eBay Bidding

		*The Importance of an eBay Bid* *An eBay Bid is a Contract!*

12/25/07

Over the Christmas holiday weekend in 2005 I had listed a 4-piece luggage set on eBay while I was in Valdosta. A week later, on Sunday, 1 January 2006 bidding had ended for the item with a winning bidder who apparently bid at the last minute. Unlike all other items I sold on eBay, unfortunately I was not paid for my item which resulted in it being relisted on eBay again. Based on my recent experience with an eBay buyer who did not pay for an item won, I am going to explain the importance of a bid on eBay when you place it, either on items sold by me or by any other person. With this in mind, this will be a web topic here at EdwardRingwald.com.

First Things First: The eBay User Agreement

When you signed up to become an eBay member to buy and/or sell you had to agree to live up to the provisions of eBay's User Agreement during the sign up process. Part of the eBay User Agreement is that if you place a bid for an item you see, you are essentially entering into a contract with the seller of the item. You are agreeing to purchase the item from the seller should you be the winning bidder of the seller's item. So, once you place that bid there is no retracting the bid, unless you have a very good reason and buyer's remorse is not a valid reason.

This means that when you see something for sale at Edward Ringwald's Surplus Corner and it's something you want, once you place that bid you have entered into a contract with me to purchase the item if in the event you are the winning bidder. This means no bid retractions unless you have a very good reason.

The Item Description

Whenever you see an item on eBay that interests you, you are strongly encouraged to read the item description very carefully. The item description gives you specifics about the item being offered by the seller including its features and what you need to know.

Further down the item description is something you will want to know very carefully and I am talking about the payment and shipping terms for the item should you be the winning bidder. Pay close attention to the payment methods that the seller accepts; for example if a seller states that he or she accepts only PayPal you are expected to pay the seller through PayPal and no other method.

After the payment terms comes the shipping. You should pay attention to the shipping methods that are offered by the seller; some sellers offer either a flat rate or a rate based on your shipping address. Also pay attention to the choice of carriers (such as the United States Postal Service, UPS, or FedEx) the seller has to offer to ship your item to you. Another shipping related item is that if your eBay address of record is that of a post office box and the choice of shipping carriers is not the United States Postal Service being offered by the seller, by all means contact the seller using their eBay Contact Member link before placing a bid.

Contacting the Seller with your Questions

Now that I mentioned contacting the seller in the previous paragraph, what if you have questions about the item being offered? Perhaps it's about the item description or the payment and shipping terms. Or, you may be one of those eBay members with some negative feedback that might send a red flag to the seller when you place a bid.

To contact the seller with your questions, look for the Contact Member button which can be found in the seller's feedback profile. From there simply enter your question and when you are finished simply click on the Send Message button to send your question to the seller. The seller should send you a reply to your question so that you can make an informed decision before you place a bid.

What Happens if you are the Winning Bidder but you don't pay?

eBay sellers have their own policies when it comes to the small percentage of eBay members who place bids and win items but don't make payment (or offer excuses in an attempt not to pay). As an eBay seller, please let me reiterate my policy regarding those that win an item at my Surplus Corner but don't pay:

I will expect payment for the item you win from me on eBay within seven (7) days of the close of the auction. Once I receive payment your item will be on its way. Positive eBay feedback given for complete transaction follow-through including on time payment! On the other hand, failure to follow through on a transaction involving an item I have for sale on eBay may result in negative consequences such as (1) negative feedback being given and (2) notification to eBay of a non-paying bidder alert which may result in an unpaid item strike being given at the discretion of eBay. According to eBay’s rules and regulations the accumulation of three unpaid item strikes may result in account suspension at eBay’s discretion. Just to let you know!

Simply put, let's say someone won an item from me on a Sunday and did not pay. This would be a timeline of events leading up to the buyer getting an Unpaid Item Strike from eBay (this is just an example and it would be handled on a case by case basis):

Sunday: Buyer wins the item.

Wednesday: Buyer gets a gentle email reminder.

Friday evening: Buyer reminded that non-paying bidder alert will be filed if payment not received by Sunday (eBay requires a seven day wait before the non-paying bidder alert is filed).

Sunday of the next week: Non-paying bidder alert filed with eBay; buyer given a chance to follow through on the transaction.

Monday of the next week: Buyer responds, buyer states that item will not be paid for, eBay contacted to close the alert and award an Unpaid Item Strike against the buyer.

Besides the Unpaid Item Strike, a negative feedback rating may be given to the buyer and the buyer can be prohibited from bidding on any items I have for sale on eBay in the future. Remember, according to eBay's rules and regulations the accumulation of three Unpaid Item Strikes may result in suspension of the buyer's eBay account; that means the buyer's eBay bidding and selling privileges are taken away.

Most other eBay sellers out there in the eBay community have policies similar to my own when it comes to buyers who win items and don't pay. Remember, eBay has these policies in place to ensure a fair eBay trading community for all.

Reminders about eBay Bidding

A bid placed on eBay for an item offered by a seller is a contract.

If you are the winning bidder of an item on eBay, it is your responsibility to follow through on the transaction including paying the seller on time.

eBay members who win items but do not pay can be subjected to sanctions, such as negative feedback and a possible Unpaid Item Strike.

Three Unpaid Item Strikes equals suspension from eBay.

Links and Recommended Reading and Seminars

Web sites

The eBay web site

Edward Ringwald's Surplus Corner - view items I have presently for sale on eBay!

Marsha Collier's Cool eBay Tools site - a treasure trove of eBay tips and tricks plus useful articles.