Buyers automatically enter into a legally binding contract to purchase the item from the seller if they win an online auction or use the Buy It Now feature. eBay's Unpaid Item policy requires buyers to pay the seller for the items that they commit to purchase.
Sellers can open an unpaid item case in our Resolution Centre when a buyer doesn't pay for an item. If the buyer doesn't pay or reach some other agreement with the seller, eBay may issue an unpaid item strike on the buyer's account. Sellers who don't get resolution from their unpaid item case may be eligible for a Final Value Fee credit to their eBay seller account. Also, if they relist the item and it sells the second time, eBay may refund the Insertion Fee for the relisting. Learn more about how the free relist policy works.
Note: If a buyer gets too many strikes in too short a time period, their account may be restricted or suspended indefinitely.
Conor looks for a grill on eBay and places a bid. After winning the item, he realizes that shipping the item will cost him more than he's willing to spend. He decides not to send payment and simply ignore the invoices that he receives. Conor has violated the Unpaid Item policy.
Sarah is new to eBay and is just browsing. Excited by all the great deals she's finding, she starts placing bids and using Buy It Now on every item that catches her eye. She doesn’t realize that she’s just purchased many of those items and is obligated to pay for them. If she chooses not to pay for the items, she's in violation of eBay’s Unpaid Item policy.
Colin is looking for a new boat. He finds many models that he'd be very happy with and places a bid on over a dozen boats in hopes that he’ll stay the high bidder and win a boat. Colin ends up winning two boats and pays for the one that he really likes. By not paying for the second boat, Colin is violating the Unpaid Item policy.
False reports
Sellers who falsely report unpaid items may have any or all of the following consequences:
Have all credits for the time period in question reversed
Lose the right to use the Final Value Fee credits for the time period in question
Lose the right to use the Final Value fee credit system for a period of time
Unpaid item strikes and suspensions
Unpaid Item strikes can be issued when an unpaid item case doesn't result in resolution. The strikes are tracked by eBay.
Unpaid Item strikes are separate from Feedback, and don't affect a user's Feedback score or member profile.
If a buyer is issued an unpaid item strike, it will automatically be assigned to their account when the seller receives their Final Value Fee credit.
For transactions involving an unpaid item, Feedback left by buyers may be removed when:
A buyer doesn't respond to the unpaid item reminder.
The buyer leaves unacceptable communication through the Resolution Centre system.
Why does eBay have this policy?
When a buyer doesn't pay for an item they've won or purchased, it costs the seller time and money. By enforcing buyer/seller contractual agreements, the Unpaid Item policy helps create a safer and more successful marketplace.
