Need some advice from experienced eBayers. Am I being scammed?

[sherry7]

I need some advice from experienced eBayers please. Am I being scammed? Or, is this situation going to cause me to lose money even if it is legit?

Here's the situation: A couple of months ago, I posted a new in box security camera system (Master set with camera for outside, and an add-on indoor camera) on Craigslist, stating it was only local pickup. Life happened, and I totally forgot about posting it. Yesterday, I received an email through Craigslist asking if I still had it, but he stated that he lived in another state.

I emailed him back, and told him that I wouldn't ship it through a Craigslist purchase, due to the lack of protection for both seller and buyer. But I told him that I'd list it on eBay as a Buy It Now, with actual shipping charges. He replied back, thanked me, and asked me to email him a link to the BIN auction after I posted it.

So, last night I posted the set as a BIN, and sent him an email to let him know. Then I went to sleep. When I woke up this morning, I saw that he had purchased it through BIN and he paid through PayPal immediately. But, an hour afterward he sent me an email asking me to cancel the transaction. He stated that he made a mistake, and thought that the indoor security camera was a different model number. (Model numbers were clearly stated in both the original Craigslist post, the BIN auction, and photos.)

He has an eBay rating of around 500, with 100% positive. His emails have been very polite, and apologetic. I truly think he made a mistake, and I'm willing to cancel the transaction. However, is this going to cost ME any money? He already paid through PayPal. This is a higher value item (BIN auction was $350 plus shipping), so the combined eBay sellling fees and PayPal selling fees would be nearly $50. I'm willing to be a nice person and cancel the transaction for him, but not if it's going to make me lose money. Please advise. Thanks!

Oh, and I should mention: The email (asking me to cancel the transaction) came through Craigslist, just like his original email to me. If I do in fact cancel it for him, should I ask him to resend an email directly through the eBay system, so there will be a record of it that way?

 

[tinkmom2]

It seems like he made an honest mistake or might have buyers remorse. You could file NPB paperwork against him or open a case. I have had this happen to me more than once. People don't realize they are making a promise to buy even though it's stated on the auction. I don't like listing on Craigslist though because I have had nothing but weirdos. I would explain to him that you are out the money because of his mistake. I had a buyer offer me money once to cancel a transaction. Everything should go through ebay now. That way you are protected.

 

[sherry7]

It seems like he made an honest mistake or might have buyers remorse. You could file NPB paperwork against him or open a case. I have had this happen to me more than once. People don't realize they are making a promise to buy even though it's stated on the auction. I don't like listing on Craigslist though because I have had nothing but weirdos. I would explain to him that you are out the money because of his mistake. I had a buyer offer me money once to cancel a transaction. Everything should go through ebay now. That way you are protected.

Thanks for the reply.

What does NPB stand for? (I would assume that it means Non Paying Buyer, but as I mentioned above, he paid through PayPal already.) You also said, "I would explain to him that you are out the money because of his mistake". Can you clarify that? Will I in fact lose money on the seller fees/PayPal fees if I cancel the transaction?

 

[coachluver3]

I would sent him a cancel the transaction, then you will get the final value fee back, after that just refund you shouldn't lose any money that way.

 

[FiggieFan]

I had to cancel an item about a year ago because the post office delivered it to the same street address, but wrong state.
After you issue the cancel, the buyer than has a number of days to accept the cancel request. I believe it is about 1 week - if they do not respond, then the transaction is automatically completed as cancelled.
If I recall, at that time, all fees charged were refunded.
I also had to issue a refund through PayPal.

I didn't know what to do, so I actually called and spoke to ebay staff about the matter before I cancelled. There is also more information on Ebay about cancelling a transaction.

It made me nervous when I did it, but turned out okay in the end. Good luck!

 

[marriedtodonald]

To the OP: You will not be out any money at all as long as you send him a request to cancel the transaction. Here's how it works.....you refund him through paypal. The paypal fees will be taken care of by paypal, so you won't lose money there. In other words, let's say that he sent you $10 through paypal. Paypal, of course, takes their cut of 2.9% +.30. Your end of the refund would be $9.41 and paypal would send him the other .59 to make him whole. When you send him the refund, though, you will type in $10 (paypal will figure it out for you...they just need to know that you are fully refunding him). Now, with that part being taken care of, you would go to your Ebay page and click on "resolve a problem" next to the item in question. There will be an option to cancel the transaction. You then choose a reason for the cancellation, which in your case would be "buyer bought item by mistake or changed mind". The buyer has 7 days to respond to the case. If he accepts the request, you will get a credit for your Ebay seller fee. If he doesn't respond within 7 days, Ebay will automatically find in your favor and credit the seller fees. So, it's a little bit of work...but, you won't be out any money and you can then relist the item if you want. Hope that helps!

 

[marriedtodonald]

P.S. Yes, I would have him send you an email through Ebay's email system so that there is a record of him approaching you to cancel the transaction. Any correspondence having to do with an Ebay transaction should always be made through Ebay's email system. This covers you and the buyer. (I've been selling on Ebay for several years now)

 

[sherry7]

To the OP: You will not be out any money at all as long as you send him a request to cancel the transaction. Here's how it works.....you refund him through paypal. The paypal fees will be taken care of by paypal, so you won't lose money there. In other words, let's say that he sent you $10 through paypal. Paypal, of course, takes their cut of 2.9% +.30. Your end of the refund would be $9.41 and paypal would send him the other .59 to make him whole. When you send him the refund, though, you will type in $10 (paypal will figure it out for you...they just need to know that you are fully refunding him). Now, with that part being taken care of, you would go to your Ebay page and click on "resolve a problem" next to the item in question. There will be an option to cancel the transaction. You then choose a reason for the cancellation, which in your case would be "buyer bought item by mistake or changed mind". The buyer has 7 days to respond to the case. If he accepts the request, you will get a credit for your Ebay seller fee. If he doesn't respond within 7 days, Ebay will automatically find in your favor and credit the seller fees. So, it's a little bit of work...but, you won't be out any money and you can then relist the item if you want. Hope that helps!

Thanks everyone for the replies, and especially for the very descriptive one above. I just went through the whole process, so hopefully it turns out well.

I must admit, I am very annoyed that such an experienced eBayer (almost 500 feedback), didn't take the time to read the item details better, especially after he was the one who contacted me through Craigslist and I agreed to list it on eBay especially for him. Oh well, as long as I don't lose any money, I guess I can deal with an hour of lost time and just roll my eyes over the whole situation.

 

[BUSYMAOF4]

well I am a seller, I am really confused as to why u think u are being scammed, why would someone waste their time doing this to cheat someone they dont know out of seller fees, think about it? whats in it for him? Nothing! He made a mistake, it happens, just send him the form and be done with it

 

[sherry7]

well I am a seller, I am really confused as to why u think u are being scammed, why would someone waste their time doing this to cheat someone they dont know out of seller fees, think about it? whats in it for him? Nothing! He made a mistake, it happens, just send him the form and be done with it

I hear a LOT about people being scammed on eBay, etc so it pays to be safe and ask questions before acting on an unusual situation, especially for an expensive item such as the one in question. I didn't think he was trying to scam me out of only the seller fees. I was suspicious because he contacted me through Craigslist and asked me to list the item on eBay so he could purchase it through a Buy It Now auction. One would think that he had the common sense to look at the model numbers before making such a request, then buying it, and paying for it in full. He was very polite and professional about the whole thing though, and so was I, even though I was well within my rights to refuse his cancellation request. The end result: he got his money back, I didn't lose any money, and I wasted an hour of my life dealing with it. All in all, that's not a bad ending. I'm re-listing the item, so hopefully the second time is the charm.

 

[DizneyDogs]

he has to agree to cancel the transaction on ebay once you initiate it, if there is no response from him in I think 7 days ebay will automatically cancel it and you will get your ebay selling fees back, the only amount you will be out is any listing fees that you may have paid

 

[BUSYMAOF4]

Yeah, if it was done through ebay you are safe. I can see maybe if it was western union etc, but ebay is pretty safe Glad it worked out ok for u anyways!

 

[girli565]

Send a cancel transaction thorugh ebay, when you both agree you'll get the final value fee back and when you refund thorugh paypal you will get the fees refunded there as well. You both have to agree to the cancellation.

 

[jls886]

Just keep an eye on the cancellation case. If he doesn't agree to it within 7 days, you can close the case yourself on the 8th day and receive your final value fee credit. eBay does not automatically close the case for you, so you just need to do that yourself on the 8th day if it hasn't been closed before that by him simply clicking that he agrees to cancel.

 

[ceecee]

I would sent him a cancel the transaction, then you will get the final value fee back, after that just refund you shouldn't lose any money that way.

That is exactly what you should do.

 

[bpesch]

if there is no response from him in I think 7 days ebay will automatically cancel it and you will get your ebay selling fees back,

That is incorrect. Ebay does not close the case automatically. You have to do it manually or you'll lose your FVF's.