Ethical question of sorts...about eBay

[spotlightmama]

So I just won an expensive cycling item on eBay for a very, very good price. Immediately after winning, I paid via Paypal. Minutes later, I received an email from the seller saying she wouldn't sell it because at that price she was "giving it away and would just relist it and wait for higher bids." She refunded me my money and sent me another message later on saying that this was her first time selling on eBay and she had some trouble.

I'm of course extremely annoyed. But here is my dilemma. Coincidentally, I happened to see that she had this item listed for sale on pretty popular forum (while running the auction, mind you). Should I post anything about this situation or is that waaay too much drama? I don't want to start anything, obviously.

What would you do?

[Tuckervill]

I thought you had to sell once you listed it, unless you put a reserve on it. It's been a long time since I put anything on ebay, though. I'm glad you got your money back, because it could have turned out way worse.

Karen

[mimitabby]

give her BAD FEEDBACK

and report her to Ebay

[Mr. Bloom]

and report her to Ebay

Ditto...if she didn't have a reserve, I think she's contractually hooked...

[teigyr]

I bet she is contractually obligated but it might cost money to actually retrieve the item from her.

We've all made mistakes and realize it; ethics have to win out. I've known plenty of people who are less than brilliant that appear to navigate their way around auction sites and other places. I think she's making it up.

Out of curiosity, I'd do a cursory websearch on her. I know people are mixed about these things but I had an opportunity to buy a bike that was "found" in a garage of a deceased parent or something like that...but the details were sketchy. I did some research and found out that the seller was young, married (both parents appeared to be living) and was also selling other "found" bikes using various websites.

Yeah, I'm harsh

[Brandi]

I agree with everyone. And husband said you should make her sell it to you cause it is in the rules. it is not your fault she didn't read things correctly!

[wackyjacky1]

It's my understanding that unless there was a reserve price built into the auction, she is obligated to sell you the item at whatever the winning bid was at the end of the auction. I would definitely contact eBay to complain.

[spotlightmama]

I did report to eBay and I did give negative feedback. She listed it with a low auction price and a "buy it now" - now she's saying she thought the buy it now price was a reserve. I don't know, she might be telling the truth. That doesn't change that it sucks for me. I told her several times that I won fairly and she should sell them, but I can't *make* anybody do anything (well, except maybe DH ). She's not budging.

I'm just wondering if I should "warn" other people on this other forum that might buy it from her there. Or is that just starting up drama?

[mimitabby]

I did report to eBay and I did give negative feedback. She listed it with a low auction price and a "buy it now" - now she's saying she thought the buy it now price was a reserve. I don't know, she might be telling the truth. That doesn't change that it sucks for me. I told her several times that I won fairly and she should sell them, but I can't *make* anybody do anything (well, except maybe DH ). She's not budging.

I'm just wondering if I should "warn" other people on this other forum that might buy it from her there. Or is that just starting up drama?

she very well might be telling the truth but ignorance does not protect you from the rules... that's called Bad Faith.

[jobob]

I think she's lying through her teeth. Has she sold other items on eBay? She would know the rules. (oops, sorry, I see from your OP that she said it was her first time)


Still, eBay makes a point of making sure that people have read the rules before they sell anything. If she lacks basic reading comprehension ability, or if she was too lazy to read the rules & just clicked on the "I understand ..." box, that's her problem, not yours.

[SouthernBelle]

I've not sold on Ebay, but I'm willing to bet that by listing she has agreed to abide by certain rules. She simply could have put in a starting bid that was within acceptable limits.

This is a case of 'Ignorance of the Law is no excuse.' Sellers like this should be banned.

[Blueberry]

I have to echo what others have said. Sellers have an option of (paying extra to) add a reserve. She probably decided to take her chances that bidding would go high enough, lost out, and decided not to sell it.

I would complain to ebay. They might not do anything because she refunded your $$, but I'd bet they won't let her re-list the item (or they'd end the auction that is up). Ebay doesn't tend to be forgiving of mistakes. I would also post your experience at the other locations she has the item for sale. Folks who are potential buyers deserve to know how you were treated. I would certainly want to know - and would choose not to buy from that person.

Good luck!

CA

[SuperRunt]

I think you can contact Ebay about this. There's a way to "file" a dispute. I don't think a seller can legally retract a sale because they don't think they got enough money for it.

I would at least, express my dismay through the feedback about the seller...

[KatyLady]

I wouldn't be the least bit shy about posting warnings around the various forums. I'm sure the seller would be screaming foul if the buyer decided after the fact that she had bid too much and tried to say, "Sorry I changed my mind."

[xeney]

Yeah, there are eBay sellers who pull this BS. Make a new ID and plead "I didn't know the rules!" if you don't get a good price. She knew.

On the one hand you aren't hurt if you got your money back, but maybe you refrained from bidding on a different auction because you were waiting to see if you won hers, which you had every reason to believe would be a fair auction. She violated the sales contract and eBay needs to ban her.