Wonder if it's possible to charge buyers a fee for reneging on purchases?

[2756anderson]

Would be a good idea.  10% for those who pay then want to reverse a payment, 5% for those who bid and don't pay.  These non-payment strikes are silly "wrist-slaps" to people who live to be consumed by buyer's remorse.  The buyers are adults, they should pay for their actions.

[reallynicestamps]

And in the supermarket, how much should you be charged when you put that box of cookies the kids added to your cart, back on the shelf?

Or find you have more in your cart than you can pay for?

It's retail. Business not personal.

Not every transaction will go perfectly.

You can set your Seller Preferences to Block purchases and bids by members with deadbeat Strikes.

We occasionally see members complaining that they can't buy, only to learn that they are blocked by thousands of sellers who use Seller Preferences to avoid problem buyers.

[recped]

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@2756anderson wrote:

Would be a good idea.  10% for those who pay then want to reverse a payment, 5% for those who bid and don't pay.  These non-payment strikes are silly "wrist-slaps" to people who live to be consumed by buyer's remorse.  The buyers are adults, they should pay for their actions.

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If buyers are adults that should pay for their actions then how about if a buyer finds a mistake in a sellers listing, should they get the item for free and a $10 bonus? After all Sellers are adults and they should pay for their actions.

[pierrelebel]

"...possible to charge buyers a fee for reneging on purchases?"

Yes, it is possible to charge them - simply send them a PayPal invoice and hope they pay.  No guarantee of course.

About fifteen years ago, I had a "buyer" purchase a $5,000 lot on eBay and refused to pay.  I sent a PayPal invoice for $500 "cancellation fee" for refusing to pay.  No reply.

I then sent a letter addressed to him (Mr lastname only) at his father's mailing address (Barrie ON).  His father, a well known and respected lawyer, opened the mail and I received a cheque for $500 within a week.

The "buyer" has not returned to eBay since then.

[momcqueen]

What the Original Poster has suggested is not feasible and you've supplied the reason for it. Those semi-deadbeat buyers would not ever come back. Maybe they pay for 50 per cent of their purchases, maybe not. That's still some business for some sellers. If a buyer is truly problematic, eventually ebay will give them the boot anyway.

What the OP can do is follow the suggestions provided in that they adopt the most stringent block possible for buyers: two Unpaid Item Strikes over 12 months and then also those Without a Paypal Account. To be clear, though, I don't block either anymore and it has made ZERO difference to my number of Unpaid Item cases or Cancelation Requests. That and charge a Restocking Fee on Remorse Returns. 

The other thing the OP can do is join me in lobbying ebay periodically to adopt a new Buyer Requirement to allow sellers to also block buyers with a clear history of Cancelled Orders. I want that ability, it seems like a no-brainer.  In all my years as an online shopper I can think of exactly three times in 22 years that I've Cancelled an Order, ebay or elsewhere. 

[momcqueen]

(On an unrelated note, it's lovely to hear from you again, Pierre. I think of you often when there are quagmire issues that would have drawn your insight in the past.)

[momcqueen]

More about buyer blocks, Returns and the new metrics.

https://www.ecommercebytes.com/C/blog/blog.pl?/pl/2018/5/1527041145.html

[cumos55]

If a buyer returns a purchase,  a restocking fee can be charged, when a refund is made

But....  and a very important.......But

That restocking fee must be stated in the original listing.

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If a buyer buys,  and does not pay..... an Unpaid Item Case Can be Opened, and then closed after series of days  as mandated b y this process.

Buyer gets an Unpaid Item strike... and seller usually also blocks this buyer.

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If the top buyer in an auction does not pay....   by agreement with the seller... transaction cancelled by buyer.  or after an Unpaid Item case has been filed 

Then a second chance offer can be made to the second highest bidder.

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Buyers may not pay a monetary fine...  but there are other ways to affect a buyer's standing as a buyer on eBay.

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For auctions..... Top bidder pays.....

If one has a second  item, same condition as the first item sold at auction,   the seller can make a second chance offer to the second highest bidder...  If seller feels this price is also acceptable. 

This second highest bidder can buy or refuse....

[recped]

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@cumos55 wrote:

If a buyer returns a purchase,  a restocking fee can be charged, when a refund is made

But....  and a very important.......But

That restocking fee must be stated in the original listing.

 

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Take note that under the new return policies Restocking Charges are only allowed for listings that offer 60 Day Free (Seller pays returned shipping) returns.

[momcqueen]

I’m trying to remember but too lazy to look. Is this the same for eBay Canada as it is for eBay USA?

[hlmacdon]

If you are paying attention to the direction ebay is heading with it's transformation to Amazon, buyers are responsible for nothing.

[lotzofuniquegoodies]

The second someone bid on an item or completed a BID listing and it was no longer considered an actual commitment, the chance ended for you to guarantee there was no chance for you to refund or your funds being put on hold down the road. The only way a customer could end up being charged is if they actually completed the payment and then Ebay was to credit your account. Really can't see that ever happening!!! And does Ebay have the power to pull funds from a buyers account at Ebay's discretion? I don't believe so.

-CM

[recped]

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@momcqueen wrote:
I’m trying to remember but too lazy to look. Is this the same for eBay Canada as it is for eBay USA?

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Yes it does, I checked the .ca announcement to be sure.

https://pages.ebay.ca/seller-centre/news/seller-updates/2018-summer/simplified-returns.html

On the left old return options, on the right are the new return options.