posted on October 6, 2000 09:02:47 PM
After filing a NPB alert on one of my auctions, the high bidder sent an email saying he had the item in his hand, but that if I wanted he would send the money for the auction or if I just had to get rid of the item he would send the cost plus postage. I am assuming he bid on two different auctions with the same item and won both of them. I've been trying to decide what would be the best action to take, as the amount was not alot. I don't want to take the money without sending the item to him, and I have also thought about telling him to forget the whole thing. What would you do????
Thank you for your input.
posted on October 6, 2000 09:14:15 PM
"if I just had to get rid of the item he would send the cost plus postage." ... OK, tell him the cost is the final bid value and the postage is (whatever it costs), and that you prefer USPS money orders.
If he refuses to pay for what he bid on and won, I'd file a request for FVF and give him a negative for non-payment. No one forced him to bid on two auctions for the same thing!
posted on October 6, 2000 09:21:26 PM
I wouldn't assume he bid on two of the same items. I would check out his bidding history to find out for sure. Just because he says he has the item doesn't mean it's true. He bid, he pays, it's that simple.
posted on October 6, 2000 09:29:48 PM
A lot of newbies - despite the notices that a bid is a contract, etc. - think that the way to do eBay is to bid on multiple items and then pick which one to pay for. They seem to do it innocently, honestly not realizing that's not the way the game is supposed to be played.
You might want to include an "eBay 101" paragraph in your reply to your NPBer.
posted on October 6, 2000 09:39:02 PM
Ask him for a picture of the Item he is holding in his hands.
I find the words send a photo when it comes to problem auctions tend to draw the honest people out of the pack these are the one who send the picture in less then 12 hours.
when I get complaint of damage and I ask for a picture of the package and Item I have had buyers shy off and say naaa forget it its not that bad I wasnt looking for refund or insurance I have had buyer with real problems not only send a picture of a damaged item but some buyers take pictures of the damage before the package was open as well for proof and to help in there claim.
WWW.dman-n-company.com
posted on October 6, 2000 10:04:28 PM
Frankly, I don't quite understand what he means.
Here while back I sent a reminder to a lady who told me she had paid for the item and had already received it. Since it was still here, I knew she was in error. She finally paid, and I shipped.
Your buyer isn't making it really clear whether he has your item, or one purchased elsewhere, although that seems to be the logical presumption.
I'm afraid I would have to hold him to his bid. If he doesn't want the item, I wouldn't collect shipping.
Then again, depending on the amount involved, and whether he had outbid other bidders, etc., I might very well 'negotiate' with him. It's really a hard one to call without knowing all of the details.
But you would be within your rights to insist that the auction be consumated.
posted on October 7, 2000 03:16:14 PM
Don't be so quick to call the buyer an idiot if 'he bid on two auctions'. Maybe he bid on one, got out-bid, bid on yours, and then the high-bid got retracted on the first item. I know this is a possibility because it happened to me once. Heck, it took me a while to figure out what had happened since I had completely forgotten about the original auction. Needless to say, I didn't want or need two widgits but the seller was very nice.
