eBay

xena_monroe_bonjovi · ‎07-17-2019

About 2 weeks ago, an item I was interested in was on sale. Long story short, I was not able to buy before the sale ended. When I was OK to buy, I contacted the seller and asked if he would accept an offer.

He said yes, depending on the price. I replied that I would offer him the same price as the sale he had. He says something like "OK buy it full price and I will refund the difference". I suggested to send me an offer instead through eBay. He said that this does not work and that we was not able to send an invoice that way until the buyer had committed to buy. Huh?

I said, there is no need to send an invoice as you already specify your shippping cost (everything was very clear on his listing). That I would pay immediately after committing to buy. He insisted again that I pay full price and that he would refund, saying "I do this all the time". So I suggested to add the Best Offer option to his listing. The following day, since the item was ending and I didn't get a reply, I just went ahead and paid full price with a polite note that I didn't understand why he would pay full FVF on this sale, but I still expected him to keep his word.

During my lunchbreak, I connect to my email box to see if he refunded the agreed price.... well, he first canceled the sale completely and then sent a message saying that the DVD had "an unfortunate incident this morning" and that he was forced to refund.

What?! No message first, no picture to prove the item was really damaged... what is wrong with this guy?!

This is not the first time a seller does something like this... I had the same problem around the same time last year. What is wrong with people? If it was me, I would contact the buyer first, offer something else, apologize. Not cancel without warning... I wonder how he managed to get more than 2000 positive feedbacks if he does business like this... so disappointing, since it is a really rare DVD that I wanted.

ypdc_dennis · ‎07-18-2019

@xena_monroe_bonjovi wrote:
... When I was OK to buy, I contacted the seller and asked if he would accept an offer.
He said yes, depending on the price. I replied that I would offer him the same price as the sale he had. He says something like "OK buy it full price and I will refund the difference". I suggested to send me an offer instead through eBay. He said that this does not work and that we was not able to send an invoice that way until the buyer had committed to buy. Huh?

The Seller is correct -- eBay invoices can only be sent for purchases.

If the listing was active, then the Seller could/should have turned "Offers" on (it's a simple listing edit). Then handled the rest of the matter through the offer messages. Issuing refunds is a lazy Seller method when using Offer can do the job.

As for cancelling, the Seller gets a black mark from eBay (unless the cancellation was requested by the Buyer). Too many performance black marks and penalties are applied.

-..-

lady.stark · ‎07-18-2019

xena_monroe_bonjovi · ‎07-18-2019

@ypdc_dennis wrote:
@xena_monroe_bonjovi wrote:
... When I was OK to buy, I contacted the seller and asked if he would accept an offer.
He said yes, depending on the price. I replied that I would offer him the same price as the sale he had. He says something like "OK buy it full price and I will refund the difference". I suggested to send me an offer instead through eBay. He said that this does not work and that we was not able to send an invoice that way until the buyer had committed to buy. Huh?
The Seller is correct -- eBay invoices can only be sent for purchases.

Of course they are. It would make no sense to invoice someone who didn't buy. But my question is: what is the point of sending an invoice? There was no need for that. His shipping costs were clearly indicated, both in the shipping tab and the listing text (and they matched). That's why I don't understand his comment. It just made no sense at all.

What is bothering me too is that I can't see the reason he chose for cancelling. It's not written in the case details. Just that "the seller cancelled your order". I would hate to know he chose the "asked by buyer" reason when it is totally untrue.

xena_monroe_bonjovi · ‎07-18-2019

Now I know there is something fishy going on. I can't even leave feedback for this seller!

xena_monroe_bonjovi · ‎07-18-2019

I called eBay to know why I was not able to leave feedback. And it seems that, because the seller has more than a 1,000 feedbacks, I have to wait 10 days to do so. Is this new?

reallynicestamps · ‎07-19-2019

One of the perks of becoming a PowerSeller is a Hold on feedback being left by buyers.

This gives the buyer and seller time to work out the problems like grownups.

reallynicestamps · ‎07-19-2019

You liked a lot, but could not afford it.

It was unsold.

The seller relisted at a higher price.

You asked to make an offer at the sale price.

Instead of accepting a formal offer, the seller told you to buy at his full price and that he would refund the difference.

Hmm. Okay.

You paid the full price.

You included a note about his promised partial refund.

He refunded your full payment .

Did he actually cancel the transaction? This is a formal action.

His reason was "Item no longer available. (damaged)"

He got a Defect (which is a Very Bad Thing).

You wasted time but got your money back.

You will be able to leave feedback, next week. I believe the Hold is seven days not ten.

The most effective feedback is calm and factual.

"Cancelled transaction DVD "damaged" refunded." for example. Including the internal quote marks.

If the item is relisted, you can add a Response to your FB.

You are probably on his Blocked Bidder List now, by the way.

not the first time a seller does something like this... I had the same problem

With a different seller?

What do the two failed transactions have in common?

xena_monroe_bonjovi · ‎07-19-2019

You are right, it is 7 days not 10. I don't know why I wrote that....

The item did not end (it was not unsold). Only the sale ended.

Yes, he did cancel the transaction without even contacting me. He did it only later. That's why I don't believe one minute the item is damaged. I just don't understand what went wrong for him to act this way. And I don't think he got a defect. I do not see the reason he chose for cancelling, so it could be anything. I forgot to ask customer service about that yesterday.

@reallynicestamps wrote:
not the first time a seller does something like this... I had the same problem
With a different seller?
What do the two failed transactions have in common?

Except the fact that the seller cancelled the transaction without contacting me or explaining me why, nothing. Summary of that other sale: I asked a US seller if he would ship to Canada. He agreed. I purchased, next day he cancelled without contacting me or explaining why he did it. He ignored me completely after the cancellation. He was a US seller. This one now is Canadian.

xena_monroe_bonjovi · ‎07-19-2019

Just thought about it today... they do have something else in common: they are both selling CDs and DVDs.

I just went on the US boards and it seems I'm not the only one in this situation. A lot of buyers are complaining of sellers cancelling orders without any message and ignoring questions.