posted on October 17, 2001 01:39:05 PM
PLEASE HELP ME!!!!
I listed sports tickets on E-Bay.
The starting bid was $120.00 with a Buy It Now for $194.00 (the max I could accept for this package under E-bay rules). I stated in my description, I would end the auction once bidding reached $194.00.
The Buy It Now feature was eliminated as someone bid $120.00.
Now, here's my problem: A bidder reached $194.00, at which time, I started processing to end the auction early. While I was processing, someone else bid $196.50 and the auction ended, with that person as the high bidder!
NOW WHAT: Do I sell to the $196.50 winner, in order not to violate the Seller's policy, yet violate ticket sales policy, OR do I violate the sellers policy and sell to the $194.00 bidder per my description and not violate the ticket sales policy?
I've e-mailed E-Bay support but have not received a response and frankly, can not wait up to 36 hours; I have 2 bidders wondering what's going on AND, the game is this weekend, so I've got to complete this transaction as time is of the essence.
Has anyone run into this situation before? What do I do. It's one of those no win situations.....
posted on October 17, 2001 01:53:45 PM
Offer them each one ticket at $97. Either way, someone's going to be mad at you.
I'm not sure I understand why there's a limit on the amount you can charge for the tickets but ebay doesn't have a mechanism to prevent the sales from topping that figure.
posted on October 17, 2001 01:53:52 PM
Yes, but if I honor the high bidder at $196.50, I'm violating the E-Bay policy regarding ticket sales and going against what I listed in my description.
If I don't honor the high bidder, I'm violating the selling policy.
See my "rock and hard place" situation I've got here?
Any ideas which is better? The rock or the hard place?
posted on October 17, 2001 01:59:08 PM
Geez, nothing REQUIRES you to honor the $196.50. Sell it to the high bidder at $194.00, then you are not violating either the ticket policy OR the seller policy.
And apologize to the losing bidder (the original $194) but tell them you have to sell them to the high bidder.
It looks like you're in a tough situation. I think you are best off, however, if you stick to your terms of sale. (assuming that the $194.00 bidder still wants the tickets). I would write the high bidder a message like this:
Greetings,
While you were the high bidder for the xxxx tickets, it is against ebays ticket sale policy for me to sell them at that price. (at this point you might want to include a hyperlink to the ebay ticket sale rules) As stated in my auction description, I am obligated to sell them to the first bidder who reaches $194.00. Because another bidder placed a bid of $194.00 before you did, I must sell the tickets to them at that price. Thank you for your understanding and I appologize for any confusion that this eBay policy may have caused.
posted on October 17, 2001 02:03:42 PM
hmmm... a lot of posts took place while I was composing my last one. After reviewing them, I think Eventer might be on the right track. If you sell it to the high bidder for $194.00, you solve all your problems. Plus... you avoid the almost guaranteed negative feedback you would receive from the high-bidder if you sell the tickets to the second high-bidder. Obviously you're going to upset one of these two people. Why not choose to upset the one person that CAN'T ruin your feedback rating!
posted on October 17, 2001 02:11:11 PMTake the $196.50, It is auction after all.
And if the losing bidder runs to ebay...you are in hot water.
Take $194 from the winning bidder..make sure you keep a record of all your conversations (heck, even file for your FVF back on the $2.50) and then you can prove to ebay you didn't violate EITHER requirement.
posted on October 17, 2001 02:14:20 PM
If I sell to the high bidder for $194.00, can the first $194.00 bidder come back and argue they were the first $194.00 bidder and I should have sold to him?
posted on October 17, 2001 02:20:40 PM
I'm not sure I understand why there's a limit on the amount you can charge for the tickets but ebay doesn't have a mechanism to prevent the sales from topping that figure.
The event or seller must be in a state that regulates the resale of event tickets; there's a list that pops up when tickets are listed. eBay will, if someone reports them in time, shut down auctions violating such state regulations. The only way to attempt to comply--other than ending an auction at X amount, which, obviously, may backfire-- is to use BIN coupled with a reserve at or near the maximum allowable amount.
posted on October 17, 2001 02:26:57 PM
Because the first $194.00 bidder knows he was outbid at $196.50 and has already e-mailed me and said he should get the tickets because the $196.50 bidder violated my "description rules" by bidding over $194.00.
UGH!!!
I'm starting to go with your advice and sell to the high bidder at $194.00. Not for moral reasons of course, for selfish ones - I don't want a negative on my record.
Of course, if I was thinking morally, I would abide by my description and sell to the first $194.00 bidder!!!
OOOHHH! Can I live with myself on this one?
I already told my husband, I would never sell his tickets on E-Bay again!
posted on October 17, 2001 02:32:09 PM
The first bidder to $194 is the winner, but only the high bidder can neg you (unless he backs out).
So, which is more important to you: doing the right thing or getting a negative and a lot of hassle from ebay for backing out on what ebay will consider the winning bidder?
Added: Look at it this way: The $196 bidder violated your TOS which clearly stated the highest accepted bid would be $194, so you have a good excuse to reply with if this buyer does neg you. The true winner followed your TOS, trusting you to live up to it.
Yep, the losing bidder will know you sold it to the winning bidder but doesn't have to know you lowered the price.
And there's probably NO apology on earth that's going to make losing bidder feel better. I'd just stick w/"I'm sorry but I have to sell to the high bidder or violate ebay's selling rules. I was trying to close the auction in time but couldn't."
They aren't going to understand but realize anything you do is going to make one side or the other unhappy.
posted on October 17, 2001 02:48:04 PM
Whew! Great news! I heard from E-Bay. This is what they said, for anyone else that ever has this situation (and I hope you don't):
"The best thing to do in this situation is to end the auction once the bidding gets to be $194.00. I know it is too late for that now, but just so that you know, sellers can end their auctions when they choose. Therefore, you can cancel bids if they go over the price and the end when the auction is at the correct price. Right now there really is a dilemma. I would recommend sellin gto the high bidder because that would be going along with eBay rules, but you may also want to communicate with the high bidder and maybe even relist the item. The outcome of this auction is your decision, so good luck!"
So, I've e-mailed the high bidder and sold the tickets to him, at $194.00, not $196.50 and e-mailed a humble apology to the other bidder.
THANK YOU SO MUCH to all of you who replied and assisted me in this matter.
posted on October 17, 2001 05:34:35 PM
Wow, eBay should really have a better solution to this type of situation if they are going to have rules about maximum bids.
The bidder that went by the rules and bid the max at $194.00 waiting for the auction to be ended early as stated so he could have the tickets per the TOS is the guy who loses out because some guy comes along and breaks the rules and bids above the max?
