RELISTED PREVIOUSLY SOLD ITEM BY MISTAKE AND IT SOLD - WHAT TO DO?

[forester_studios]

I accidentally re-listed an item that was sold awhile back.  Now someone has bought it and sent payment.  I plan to refund their payment and apologize of course.  Just wondering if there is any way to get my Final value fees back from Ebay?  Anyone else who has ever been in this predicament?  I would very much appreciate any helpful advice you can offer on this unfortunate situation.  Thanks.

[recped]

Let it go!

The only way to get your fvf refunded is to file a mutual cancellation. If a seller refunded my money because they didn't have the item I might be co-operative but that's because I'm a seller and know how these things go. If I was just a buyer I'd be p'd and if the seller wanted me to agree to a cancellation I might not be very happy.

They could agree to cancel and then trash your feedback!

How much money are we talking here? For a few bucks I'd just chalk it up as a penalty for my mistake.

FYI - I've made the same mistake and so have most sellers.

[forester_studios]

So you're saying that if I send a refund through Paypal they can't leave any negative feedback?  Is that right?

[recped]

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@forester_studios wrote:

So you're saying that if I send a refund through Paypal they can't leave any negative feedback?  Is that right?

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NO!!!!

Not sure how you got that idea.

[rose-dee]

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@forester_studios wrote:

So you're saying that if I send a refund through Paypal they can't leave any negative feedback?  Is that right?

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No, absolutely not.  But if you initiate a cancellation request and the buyer agrees, they can still leave FB on the cancelled transaction -- rather illogical of eBay but that's the reality. 

I've had a similar experience, and have learned my lesson too.  In that case, I had over-stated the number of available items in a multi-quantity listing by 1.  The buyer purchased the last one (which I didn't have on hand).  When I realized my error, I immediately refunded her money, and as a gesture of apology I told her I would send her the item (an antique sewing pattern) once I was able to have it reprinted, completely free of charge, which I did. 

It was the right thing to do, in more ways than one: she returned a few months later to make further purchases.  I probably don't need to add that she left me great FB/DSRs. 

Obviously if you're not fortunate enough to be a publisher/manufacturer, you may not be able to send the identical item later for free, but perhaps some other gesture (in addition to the refund of course) would be appropriate -- for example, a discount voucher for future purchases from you, free shipping on the next purchase, etc. etc.?

[recped]

No, absolutely not.  But if you initiate a cancellation request and the buyer agrees, they can still leave FB on the cancelled transaction -- rather illogical of eBay but that's the reality.

Not illogical at all and especially in this type of situation where it`s the SELLER who wants to cancel because THEY made a mistake.

[rose-dee]

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@recped wrote:

No, absolutely not.  But if you initiate a cancellation request and the buyer agrees, they can still leave FB on the cancelled transaction -- rather illogical of eBay but that's the reality.

Not illogical at all and especially in this type of situation where it`s the SELLER who wants to cancel because THEY made a mistake.

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Yes, of course.  I was thinking generally of situations where buyers ask to be released from transactions. 

As a seller I never have (and probably never would) ask a buyer to agree to cancel a transaction unless he/she had requested it.  I just don't see the point in risking antagonizing a buyer who is still able to leave FB/DSRs, or who might refuse to cancel. 

From a seller's perspective, once you refund, what's the harm in just letting the transaction die on the vine in the normal course, absent a specific request from the buyer to cancel?  (Well, aside from some FVFs, which to me would be almost irrelevant compared to getting lousy DSRs from a vexed buyer).

[jt-libra]

"Obviously if you're not fortunate enough to be a publisher/manufacturer, you may not be able to send the identical item later for free, but perhaps some other gesture (in addition to the refund of course) would be appropriate -- for example, a discount voucher for future purchases from you, free shipping on the next purchase, etc. etc.?"

I agree with rose-dee.  I've been red-faced a couple of times when I didn't have the item that was purchased.  I immediately refund, send a sincere note of apology and always send a gift free of charge.  I would never ask for a mutual cancellation.

As far as I'm concerned, it's the right thing to do.