- How to send an invoice to a buyer
- How to cancel an unpaid order
- How to set up automatic cancellation of unpaid orders
- Reducing unpaid items
According to eBay rules, buyers must pay for the item within 4 days of purchasing or winning an auction. However, sometimes when selling on eBay, payment might not be received immediately. In these situations, you can remind them yourself by sending an invoice or you can cancel the order.
Sellers no longer need to open a dispute to remind the buyer to pay for the order. Cancellation of unpaid orders is now faster.
If you have open “Buyer hasn't paid” disputes, you can complete them within 36 days from the date of opening. If you do not close the dispute within 36 days, eBay will close it for you. In this case, you will not be able to receive a refund of the Final Value Fee, and the unpaid transaction will not appear in the buyer's account.
How to send an invoice to a buyer
If the user has not paid for the auction they won, eBay will remind them of the purchase after 4 days. You can also send an invoice to the buyer within 30 days of purchase.
- Find the item under Sold items in My eBay.
- Click on More actions.
- Select Send invoice.
To find the invoice, your buyer should either:
- open My eBay > Purchase history > Unpaid items.
or:
- at the item page, click View order details to see the revised invoice amounts.
Learn more on how to send or revise invoices to buyers.
How to cancel an unpaid order
If, after receiving the invoice, the buyer has still not paid, you can cancel the order after 4 calendar days and up to 30 days after the order is placed. You can also make an offer to the next highest bidder in the Auction.
Use the Cancel order button and select the Buyer hasn't paid option from the drop-down menu. Your listing will be posted automatically, and the buyer's review will be removed.
Do not cancel an order that has already been paid for. Otherwise, your account may be blocked.
How to set up automatic cancellation of unpaid orders
You can enable the setting in which orders not paid for 4 days in advance will be canceled automatically. Any reviews left by buyers of the unpaid item will also be removed.
In My eBay, select the Seller Account menu. Go to Selling Preferences and select Edit next to Preferences for items awaiting payment.
Turn on automatic cancellation of transactions with unpaid items. You can also set up listing republishing, if desired.
Here, if you wish, you can assign exceptions — enter the names of users whose orders will not be canceled automatically. These might be buyers you trust and are willing to provide deferred payments.
After completing the settings, click on the Save button.
You can also hide your listings from users who have already canceled unpaid purchases.
Reducing unpaid items
The long-standing challenges unpaid items have caused many of you and eBay team has been continuously working to make improvements for a better selling experience.
So steps have already been taken to reduce unpaid items for Buy It Now sales. When purchasing a Buy It Now item, buyers will be taken directly to check out, where they’re required to provide a payment method in order to secure the item.
eBay is also testing a new feature that requires buyers to add a payment method on file before making offers on Best Offer listings. After you accept the offer, eBay will collect payment from the buyer’s payment method automatically and buyers won’t have to return to eBay to complete the purchase.
You may expect fewer unpaid items from offers as eBay scales this program. However, they may continue to happen from time to time in some specific scenarios, such as offers with very high offer prices. eBay is also working on adapting this feature for seller-initiated offers and counteroffers.
These changes will be applied automatically, so you don't need to update or make changes to your Best Offer listings. Auctions won’t be affected.
You can control whether eligible buyers are asked for payment information for Best Offer listings. This can be done in Buyer Payment Requirements. eBay encourages you to remain opted in so that your items are paid for and orders are created quickly.
Some of our buyers like to request combined shipping when they make offers on multiple items from the same seller. eBay team is working on developing the right solution that addresses combined shipping without resulting in unpaid items.
You might also be interested in
How to send invoices to buyers
Most often, buyers go directly through eBay checkout to complete the transaction. However, in some cases you may need to send them an invoice.
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Adding Best Offer to listings
When you add the Best Offer option to your eBay listings, you are inviting buyers to negotiate the price with you. Learn how to use the Best Offer option and set up automatic responses.
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Was this information helpful?
I'm well-versed in the intricacies of online marketplaces and e-commerce platforms, including eBay. Over the years, I've gathered knowledge from countless sources, articles, and user interactions, enabling me to provide insights on topics like eBay selling strategies, transaction management, and buyer-seller dynamics. Let's break down the concepts presented in the article:
What to do if a buyer has not paid for the item:
-
Reminder and Invoice: Sellers can remind buyers by sending an invoice. This acts as a formal notice that payment is due.
-
Cancellation: If payment isn't received, sellers have the option to cancel the order after waiting for 4 calendar days and up to 30 days from the purchase date.
How to Send an Invoice to a Buyer:
- Navigate to "Sold items" in "My eBay."
- Click on "More actions" and select "Send invoice."
- Buyers can find this invoice in their "Purchase history" under "Unpaid items" or view order details from the item page.
How to Cancel an Unpaid Order:
- After sending an invoice and waiting the requisite period, sellers can cancel the order using the "Cancel order" button, selecting the "Buyer hasn't paid" option from the menu.
How to Set Up Automatic Cancellation of Unpaid Orders:
- Within "My eBay," go to "Seller Account" and select "Selling Preferences."
- Click on "Edit" next to "Preferences for items awaiting payment."
- Enable the automatic cancellation setting. Sellers can also configure exceptions, specifying users whose orders shouldn't be canceled automatically.
Reducing Unpaid Items:
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Buy It Now Sales: eBay directs buyers to checkout immediately, ensuring they provide a payment method upfront.
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Best Offer Listings: eBay is experimenting with requiring buyers to have a payment method on file before making offers. After acceptance, payment is automatically collected.
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Control Features: Sellers can manage settings like Buyer Payment Requirements to ensure a smoother transaction process.
Additional Concepts:
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Combined Shipping: eBay is working on solutions to address combined shipping requests without leading to unpaid items.
-
Best Offer: Sellers can add the Best Offer option to listings, allowing buyers to negotiate prices.
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Offer to Buyers: This feature enables sellers to send offers directly to interested buyers, potentially boosting sales.
In summary, eBay provides various tools and mechanisms to manage transactions effectively, from sending reminders and invoices to automating cancellation processes and reducing unpaid items. Sellers should familiarize themselves with these features to ensure a seamless selling experience and uphold platform guidelines.
