A "What would you do in this eBay situation?" poll

relayer

I listed a 2004-S set of PCGS PR69DCAM Flag Clad quarters for $69.00 + $5.95 S/H and it had one bidder and sold on Friday (my cost was $75 + fees). On Saturday he asked for my address, but I was out of town and didn’t answer him. Today he sent a PayPal payment.

The only problem is I don’t have a set of 2004-S Clad flag quarters.

I have a set of 2004-S Silver flag quarters and a 2005-S set of Clad flag quarters - but no 2004 Clad set. There is no picture in the ad so I don’t even know what I was trying to sell (it was listed on 10c listing day last week).

So I went looking for a set of 2004-S PCGS Flag Clad set on eBay and I find the cheapest two are $90 (one is $5 S/H, but only ships to confirmed addresses, the other is $7 S/H from Gradycoins).

I play with coins on eBay and I also trade in the futures market. In the futures market you sell your contract before the delivery date or they seize all your assets if you can’t deliver, but on eBay it’s even worse – they leave NEGATIVE FEEDBACK if you can’t deliver.

I was going to offer him an upgrade to a Sliver set, but looking on eBay the silver flag sets are going for $80. The kids today don’t like the silver flag quarters I guess. I can remember a time when it was only the cool kids who had the flag inserts and had to have silver ones.

I also saw the 5 individual coins listed with no reserve ending in two days.

So what would you do?

ddink

Apologize, refund his money, and maybe offer him $5 or so extra for the inconvenience.

Russ

Option #2.

Russ, NCNE

csw

Go out into the market, buy the item you contracted to sell to him for as little as possible, and then mail it to your original buyer.

K6AZ

This was a mistake on your part. The auction ended, and you contracted with the buyer to sell a 2004 clad set. Buy the set from Grady and have the set shipped to the buyer.

McBee

Option 2. I've never sold on e-bay, but as a buyer I have been immediately placated and willing to work with sellers who admitted to a simple mistake.

markglicker

I agree. If you trade futures, than eating $20 on a set of coins is nothing.

stman

<< <i>$69.00 + $5.95 S/H >>



And what about insurance?

<< <i>I don’t even know what I was trying to sell (it was listed on 10c listing day last week). >>



So in your greedy haste to get a "Deal" you misled the buyer?

I believe you should ask the buyer what they want to do and do what is right.
I'm sure after you shank them on the shipping it should make up for any loss
you might have due to your misleading auction and greed on your part.

CarlSpangler

Option 2. If that doesn't make him happy, then you must go with option 3.

Aaron

lathmach

Whatever you decide to do will probably have a good outcome.
Next time you list something though, do it BEFORE you have those Bud Lites.

Ray

Cameonut

Try option #2 - if that is not accepable then option #3. (I voted #3)

Legally (I'll defer to those more legally astute than me), option#3 is the correct option.

There is a lesson learned here: make sure what you have on auction is described correctly. (I have made similar mistakes, but caught them before the end of the auction. Just lucky so far.)

jdimmick

If it were me, I would just eat the difference and buy a set and ship it. And pay closer attention next time I list


jim

relayer

At first when I saw I had a silver set, I figured I would just email him and ask if he wanted to be upgraded to the silver set or a refund. But then I saw the silver sets sell for LESS than the clads.


I can't really tell him "I don't have what I sold you, but I can let you pick between something worth less, something you don't want, or give you your money back." I've probably neg'ed people who want to open up negotiations after the auction is over.


So I bought a set from Chris and that turned into a new hassel because I couldn't send him a payment without giving a confirmed address. I've sent him an email asking him to ship to my buyer, but haven't heard back so I don't know what will happen. He'll probably ship it to me and then I can pay for shipping it again and by that time the guy will neg me for slow shipping.


stman did catch my other error. The S/H was $5.95 instead of $25. I'll have to watch more carefully I guess.


I figure any day I can sell 5 coins and only lose $20 is a good day.

K6AZ

You did the right thing. I made a similar mistake by listing five 99 silver proof sets when I only had four. That cost me almost $70 when it was all over.

stman

I just knew you'd do the right thing Sir. And glad you were able to get in on the "10c listing day."

Let's just hope the next time works out just as well for you. Congratulations!!!!

Colorfulcoins

ASAP admit the mistake and offer him the silver set sor a refund. His choice..... I've been on ebay 6 years and have made a couple of mistakes like yours - and I usally don't figure it out till I'm ready to ship. Each time I've fessed up and worked a deal with the buyer - sometimes a refund and sometimes a different item.... And in those 6 years, no negatives and no neutrals (I have over 2000 feedbacks). Do the right thing!

ttown

Explain and be prepared to buy the correct set to make this right. Sometimes you win sometime you lose.....but your rep only goes around once. You posted you pay, end of story in my book