E-check did not clear x2 - do I cancel or file as unpaid Item?

[vintagenorth]

First time this has happened. A buyers e-check failed to clear after two tries. Do I cancel or file as unpaid? Have to do this on my iPad, no laptop with me.

[momcqueen]

Did the buyer send two different e-cheques? Were they international, by chance? I've had a few (which I do loathe) but the only one that failed to clear was a buyer from Germany. Apparently, the Germans need to have a balance in their papilla account in order to use it? At least, that's what payp[al told me at the time from what I recall now. It was a few years ago. 

[vintagenorth]

No, US buyer and PayPal submitted twice but no funds. Should I now file as unpaid? I'm on vacation, don't have time to spend on this.

[momcqueen]

Then I suppose the decision is up to you as to whether you want to let them off the hook with a Cancel Order request or stick it to them (as they probably deserve) with an Unpaid Item strike. I'm not sure how a person bounces two cheques in a row. The first time is usually enough of a shock that the account owner makes certain it does not happen again for fear and shame. 

Are you feeling charitable today? 

Doing anything on an iPadi in relation to selling on ebay is a major buttpain. I can never seem to 'click' the little boxes with my fat fingers. 

[femmefan1946]

His bank likely charged him two NSF fees for the two bounced payments, too.

Sounds like the spirit is willing but the accounting is weak.

I really don't think he's able to pay you.

With a UID he can't leave feedback. And I'm cynical enough to believe he would blame you, the bank, Paypal and eBay for his own incompetence.

The only fluid I see here is the puddle of **bleep** refusing to pay us our wage. -- Jayne Cobb

[momcqueen]

Femmefan has the right of that. If you do the merciful thing by sending him a Cancel Order request, it leaves you open to the buyer using you as a soundboard for all his or her frustration at this. Your mercy may be met with fury.

Unpaid Item Strike it is. 

I don't usually subscribe to the kick-them-while-they're-down course of action but it is the safest thing for you to do. 

[vintagenorth]

Thanks to both! iPad is a nuisance but I'm visiting daughter in AB this week and prefer not to use a different ISP for eBay.

[lady.stark]

I've had this happen to me to last year (or maybe 2 years ago, not really sure). E-Cheque failed twice. I wrote a polite message to the buyer asking if she knew what happened. The third time was the charm and it went through. Shipped the item and got no problem. I don't remember is she left positive feedback or not though. But I'm 100% sure she did not cause me any problem after that, because I would remember it.

[momcqueen]

That is good perspective to share, thank you.

I think we're all otherwise assuming that someone whose e-cheqes bounce twice is bad news but you can attest it is not necessarily the case and that is important to hear. 

(It is true that sometimes e-cheques fail for reasons not related to NSF. It can be just an electronic transfer problem of no specific cause.)

[vintagenorth]

Very possible since I did file a UPI and miraculously I received a payment from my buyer next day. Luckily I brought the item with me on vacation and shipped immediately. Be interesting to see how long it takes from Alberta to TX instead of from Ontario.

[momcqueen]

Wow! That I really would not have predicted.

Always give the benefit of the doubt, I think is the lesson to be taken from this.

Smart that you had it with you on holiday, I assume, all boxed and ready to go. 

With selling toys and my many small children, I'm not sure that strategy would work so well for me. The little monkeys would no doubt find it even if it was hidden amongst my unmentionables. I have no privacy.