eBay item of mine got sold in auction for $0.01 and I don't want to sell it. Buyer refuses to cancel transaction or negotiate.

abbztract on 19/07/2014 - 16:24
Last edited 19/07/2014 - 17:25

What are my options? Its a BNIB sampler of shaving soaps which cost me $35. Put up an auction and I forgot to end it. Buyer pounced and made a last second bid orf $0.01 + $10 shipping and won. I asked whether he would consider canceling or just giving me another $7 so I can lower my losses but he has refused and accompanied his response with a veiled threat of reporting me to ebay for "fee avoidance and shill bidding" because the razor I sold in an auction last week was relisted by me because of the buyer backing out.

I've sent an email off to ebay asking for guidance too but in the meantime, what would you suggest I do?

Can I simply not send the item, refund the buyer and take the negative feedback?

Edit: and we have a solution. As per the common advice given to me below, I have come to the conclusion that the best step for me at this point would be to send the item, suck it up and be smarter about it in the future.

Thank you all. I really do appreciate the assistance.

Edit: thanks for the negative votes, guys.

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  • pyramid on 19/07/2014 - 16:27
    +100

    I would say suck it up the loss and send goods to buyer. After all its your fault and not buyers.

    • abbztract on 19/07/2014 - 19:56
      +20

      And it looks like this is what I'll do.

  • hj0809 on 19/07/2014 - 16:27
    +67

    Don't list at a price you're not prepared to sell at.

  • stemcell on 19/07/2014 - 16:31
    +28

    You tried to save on fees by starting it low but its come back to bite you in the arse. I agree with cniminc on this occasion take it as a life lesson learnt and don't do it again :)

    • abbztract on 19/07/2014 - 16:38
      +12

      I don't know how I could save on fees by starting it low but anyways. I did start it low however because I figured it'd be more likely to make people bid on it.

      Regardless, I guess its best to take the common advice I've gotten here to send it, suck it up and be smarter next time around.

  • JordanM on 19/07/2014 - 16:36
    +16

    As everyone has said, you made a mistake, you honour the sale.

    If you don't send it you will face the repercussions from eBay and PayPal (if the buyer has paid that way).

    • bbqwer on 19/07/2014 - 17:10
      -1

      Ebay paypal cant do shit. Worst thing can happen, buyer file item not receive at paypal.
      Then you accept the refund. Case closed.
      And most likely you will get neg.

  • nickster9999 on 19/07/2014 - 16:37
    +46

    Sorry, but it's sellers like you that have stopped me using eBay. Too bad for you - it sold for $0.01 - suck it up big boy.

      • scrimshaw on 19/07/2014 - 17:10
        +9

        Buyers have the right to leave a negative feedback and report you to eBay if you refuse to sell to a winning bidder. You can't contest that, this is how eBay works. And it's also a common newbie mistake to list an item at too low a price and then not honouring the auction afterwards.

        If a person wins a bid then there is already an agreement to the transaction.

        Likewise, if you bid on an item and win it, the same rule applies and that is you must buy the item or be reported to eBay. The seller must agree to sell it, even if the winning bid amount is not to the sellers' liking.

      • nickster9999 on 19/07/2014 - 18:25
        +25

        Yes - sellers like you who use eBay knowing full well how it works - and then when the item sells for a price you're not happy with - you back out of the deal. You knew full well how eBay works. Why did you set the starting price at 1c? And you "forgot to end it"? Doubley your fault then - setting the starting bid at 1c and not ending it.

        You need to take some responsibility here. Just because you didn't get the price you wanted doesn't mean you can back out.

        The buyer won the item fair and square.

        The riff raff I put up with on eBay years ago was astounding - I even had one deranged buyer try to back out of a purchase after telling me that their cat stood on the keyboard and hit the enter button to buy an item I was selling.

      • phokati on 19/07/2014 - 19:56
        +7

        Mate its just $35 dollar thing its not like you have put up a car for auction and its going for 1 cent. He made a good purchase. Just honor the sale.

  • ozhunter on 19/07/2014 - 16:41
    +9

    Is that extra $7 that you're willing to accept worth it? Don't list an item for a price that you're not willing to accept, even for an auction.

      • minniethemoocher on 19/07/2014 - 17:22
        +2

        Oops I meant buyers can mess you around. I think you CAN simply refund the money, you might get a warning from eBay, & that may be the end of it as long as it's a one off, it would be different if you made a habit of it. You would still have to pay your eBay fees. I suggest you ask the ebay forums.

        • Lysander on 19/07/2014 - 18:09
          -4

          You are wrong. If the buyer really wants to mess you up and sues you you will end up paying a lot more than simply taking the loss.
          Legally there is a contract and given this explanation no innocent mistake has been made (which is legally relevant).
          If you do not know those things, please do not give advice unless you are prepared to share in any liability resulting from your advice.
          I also hope that I never have to deal with a seller like this - if you auction off an item you take a risk - it can work out well for you by getting a higher price than normal or it can work out not so well as in this case.
          Just take it like a man OP.

        • minniethemoocher on 19/07/2014 - 18:30
          +3

          Sue you for $7! R u kidding? Maybe if the item was worth far more then that may happen, not for this amount. My experience is that I've been on the receiving end of this, reported the seller to eBay as a non performing seller, left negative feedback, the seller continued to seller. It is a honest mistake worth peanuts, it's not the big deal everyone is making it out to be.

        • fantombloo on 20/07/2014 - 14:30

          @minniethemoocher: if the purchaser is a lawyer they could just for the heck of it.

        • sk3iron on 20/07/2014 - 14:48
          +1

          @thevofa: there are still lodgement costs and court fees to consider, it wouldn't be worth it even for us in the law profession.

      • johnno07 on 20/07/2014 - 11:55
        +5

        Good luck with selling anything with a rating that low. I wouldn't touch a 90% seller with a virtual 10ft pole. With that much bad feedback, the topic of this thread, and the other ridiculous comments you've made in this thread, you obviously have no idea of how eBay works and you should really just stay away from online selling in general.

      • johnno07 on 20/07/2014 - 11:59
        +4

        Not only is this morally discraceful, but you (and bbqwer) clearly aren't aware that Aus Post tracks all parcels now (which your soaps will be). So when you say "Herr derr, I sent it" to the buyer, and the buyer asks what the tracking number is, you'll have nothing to show, and you might as well have not even bothered to lie about sending it in the first place. Far out.

  • stemcell on 19/07/2014 - 17:10
    +12

    Don't take the comments personally its only a forum :) but the general consensus is to let the item go, quicker you do this and move on the better for your mental health because it must be causing you a little stress and lets be honest for $7 its just not worth it.

      • indium on 19/07/2014 - 17:25
        +24

        No. Just no.

        • abbztract on 19/07/2014 - 17:27
          -2

          Haha alright. I'll go with the majority.

        • scrimshaw on 19/07/2014 - 17:37
          +13

          Let me give you a tip, for anything that you don't believe anyone is actively seeking , don't put it as a 99c auction. You will only get bargain-seekers and "auction snipers" looking to pounce on the last moment and get a bargain. They might not even care if they win the item or not, they just buy it for the sake of securing a bargain.

          And these are the types of buyers you want to avoid.

          eBay is probably the last place I would go to for shaving soaps. I'd hit the supermarket for toiletries supplies, why pay the price of getting it delivered when I know shipping rates in Aus are obscenely expensive.

          Which brings to my main point — some categories of items just don't sell very well and if you wish to avoid seller's dissapointment, don't list them as an auction because there will be hardly anyone to bid on it.

        • Schezwon on 19/07/2014 - 18:52
          +1

          agree

        • fantombloo on 20/07/2014 - 14:42

          @abbztract: It sounds as though your opinion on what to do is based more on the consequence rather than the principles people have been putting forward. Further I'd suggest that "going with the majority" is not the best way or reason to solve ethical dilemmas - even though in this case the majority opinion does sound right. I think you may have missed the thrust of most people's advice in this topic.

      • watty on 19/07/2014 - 17:29
        +16

        bbqwer's idea is disgusting and dishonest (I really do hope he was just joking).

        • abbztract on 19/07/2014 - 17:32
          +2

          Fair enough. I guess the general consensus is still to send it so that's what I'll do.

  • mrmarkau67 on 19/07/2014 - 17:31
    +9

    The golden rule applies here: treat the buyer as you would wish to be treated.

    • abbztract on 19/07/2014 - 17:33
      -5

      Yeah I was trying that with my request to the buyer and such but that didn't really work out..anyways, I'll just take the advice of the majority here and send it off.

  • chill on 19/07/2014 - 17:34
    +24

    Haha what guidance are you expecting ebay to provide?

    I hope that they ban your account.

    I also love how proud you are of your 94% feedback.

    Have a good day.

    • abbztract on 19/07/2014 - 17:35
      -5

      How nice of you to say that.

  • 2ndeffort on 19/07/2014 - 17:59
    +5

    Would you have been upset if a buyer bid it up to $100 and then after the sale told you he made a mistake and didnt want to pay? Would you have told the buyer 'bad luck mate you should have been more careful?' Would you have reported such a buyer to eBay and negged him?

    Congrats for being mature about it though, learn a lesson and move on.

    • abbztract on 19/07/2014 - 18:23
      +1

      To be honest, I would've said "no worries. mistakes happen." It happened a few weeks back when I listed my shavette on eBay and the winner backed out at $60. Opened a case to cancel the transaction and we both willingly agreed to cancel it. No negative for either party.

      Regardless, it seems the buyer isn't willing to take that route or any other so I have no choice but to let it go and I guess that's best for both of us now.

      • tinx on 19/07/2014 - 18:46
        +1

        fyi, seller can't leave negative feedback anymore.

      • Schezwon on 19/07/2014 - 18:49
        +1

        So he wasted your time… rather annoys me that you have to relist and wait.

  • Harry Krishna on 19/07/2014 - 18:32
    +6

    this forum is heavily buyer orientated btw, thus the moral outrage. I have been screwed over buy buyers several times. Possession is 9/10 of the law. Having said that, that one neg feedback could cost you more than $7 in the long run

  • Schezwon on 19/07/2014 - 18:45
    +4

    I don't even sell on ebay anymore because of the high percentage they take and then paypal takes a small chunk just to hold your money, double dipping. I have sold a perfect working fridge on ebay, I did state in the auction, no refunds and item shipped without insurance is not my responsibility, the buyer emails me back after 3weeks and demanded money back saying it didn't work when he received it, well well thanks to ebay and gaypal, they refunded him the money and took the funds out of my account, it's bloody unfair and I told the (D###head) he can keep the damn fridge. Ebay always favor the buyer in the end!

    • johnno07 on 20/07/2014 - 12:03

      Insurance is YOUR responsibility as the seller, NOT the buyer's. The buyer is protected by PayPal, you're protected by the insurance. If you didn't insure an expensive item… well that's just silly.

  • ang911 on 19/07/2014 - 19:08
    +18

    I have looked at your ebay listings and it is obvious that you were shill bidding using another account to boost your prices. 100% of the suspicious bidders bids in the last 30 days have been on your items. I hope ebay bans you!

    One reason you are getting low prices is because you are using terrible titles for your items. You were selling shaving cream but the word "shaving" wasn't even in your title….

    • Mikaela on 19/07/2014 - 19:23
      +2

      One word for OP in this situation… karma. Do the wrong thing and you eventually pay one way or another

    • spychiatrist on 19/07/2014 - 20:15

      How did you track the OP?

      • ang911 on 19/07/2014 - 20:31
        +3

        They use the same username on ebay as here

        • [Deactivated] on 19/07/2014 - 20:58
          +1

          I see two accounts used for shill bidding, no?

        • ang911 on 19/07/2014 - 21:16
          +1

          @waterlogged turnip:
          Yes it looks like two accounts to me, both with 1 feedback.

        • juventino on 19/07/2014 - 22:26

          @waterlogged turnip:

          at least one is definitely shell bidding, the other one well be the same. In fact, there might be more than two.

  • umoddbro on 19/07/2014 - 19:25
    +1

    You shouldn't have listed it if you're not prepared to sell it at that price.

  • Sage on 19/07/2014 - 19:38
    +1

    send it, you're obligated to.

    if you don't send it, the buyer will most likely leave negative feedback on your account, and anyone else who deals with you will see it and judge you on it.

    • SydneyCBDgirl on 20/07/2014 - 09:33

      Sadly, the buyer may leave it, and it may be provably deserved in which ebay has access to the message stream in which the seller engages in conduct against its rules, but if the seller whinges and cries and gives a sob story, an ebay rep who doesn't want to lose a seller may remove it. Personal experience seeing myself get f'd over by bad feedback from a dishonest seller, and seeing the seller get the neg I left on him get it removed, god knows how.

  • mskeggs on 19/07/2014 - 21:54
    +11

    If DSE or HN did this there would be plenty of people yelling scam.
    I'm a bit disturbed by the ethics on display here:
    - starting listings with the intention of pulling them
    - trying to get a customer to pay more than the winning bid
    - considering various lies and deceptions to get out of supplying the item.

    Maybe you should reconsider selling on ebay. I'd rather not do business with sellers taking this sort of approach.
    I realise there are bad buyers out there too, but that is no reason to be a poor seller.
    And BTW, I wouldn't worry too much about the feedback. For most buyers, feedback under 98% or 99% speaks volumes.

  • juventino on 19/07/2014 - 22:19
    +24

    OP,you are a dodgy person through and through. You pretend to make mistake when you fully know how the system works. You even engaged in shell bidding, don't tell me you don't know what shell bidding is.

    You don't make a mistake, you FORGOT to use the dody account to do shell bidding.

    and oh, forums such as Ozbargain and Whirlpool can see your b**lsh*t pretty quickly.

  • Moots on 19/07/2014 - 23:14
    +8

    It's your fault. Your the reason why eBay is targetting the bigger sellers and slowly squeezing the smaller sellers out. People like you are pathetic, and are the reason why good things get destroyed by groups of people like yourself.

    On another note, your post is very embarrassing and you obviously have no common sense as any normal person would know they are pouring fuel on the flame wall, in which the fuel is your post. I just thought I should explain that to you, seeming your a bit simple.

    • [Deactivated] on 20/07/2014 - 01:53
      +1

      "…seeming you're a bit simple."
      ;)

  • arnieb on 19/07/2014 - 23:59
    +1

    haha this OP got wrecked. LOL

  • GnarlyKnuckles on 20/07/2014 - 00:25
    +4

    Well-deserved too arn… I assumed the post was a joke at first! I do feel A BIT sorry for him/her though… obviously not the sharpest tool in the shed, first for doing it, second for advertising the fact, and third for not predicting what sort of response he/she'd get from a website full of dudes who would love to bid 1 cent on something they wanted on ebay, and win.
    It's entertaining though…

    • juventino on 20/07/2014 - 00:28
      +3

      he even posted the same thing on ebay forum, how stupid can you get ?

      • abbztract on 20/07/2014 - 00:51
        -4

        Oh right. Because trying to get advice is stupid isn't it?

        • juventino on 20/07/2014 - 04:36
          +3

          somewhere else, sure. But you're leaving evidence of you trying to cheat the system on the very platform the system resides.

          It's like going to police and ask them how to avoid punishment when you have just committed crimes

        • pascal03 on 20/07/2014 - 11:23
          +10

          Hahaha you got rekt!

          I suggest you cancel your Ozbargain account and hopefully Ebay bans you asap!

          This community doesn't need people like you.

          It's disgusting how sellers like you start an auction low and intend to cancel the transaction if you don't get the price you want. To top it off you have bogey accounts to bump up your price. But you're too stupid to even remember how to run a scam.

          Seemed like a joke post at first, but your stupidity on your replies suggest you're not a smart or clever man.

          See ya!

  • Tom70111 on 20/07/2014 - 00:34
    +7

    OP getting demolished haha grabs popcorn

    • abbztract on 20/07/2014 - 00:51

      Lol at least someone is getting some entertainment out of it :P

      • juventino on 20/07/2014 - 04:37
        +1

        the beauty of Ozbargain. Everyone get ridiculed once in a while :) :)

  • MasterNoob on 20/07/2014 - 01:57
    +11

    I'm just here to neg OP.

    Am I too late to the party?

    • abbztract on 20/07/2014 - 01:58
      +9

      Not at all mate. Welcome.

  • happysound on 20/07/2014 - 02:09
    +4

    If you want negotiation and flip flop pricing - take it to gumtree…

  • huntress_love on 20/07/2014 - 03:02

    just refund and not send it but you'll probably get bad feedback from buyer if that's not an issue for you then it doesn't matter.

  • juventino on 20/07/2014 - 04:41

    Atually since you're not overly concerned with the negative feedback, there are really lots of ways to cover your losses. Hint : something to do with the postal system :)

  • Mysterious on 20/07/2014 - 08:08

    Simply put, you're obligated to sell the item at $0.01. I've sold items at unexpectedly low prices before and I had to suck it up and sell it for that price. It's against the rules to not do so.

  • WrightAnvil on 20/07/2014 - 08:10
    +2

    You have an fair and standing obligation to sell the item. The item sold as listed.

    Seriously you're a goose trying to opt out of your obligation. The buyer purchased in good faith now do the right thing.

    Trying to involve eBay? You knew the rules when you listed the item. Hope eBay tells you that your must follow through!

    Thank goodness I never dealt with you as a seller. You want your cake and to eat it too …. you can't have it both ways.

    Suck it up goose and post the item.

  • lbkmumma on 20/07/2014 - 09:09

    Good feedback/ideas for the OP fellas, but so much rage…

  • SydneyCBDgirl on 20/07/2014 - 09:26
    +6

    Absolutely. I bought and paid for an item. The guy decided he didn't want to sell to me telling ebay I was a "SCAM!!!!!!" (said with full Checkout inflection) because I used my US ebay account that is linked to my US paypal account to avoid currency conversion and then dared to ask for it to be shipped to Australia, given that the text and other settings for the item indicated he would post internationally. He balked at this. I said, fine, idiot, ship to my US address that goes to a forwarder and I'll handle getting it shipped internationally. No, he wouldn't do that either, since I admitted I'm in Australia. Fine, said I, then ship it to Australia! "No, I don't ship internationally." "Explain this screen grab (text saying happy to ship internationally)." "That's only for people who aren't SCAMS!!!!!". WTF?

    ZOMG, he started whingeing to ebay that I had overpaid for the item (he was an idiot. Although it was similar to other items, the branding on this item's packaging was much rarer than the similar items he cited) and given the address weirdness, I must be a money launderer! He told them he was distraught that a piece of his father's precious collection would be used as a tool by a money launderer. Whinge whinge whinge cry cry cry to ebay, abusive bizarre emails to me…

    This weirdo never sent the item and even had the nerve to try to keep paypal from refunding to me the money I'd rightfully paid him for the item. I scorched him on feedback and he told all of ebay as a result that I was a scam. Serious nutcase there.

    And then he did more whingeing and crying to ebay until they removed my neg of him.

    I no longer trust ebay.

    • GaryQ on 20/07/2014 - 10:02
      +1

      I believe I have just witnessed Beanie Rage

    • johnno07 on 20/07/2014 - 12:07
      +2

      The first seller I've ever heard of that's complained that a buyer has paid too much for their item!

  • andyken on 20/07/2014 - 12:34
    +1

    eBay is the worst in Customer Support, I am a seller and a buyer too, as a seller, when buyer didnt pay and dont want to cancel the transaction, very slow in the support and at the end you forget about it and you still pay the fees. it happened to me. ask for revoke the fees, eBay kept saying "I am so sorry to hear that and we will investigate" every single time when you ask them.

    When I am as a buyer won an auction (bargain auction), I quickly pay via paypal, the seller not replying your email, after 7 days no news from the seller, open a dispute, take the money back from paypal. report to ebay, and they cant do jack sh^& about the seller.

    In my opinion, yes, it is your fault, but it is up to you, if you think you will lose money, dont sent it, treat it as "WRONG PRICE" like what other online retailer did when they refuse to sell when the price is too low.

    Nothing wrong about it, the buyer in other hand know exactly and want to try their luck.

    REFUND THE MONEY VIA PAYPAL saying "wrong price, supposely $10 instead of $0.1).

    I

  • lolmao on 20/07/2014 - 13:48
    +8

    I already ran out of negs today so I just want to leave this comment as my neg.

  • seewaichan83 on 20/07/2014 - 14:37
    -2

    Look, everyone started a business to make money. OP wanted people to bid more and start off with $0.01 , and I see this as a common strategy. Having sold the product making $0.01 is a big loss. To be honest, if I was in OP situation I would just refuse the sale and cop a neg feedback. All you people preaching a high "moral" lesson just makes me vomit. To be honest, how many of you make a big loss will just honour it. Be honest please.

  • goosegog on 20/07/2014 - 14:43

    You sold the product & that price -the buyer bought. No way can you go back & ask for more. This is a legal transaction. It is not the buyers fault that you made a mistake as the seller. Live & learn for the future.

  • ModeratorCommonwealth Pig on 20/07/2014 - 15:00

    It looks like the OP has got their answer. As many comments are now just attacking the OP this thread is closed.

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