advice on eBay transaction, please?

emilysue78

emilysue78

Teeny Tiny Baby Pony
Joined
Jun 8, 2005
Messages
320
I recently listed a OOP Kimono on eBay. It was my daughter's. The bidder that won her has no feedback and I just got an email from her today:
"Hi, This was my first time bidding and have some confusion as to whether this item is already sent or if you still need confirmation of payment to send it out to me. During the auction it said I had been outbid which I thought meant I didn't win and wouldn't win. So I went ahead and bought another pony with a buy it now button before this auction was over. I was surprised to find out I won. Is there anyway I can cancel this purchase with you? I'm sorry for the confusion."

I can understand their predicament, but they bid and won. eBay clearly states this is a binding legal contract to purchase the item. The pony went for a good price and my daughter was thrilled. She wants to use the money to buy a show halter for her horse. I am sorry if this person is someone from the community, I have a feeling it's not though. Anyone have any advice on how to handle it? I don't want to seem like an ogre, but I feel they should still have to purchase the pony.
Thanks in advance,
emilysue78
 
I remember this auction as I had it on my watch. Sounds like you have a super-dooper newbie on your hands.

I actually went through the same thing a while back, but the person claimed her son bid on my item and she wanted me to 'cancel' her bid even though the auction was already over. This was when I had already started the NPB process. I responded to her with NOT my own words, but a copied and pasted rule from eBay. Basically saying that her bid is binding and she needed to pay. Eventually she paid the silly $3 and she got her wonderful DOLL. Heh.

Your bidder won the auction. She is obligated to pay and receive. Do not let them off the hook. Tell them that they can always set up a seller's account and sell it again. Try to be as patient and understanding, but stay firm to your rules.

~Dawn
 
...

It is a binding contract, as you said, and you have every reason to expect her to pay.

But, as an alternative if you wanted to try and let it go, you could give a second-chance offer to the second highest bidder. Maybe they'll agree to buy for their bid so you'll still make the sale and can just let it go with the original high bidder.

That's what I would probably try-- then everyone would end up happy. It is frustrating when newbies make mistakes like that, but I guess we all do sometimes...
 
If it was a simple misunderstanding you could be a good seller and get a free positive feedback and then relist it. There are enough peeps out there that still need kimono that she will probably go for around the same price.

On the other hand it is a legally binding contract and they are obligated to pay.

Whatever you do be nice and choose your words carefully you dont want to come off and angry and mean.

good luck with this....
 
I was willing to give the buyer the benefit of the doubt, but I decided to do some investigating before I emailed her with my answer. Turns out she BIN'd a MIB Kimono as Belle 12 minutes after my auction ENDED. She got her for 45 cents more than she bid on the loose one I listed. Apparently she doesn't realize you can look up completed auctions. I am pretty upset now.
I know people make mistakes, but it is obvious now she saw the better deal and is now trying to act innocent to get out of buying mine. Since my daughter had 3 Kimonos altogether, I already offered the second chance offer to the next highest bidder (before I knew of any problems with the first buyer). They didn't take it. Now I have 2 homeless Kimonos and a very disappointed 7 year old.
 
I think your buyer is just very new to the world of eBay and doesn't really know how it works. The whole bidding process can be very confusing to some people.

Can you still try to get the original buyer to go through with the transaction even though you tried the second chance offer?

What a mess. I'm so sorry you and your little girl are having to go through with this. And this is exactly why a lot of sellers don't allow new buyers to bid on their things. :(
 
Well if all else fails, you can file for sellers listing fees and maybe someone on the board wants her for the same price. Or, if shes really that....dumb....er, innocent...you could file for double the seller's fees and list it again with a BIN. That way you dont loose any money.
 
Just to point out to everyone...the bidder did NOT get a better deal than this auction. emilysue78's auction closed at $18.50 and the auction the bidder BIN'd closed at $18.95. And I SERIOUSLY think the bidder knew he/she won because the bidding activity stopped like...and HOUR before the auction closed. The bidder WON this auction and then 20 minutes later did the BIN for the princess MIB Kimono. This is clearly a newbie probably having NO idea what kind of ponies are out there. Found the PRINCESS version and wanted THAT one and asked for a way out of the previous auction. That is NO excuse. This is NOT Walmart and this bidder needs to pay.
 
I would like to thank everyone for their advice. I haven't done much selling on eBay but I never had any trouble with the buyer paying. I emailed the buyer explaining that I had discovered that she had BIN'd the other pony after, not before, my auction closed. I expect her to honor her bid, or face a NPB claim and a negative feedback. I am sure that I will receive a neg in return, but I guess that is the chance I take.
I understand that she is new, we all were once, but I myself always watch the auction until it closes. I want to know if I won right away! I don't feel that being new excuses anyone. eBay's user agreement is there for everyone to read. She has had her username since June of 2003, she just has no feedback.
I wanted to add that the second highest bidder did accept my second chance offer, so at least my daughter sold one of the Kimonos.
Thanks again,
emilysue78
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top