Bidder says their child used their account

[MeridianB]

I’ve had a message from someone who bid on a child’s item (age 5-7) claiming their son did it without their knowledge and they want to cancel.

It took a couple of days for them to get in touch but I find this a bit dubious as I can’t image child aged 5, 6 or 7 yo knowing what eBay is or how to use it.

Has anyone else experienced something similar?

Buyers remorse.

File a non performing buyer strike and then relist (and block them)

That’s the oldest excuse in the book!

Just re-list assuming they haven’t paid and you haven’t sent. Not worth the hassle.

My DS (6) once bid and won something, he asked me if he could just look at train things, next thing I know I got a notification to pay for a buy it now. It happens (I paid btw).
You can ask them to pay but they won’t, ebay do nothing. I once sold a designer handbag for £96 and they never paid. Do a second chance offer to the next bidder or realist, ebay are crap. I don’t even bother selling through them now.

Thanks for all the replies. Good to know I’m not being too cynical!

The auction has three days left to run. Theirs is the only bid. Can I still do a non-performing buyer strike off?

I definitely plan to block.

My 7 year old did exactly this. Stupidly I hadn't signed out on the tablet. She managed to bid on 4 different LOL dolls! I had no idea for 2 days as I hadn't checked my emails. So yes it does actually happen.

You can cancel the bid if it's still running

At least they contacted you rather than let it end and ignore you

My son did this once. Bid £220 on a pair of boots that eventually sold for £25. Fortunately the buyer accepted it as truth (it was true!) in our case & cancelled the bid. Never left him alone with an open page again!!

Yes I've had the same, but after they had won the item.
I just hope they never took this 'child' to a real auction. I think they may be less accommodating than I was.

If the auction is still running then I'd be inclined to believe them. What's the harm really? Kids do manage to do these things. DS 5 once managed to buy a giant box of massage oil via Alexa.

@MeridianB

You can just let the auction run. Most people bid at the last moment and your bidder may well be outbid. You - or s/he - can cancel the bid as long as there are 12 hours remaining [in buyer's case they "retract" the bid but that is not an acceptable reason]. My own feeling is that these menaces should be stopped. If you let the auction run and the buyer wins then open a "non-payer" case and the buyer will be given a defect which - with one more - will stop them buying [as suggested by @LaurieFairyCake I think].

We hear of so many talented babies, children and - in particular - cats which have "bidded" [sic] on eBay thus ruining a sellers sale.

They've changed their mind or had some change in circumstances that means they no longer want to / are able to pay for the item if they were to win.

What's the big deal?

Just be nice and cancel the bid.

It hasn't actually inconvenienced you, agree with cancel & be nice & forget. block them from bidding again if you think they are flakes.

All done now. Thanks for the advice.

Good job OP, I think you made the right call. My 7yo is allowed to look up stuff on eBay to spend his pocket money on, as was his sister at that age. They know never to click to bid and I always leave it signed out... but one day I’m sure I’ll forget. It isn’t that surprising that a 7yo could do this.