Ebay ..........ooops........

[Merylj]

I`ve got my head in my hands today with Ebay.
I sold two items with buy it now on thursday. Then heard absolutely nothing from the buyers - so yesterday I contacted one of the buyers and said due to lack of communication I was withdrawing from sale. I can be patient and have waited weeks in the past for payment but this didn`t feel right.

Today I hear from my buyer and says she is very cross with me she has bought *both* items - with different user names and insists I proceed with the sale. Then asks for combined postage and why hadn`t I quoted for that anyway! Sadly I`m not a mind reader.

Anyway I`ve refused to sell either of my items and I know I`m probably in the wrong - but with shipping the cost is £380 - too risky if you have a lack of confidence in your buyers.

Did I do wrong

 

[SammieG]

well I think you need to go with your gut instinct.. but if she had paid for them already with "Buy it now" then is there a problem?

It was only 3 days in effect. I have waited for a week for contact with people in the past, before they have supplied me with the correct info.
Doesnt Ebay say wait a week?

There can be a lot of reasons why that person might not have replied, lack of access to a computer, illness, gone away for a weekend.

Im not saying that you did the wrong thing, but I would have waited until at least tomorrow (tuesday) before I made that decision.

Still - sometimes you just KNOW that they are going to be trouble!

I am concerned that she has two different user names! Can you do that?

So, will you have to refund the £380 to her? ouch!

 

[vicky1bfc]

Sounds a bit strange that she would bid with 2 different names.I didn't know you could refuse to seel once the auction has been won.

 

[Merylj]

Thanks both for your responses - she had never paid - I `d have sent her them if she had. There was no contact no nothing - they are all packed and ready to go - shipping quoted the lot! - after all if you`re "buying it now" how difficult is it to contact the seller at the same time? Especially with requests.
The more I think about it the more peculiar it is. I think I did the right thing - it will cost me two neg. feedbacks though!

 

[Minniespal]

Sounds very strange ~ I didn't realise you could have two different usernames on Ebay.

Think you have done the right thing ~ You don't want to end up out of pocket.

Shame it will result in two negative feedbacks for you though.

 

[Englands Disney Gang]

HI

She is allowed to have 2 user names...... We have 3 accounts on Ebay....one for buying, one for selling (this is a business account) and another for buying (if its for my business I am buying for!!)...I say MY business its actually my husbands as he is self employed and uses Ebay for an extra selling outlet for his goods!

You say she has bought them 'buy it now' but I am guessing she has yet to pay??....Did you send invoices for the items??

I would proceed with the sales if she is offering to pay via Paypal as its instant payment (unless paying by card!)

Ebays guidelines is that the seller should give at least 7 days for the buyer to pay up!!. So in theory she could put a complaint into Ebay as you have no sincere reason to withdraw from the sale.

As for combined postage, if she did not ask that question before buying and you do not state any offer on the auctions then you dont have to offer a combined potage discount. I would post them as 2 seperate parcels though as once again she could complain if you dont!!

I would send her a friendly email back......asking when and how she is willing to pay, explain your original concern that you had not recieved no contact and it was a large £££'s sale to you. Its really up to your discrestion if you wish to offer her a posting discount....I would wait to see her reply!!

I know what you mean when you have an 'uncomfortable feeling' about a sale but I have found that sometimes it can just be that the buyer is not sure of the rules or they just work differently!

Hope this is of some help!!

 

[robinb]

Do you have terms of conditions on your auctions on communication and payment? If not, then I don't think you really cannot refuse the sale until 7 days have passed with no payment. IMO you will receive two negative feedbacks (one from each auction and user name) and will deserve it. Sorry .

 

[alisonbestford]

I, too, recently had an E-Bay auction where the buyer took almost a week to pay

I had no communication from her/him at all but, after 5 or 6 days I just e-mailed to say that I'd be re-listing the next day if the item wasn't wanted

I received payment the next day and the parcel is now 'winging' it's way to San Diego (hopefully )

I've still never had any return communication, apart from the winning bid and PayPal payment

 

[cazzie]

I can sympathise with you as you would think that people who press the buy now will pay straight away or failing that quite quickly. I purchased my camera last week from ebay on the buy now and I paid straight after I pressed the buy now button which to be honest you would expect.

 

[T16GEM]

Hi

To avoid this situation if you become a verified member of Paypal, then you can request that your buy it now buyers MUST pay instantly as soon as they click, this then stops the waiting for people to pay.

I must say that I use Ebay a lot to sell for business and I would be a bit annoyed if someone didn't pay - but it's usually a fairly good reason why they haven't and you should really leave a week for them to contact you. Some people just don't though - they prefer to just pay and not communicate at all

let us know how it turns out
Gems

 

[Cyrano]

Having looked through this I'd agree with other posters that to withdraw the sale could lead to a complaint made against you. Ebay definitely suggest a week as reasonable.