New unpaid item process blocks payments after strike

I don’t get many unpaid items so I’ve only just noticed the new icons in My eBay regarding payments and feedback in My eBay. There’s a new symbol – an equals sign and hovering your mouse over the symbol reveals the buyer is blocked from either making payment and/or leaving feedback.

In the changes recently rolled out to the unpaid item process eBay removed most options and now send unpaid item emails on your behalf. As well as removing direct buyer/seller communications they’ve also removed the ability to remove unpaid item strikes as well blocking a buyer from paying once the unpaid item has been closed in the resolution center.

You need to be aware that if you close an unpaid item in the shortest possible timespan the buyer will then be blocked from paying you through normal eBay channels. Also if they then do pay you off-eBay you’ll be unable to remove any unpaid item strike or notify eBay that they have subsequently paid. That’s the end of buyers begging “If I pay your fees will you remove the strike”, because from now on seller can’t remove strikes no matter how much they may wish to. The only option you’ll now be presented with is the ability to close an open case or to relist the item.

So is this a good move? Have you ever accepted payment from a buyer and removed an unpaid item strike? (I know I have). Sometimes a buyer is simply late to pay, or what about the few who still send cheques or postal orders in the mail? On the plus side it does mean you can get on and relist unpaid items within just eight days of the sale in confidence that the non-paying buyer can’t leave poor feedback and can’t pay just as you’ve resold the product to another faster paying buyer.

8 Responses on "New unpaid item process blocks payments after strike"

1. 1
   SimonL says:

   November 16, 2009 at 5:03 pm

   I have had peopl pay me after the conclusion of the dispute process, for a number of very valid reasons, so I would say no to blocking the payment, but yes to blocking the feedback until payment has been made, again
2. 2
   Lino says:

   November 17, 2009 at 8:27 am

   Bad move. We get people paying for items after the conclusion of the dispute process every week. Mostly they just forget, or have been away etc. We don’t mind them paying late, it’s better than not paying at all.

   Good move. Blocking the buyer from leaving feedback for an item they have never paid for. Never understood why eBay allowed that.
   • 2.1
     Chris Dawson says:

     November 17, 2009 at 9:57 am

     You know your own customers… if the norm in your categories isn’t to pay within 4 days simply delay opening the unpaid item and don’t close it on the 8th day.

     The only time blocking from paying comes into effect is when you CLOSE the unpaid item, from then on it’s too late and they can’t pay and you can’t remove the strike.
3. 3
   whirly says:

   November 17, 2009 at 10:17 am

   We work on the basis that it is NOT an order until its paid for.
   • 3.1
     Chris Dawson says:

     November 17, 2009 at 10:27 am

     The technical term is Cash Accounting according to your friendly tax collector.

     To be honest if any eBay seller isn’t using cash accounting their finances must be an absolute nightmare!
     • 3.1.1
       whirly says:

       November 17, 2009 at 10:30 am

       The limits restrict us from using it.
       • 3.1.1.1
         Chris Dawson says:

         November 17, 2009 at 10:37 am

         Shame – Turnover is the killer I guess. Have to say it does make things easy
         • 3.1.1.1.1
           whirly says:

           November 17, 2009 at 10:42 am

           It’s a great service,used it before.

           It’s a worrying time when you first reach the threshold for VAT. Glad that was years ago.