Chapter 21. After the Sale: Concluding the Transaction

IN THIS CHAPTER

• The Post-Auction Process

• Communicating with the Winning Bidder

• Accepting Payment

• Packing and Shipping

• Finishing Things Up and Leaving Feedback

• Handling Buyer Complaints and Problems

• What If You Don't Sell Your Item?

• What If the Buyer Doesn't Pay?

You've waited the requisite 7 (or 1 or 3 or 5 or 10) days, and your auction has finally ended. What comes next?

The post-auction process involves more work, in most cases, than the listing process. You have to contact the buyer, arrange payment, receive payment, pack the item, ship the item, and leave feedback. And that's if everything goes smoothly!

The post-auction process can also be a long one, depending on how the buyer pays. If the buyer pays by PayPal (or other credit card method) as soon as the auction ends, the post-auction process can be over that day or the nextas soon as you pack and ship the item. If, on the other hand, the buyer pays by checkand is a little slow in putting the check in the mailthe post-auction process can last two or three weeks.

That means, of course, that you need to remember this potential time lag when you're planning your auction activity. For example, if you're planning to go on vacation in two weeks, now is not the best time to list an item for auction. You need to allocate a full month, from beginning to end, when you're planning your auction listings. If your buyers help you complete the process faster, that's great. But there will always be that one last buyer who hasn't sent the check yetand there goes your schedule!