Serenity Posted September 16, 2009 Share Posted September 16, 2009 I just won an eBay auction for a camera and immediately afterwards I get an email telling me the item is no longer available. The seller said he tried to cancel, but couldn't in the last 12 hours. What would you do in such a situation? Give him bad feedback? It was not a rare item, but it was a good price for what it was, a used Canon Powershot S3 IS with a new LCD screen and 1 1/2 years of warranty for $125 (including shipping). The seller had a 100% feedback score and 13 transactions. I was planning to just write it off, but then I wonder if I shouldn't at least warn others that the seller isn't always reliable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dargrin Posted September 16, 2009 Share Posted September 16, 2009 What was the reason for pulling out within the last 12 hours? If it was hey man I dropped the camera and it smashed I would be ok with letting it slide. Anything else I would have to call shenanigans. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreyHorde Posted September 16, 2009 Share Posted September 16, 2009 I would suggest not killing his feedback rating just yet. Give him a chance to explain before reporting through buyer dispute channels. Also, watch to see if he relists the same item. If he panicked and pulled the plug because he wasn't getting what he wanted out of it, but didn't put in a reserve price, you'll know and can ding him, then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Inarah Posted September 17, 2009 Share Posted September 17, 2009 In cases like that I leave a neutral (can you still do that?) and a comment like "seller mistake- item was no longer available ". I know once or twice while I was trying to unload a pile of Magic cards I mistakenly listed items I had already sold and had to either cancel the auction and explain, or apologize to the winning bidder once I realized the mistake. Fortunately I didn't get any negs for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gus Landt Posted September 17, 2009 Share Posted September 17, 2009 I personally would just write it off. They didn't harm you or take your money, so just walk away. Leaving bad feedback would just bring bad karma. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billr Posted September 17, 2009 Share Posted September 17, 2009 On the other hand, he might just be balking because he didn't like the sale price. In which case its not bad karma at all to let other buyers know that he's a cheat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fieldarchy Posted September 17, 2009 Share Posted September 17, 2009 Gus you are a wise wise man. That is the best advice. No harm, no foul. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nanite Posted September 21, 2009 Share Posted September 21, 2009 This kinda just happened to me. Won some items, communicating with the seller for the invoice, now his car was broken into, and the items are gone. I hadn't paid, so what do I do now? Does he need to close the items? I don't think either of us wants to take a feedback hit, and I have no reason to give him one. Does ebay punish for retracted items? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Inarah Posted September 21, 2009 Share Posted September 21, 2009 There should be an option for you and the seller to agree not to complete the transaction. At least, there used to be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helltown Posted September 22, 2009 Share Posted September 22, 2009 There is an option in the Resolution Center to cancel a transaction because the item is no longer available. I've had to use it in the past when TurboLister decided to get the hiccups and double list a few items. It is however up to the seller to make sure money is refunded, etc... so if you haven't paid yet just agree to cancel the transaction. If you've already sent the money, make darn sure your money is back in your account prior to agreeing to cancel the transaction. As for the feedback question originally asked, I'd say just don't leave feedback and carry on. Karma's one thing, but if I have an item up for 'Best Offer', you can bet I check out the feedback the hopeful buyer has left for others before I even think about the offer. I'm not taking less than asking price and getting stung with low DSRs or Neutral feedback. Even bidders have experienced my scrutiny, I'm a Power Seller on eBay and those DSR scores are next to impossible to correct once they've taken a hit. The track record of a buyer is going to continue to grow in importance as seller get squeezed more and more with higher standards to maintain, options that protected the seller being removed (the loss of shipping insurance, etc...), and those pesky DSR scores. I'll avoid a tirade on Detailed Seller Ratings by saying I don't know a single seller that actually likes them much. At least now I know my DSRs are based on American buyers when it comes time to get my Power Seller rating calculated because of the recent changes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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