posted on May 20, 2001 06:12:25 AM
What a way to start the day. Only auction with a bid this week, went down to pack it up only to realize it's not there!
After looking for it like a nut, realized I must have dumped it at thrift store because it hadn't sold before. Was relisting items this week and saw that one, hit the relist button completely forgetting it was gone.
Please, tell me I am not the only jerk that's done something stupid like this? Felt like such a heel canceling her bid and closing the auction, probably thinks I am giving her a 6 for a 9.
posted on May 20, 2001 06:26:12 AM
Waaaaay back when I started I sold an item and then couldn't find it when his payment arrived. I had to return his payment and promised to send it to him free when it was found. It was an under $10 item. When we moved out of that store I found it where we had hidden it so that it wouldn't get sold at an auction we held. By that time I had no idea where his name and address was!
Poor guy! Wonder if I dare put it back up for auction now 3 years later.
Another doofus I did, was try to sell a Mormon book that Barry informed me they gave away free (no wonder I wasn't getting any bids!)
I betcha we could write a good book on stupid things we've done!
posted on May 20, 2001 06:39:24 AM
Yep! I've done that also and more than once. Actually, what has happened to me is to put an item up on auction, and then forget to tell the shop, and in the middle of the auction they sell it to someone from the shop!
We then instituted a policy, when I put something on auction, they tag it at the store, as on the internet. If a customer wants it, they can go to eBay or where ever, and bid.
I think if anyone has been doing this for very long they have done something dumb along the way.
posted on May 20, 2001 06:40:13 AM
I sell mostly clothes and I usually just make about $5-10 an item. There are times when I have items that do really well with about a $25.00 + profit. I had this one great Ralph lauren outfit that sold for $27.00 (big time sale!). There was a little bidding war going on and the person that won was so excited. She paypaled the money right away. When I went to pack it, I couldn't find it anywhere! I'm pretty organized and had all the items I listed in zip-loc bags in the "ebay closet". I still don't know what happened to it. The only thing I could think of is maybe I threw it out somehow. This person was so nice and understanding. She even left me positive feedback!
posted on May 20, 2001 06:42:17 AM
carat01...You're not alone!....Once, awhile back, I'm packin' items for shipping and could not find one of the items...Searched the house, sweat pouring down my face, rippin' the place apart...Nothing!...Sat down to compose my "oh boy did I make a mistake" email, and in walks my DH...He asks why I'm soooo pale, he listens to my response, turns around heading for the dining room, returns within a minute with the item in hand...In my initial panic, I had overlooked it, and he for some odd reason (odd being the operative word, cause this guy doesn't know where ANYTHING is, let alone my inventory) he knew where it was!....
Then there was the time that I had a wonderful lusterware cup & saucer, in a unique color...Great buyer, who was thrilled to have won the auction & couldn't wait for his treasure...I pick it up for packin', turn around, tripped on something and both pieces go crashing to the ground!!...AGH!!!...I cried...Then I searched EVERY auction site on the web (and there were plenty at that time) for a replacement...None to be found....So I found the buyer's MO (hadn't deposited it yet) and another $10 (from my pocket) wrote an apology letter & email, explainin' the situation & the fact that I had added the $10 in hopes that he would be able to find another one & the $10 would help him pay for it....he was SOOOOO understanding, and even left me lovely feedback...I won't forget that guy!!...
At least you caught your mistake BEFORE the auction ended!
posted on May 20, 2001 06:54:06 AM
Thank you all, feeling better - getting my sense of humor back. Hopefully, my bidder will be as understanding as yours were! You are so right Rancher, glad I discovered it before auction ended.
Been doing this going on four years and can't sit down from kicking myself over doing something this stupid! Since I do it alone, with no store, had no one to blame but little ol' me.
My son got a good laugh out of it, told me I am getting old and losing my mind, that's not a problem - nothing left to lose LOL
posted on May 20, 2001 11:11:29 AM
I listed a box of trading cards that I didn't have once. The one I listed sold in the $150 range, the one I had was fetching about $30!!!!!
Didn't realize what I'd done until the auction ended. I telephoned the winner, and explained the situation -- given the value of what he (thought he had) bought, I figued an in-person discussion was in order. He was very understanding, we had a good talk about the sportscard market, and I sent him some free packs from my store. All's well that ends well, and eBay got their FVF (ouch).
posted on May 20, 2001 11:27:22 AM
The frequency of this kind of problem increases geometrically with the amount of stuff I cram into my ebay room. Probably done it 3 times over the years. I always refund money and once sent the item free when another customer found it with her shipment.
I never believed I could sweat so much as when I am in one of those mad searches!!
I think we may be a bunch of perfectionists when it comes to our work as we all seem to react with about the same level of panic and guilt.
Every time the affected bidder was more than understanding and pleasant--I was always much harder on myself than needed to be.
