Duplicate "bids" on multiple item BIN's

[acurael]

/start rant... If you don't list multiple item BIN's you can probably skip this...

I can't be the only one who has this happen.

Newbie somehow manages to "bid" twice on a multiple item BIN - cookie problems, isp problems, computer illiterate, whatever the reason.

They only want one item. They pay for one item.

Now I need to get my fees back - but before I can file npb/fvf "mutually agreed to not complete" for the 2nd "bid" I have to wait the required period - as well as allowing any other straggler bidders to either pay or be a deadbeat.

So days, weeks pass I can finally file for my fees. Newbie gets an email from ebay about the non-purchase confirmation for item #X. Newbie goes "no, I bought and paid for that item". They respond to ebay, ebay emails me and I get accused of fee avoidance.

This could be easily fixed on ebay's end - when a person "bids" on a multiple item BIN do a check - "has user id already bid on this item? If yes, then ask "You've already bought X number of these at X time/date - Would you like to buy more of them?" YES/NO


This should be very easy to implement and would completely eliminate the above problem. I have about 2-3 of these per month - although ebay has only accused me of fee avoidance once... so far anyway.

I first suggested this to ebay through PS support back in Dec of 2002!!

And I just had another newbie do this last week!

argh.

/end rant

/waits patiently for ebay programmer to correct this

[gem-n-i-gemstonz]

I wonder what would happen if a whole bunch of PS'ers banded together, and decided to bill eBay for all the "mistake" listing fees we have been charged, claiming that it's eBays negligence of this matter that is costing us?

Just a thought.

Jaqui

[gem-n-i-gemstonz]

Here is another thought for anyone else who is having this problem:

When I get someone who has "accidentally" bought several items, they are usually quite willing to help me out, if I am helping them out. When I explain that I cannot recoupe my listing costs from ebay, they are usually quite relieved and willing to cover that for me, in order to be "let out" of the sale. I then charge them the listing fee on top of the price of thier one item that they ARE paying for. This doesnt always work, but most people are pretty understanding. I try to find a diplomatic way to ask them why I should "pay" for thier mistake. Then I go thru the NPB/FVF process, which is still a PITA, but at least I can recoupe those costs.

This of course doesnt mean that eBay shouldnt fix what is surely a MINOR programming problem.

Jaqui

[acurael]

Hey pinks... anyone care to comment on this?

I did learn one positive to this - sure it's a headache for sellers and confusing for newbies, but the PS tiers are based on gross sales and FVF from these duplicate bids don't impact your gross sales with ebay.

So, you want titanium level PS? Easy - list a multiple item product, have someone bid 1000 times, pay for one, you FVF for the 999 and voila.. titanium.

I heard titanium sellers get coffee mugs too, oh and 50% savings with CP, FedEx, and UPS - not to mention a 25% discount on ebay fees. 🙂

hehe

Just doing what I can to bring attention to this issue!!!

[ospreylinks]

Regarding billing Ebay for multiple bidder errors.... good luck on this one....

However, if someone has deep pockets, and it can be proven that this problem is to the monetary benefit of Ebay although they are aware that it is an error in their systems and to the detriment of the community, and they choose to ignore or do nothing....Then Class Action Might Be In Order......(hence the requirement for deep pockets).

So dig out your notes and figure out who and when advised Ebay of the problem and prove that nothing has been done...and were off to the courts! Squash anyone!

Jeff

[acurael]

/adds equal parts red and white

/stirs

/waits for for a PINK response.

[llee2]

You know, this happens to me an awful lot too. And it really is a PITA to have to wait a week to file a FVF credit. Not only that but more often than not, it causes even more confusion among the newbie bidders. They receive an email stating that "if they have received the product, contact ebay customer support to report this". Well, if you're green enough to make the initial mistake, chances are you're going to report this seller for falsely filing a credit ("Oh yea, I forget a BIN'd 153 of those but only wanted 1!").

On a slight side note, I had some loser do BIN for 5 items then email me that she changed her mind and wanted me to "cancel" her order. She didn't want me to file for credit (even the mutual incompletion one), wasn't going to pay, and would not pay the associated fees. When I politely told her those were the only 3 options available as I was not going to eat the fees for a non-sale, she emailed me a nasty note. She said, and I quote "you've got a lovely attitude, especially towards a potential future customer". Who needs these kinds of non-paying customers? Think the term she is looking for is "deadbeat". Grrrrrrr.... Sorry, venting...