Sob stories - AIBU to get really wound up by them?

[Mikocat]

I hate this sort of thing, I've sold a top for £9 and got the following message:

Hi im really sorry to do this. I was goin to buy the top today but my wages havent gone in the bank and my boss is away for 2 weeks so cant get hold of him to find out why this has happened. So i cant afford the top i was going to buy now. Sorry again

I did a second chance offer to next highest bidder but they didn't respond and the next bidder down is quite a low amount. I can't decide if I should just let it go and relist or wait and open an unpaid item case. WWYD?

Buyer only has 30 feedbacks, they are fairly new to eBay. I would feel like a cow if it was genuine, but I'm very cynical about this sort of thing on eBay.

you must open an unpaid case or you won't get your fees back. You should wait to do a 2nd chance offer or relist once the case is closed or you risk 2 buyers and only one item.

Oh the sob stories I've been in hospital etc etc etc.

People use all the time you just have to stick to eBay rules and open an unpaid item case.

i'd email back and just say that sadly your wages haven't gone into the bank either, your boss is away for THREE weeks and you can't afford to lose the fees, so you will be proceeding with a complaint.

and add a sorry if you feel the need!

Oh no they've sent me another message:

Hi again could you please let me know if you will release me from the contract of buying your top as i dont want my account to be jepodised thanks

Aaarrgghh! Feel like a cow, but do want to open unpaid item case, can they bad feedback me?

if you open and close an unpaid item case they will not be able to leave you bad feedback. I would not advise doing a mutual cancellation, if they refuse it you don't get your fees back plus they can still leave bad feedback. So unpaid case all the way - I don't understand why you have anything to feel guilty about. They bought, they should pay - end of.

you must open a case, if not they will do this all the time and mess other sellers around. They will get a non payment strike, too many of those and their account will either be restricted or lost.

Thanks Fergoose, I know that it's the sensible thing to do, I just wonder if it's the one in a million sob stories that turns out to be true!

well I have heard every sob story known to man - and I ignore them all. I had a war veteran ranting yesterday, just because they hadn't posted my item I bought 10 days ago - sorry, but I am not interested in anything except being paid or receiving what I have bought - really don't want to know anything other than that!

I would point out to her that her reneging on the contract is going to cost you x to relist the item so you would appreciate if she would cover the relisting fee and then you will be happy to cancel the transaction. Only fair - why should you be out of pocket because of her mistake.

I had someone cancel on me for a £30 necklace which was annoying but she offered to cover the relisting fee so I cancelled the transaction.

but a non paying buyer should have a strike against them, if every seller opened non paying cases it would weed out buyers who make a habit of this and lose them their accounts. Plus a non payer case means they can't ruin your feedback too.

I've got one ongoing ATM - sold a single pine bed. Buyer pestered and pestered fir a buy it now price. I refused. She won it anyway and contacted me to arrange collection - all seemed fine, until she never turned up to collect

Then I started getting sob stories too

Bed still sat waiting for her to collect, no further contact from her and so I've opened a non payer case against her.