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eBay

If you buy or sell items on eBay, you will find tips and advice on this forum.

Original poster

bought item not wanted anymore

53 replies

Fishlegs · 04/12/2012 13:32

I've just bought a collection only item on ebay, it's from miles away (but the price was low due to mislisting) and I was planning to collect next week. The seller wanted paypal so I've paid. However a similar item has been listed much closer to me with a low reserve and no bids, so I may be able to get it for the same as the price I would have paid for petrol, without the hassle of the drive.
Can I tell the seller I don't want the item any more (not bothered about a refund if I can get the 2nd item for the right price)? How would that work?

OP posts:
fergoose · 04/12/2012 13:44

yes you can and yes ask for a refund - they are very silly insisting on paypal for a collected item anyway. they can also send a cancellation request to get their fees back. If they refuse to refund just log into paypal and file a not received dispute and paypal will refund you in full.

thursdaynight · 04/12/2012 13:50

You should really go ahead with collecting the item, its very annoying when people bid then change their minds.if the seller is nice they may agree to cancel the transaction.
fergoose I think it would be difficult to claim item not recieved on a collection only item!

digerd · 04/12/2012 13:52

My daughter sold a collection item, which also had to be dismantled, and payment was on day of collection.

fergoose · 04/12/2012 13:55

Thursday, you are wrong. It is very easy to claim item not received on a collection only item. With no online proof of delivery you could claim with paypal and they will refund in full - it is part of the agreement, which is why a seller must only take cash for a collected item.

thursdaynight · 04/12/2012 13:58

Not very fair on seller though!

fergoose · 04/12/2012 14:01

well I don't make the rules. It is part of the paypal agreement which seller agreed to when they signed up. Why would a seller not be happy taking cash for a collected item? plus it is free with no fees. I don't understand why it is unfair?

thursdaynight · 04/12/2012 14:19

To bid then decide you don't want item seems unfair on seller to me.they think they have the money then buyer changes mind.
didn't say anything about ebay rules being unfair,its the time wasters that make eBay a pain.

juneybean · 04/12/2012 14:20

The thing that is unfair, is that you have bought the item therefore entered into a contract.

monica77798 · 04/12/2012 14:26

I think it is really unfair of you to agree to buy the item and then change your mind. You may get your money back again, but that person may have needed that money for whatever reason, and they will have to re-list the item and hope that people rebid on it. You have bought the item so just go and get it, you cant keep sending things back whenever you find a similar item that is a bit cheaper or a bit closer. If you can't be bothered driving to get it, try hiring a courier to pick it up for you.

fergoose · 04/12/2012 14:27

the seller can easily get their fees back and do a second chance offer - far better the buyer sorts it out now rather than messing the seller around. And again, a seller should never let a buyer organise their own courier for an item.

SantaKissedBonkeyMollocks · 04/12/2012 14:29

I have had this and it pissed me off royally!

I always ask for payment via paypal if poss for collected items because then I know they will have a reason to collect. cash is fine too but I prefer paypal.

I had to wait 4 days before I could cancel the transaction .

Complete pain in the arse!!

DoesntTurkeyNSproutSoupDragOn · 04/12/2012 14:29

If they refuse to refund just log into paypal and file a not received dispute and paypal will refund you in full

So, it's OK for a buyer not to uphold their side of the contract?! Safe in the knowledge that the poor seller has no chance ot leave appropriate feedback.

What a shit thing to do.

fergoose · 04/12/2012 14:33

but if a buyer pays by paypal the seller can be scammed out of the item and their money. The same if the buyer sends their own courier.

Doesnt - why should the seller keep the item and the money? Surely that is theft? The seller can easily refund and get their fees back and not be out of pocket and then they can do a second chance offer immediately. Far better that a buyer asks a seller to cancel a sale and get a refund rather than mess a seller around not collecting or paying or replying to emails?

Santa there is no need to wait 4 days. You have to wait 4 days to open a non paying bidder case but a transaction can be cancelled immediately.

DoesntTurkeyNSproutSoupDragOn · 04/12/2012 14:41

My point is that not honouring your side of the contract is shit. Utterly shit. A seller who refused to send the item would get negative feedback even if they refunded. There is no recourse for a seller to warn against flaky buyers like the OP.

If the seller agrees to cancel the transaction, fine - and I bet most would.

Original poster
Fishlegs · 04/12/2012 14:59

No-one else bid, so they can't do a 2nd chance offer. Can't see why everyone is so incensed that I'm not going to collect even if I don't claim refund?
I could also give advice on correctly listing the item, they'd get at least £50 more for item (that's why it was worth considering driving to get it, courier too expensive as it's big & heavy).

OP posts:
fergoose · 04/12/2012 15:01

They can easily send you a cancellation request and then relist - just ask them to cancel and also tell them never to take paypal for a collected item.

Original poster
Fishlegs · 04/12/2012 15:03

Ok thanks fergoose.

OP posts:
fergoose · 04/12/2012 15:05

and please do claim your refund - it is wrong if they keep the item and your money!

MistyB · 04/12/2012 15:11

Contact them and explain your situation. Wo knows, they may well be reasonable human beings! Though you might want to wait until the other item has finished in case it goes for a high price!!

Havingkitties · 04/12/2012 16:59

I know this isn't AIBU, but the OP is coming across BU.
There are loads of threads from the sellers point if view every week on this. Buyers bailing because of buyers remorse, finding it cheaper etc. And it really isn't fair on the seller. They have listed it fairly, asked for pick up (hoping some sensible person will buy it who can actually pick it up and lives nearby), they have paid their fees, and put their time into the listing. It's a real inconvenience and disappointment for a seller.
OP, don't you feel just a little but bad suddenly backing out because of buyers remorse?

I know that the seller asked for PayPal but please don't claim item not received from them, that just seems like taking advantage. To new ebayers, they may not know not to accept it for pickup items as its not overly clear that you are meant to provide tracking.

I agree you should email the seller and ask to cancel or maybe ask to pay the fees for it in exchange for a refund but I would take it in the chin if they reject this and just get what you bid on. Be nice, it's christmas!Smile

SantaKissedBonkeyMollocks · 04/12/2012 17:07

Theres another reason - Christmas!

They probably listed it hoping it would be bought and picked up well in time for christmas.

fergoose · 04/12/2012 17:21

there is no need to pay the fees as the seller just needs to send a transaction request

trueblood1fan · 04/12/2012 17:33

fergoose - normally your ebay advice is spot on bar this occasion. op has won an item and should jolly well pay for it whether she wants it or not. if op doesnt pay for the item the seller can open a dispute against op and anymore than three can restrict her account. op pay for the item please in the spirit of ebay. ebay quite clearly states you are entering into a contract so please abide by it - they may really need the money for xmas and relisting/selling may upset the balance of their xmas.

fergoose - out of interest, what advice would you offer the seller if it was flipped?

fergoose · 04/12/2012 17:46

but she has paid for it - but she is within her rights to cancel the transaction. The seller cannot file a non paying bidder report against this buyer can they.

i would tell the seller she is stupid to accept paypal for a collection item, and I would tell her to send a cancellation request and refund the buyer in full and relist the item. I really don't see why everyone is getting so angry about it - buyers can cancel a transaction - it is allowed.

trueblood1fan · 04/12/2012 17:51

but its not ethical is it & im not angry, just feel for the poor seller. where does ebay say you have the right to simply cancel a winning bid because buyer has simply changed their minds (no fault of seller at all) cause as far as im aware you enter into a legal contract when you bid/win an item. of course seller should file a non paying dispute against op as thats exactly what it is?! am confuzzled you seem to think that this is acceptable ebaybehaviour tbh :-\