Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

This is like... my fifth thread today, but it's a proper one! WIBU...

30 replies

StealthPenguin · 16/11/2011 22:21

To tell a lie?

Basically I'm skint and looking for a dress on eBay. I've been watching 12 different ones and they all ended tonight. Every single one of them got snatched from me at the very last second, even though I tried to leave it as late as possible to bid.

So I started browsing, putting more in my "Watch" list, and ended up getting confused between two similar dresses. I put a bid on for the one I thought was this other one, as it was ending in 2 minutes. I realized as the bidding ended that it was the dress I DIDN'T want. And now the one that I DID want has finished without me getting a chance to bid.

WIBU to message the seller (who is a corporation with hundreds of these dresses by the way - not an individual seller) and blame it all on my 16-year-old "niece", who tried to make me buy her a new dress?

Or should I just suck it up, pay for it and then see about selling it on, even though I may lose money?

I really shouldn't eBay when I'm this tired...

OP posts:
Original poster
StealthPenguin · 16/11/2011 22:24

Bearing in mind that "Fifth thread" is an exaggeration. I just happen to love Mumsnet :o

OP posts:
ViviPru · 16/11/2011 22:25

You need to get you an auction sniper. Ebay is like driving in Leicester, arsehole or be arseholed.

Kayzr · 16/11/2011 22:26

I'd pay for it. The seller won't care about your "niece"

FabbyChic · 16/11/2011 22:26

Contact the seller and ask if they would be willing to offer an SCO to the under bidder with you paying the difference.

FabbyChic · 16/11/2011 22:27

I never use an auction sniper I bid in the last 3 seconds, if someone else gets there before me good luck to em.

ZillionChocolate · 16/11/2011 22:27

Could you try and swap it for something you like more? See what else they have for sale.

MenopausalHaze · 16/11/2011 22:27

The seller will have heard the 'niece' story a zillion times before now. You'll get a NPB strike against your account. Up to you if you want to go down that route.

DeeOfTheNorth · 16/11/2011 22:29

Nothing whatsoever to do with the thread but I love your name StealthPenguin! Grin

Trills · 16/11/2011 22:29

Why were you watching it if you didn't want it?

Yes, You WBU to lie.

RomanKindle · 16/11/2011 22:30

I would email and be honest and say that you bid on the wrong dress by mistake and could they possibly cancel the transaction? If it's a big retailer they might say yes. I did this once when I found the same item cheaper and they refunded me.

Original poster
StealthPenguin · 16/11/2011 22:31

FabbyChic, great idea but I was the only bidder :(

ZillionChocolate - I might try that actually!! :o

OP posts:
PomBearAtTheGatesOfDoom · 16/11/2011 22:38

And if they won't cancel, step up and buy the dress and resell it yourself. Seller know that there is basically no way someone else can use a person's account to bid "accidentally" ebay doesn't work like that, so you would just look like an arse. Just email, explain, and hope for the best.

cocobongo · 16/11/2011 22:40

check if there is a returns policy - i thought that under distance selling you had the legal right to return an item within 7 days for a refund anyway.

CreamolaFoamless · 16/11/2011 22:47

have you got a photo of the dress? It might be nice ?

how much was it ?

god I'm nosey

Original poster
StealthPenguin · 16/11/2011 22:50

I've explained exactly what has gone on, and am waiting the reply.

If they say no, then I'll sell the dress on. [[http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/250928648179?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649#ht_2611wt_1270 It's this dress]

I'm hoping though that they'll exchange it for this dress here

OP posts:
Original poster
StealthPenguin · 16/11/2011 22:51

Oh FFS

The first link didn't work...

OP posts:
hotteapot · 16/11/2011 22:53

I had someone bid for something on ebay which they didn't pay for - was terribly easy to click the options that lodge the issue with ebay and ebay paid me the money and then recovered it from the buyer. I think you may have no choice but to pay, sob story or not.....

But they might be nice, or as you say, you could sell it on. You might even get more for it!

Original poster
StealthPenguin · 16/11/2011 22:55

Yeah, well... just got to hope for the best really! Can't believe I was such a dullard though. Me all over...

OP posts:
ViviPru · 16/11/2011 22:56

Hmm, I was about to mention the 7 day distance selling legality to congo but I wouldn't fancy my chances shipping a dress back to China and it being received and acknowledged in that time. Not to mention the return shipping costs that you'd be liable for.

I think resigning yourself to selling it on is the most sensible approach, Stealth You could even make a profit :)

ViviPru · 16/11/2011 22:57

too not to. God having a TypoFail shocker today.

twinklingfairy · 16/11/2011 23:21

ooh, I really like the second one. That probably doesn't help!
They might be up for the swap, after all, you will be spending more money on the second one. They would, surely be happy with that?
You will just have to wait and see now, I guess.

Original poster
StealthPenguin · 17/11/2011 09:36

YAY!

The absolutely amazingly wonderful and completely saintlike seller has agreed to add £3.00 to the PayPal order and to send me the beige dress instead!!! HECK YESSSSS!

OP posts:
ViviPru · 17/11/2011 09:38

ebay RESULT right there

Original poster
StealthPenguin · 17/11/2011 09:38

Get in!

OP posts:
twinklingfairy · 17/11/2011 22:07

Whoop Whoop!!
Yey!
Beautiful dress.
Fingers crossed it fits now.