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eBay

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

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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 17:57

well good luck enforcing that legal contract. And people here are saying the seller should keep the buyer's paypal payment - how is that ethical??

How is the seller going to file a non paying bidder case when the buyer has actually paid?? It is not possible to do that if a buyer has paid - ebay doesn't work like that, their only option to get their fees back is to send a cancellation request

I give up I really do.

If the buyer doesn't want the item the seller cannot force them to collect it - the best thing to do is refund and relist.

Op I hope you get your money back and I hope the seller cancels the transaction - just make sure when they send it to you accept it rather than refuse else they won't get their fees back

sixlostmonkeys · 04/12/2012 17:59

trueblood - the OP HAS paid!

She can cancel if she wants. Anyone can change their mind ...anywhere.
Legal term is cooling off period I believe.

The seller will not lose out - ....just re-read all fergoose has patiently being trying to tell you.

sixlostmonkeys · 04/12/2012 18:00

sorry x-post

trueblood1fan · 04/12/2012 18:04

fergoose - as far as i read op hasnt paid as yet? btw you havent answered my question - how is this fair on the seller? seller didnt put a gun to ops head to bid &win so why should the seller suffer simply because the buyer "might have found the item closer?!" can you not see anyone else point of view at all?! had seller started this op the buyer wouldve been flamed. no wonder people no longer bother to list/sell on ebay with attitudes such as if you win & change your mind, its all ok. ebay isnt an online multimillion pound shop lol :-)

fergoose · 04/12/2012 18:07

Trueblood - I am not discussing this with you any more. I am not here to discuss what is fair. You are clearly spoiling for a fight - please go and find another victim.

SantaKissedBonkeyMollocks · 04/12/2012 18:07

Can I ask how anyone would feel in the seller position?

This close to Christmas any money is like gold to me. That money would be very much needed. I would be chuffed that I had sold something and that the buyer has paid and I would be waiting the collection.

It would be a kick in the teeth to be asked to refund and cancel the transaction.

Buyers like the op is what puts me right off Ebay!

trueblood1fan · 04/12/2012 18:08

ah ok - xpost - where on ebay does it give you a cooling off period? would love to know as means we can all bid on things but get a refund just cause we change our minds?! as a previous seller on ebay i simply dont see this as ethical. but having different points of view is what makes the world go around :-)

op - have you emailed seller yet? if so, what did they say?

trueblood1fan · 04/12/2012 18:10

fergoose - not looking for a fight lol have a hubby for that :-) simply disagreeing with you if thats allowed? i was simply asking if you would be happy as the seller in this situation & whether its ethical? :-):-)

sixlostmonkeys · 04/12/2012 18:13

Trueblood - please read to open post - the bit where it says "The seller wanted paypal so I've paid"

Santa kissed - I sell a LOT on ebay and I get buyers changing their minds a fair bit. Honestly, if you deal with it level headed and logically you simply cancel, get fees back, re-list and sell again (sometimes you get more ££s the 2nd time)
Seriously, you don't get worked up because someone has changed their mind. If your family is starving and you need the ebay sale to feed them then that's anotehr story and one that doesn't rely on selling bits and pieces on ebay.

RooneyMara · 04/12/2012 18:18

Yes, the seller WILL lose out.

At present they have sold their item and been paid for it.

If the OP wants to cancel and get a refund, they have no longer sold their item and no longer got payment.

How can that not be a super annoying hassle?

Fergoose I'm really surprised at your answers on this.

I'm speaking as a seller who's had several buyers refuse to complete transactions within the last few weeks - or want to return things, something didn't fit, they didn't read the listing properly, they just couldn't be bothered to pay for or collect something.

I'm 35 weeks pregnant, it's taking me ages to list things and a real hassle booking couriers and posting stuff. I'm so relieved when things are paid for, however little they might make, and leave my possession.

Buyers can ASK to cancel but should never expect to as a right - it's simply really unfair on the seller who has done NOTHING to deserve being pissed around.

trueblood1fan · 04/12/2012 18:18

thanks :-) re-read post, my apologies :-) what happens if seller has spent money like i normally do as soon as i recieve it? im on the sellers side & some are on buyers side but i am entitled to my own opinion if ok? :-)

ENormaSnob · 04/12/2012 18:19

Think you are being really unfair tbh.

If you weren't willing to make the journey you shouldn't have bid in the first place.

RooneyMara · 04/12/2012 18:20

Cooling off period? That's for buy it now listings, not auctions. You get 7 days.

RooneyMara · 04/12/2012 18:21

I think it's fine if the buyer agrees to still pay for the item, though of course that's inequitable but if that's what the buyer wants to do then fine.

Refusing to pay for it OR collect it would be very unreasonable.

fergoose · 04/12/2012 18:23

ok so the seller doesn't agree to cancel the transaction - their loss as they will be stuck with the fvf to pay - and you are now saying the seller can also keep the buyer's money!!

RooneyMara · 04/12/2012 18:24

Erm, yes, they'll be stuck with their FVF. Another way for ebay to fuck over sellers.

Your point is?!

fergoose · 04/12/2012 18:26

my point is the seller can send a transaction cancellation request and refund the buyer their money and relist

but I can see this is turning into a witch hunt so will leave the thread and you can argue it out amongst yourselves

trueblood1fan · 04/12/2012 18:26

or buyer could simply collect the item they won & if they dont want it, re-sell it? as i would :-)

RooneyMara · 04/12/2012 18:31

Witch hunt? God, I hope not - I don't think that's what anyone intends

It's just so hard to understand why you seem to be saying, the seller should suck it up.

It's not always easy to sell something and if no one else bid, it may not sell for months...but in any case it rests with the buyer to complete their side of the transaction, and yes, the seller CAN suck it up and relist, like I did a few weeks ago, but they shouldn't HAVE to.

It isn't fair.

ChoudeBruxelles · 04/12/2012 18:33

I had someone do this to me recently and it's a hassle. And I insist that people pay by PayPal. The buyer did log a dispute but I didn't have to refund the money straight away.

I'm petty - hassle for me/ hassle for non collector waiting for their refund. It was something reasonably expensive.

trueblood1fan · 04/12/2012 18:40

witch hunt?! against who?! fergoose we all have our grudges with ebay so maybe it does cloud our judgment. im a seller who had 3 non payers on a saddle i sold when i really needed the money for a new one. sold via preloved in the end - hassle wasnt the word :-( i dont use ebay unless to buy now :-)

Havingkitties · 04/12/2012 21:51

The whole cooling off thing is for distance selling laws and doesn't apply to auctions. I don't think anyone much reads the eBay t&cs anymore and they have probably changed since I joined in 2003, but they used to say that once you bid it's a binding contract blah blah.

I don't think this is a witch hunt, people are just expressing opinions that its not a fair or nice thing to do to the seller and most of us buyers are of the opinion that if we did this, we would be the ones to suck it up.
I don't know why can't everyone just be nice and we all have a big eBay hug

sixlostmonkeys · 05/12/2012 05:42

The cooling off period is for BINS and distance selling yes, sorry, I didn't mean to mislead. It is a regulation though that I believe reflects all human nature with regard to purchasing something, therefore I apply it to all transactions. Even in real-life, if I am selling on a stall and someone changes their mind as I am wrapping the item for them, I do not insist that they go through with the transaction, shake money from their pockets and force the item into their hands. I simply smile, carry on chatting..... and quite often watch as they proceed to choose something else.

I had a chap not so longer ago buy an item on ebay from me. It was a large amount of money and would certainly have made a difference to me (I was having financial problems) He then messaged me asking if we could cancel (he gave his reason) and have a refund. I agreed immediately and refunded. We exchanged pleasant messages. The following week he bought something else from me :)

The seller in the OP case will not lose out. They can get fees back and relist. The OP has even offered to tell them how they can get more money for it!
I do not believe it is cases like this that 'ruin ebay', rather it is the 'hassle for me-hassle for them' mentality.

I think a lot of the angst come from the fact (on here) the opening post wasn't read properly, and on ebay; some people don't understand the processes and get their knickers in a twist.

RooneyMara · 05/12/2012 07:14

No, Six, though I appreciate the calm explanatory post and don't want to ruffle things again...as I explained, relisting IS a hassle, for me at any rate and I think for quite a few people who have said the same.

It really is. I don't have the time or energy. I put a lot of effort and emotion into listings, strange as it may sound, trying to make sure I cover everything, and still someone says, Oh I didn't realise the bag had two straps, can I return it - when I stated it specifically in the listing - and still someone says, it's a funny shape, it doesn't fit me, it has short arms can I have my money back.

You work SO SO hard at getting it right and being a decent seller and still people decide to piss around. And I am so tired

If people don't want to buy things, perhap they just should think about it during the week before they bid. If it's described fairly and accurately (my listings tend to be HUGELY detailed) then it's not the seller's fault if they change their minds.

As a buyer unless the listings was wrong, I do suck it up - my mistake, my job to relist it, and if it's too much hassle for me, I should think how much hassle it would be for the seller. So I don't ask them to do it, normally and if I do I make sure they know I'm not expecting it as a right.

trueblood1fan · 05/12/2012 08:45

awe (((ebay hugs))) all round :-)

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