posted on May 6, 2001 03:00:59 PM new
I had an auction up for 10 days that was going to end today. Someone used the Buy It Now option, but then email me stating that they merely wanted to just bid on the item and not use the Buy It Now option. They claim that they hit the wrong button and has no intention of paying for the auction. What can I do? Should I forward the emails to eBay or do I just have to eat up the fees (insertion fee and closing bid fee). Please help. Thank you.
posted on May 6, 2001 03:12:32 PM new
I would forward all correspondence to Safeharbor. You may get the listing fee refunded. In any case, if they do not pay you can go through the normal "Non Paying Bidder" process and get the FVF refunded.
posted on May 6, 2001 03:29:43 PM new
I don't know what it is with some bidders. There is really NO WAY to make that error.
First of all, you have to click on the BIN. Then, you DO NOT enter an amount and the screen CONFIRMS that you are ending the auction and buying it at that price.
In any event, I have heard that you can cancel the bid of the person who did the BIN, and it will revert back.
posted on May 6, 2001 03:30:23 PM new
How long did the auction have to go? Do you feel you would have gotten more than opening bid if the auction had run it's full course?
If so, I would politely explain to the buyer that by "accidently" hitting the BIN key, they stopped the auction so you lost the opportunity to keep it running until it's normal close. Allowing it to close at it's regularly scheduled time, could have impacted your final bid amount.
I would make it clear to him, that if he chooses NOT to go through with the purchase, you will apply for a refund of your listing fees and the final commission that eBay charges. That could result in him getting a warning from eBay.
If you want to let him have it at opening bid price, I would ask him for the opening bid + the difference in the commission fee that eBay will charge you for the BIN price or perhaps you can apply for some of your FVF back from eBay based on the fact you are giving, in essence, a "partial refund".
posted on May 6, 2001 08:43:34 PM new
Or how about asking him to pay the fees you are out since it was his mistake. You could word it nicely and if it was an honest mistake (I too have a hard time seeing how someone could buy it without knowing they were buying it) then this would make up for that. You could mention that otherwise you have to file through Ebay ....
Just another idea.
