I cannot find a way to communicate with eBay to find an answer to my problem.

[leonardorivero]

I tried to place a last minute bid but was informed that I didn't make it and was outbidded. So I bought a similar item on buy it now. following that, I received an email from eBay saying that I did win the previous bid. How is that possible? I explained this to the seller but how do I tell eBay?

[pierrelebel]

What do you want to explain to eBay?

The bidding pattern shows you are the high bidder:

http://offer.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewBids&_trksid=p2047675.l2565&rt=nc&item=171077685959

What made you think you were not?

"So I bought a similar item on buy it now. following that, I received an email from eBay'"

eBay would have sent you a confirmation of your winning bid as soon as the auction ended (within seconds).

Your Buy-it-Now from the same seller was two days later.

What does the seller suggest?

[femmefan1946]

The past tense of "outbid" is "outbid".

So you bought two identical items from the same seller, one in auction and the other as a Buy It Now two days later.

Use Contact Seller to explain your error.  Ask for a Mutual Cancellation, If the seller sends this, agree immediately, pay for the other item and leave positive feedback for both.

He could hold you to both sales, or leave you with Unpaid Item Strikes, but a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

Keep it friendly and apologetic, and all should go well.