posted on November 19, 2000 12:00:33 AM
OK, my sister is miffed and I don't blame her, so I need your opinions (of course!). Here's the deal (sorry so long)...
She bid on a piece of jewelry from a seller who represents a MAJOR theme park/retail seller. Dutch auction - 25 items available - 38 bids - she was one of the happy winners. Now, the twist on this auction was that they had the title of the item wrong, but the pic (in gallery) and the description were CORRECT, the title matched up with the item listed right before her winning item. What we figure happened was an inattentive lister just changed everything else BUT the title. As a result, the price did not reach what they hoped, and it ended very near the starting bid, as it never showed up in any people's title searches for this jewelry item.
Anyway, my sister recieves the eBay EOA, as usual kinda slow, but she got it, so the auction was never ended early or bids cancelled, it finished at the normal end time. THEN, she recieved the email from this well known "seller" (corporation) with instructions on how to complete the sale (cc, ect.). So she calls the 1-800 # to just make sure she has the postage calculated correct, and the lady on the other end says, "That auction was cancelled", and my sister said, "No, I recieved both eBay and YOUR EOA", and the lady says basically "too bad, you can'thave said piece of jewelry".
To me, this seems like sour grapes for making a mistake and then not liking the final price. If it was me selling, I would be SOL and would have to complete the transaction rules, as per the selling agreement, and just learn from the mistake. Does this seem fair, that a "big" seller can just cancel an auction after the fact?
I just want some opinions, and maybe what she should do (safe harbour?)
Also, moderator, if the auction is completed, can I put in the number so readers can get a better idea of the mistake? LMK
[ edited by kckckc on Nov 19, 2000 12:04 AM ]
[ edited by kckckc on Nov 19, 2000 12:09 AM ]
posted on November 19, 2000 12:16:24 AM
Hello kckckc
Even when an auction has closed, there are certain guildelines that must be followed before you can post identifying information (including auction numbers, IDs, email addresses etc).
A quick summation of the requirements (you can find more details in the Community Guidelines, linked below):
1. You need to invite the Seller, giving them a link to this thread and the CGs (and encourage them to read them). The invite must also be CC'd to [email protected]
2. If you provide any information that can ID the Seller (including description searches), the thread has to be locked for 24 hours to allow them the opportunity to receive the invite and decide if they want to participate. After 24 hours, the thread will be unlocked.
3. You must register your full name, address and telephone number with AW by forwarding them to [email protected]
posted on November 19, 2000 12:39:18 AM
You can't do much to force a seller to sell an item after the auction. Negative feedback is warranted, of course, but that won't get you the item.
If this is a major well-known retailer, you might have a little leverage by going to their community relations folks, or threatening to take the matter to the local TV consumer affairs guy- companies hate bad press. And it might make an interesting story on a slow news day for a local paper.
posted on November 19, 2000 12:46:11 AM
Hello kckckc. Please click this link to this AW thread and read all about what your rights are if a Seller should decide to refuse your payment and decline to sell you the item:
posted on November 19, 2000 01:06:43 AM
This wouldn't be the same theme park/corporation that has made its feedback private and has gotten 2 negs in the past week, would it? Looks like those other 24 dutch bidders may be starting to register their displeasure, and I don't blame them.
posted on November 19, 2000 04:26:03 AM
Say, don't some of these major corporations have Protected feedback? I hear that you often can't leave a negative or neutral feedback only a Positive. I wonder if that is the case with this unnamed corporation?
posted on November 19, 2000 10:12:03 AM
This particular sellers feedback is private, and they have recieved some negs in the last week. As far as the restricted use of feedback....hmm...that will be interesting to see about when the time comes for the neg.
Borillar, thanks for the link. I am going to read it now!
