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How soon do you open unpaid item disputes?
 

I'm wondering, how soon do you open an unpaid item dispute after a transaction ended? I know eBay recommends 30 days after buying, but I feel like if buyers don't pay within the first few days, they won't ever pay. I have a buyer who's complaining right now that I opened a dispute 6 days after she bought the item. I messaged her twice and she didn't answer, so I opened a dispute and now she's complaining saying that she won't be able to pay until mid-December.

Am I being unreasonable? :s How soon do you open unpaid item disputes on non-communicating buyers?

I think your instincts were right to open a dispute. Why on earth would you buy something and then expect that you can pay 5 weeks later.

If you try to contact any buyer twice within 6 days without reply you are not being unreasonable in opening a dispute.

I never message. I just wait the 4 days required to wait by ebay and file unpaid item right away. I don't even contact them. They aren't scared of me, but are of ebay. 50% of the time the buyers pay after filing. I don't see the logic in waiting 30 days.

I have the unpaid item assistant open cases exactly 4 days after the auction ends if they haven't paid and it automatically closes it 4 days after opened.

The most I do is send an invoice after 3 days have gone by, but never personally send them a message. I have had a TON of deadbeats lately.

If they aren't responding to messages or paid in 3-5 days they probably aren't going to. Just open the dispute to get your fees back when you can and relist in the meantime.

I also have the auto unpaid case set at 4 days, with each day that passes there is less and less chance that a person will pay for the items they so called bought.

And when ever I get a message if they can pay for their items for over a week in the future, I just delete the message and let the auto unpaid thing do its magic. I dont have time to deal with people like that with all the morons coming out to play during the Christmas season.

I just want to sell, pack, and ship, not sell, wait for payment, and wait more for payment.

I open those babies the 1st day I can.. i always follow up message as well.

She is saying she can't pay till mid dec? thats a little crazy.

If i get anyone that gripes i just say ok i'll be cool and when you pay the case will close etc etc, i also say the cases are nothing personal i just have to get fees back etc etc, most of the time they are cool i never really get any seriously pissed off people.

but mid dec, i'd say sorry thats way to long and see if you can just can the transaction or something, or just go and close the case and move on... can she leave feedback for stuff she didn't pay for?

Automatic. I tend to give the buyer the benefit of the doubt, but if i dont hear back from them, I dont hesitate. Dont forget to block them as well.

I open that thing right away. I can't stand buyers who buy but don't pay. All they are is a waste of my time...

I agree, but if they have a nice amount of feedback, I always send a courtesy email, and if I hear no response I open it immediately. I always hate losing a sale....

I sell 3 items a day across 2 accounts via auction style listings ranging from 100-200. Since I don't sell a ton of items, those winners who don't pay really get to me.

I have had some buyers who win like 2 of my auctions, and only pay for one. Yes I ship out the item but I do not leave feedback and permanently block them.

I ALWAYS check the bidding history of low feedback bidders as well. If I see that they have bid on a lot of items in a short period, bid on high priced items and have not received feedback, or if they have bid on items similar to mine in a short period of time....I cancel their bid before the auction even ends and I block them. I also block buyers who ask me numerous questions or ask me anything that is already in the auction description.

I try my best to head problems off early. And when I block, I block across ALL accounts.