posted on August 17, 2004 08:18:37 PM
It's after the fact, but when I start an auction at a price without a reserve, I am WILLING to sell at the price, even if it doesn't go a penny higher. I NEVER take it for granted that an auction-format listing will sell for more than my starting bid, and price my opening amount accordingly.
Remember, the only real value an item has is the price someone is willing to pay for it!
I would DEFINITELY have sold it to her for $5 (don't know what you paid for it, but you probably wouldn't have lost your shirt...) and moved on. It's no wonder buyers are mistrustful of or intimidated by ebay sellers, and why watching our items get bid on is slightly less exciting than watching paint dry!
Di
On a scale of 1 to 10...we'd all weigh a lot less!
[ edited by difs on Aug 17, 2004 08:24 PM ]
posted on August 17, 2004 08:26:18 PM
I would have sold it for the $5 ... unhappily, yes, but I would've stuck to what my auction said. It's up to the seller to proofread his/her auctions; it's not the bidder's fault there was a typo.
At the most, I would've explained to the bidder that it was a mistake, apologized profusely, and then ASKED her if she minded if I relisted it for the correct price. Most people are reasonable if they understand the situation. But if she disagreed, I would've honored her bid. After all, technically, it was ME who set the price.
Is it worth a neg (and possible slap with a wet noodle from eBay) for the $35 difference? Only you can decide that.
and guess what,,,somebody has bid on the relisted item...it has no reserve, just a minimum bid... now the OP is gonna have two winners on the same item???
-------------
You do what you feel is correct for you and your business.
On an ordinary non-BIN auction, if you make a listing mistake you can correct it any time up until the auction runs its course. You can even end an auction that has bids on it. You have no obligation to let the auction end with bids. eBay supports this activity and has even made it easier to end auctions that already have bids.
Since BIN ends the auction immediately, however, you didn't have seven (or however many) days to discover and fix your mistake. Because people do make mistakes, I fully support your decision to cancel this transaction. There has to be a remedy for BIN mistakes.
As far as group support goes, I find that some people are pretty generous with other peoples' money. No one knows how much you paid for this item or how much you needed to get out of it but nevertheless they've decided that you are not entitled to a fair price. They talk the talk but do they walk the walk? I highly doubt it.
posted on August 18, 2004 04:53:02 AM
...No one knows how much you paid for this item or how much you needed to get out of it ..
No, we don't, but based on previous posts of his (if we are to believe them), it is very unlikely that he paid even the 5.00 for the item. And even the 40 value he put on it seems very optimistic, based on similar items on eBay at the moment. And in fact, looking at the bidder's other purchases, most are under 15.00, so assigning some nefarious motive to them seems unjustified.
It was just amusing to see someone who apparently often profits by sellers' mistakes or lack of knowledge at garage sales, etc. get stung by someone doing the same. Sure plays a different tune when the shoe is on the other foot, don't he.
posted on August 18, 2004 05:33:34 AM
Damariscotta, I thought of this too. But the difference is at garage sales is that either the seller just wants to 'get rid of the item', or doesnt know the items worth. This was clearly not the case with this seller. An input error in the form is not like saying, "I meant to do this."
To me there is a difference there. I find it funny too that if your doctor/dentist/CC any other vendor underbills you, they dont say, "our mistake we eat it", they bill you the difference next month or send a corrected bill. Why, if we are trying to run a small businness here on ebay or any online venue, do WE always have to eat it - and buyers excuses for not pursuing the transaction are boundless, endless and totally accepted as a part of business? Its almost like they have a right to backout or regneg on the deal, but we dont have that same right? I thought this was/is in essence a 'trading' venue. Seems to me if both parties do not agree on the trade, it shouldnt have to happen. just my two cents.
posted on August 18, 2004 05:41:42 AM
Damariscotta, first of all welcome to my "ignore posts" option
I have heard enough of your negativity and disbelief
Feel free to look at my completed auctions and my feedbacks. Everything I sell comes from one source GARAGE SALES
I have had great success at this hobby and I am proud to say my average profit margin is through the roof
I have worked for the state of New York since Sept of 86 and some weeks my ebay payoffs far exceed my job of 18 years
I DO NOT sell for people
I DO NOT go to auctions
I DO NOT clean estates
I buy low at garage sales and sell high
Winter sucks and there is no bragging then. I have done hundreds if not thousands of hours of "Homework" searching completed auctions and keywords. I have worked my tail off to get to where I am and am dam proud of it
posted on August 18, 2004 06:39:40 AMIt was just amusing to see someone who apparently often profits by sellers' mistakes or lack of knowledge at garage sales, etc. get stung by someone doing the same.
Bogus comparison.
The garage sale equivalent of what happened here is that the homeowner inadvertently marks $1 on an item he really wants $10 for (or someone else switches the tags). He discovers the discrepancy when a bargain-hunter tries to pay him $1 for it. He is not obligated to complete the transaction. He corrects the price and the item is put out for sale again.
Thrift stores can and will refuse to sell you an item if they believe it has been incorrectly marked or the tags have been switched.
posted on August 18, 2004 07:56:37 AM
In response to teacher's comment, The same goes for a retail store. I remember a long time ago when they'd sell it to you for the price marked. Not any more. The only place I've been to that might (and that's MIGHT) make an exception is CVS. I've gone to flea markets and garage sales and have had mis-priced items corrected before I could actually buy them. When I tried to buy some wholesale silver from a website at what I knew to be really, really, great prices, I got a surprise email from the seller telling me that the prices weren't calculating right on her web site. The actual cost for the items would have been double that shown on the web site. She wasn't going to sell to me for that price no matter how loud I may have screamed about it. No, I didn't scream about it. I simply chose not to buy.
I think when everyone here is perfect, they can criticize to their hearts content. This bidder probably already knew there was a mistake of some kind. Mistakes are bound to happen. Maybe you have something laying around that you could send the bidder as an apology gift? I've done it myself and it works fairly well. They get something for nothing and that's what some of these bidders want in the long run - something for nothing!
Cheryl
. . .if you still try to defend the infamies and horrors perpetrated by that Antichrist- I really believe he is Antichrist- I will have nothing more to do with you and you are no longer my friend.. . - War and Peace, Tolstoy
posted on August 18, 2004 08:12:25 AM
micmic -- May I make a suggestion for the future? I start my listings at the same time every day. It allows me to watch the items ending as well as check the new items that are listed. I have been able to correct many errors before anyone has had a chance to bid or BIN.
posted on August 18, 2004 10:18:03 AM
Yes, you are wrong. If you can complete a deal, you complete a deal. If you do not, you lack ethics! You know, the difference between right and wrong.
How would you feel if you were at the other end. I know lots of people who look at ebay every 15 minutes in their specialty, just to find such errors. That is their game plan. And we are fair and open here.
What you did is cheat if you did not complete the deal. It is like touching a chess piece, moving it and then jumping back and removing it. Not allowed! You make a mistake, you learn from it.
I have done worse blunders. I have relisted a couple of times, kits that were already sold and shipped. I got a bad feedback for one(did I deserve it??, well yes) Now in this case I offered a lot of alternatives, but the person only wanted what I had listed. It completed a collection. I offered him kits 2-3 times the value, AT NO CHARGE. He would accept nothing else.
If we are going to be trusted as honest citizens, it is our responsibiltiy to do anything we can to fix "our error". You should have sold the pin to her for the money paid, learned your lesson and moved on. Anything less is dishonest.
posted on August 18, 2004 10:26:40 AM
lol Cheryl,something for nothing ...some call them bottom feeders, too!
I was thinking about when a cashier at the store gives you back a wrong (overage) of change. How many go ahead and keep it? - Isnt that about same thing? Profiting from somebody's mistake?
I suppose it happens everyday...but somebody pays for it somewhere. At least I think so.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Each one sees what he carries in his heart - Goethe
posted on August 18, 2004 10:59:13 AM
drjackk
I do not agree. I made a mistake and did what I had to do to correct it. She was fully refunded and recieved an explanation and an apology. I also encouraged her to bid again and free shipping if she were to win. I will also leave positive feedback on the defunct transaction.
As far a people lurking around ready to "pounce" on mistakes why should I be bait for that crap when I realized my mistake within 45 minutes of commiting it.
I refuse to be the sick and the weak here and refuse to be a victim if I can help it.
A please dont consider her a victim because she couldnt capitalize on my error. She has been refunded and has lost nothing.
posted on August 18, 2004 11:13:50 AM
There is no right or wrong here. Each seller chooses to run his business as he sees fit so no matter what the choice, others may perceive it as right or wrong.
I would just sell it to them and chalk it up as the cost of doing business and then put it out of my mind and move on as I've made costlier mistakes in life. If I didn't sell and got a negative it would remind me of my screw-up each time I saw it but that's just me.
The OP sounds like he wants affirmation that he's done the right thing so when Damariscotta gives their opinion which is different than his, he puts them on ignore. Not the first time I've seen this here.
posted on August 18, 2004 11:45:49 AM
"A please dont consider her a victim because she couldnt capitalize on my error. She has been refunded and has lost nothing."
What she's lost is a little bit of her faith in eBay and in eBay sellers.
If it was a $500 item that had inadvertently been listed for $5, I would feel differently - that the seller shouldn't be made to eat that much of a mistake. And, in that case, the fact that it was an error would probably be clearer.
But a pin that was meant to be listed with a minimum bid of $5 that *might* - emphasis on the word might - go to $40 - I would just sell it to her for the $5.
Otherwise, she could leave a negative that would have a real bite - that she bought your BIN, paid promptly via PayPal, and you reneged, refunded, and re-listed.
How would that look to prospective bidders on your other auctions?
A negative like that could cost you much more in terms of future bids on your other auctions.
“Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we! They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we.” ~ GWBush White House 8/5/4
posted on August 18, 2004 01:00:29 PM
She has lost nothing. You have lost your integrity if you ever had any. You're not looking for an opinion your looking for vindication. Go somewhere else. PS Put me on ignor you already are ignoring what you don't wish to hear.
posted on August 18, 2004 01:09:25 PM
davebraun,
Yep, it's all over. All integrity has been lost.
Lets just hand it off to the "lurkers" and "mistake seakers" and put ourselvs out there to hang. 3000 transactions with 99.9% FB ratio means nothing I guess.....
And there's always a tough guy like you hovering over the keyboard waiting to tell someone jerk like me where to go.......
Whenever I launch an auction, I immediately review it -- probably why feeBay posts a link on the final page
In all honesty, methinks ye blew it on this one -- ya know what Forrest said: "Bush happens"
I've made mistakes before in listings & had to cancel bids & end the auction, so I could correctly re-launch.
But, once a bidder "wins," you're really kinda STUCK with the result
That's why folks come to feeBay in the first place -- TO FIND A BARGAIN!
If they WIN THAT BARGAIN, and you then say: "Sorry, Charlie, no tuna today," you're really NOT playing by da rules -- makes YOU the seller look shady.
Sorry...just Ralphie's most humble opinion (Hey! Blame da doggy!)!
“Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we! They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we.” ~ GWBush White House 8/5/4
posted on August 18, 2004 01:40:44 PM
Hindsight is 20/20 isn't it? You SHOULD have rechecked your auction before launching ( who amongst us can say they ALWAYS do that and catch EVERY error before the item is listed?)You SHOULD have written the lady an email before (or at least at the same time) you refunded her PayPal payment (I know I don't always do that but will from now on!), you SHOULD have waited 'til the dust settled to relist..
You're not a bad guy.. neither is your buyer a scum bag for expecting to get the pin for the BIN. This whole thing is unfortunate but not earthshattering. You undoubtedly will get negative feedback for this and if you can live with it, who are we to judge? I know I have to live with some negative feedback that is less deserved than this. Life goes on, the negative will soon be buried with positives and life will go on as usual...when all is said and done you will have to answer the question "Was it worth it?" and not "Am I Wrong"?
PS: the buyer says that $5 represents 20-25% of true value in her ebay thread. That means you can expect to fetch $20 -25. A recently sold Red Cross Pin brought $16.
**********************************
Sig files are too much trouble! http://stores.ebay.com/Moody-Mommys-Marvelous-Postcards
posted on August 18, 2004 01:42:04 PM
who told OP to kiss ass or all the other diatribes? i think the OP gave the first directions; "In otherwords %$@!* YOU!"
------------------------
the OP came here, lit the fire and then got pissed off cause she couldnt take the heat...the "heat" being probably 3:1 stating she was wrong!!!
-----------------------------
------------------------
tom:
why did you change horses? the "fourth horse" you posted first was very appropriate...at least "me thinks"
posted on August 18, 2004 01:44:34 PM
You should have just sold it to them at your loss. Live and learn. Same thing if a bidder "accidently" bids too high or something, they are responsible for their actions. You as a seller are responsible for your actions.
posted on August 18, 2004 05:27:57 PM
...stating she was wrong!!! ...
Sorry for my assumption that the original poster was male. At least this may explain some of the reactions. I will make a note not respond to any of their future posts if made during this time of the month.
posted on August 18, 2004 06:22:05 PM
Well, if she does not want to hear the truth as each of us see it, don't post "am I wrong?". You asked, we told you.
I keep hearing "each of us has to run our own business", I certaily do not agree. We are running Ebays business, not our own.
To not carry through on your sale or bid IS DISHONEST. You are not a 5 year old, but a full grown person. You did make a mistake. A child wants his cookie and to eat it too.
I put all sorts of disclaimers in my auctions, some in opposition to ebay's rules. Go read one or two. I also have 9 negatives, the last one a real joke for two hits. I think maybe you aught to look at my ad. THEN you got something to back you up. Each of them is a mistake I PAID for. The buyer when they bid know my rules "up front"
I understand that some buyers also lack ethics, and the NPB and the like. But in the long run, treat others as you would like to be treated, even if they do not return in kind.
Again, ask what Jesus would do? It is an easy decision.
posted on August 18, 2004 06:36:10 PMI keep hearing "each of us has to run our own business", I certaily do not agree. We are running Ebays business, not our own.
YIKES!
Sorry, I've been running my own business for years and making my own decisions. Since I use ebay to sell some of my wares I try to abide by their terms. eBay is running its own business, we aren't. Heck, if we ran ebay's business it would be tons more fun for me!
posted on August 18, 2004 11:43:00 PM
What bothers me the most about this thread is the number of people who don't understand the concept or meaning of "contract".
"An agreement between two or more persons or entities which creates or modifies a legal relationship. Generally based on offer and acceptance."
