Ebay, so what would you do?

[fishrdan]

I'm selling something on Ebay and a buyer asked if I would ship it for free, if he purchased it Buy It Now. I declined free shipping as free shipping wasn't mentioned in the auction. So the guy places a bid, and right now he's the high bidder. OK, no problem, if he buys if cheaper than his initial BIN and free shipping offer, good for him.

I just received a message from him and he's asking me to cancel his bid as he says, it's too big to fit in his boat. Well, shouldn't he have thought about that before bidding on the item? (BTW, I did mention in the auction I had the item out out of the box and was selling it because,,, it didn't fit in MY boat...)

I don't know. Karma is one of those funny things and I don't want to make the guy stick to his bid if really made an honest mistake. On the other hand, a bid is a binding contract. I have a feeling he might be getting cold feet, found something different, changed his mind, etc, etc...

So what would you do?

 

[Tyme2fish]

Re: Ebay, so what would you do?

I've never used e-bay so take my response for what it's worth.

Cancel the bid. Life's too short to sweat the petty things or pet the sweaty things.

 

[itsaboattime]

Re: Ebay, so what would you do?

Sounds like buyers remorse to me.

I have been selling on ebay for years and have had this happen to me before. I would make the buyer honor his bid. He may be out bid and that just drives your selling price higher. I know that may make me sound like an S.O.B. to some, but I tell people right in the auction "Please don't bid if you don't intend to honor your bid."

You could allow him to retract it but it may not sell. I dunno, your call.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Ebay, so what would you do?

Can not answer your poll without more information. Any other bidders ??? anyone close to your price ???
We have given folk a break a couple of times on e-bay. You can however hold them to the bid but it can give a lot of aggravation !!!

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Ebay, so what would you do?

1 other bidder
4 people watching (including the 2 who bid)

I started the auction at $200, BIN at $250, the auction is just over $200 right now with a day left. Retail on the item is about $375, online $40 cheaper. I'm looking to get $250, and with snipers it could go for $250, maybe not?

A few days after starting the auction, I googled the item and found a place selling the item cheaper than my BIN + shipping... I wonder if this bidder found it too?

 

[WIMUSKY]

Re: Ebay, so what would you do?

Cancel the bid, it's not worth the aggravation if he wins. Besides, he doesn't have to pay you. Sure you can give him negative feeback, but you'll have to go thru the hassle of relisting. You started the auction at $200 and a BIN of only $50 more, you have another bid and since there's a day to go, there's a good chance others will bid too. Snipers don't show up at all until the final seconds of the auction. They just watch the progress until the very end.

IMO, it's not worth it......

 

[Isaacm1986]

Re: Ebay, so what would you do?

if he is not the only bidder I would cancel his bid. i have dealt a lot on ebay. if he wants to cancel his bid now, then he will not pay if he wins. then you have too wait a couple weeks and go through ebay and paypal as a claim, that takes a couple more weeks and then you may or may not receive money for it. if it were me, it is not worth the hassle.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Ebay, so what would you do?

1 other bidder
4 people watching (including the 2 who bid)

I started the auction at $200, BIN at $250, the auction is just over $200 right now with a day left. Retail on the item is about $375, online $40 cheaper. I'm looking to get $250, and with snipers it could go for $250, maybe not?

A few days after starting the auction, I googled the item and found a place selling the item cheaper than my BIN + shipping... I wonder if this bidder found it too?

Personally I would give the guy a break with that scenario.

 

[*EdC*]

Re: Ebay, so what would you do?

I say.. Let him retract is own bid! Then put him on your blocked bidders list. Criers like that aren't worth the hassle.

 

[kend301]

Re: Ebay, so what would you do?

I agree with the above , advise him to retract the bid then accept the retraction , That way you do not have a bid cancelation in YOUR feedback. And he will have a bid retraction on HIS feedback . Karma will do the rest But I would not go through the hassle to "force" him to honor his bid, As I understand it you would not be able to sell the item in any manner until the dispute was resloved .

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Ebay, so what would you do?

I agree,Let the buyer retract his bid.
I sell on Ebay too and have been through this.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Ebay, so what would you do?

he can retract his bid. he just has to figure out how to do it, (advanced search) within 24 hours of the auction ending.

 

[JRJ]

Re: Ebay, so what would you do?

I voted cancel, but I've never used Ebay.

 

[lakelover]

Re: Ebay, so what would you do?

I'd cancel the bid.

I've found after listing several hundred auctions on ebay that most of the time, any complications caused by the buyer generally ending up being to the detriment of the seller, in other words, ebay favors the buyer if it goes into the complaint system stage. At the very least it will be a PIA, and more aggravation to deal with than it's worth.

 

[kei9th]

Re: Ebay, so what would you do?

i know when i bid on ebay if i over bid then its my fault, i personally say he is the highest bidder then he is stuck to the contract. if you give him a break then the next person will want one. remember you cut your own deal in life and now he needs to honor his deal.

 

[JustJason]

Re: Ebay, so what would you do?

Call the guy up and make him promise to you to that if he bakes some cookies and brings them to the local old persons home you'll cancel his bid

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: Ebay, so what would you do?

I wouldn't cancel the bid, because it will affect other bids and your potential to get the most money possible. I like the "make him retract" line of thinking. That way, you lose little and he gets what he wants, but has to suffer the consequences of not acting in good faith.



???

 

[mscher]

Re: Ebay, so what would you do?

i know when i bid on ebay if i over bid then its my fault, i personally say he is the highest bidder then he is stuck to the contract. if you give him a break then the next person will want one. remember you cut your own deal in life and now he needs to honor his deal.

The bidder is saying the part is too big, not that it cost too much (maybe it does).

Anyway, chances are looking real good that if this guy is the auction winner, there will be problems ahead. The bidder wants out, so why not let him and move on? This does not happen often.

Teaching someone a "lesson", to your own detriment, sound like a lesson in frustration and hassle for the seller, little more.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Ebay, so what would you do?

Thanks for the input guys. I told him that he could retract his bid last night with 20 hours to go (he has to retract before -12 hours) and I am leaving it at that. If he wins and doesn't pay, I'll just report him for non-payment and resell the item later.

 

[*EdC*]

Re: Ebay, so what would you do?

If he is the high bidder.....
1. let ebay send the usual invoice
2. wait 4 days to hear from him
3. then send him a reminder
4. fine a non payment complaint
5. use the second chance offer and avoid the relisting fees.