STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

scarlett · Marc Jacobs

how long to wait for someone to pay?

Elle · Hermes

Do you have a line in your auction that states when payment is due by? Almost all the ones I've seen say that payment is due within 2 days, 4 days, 7 days, etc or the item will be relisted. Is the buyer waiting for an invoice, maybe?

twinkle · Coach

i think a week is standard unless you specify otherwise.

BargainQueen · Marc Jacobs

Have you sent the buyer an invoice yet? I only have internet access at work, so if I snipe the item over the weekend, I can't log on to pay until Monday when I come into work, so maybe she's at work/school and has to wait to go home to log on. If they haven't paid within 2-3 days, I would start emailing them for status.

scarlett · Marc Jacobs

I don't have one of those lines in my listing about when payment is due -- now I see why people include them. I did send her an invoice last night, so she knows I'm expecting payment. I'll give it til the end of the weekend and try getting in touch then. Thanks!

nunzi182 · Kate Spade

I hate this. This always happens to me. In the past two weeks I've gotten ripped off three times! People bidding and not paying. It really drives me crazy. Usually after three days I send a nice email along the lines of, "I noticed you won my auction and I wanted to let you know I'm going to the post office tomorrow to send some other stuff out so if you pay by such and such a time I can send your item along to so that you can have it quickly."

That usually works!

Cortney1982 · Chanel

I always give a week just in case somebody was bidding intending to pay on a payday they had coming up. Of course I only give them a week in my TOS. Mostly everyone pays within the day. After two days and they don't even e-mail you to say when it's coming, usually it's not going to happen.

laken1 · Hermes

I'd include it in your next listings. I usually put a week on mine, but I have put 3 days too. I immediately send out an invoice after they win the item then about a day or 2 before I send another invoice if I haven't heard from them & put it as a reminder. On the day after I tell them if I don't get their payment that day I will leave them negative feedback & send a second offer to another bidder or relist the item & state my auction terms. Period. I've never had any problems ever. From the sound of it I feel like my turn must be coming!

Since you didn't include it, I'd send them a nice follow up & ask them when you can expect payment.

-- Edited by laken1 at 08:33, 2006-04-16

scarlett · Marc Jacobs

Thanks for the advice, everyone. She ended up winning a shirt I was selling, and then she paid for both at the same time, so that's why she waited. Next time I list something I'll include the instructions about paying within three days.