Several things can now happen:

• If you accept payment via PayPal and if the buyers opts to pay via credit card or bank debit, the buyer can initiate payment from the end-of-auction email he receives. If the buyer pays immediately like this, you’ll receive a second email informing you of the completed payment.

• If the buyer doesn’t pay via PayPal, he can still go through eBay’s checkout process, which then sends you an email notifying you of the buyer’s intention to pay via check or money order or whatever, and providing you with the buyer’s shipping address and other relevant information.

• If the buyer doesn’t pay or checkout immediately, you can send the buyer an invoice. Just click the Create and Send an Invoice link in the end-of-auction email you received (or the Send Invoice link on the closed auction page, or on your My eBay page) to display the Send Invoice to Buyer page. Edit the payment information and instructions as necessary, and then click the Send Invoice button to email the thing.

eBay lets you combine multiple auctions into a single invoice, for those occasions where one buyer has made multiple purchases. The auctions are grouped by buyer, so all you have to do is select all the auctions from a single buyer to create a combined invoice. You can even manipulate the shipping/handling costs for the combined auctions, in order to offer a discount for multiple orders.

Alternately, you can choose to send your own personal end-of-auction notice directly to the buyer. If you opt for this method, include your name and address (so the buyer will know where to send the payment); your email address (so the buyer can contact you with any questions or issues); the total amount the buyer owes you (the final auction price plus shipping/handling); and your preferred method(s) of payment. You can also use various auction-management tools to handle all this post-auction messaging and processing for you. One of the most popular tools is eBay Selling Manager. If the buyer doesn’t pay immediately, he should at least respond to your invoice or end-of-auction email. If you haven’t heard back from the buyer in a day or two, send another email. If, after three days, you still haven’t been able to contact the buyer, you can consider that person a deadbeat bidder.

The post Post-Auction Messaging and Processing first appeared on Tips For Sellers & Buyers.

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!

What happens during the post-auction process is actually rather cut and dried. Put simply, you contact the winning bidder with a final price; he or she sends payment to you; you pocket the payment; you package and ship the item; the buyer receives the item; and you both leave feedback for each other.

Checklist: After the Auction

• Receive an end-of-auction email from eBay

• If the buyer doesn’t pay immediately via PayPal, send an email to the high bidder (containing final price and payment information)

• Receive payment from the buyerand wait for payment to clear, if necessary

• Package the item

• Ship the item to the high bidder

• Leave feedback for the buyer

The post eBay Auction Ended. What’s Next? first appeared on Tips For Sellers & Buyers.