Ebay selling etiquette for cancelling an auction...

[NiceCupOfTea]

Very infrequent ebay seller so asking for opinions!

Sold a large bulky item on ebay, good comms from buyer, came back to me a few days later saying he couldn't find a van to collect it in so would wait for another to come up including delivery. (Sounds slightly sketchy - who sells second hand furniture on ebay and includes delivery). I said no worries, I'd give him a few more days. Sent a couple more messages saying I'd cancel over a week or so, but no further communication.

I was going to cancel the sale but I'm a bit concerned as ebay seemed to imply I would be charged relisting fees and me cancelling might affect my "selling ability". I don't think this is right so I asked him to cancel - again no response.

So, do I just cancel it myself, or should I report as a non-paying bidder? Not fussed about "revenge", just want it back on ebay without having to buy any extra fees or losing any selling cred with ebay...

[vikingaero]

I think you have to go down the NPB route to get your fees back.

[bimsb6]

Just npb him, he should have thought about transport before bidding .

[waynecyclist]

bimsb6 said:

Just npb him, he should have thought about transport before bidding .

This, you will get fees refunded

[NiceCupOfTea]

Thanks chaps. I am quite wary of doing stuff like this on ebay as I don't want to get turned over and he seemed like a nice chap, however he has not replied to my last 3 messages and I don't see why I should be out of pocket.

Had a slightly weird one a few weeks ago where I bought a MacBook Air and the buyer totally ignored me when I asked where he lived (listed collection as possible). Then he cancelled the sale so I filed a complaint after which he suddenly replied saying "sorry I thought you were a messer". Yes, a messer trying to pay you £400

[gazza285]

Last one I cancelled there was an option to say the buyer no longer wanted the item, and I received the fees back.

Edited by gazza285 on Monday 15th March 20:31

[Narcisus]

gazza285 said:

Last one I cancelled there was an option to sat the buyer no longer wanted the item, and I received the fees back.

This ^

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

I've cancelled several over the years where there's been buyer remorse. Always got my fees back.

Weirdly though, a buyer can't leave feedback for an unpaid case, but can after a cancellation.

[bimsb6]

NiceCupOfTea said:

Thanks chaps. I am quite wary of doing stuff like this on ebay as I don't want to get turned over and he seemed like a nice chap, however he has not replied to my last 3 messages and I don't see why I should be out of pocket.

Had a slightly weird one a few weeks ago where I bought a MacBook Air and the buyer totally ignored me when I asked where he lived (listed collection as possible). Then he cancelled the sale so I filed a complaint after which he suddenly replied saying "sorry I thought you were a messer". Yes, a messer trying to pay you £400

Never a shortage of strange uns out there .

[crofty1984]

NiceCupOfTea said:

Thanks chaps. I am quite wary of doing stuff like this on ebay as I don't want to get turned over and he seemed like a nice chap, however he has not replied to my last 3 messages and I don't see why I should be out of pocket.

Had a slightly weird one a few weeks ago where I bought a MacBook Air and the buyer totally ignored me when I asked where he lived (listed collection as possible). Then he cancelled the sale so I filed a complaint after which he suddenly replied saying "sorry I thought you were a messer". Yes, a messer trying to pay you £400

To be fair, if you'd paid Paypal I'd not agree to collection in person. Far too easy for the buyer to say "I paid and the seller never delivered" and get their money back, while you're down one Macbook. Cash (or cleared funds) only on collection for me.

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

crofty1984 said:

NiceCupOfTea said:

Thanks chaps. I am quite wary of doing stuff like this on ebay as I don't want to get turned over and he seemed like a nice chap, however he has not replied to my last 3 messages and I don't see why I should be out of pocket.

Had a slightly weird one a few weeks ago where I bought a MacBook Air and the buyer totally ignored me when I asked where he lived (listed collection as possible). Then he cancelled the sale so I filed a complaint after which he suddenly replied saying "sorry I thought you were a messer". Yes, a messer trying to pay you £400

To be fair, if you'd paid Paypal I'd not agree to collection in person. Far too easy for the buyer to say "I paid and the seller never delivered" and get their money back, while you're down one Macbook. Cash (or cleared funds) only on collection for me.

Ebay have introduced a new(ish) scanning thing to try to avoid this. (But I wouldn't trust it either )

[AlexRS2782]

2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:

crofty1984 said:

NiceCupOfTea said:

Thanks chaps. I am quite wary of doing stuff like this on ebay as I don't want to get turned over and he seemed like a nice chap, however he has not replied to my last 3 messages and I don't see why I should be out of pocket.

Had a slightly weird one a few weeks ago where I bought a MacBook Air and the buyer totally ignored me when I asked where he lived (listed collection as possible). Then he cancelled the sale so I filed a complaint after which he suddenly replied saying "sorry I thought you were a messer". Yes, a messer trying to pay you £400

To be fair, if you'd paid Paypal I'd not agree to collection in person. Far too easy for the buyer to say "I paid and the seller never delivered" and get their money back, while you're down one Macbook. Cash (or cleared funds) only on collection for me.

Ebay have introduced a new(ish) scanning thing to try to avoid this. (But I wouldn't trust it either )

If the email received recently from eBay is anything to go by - once they've moved every seller onto eBay direct managed payments (by the end of May / June where all funds are held by eBay and then paid direct to the sellers bank account minus fees, etc, as no more Paypal), then cash on collection will no longer be an option. Evidently everything is to be paid for, electronically in advance or at the time of collection via the eBay payment portal, and as mentioned above a QR code has to be scanned at the time of collection to confirm exchange of goods.