Payment Process

I would think one week at the most, unless the buyer writes to you with a personal problem of getting the check out.  I have never had a problem and have always received payment well within a week.  However, I do try to purchase from people who have been members of the forum for more than one or two years, so I feel like I know them.  I also will google their address and see that it is a real address and check it on google maps. 

Depends on the mode of payment.

Paypal should be relatively quick (that's why I like it.)

Snail mail (USP) can be considerable longer as this might involved physically getting a money order AND depending on where the payment is being shipped from, its not unheard of for cross-country first class letters taking 5 - 7 days to reach their destination.

Jim

I had a situation with a forum member here who on 12/26 said he'd take an item i had for sale and would send a money order on 12/29.

On 1/5 i hadn't received payment yet, so i emailed him. A few hours later he said, "the guy i was buying it for backed out." I wonder when (if) the customer would have told me if i hadn't asked? Nice etiquette!!!!

jackson

I've never sold anything, but when I purchase something I pay as soon as the deal is finalized, preferably with Paypal. Of course, postal money orders take longer to get and then you have to wait for the USPS to deliver. I really try to avoid these types of non-Paypal purchases if at all possible.

A week to 10 days I think is fair unless we've talked before. 

One of the most irritating and rude things that drives me nuts is the guy that says "I'll take it, I'll send payment". No payment. Emails are always responded to saying "I sent it today, etc" and it never shows up and then stops responding. If you don't want it, fine. Have the decency to tell me. 

Before I relist the item or sell to the next person in line, I always send a warning to the first guy such as "if payment is not received by the end of the week, I will relist the item for sale."

If it ever existed, etiquette on the Internet is currently non existent.

People think nothing of changing their minds and failing to tell you.

When I give someone a quote on a job in an email, if they think it is too high, they just do not respond. To me that is like hanging up on someone during a phone conversation. I keep mental track of those instances and, if they ever write back wanting me to do the job, I tell them no. If they ask why, I tell them.

I usually send out payment the next morning, drop off at main post office in Baltimore on the way to work. I e-mail them the night before I send it that it's going out in the morn and I also e-mail them that it went in the mail after it has been sent. Never had an issue and most appreciate the communication. 

Jerry

I think 10 days maximum before resisting.  Of course, some parts of the country have had very bad weather.  I could see if a person might not be able to mail something or that the mail might be delayed by the weather.  Hopefully they would email me about the problem.

Joe

The keys are communication and mutual agreement.

Lack of communication causes the bulk of the problems.

I pay thru my Banks "bill pay program" I get all the check information and forward it to the seller, this includes when the check should be received by the seller.

I did get a email as to what I had send the seller, a little explanation and all was  well and I received the item in a week of so when the check cleared. 

Brent

Yes!  Sure, it can take a week for a letter to arrive, but the buyer should let you know the payment is coming.

To answer the OP's original question, I start to get antsy if I don't hear anything about payment in two days.  A week would definitely be the limit.  When I buy I always pay, by PayPal if possible, the day I know the item is mine to have.

Weather is an important point. Since retirement, I no longer have to go out if the weather is bad and I don't do it. That could be 2, 3 or more days sometimes. Communication is key here however, if I was waiting for better weather I would sure notify the person I was purchasing something from (or selling to) about the delay.

BReece,

I also pay all my bills like that, through my bank's bill pay service. I had never thought of using it for a one time train purchase to an individual. Normally I use Paypal for these types of payments, but this is also a good idea for the ones not accepting Paypal. I seldom purchase anything if Paypal is not accepted though, but still a good idea.

I see some sellers post "still for sale" after someone commits to buy, but before they receive payment. That sounds like the first check gets it and I don't think that's really what they mean.

The ad should include what you expect as payment form, time, etc. Then wait it out before re-posting it for sale. 

Some folks try to trade for items rather than make a payment and negotiations are sometimes involved even with payment. I think these result in the items being relisted as 'still for sale' a lot of times. Could be any number of things causing a deal to fall through.

I had one item that all was agreed to, including price and shipping. The seller then emailed me and wanted me to send payment to a 3rd party, that was a big red flag for me, so I told them no deal. It was put back up as 'still for sale'. So it happens. Hope the next buyer came out ok as the item was eventually sold.