MAKING GOOD BUSINESS SENSE

sunset_sports_cards
Community Member
Good morning folks, or afternoon wherever you may be. I had a fellow purchase an item off of me for the final bid amount. I sell sports cards mainly and use the Beckett pricing guide to try and be close to market value for my items. This fellow won the item and I invoiced him for the amount payable. He said to me "I thought I was buying the smaller version of the card which was more valuable(although I had it listed saying it was the larger version) but I will complete the transaction anyways. So I checked the guide to see how far above the listed price was for that card and the auction finished at double the price. So I said to him, "I am not here to rip people off, so I will sell it to you at the listed price from Beckett plus shipping" he says "great!, It is nice to see there are still honest sellers out there!" I would like some input from my fellow PS er's.
Question: Should I have sold that item to him at what he won it for anyways? And doing what I did...a bad thing or a good thing, in terms of business sense.

Any thoughts?
Message 1 of 9
latest reply
8 REPLIES 8

MAKING GOOD BUSINESS SENSE

You don't give the value, so are we talking about 5.00 or 500.00?

You should have offered to sell the second highest bidder and if accepted, everyone would be happy. You were clear.

Another idea would to offer to just charge the final value fees and relist.

Angelo
Message 2 of 9
latest reply

MAKING GOOD BUSINESS SENSE

sunset_sports_cards
Community Member
The value of the card was $8, the buyer won it for $16 and change. I sold it to him for $8 +S&H.
Message 3 of 9
latest reply

MAKING GOOD BUSINESS SENSE

muminlaw
Community Member
I think I might have been more inclined to offer to do a "mutual agreement" cancellation and then offer it to the 2nd highest bidder. I'm not sure there is a right or wrong way to handle this - just different opinions!
. Glenda
To Golf or Not To Golf? What a stupid question!
Glenda

Click here to go to my Store
Message 4 of 9
latest reply

MAKING GOOD BUSINESS SENSE

proud-to-offer
Community Member
My humble opinion...for $8, you may have made a customer for life. It wasn't going to make or break the bank for you, so I think it was a very nice thing you did. After all, he was still willing to finish the transaction, after realizing his mistake.

On my other ID, I offer combined shipping for $2.50 per each additional piece purchased. I sometimes sell 15 or more items to one customer. I could hold firm and charge them $37.50 extra, but they would go away feeling ripped off and would not become a return customer. I always adjust that shipping way down and the customer feels like they got a nice break and if I am lucky, they come back later and buy more.

Now, if he had said there was no way I am going to pay for it, I would have filed a NPB, blocked him and not looked back. However, it sounds like he was still being reasonable.

~Bonnie
Message 5 of 9
latest reply

MAKING GOOD BUSINESS SENSE

multidistributor
Community Member
We would of done the same thing, it would bring future customers our way and maybe buy more from us.
Message 6 of 9
latest reply

MAKING GOOD BUSINESS SENSE

mirakbiz_inc
Community Member
The way I see things.... you have to treat others the way you expect to be treated.

At least that's the way I try to go through life (not just eBay)

I think you did the right thing

my two cents.
Message 7 of 9
latest reply

MAKING GOOD BUSINESS SENSE

Did it make you feel good?

If so....you did the right thing but I think you knew that already.

Ben
"What else could I do? I had no trade so I became a peddler" - Lazarus Greenberg 1915


"What else could I do? I had no trade so I became a peddler" - Lazarus Greenberg 1915
- answering Trolls is voluntary, my policy is not to participate.
Message 8 of 9
latest reply

MAKING GOOD BUSINESS SENSE

sunset_sports_cards
Community Member
Thanks folks for the opinions. Just to update...that particular customer has in fact returned for more items and with no problems. As a matter of fact, I think I have a new friend! Cheers!
Message 9 of 9
latest reply