet." ~ Saves The Day Kathy's Bag Collection

Jan 19th, 2007, 04:07 PM	#15
joolluver Member	Re: How long do you wait for someone to pay? I give buyers 7 to 10 days, I'm pretty lenient about this because eBay won't allow you to file an unpaid item dispute until the 8th day. Technically ebay gives buyers 7 days to pay and sellers 7 days to ship from the date that payment is made. I know it gets frustrating sometimes but I tell myself to remember that people have their own circumstances when it comes to money. I once had a buyer bid on something that was under ten dollars and she told me she couldn't pay until payday which was 14 days from the end of the auction and I told her that's fine. She paid and I shipped all was well. I've had lots of people who pay on day 10. If it's only been 24 hours don't sweat it.