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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to change my mind about this ebay item?

17 replies

purplepidjin · 12/07/2011 20:09

A genuine WWYD cos I really really don't know!

I bid on an ebay item, then the seller offered to pull the auction for a price to guarantee I got the item. I tried to contact them at the arranged time (this morning) to collect and hand over the cash. They weren't contactable so I used to time to do some more research. I have now found a much better deal at a similar price for a better item.

The seller has got in contact this evening.

Would I be a horrible evil bitch to say, actually I've changed my mind? It's not convenient for me to go another day this week, I'd have to rearrange other plans - which is why I said I'd collect today.

Eek!

OP posts:

thursday · 12/07/2011 20:12

as they've messed you around too i'd not feel dreadful about it. horrible evil bitch is a bit strong but flaky buyers are a PITA generally.

Scholes34 · 12/07/2011 20:16

Yes, you'd be a PITA - they made you an offer and your accepted it. Now you should stick to it. Shouldn't have done the further research

thisisyesterday · 12/07/2011 20:17

yanbu.

although has she already pulled the auction?

thisisyesterday · 12/07/2011 20:19

to those saying she is being unreasonable... we all know that the seller is breaking ebay rules by using ebay to do a private sale anyway! it's a risk you take if you decide to sell privately rather than adding a BIN or letting the auction run

OP has been messed about and if the seller had stuck to the agreement they'd have both been happy now.

she didn't, she'll relist the item if it has been pulled and that's taht.

Original poster

purplepidjin · 12/07/2011 20:20

Yes, they pulled the auction on the basis of our off-ebay negotiation.

Yes, it's my fault for researching further, but I'm stuck on the sofa with a chest infection so it passed the time. And I thought the seller had changed their mind when I rang the number this morning and the person I spoke to had no idea what I was rambling about!

OP posts:

Marne · 12/07/2011 20:21

YABU

You made her an offer so you should stick to it (that would be the right thing to do)

On the other hand, you have not really bought it through e-bay so theres nothing they can do if you pull out.

squeakytoy · 12/07/2011 20:28

Hang on... who made the offer to end the auction? If it was the seller, then I would smell a rat. You had bid on it, and no reputable seller ends an auction early if there is interest in the item.

As a seller I get plenty of buyers contacting me to ask me if I would accept xxx amount to end early, and I always say no. I have yet to have an auction end that is less than the offered amount.

You have also go absolutely no protection if you buy off ebay either.

Original poster

purplepidjin · 12/07/2011 20:47

They offered to end early. I was going to take my chances on winning or not, depending on other interest. It just so happened that they are about 40 miles away from me and liked the idea of cash on collection.

Argh! Waiting for DP to get home because I'm too scared to return the phone call! The item really is overpriced compared with others I've seen (more features, warranty, similar price)

I've been a mug

OP posts:

mumnotmachine · 12/07/2011 20:50

Did you bid on it before the seller ended the auction?

If you did then you are obliged to go through with the sale - but only at the price you bid

Original poster

purplepidjin · 12/07/2011 20:58

Yes, then negotiated by email for £20 more. Seller then cancelled my bid.

Can I not just switch my phone off? please please please

OP posts:

nocake · 12/07/2011 21:01

You have no obligation to buy it. eBay discourage off line negotiations so if they seller withdrew the auction then they've broken eBay's rules. You don't even have to buy it at the price you bid because they've withdrawn the auction.

Marne · 12/07/2011 21:04

Just write them an e-mail saying 'yoo no longer want to complete the transaction as you would prefere to have some kind of come back if something goes wrong with the item, explain that you were in a rush to buy and did not think it through', appoligise lots and hope they are fine about it (theres not really much they can do). Next time don't rush into buying .

ICantFindAFreeNickName · 12/07/2011 21:07

You are both breaking e-bay rules by doing what you have done anyway. So although YABU to back out of the deal, your seller was also being unreasonable to mess you around.

TBH I would be more worried about the fact that you have no protection if anything goes wrong. Reputable dealers do not cancel auctions. You mention warrrenties & features, is it the type of item that you can be sure is OK before you handover your money ?

CroissantNeuf · 12/07/2011 21:13

Surely though, if the seller wasn't in when you phoned, you can use that against her ie. you thought she'd changed her mind or you thought that you'd been conned when you spoke to someone who knew nothing about it.

Or that you had to have the item today and when she wasn't in as arranged you panicked and went and bought the item elsewhere.

Or just say to her "if you're going to rip me off you could at least have had the decency to be in when you said you would"

Original poster

purplepidjin · 12/07/2011 21:44

I'm ignoring my phone but it really isn't convenient to collect now until the end of next week because of my shifts! Which is why I said today. The seller doesn't appear to have that problem...

If they'd taken the phone call when we arranged, I'd have picked it up when i said i would. Except I don't think they emailed me the correct number because the person who answered was ever so bemused!

If it helps, it's a sewing machine and it's to help me get my business off the ground. The ones i found in my unexpected research time today do all kinds of fancy embroidery stitches that I hadn't thought I could afford It's urgent because I'm currently using my grandmothers 1971 Husqvarna Viking and it eats jersey fabric...

OP posts:

FabbyChic · 12/07/2011 22:06

You do your research first, buyers like you are bad buyers.

It's times like this that bad feedback should be able to be left for buyers who mess you around. You are a messer.

purplepidjincantatem · 12/07/2011 22:17

Except I can't get bad feedback because the seller pulled the item. That was their decision, not mine!

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