Another eBay complainer (me)

BaltimoreYankee

Apologies in advance but I need to vent: One of the things I'm trying to collect is the 1976 Hostess cards in uncut panels. A seller had a lot of 6 complete boxes, including one box with Hank Aaron. A few days before the auction ended, a single Aaron box sold for like $38. I did not want to go anywhere near that high so I set up a snipe for around $30 for all six boxes. Turns out my winning bid was $15.50. I was pretty psyched, paid last week and woke up to this nugget of a message this morning:

"Hello- I am so sorry but I knocked a glass of soda on these and it basically ruined them as they were al stacked together- I immediately tried to wipe them but the orange soda discolored and bubbled the cardboard (makes me double think the whole drinking Sunkist soda thing)- I assure you that you won't be seeing me relist them or anything like that as I hate the fact this happened and I hope you can accept my apology as I know I would be disappointed- Thank you for your bids as I would have been more than happy to send them out as I do everything-- Take care- Eric"

I have sold things on eBay that went below market but I followed through with the sale like a normal person. You move on and hope the next sale is better.Unfortunately, since the seller cancelled the transaction, I could not leave negative feedback (it takes a lot for me to leave a negative but in this case, it would be warranted).

Thanks for the vent - it's just cards, now back to real life

WhiteTornado

And he's probably right about the part, "you won't be seeing me relist them", since I'm guessing he sold them (or will) off eBay for higher money.

Venting is good .

belz

uggggh. that stinks man, so weak.

Ironmanfan

hope you give him the negative he deserves (I wouldn't hesitate).

IMF

Davis

Devils advocate....what if he's telling the truth? He's saving you the return shipping costs as you'd undoubtably be disappointed.

ymarea

I take exception to one thing you said. You wrote, "I have sold things...that went below market but I followed through with the sale like a normal person." Unfortunately, it seems like "normal" people pull the kind of stuff that happened to you. The honorable ones who follow through with the sale have become more the exception than the rule.

craigger

i would tell him you may still be interested and ask for pictures

dtkk49a

Yeah, he sold them to someone else and douched you. I would be so mad. Tell him you think he sold them to someone else and to send pics of the damaged cards to prove otherwise. And then leave detailed Negative feedback.

WhiteTornado

<< <i>Unfortunately, since the seller cancelled the transaction, I could not leave negative feedback (it takes a lot for me to leave a negative but in this case, it would be warranted). >>



The OP already states that he cannot leave negative feedback. I was wondering the same thing regarding pictures of the damage. I have a feeling you'd get a response like, "Sorry, I already threw them away".

BaltimoreYankee

Problem is I can't leave negative FB because the item is gone - since he cancelled the sale it's as if it never happened. I searched through my purchase history and it's not there.

BaltimoreYankee

<< <i>Devils advocate....what if he's telling the truth? He's saving you the return shipping costs as you'd undoubtably be disappointed. >>



There is always that possibility but the story has too much detail that makes it smack of a fabrication: "I spilled soda....I spilled orange soda....I spilled Sunkist orange soda. Yeah, that's the ticket."

dennis07

It's good to vent on occasion. I am sorry this happened to you and I too think it is probably a fabricated story but as you say back to real life.

mlbfan2

<< <i>Problem is I can't leave negative FB because the item is gone - since he cancelled the sale it's as if it never happened. I searched through my purchase history and it's not there. >>



Did you try the "leave feedback" page? Not sure if it'll be there, but it's worth a shot.
http://feedback.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?LeaveFeedback2

EDIT: Looks like you WILL be able to leave feedback.

If you cancel a transaction, the buyer may be disappointed or feel that you didn't honor your side of the bargain. Keep in mind that:
If you cancel a transaction, it may be considered a defect and count against your seller performance. Learn more about seller performance standards.
If you cancel a transaction, the buyer can still leave you negative or neutral Feedback about the transaction.
When you list an item, you enter a legally binding contract to complete the transaction if the item is sold. If you cancel the transaction, there could be other negative ramifications. See the eBay User Agreement.
Once the cancellation is complete, you can't ask us to step in and help with the transaction, and you can't reopen the cancellation request.
http://pages.ebay.com/help/sell/cancel-transaction-process.html

PMKAY

<< <i>Problem is I can't leave negative FB because the item is gone - since he cancelled the sale it's as if it never happened. I searched through my purchase history and it's not there. >>




Did you not have to accept the cancel transaction request? I didn't think a seller could cancel a transaction without the acceptance from the buyer?

MULLINS5

My hunch is that this is not the first time this seller tried to cancel completed auction.

In order to cancel a winning bid/sold item, the seller must, according to eBay policy, either not be in the possession of the item or it must be damaged prior to shipment.

The alleged soda incident gets him completely off the hook.

As a seller, I typically use eBay auctions as an outlet to dump stuff I don't want. Whatever I get, makes me happy.

seebelow

for 15 bucks tell him to send them anyways.
or as suggested its perfectly acceptable to ask for pics....of all 6 boxes

my first thought is that things do happen, benefit of the doubt first,,, but in this particular case if your quoting him exactly...just doesn't feel right.

galaxy27

I'm with PMKAY regarding consent. I was recently involved in a cancelled transaction (as a buyer) and had to do just that to get the ball rolling.

I certainly would have asked for photos. Any seller worth his/her salt would oblige after a mistake like that. That is, unless it was a fabricated story. Then you'd receive nothing, and you'd have the straight skinny.

BaltimoreYankee

He cancelled the transaction unilaterally - I got no request for a cancellation.
mlbfan:- Thanks for the tip about the 'leave feedback' page. I did see the auction in there. Tried to leave negative and it said "sorry - you cannot leave negative or neutral feedback until 7 days after purchase". I think it's been 5 or 6 days now.

MULLINS5

Consent does not have to be given if the item is damaged prior to shipment

itzagoner

published in late 2006:

"Consumer Reports (CR) tested 14 drinks containing both vitamin C and sodium benzoate for benzene, a potent carcinogen and found at least 2 parts per billion (ppb) of benzene in some samples of Fanta Pineapple soda, Kool-Aid Jammers Orange juice drink (the maker recently eliminated sodium benzoate), and Sunkist Grape and Orange sodas. Highest was one of three samples of Fanta Pineapple soda, at 6 ppb. Federal regulations allow 5 ppb of benzene in bottled or tap water. There's currently no standard for benzene in soft drinks."

you may have been exposed to cancerous particles embedded in the cardboard. you should send him a message thanking him for saving your life.

whilst he double-thinks.

dtkk49a

The seller cannot cancel the auction if you already paid. Please clarify.

1954

I totally agree. Just tell him to send them anyway and you will pay the full amount. He will crap his pants.

Shane

galaxy27

<< <i>He cancelled the transaction unilaterally - I got no request for a cancellation. >>



Had no idea this could even be done. Who says sellers have no leverage?

mlbfan2

<< <i>The seller cannot cancel the auction if you already paid. Please clarify. >>



No, that's not correct.

See here...
http://pages.ebay.com/help/sell/cancel-transaction-process.html

MULLINS5

I recently bought a book BIN for $15 and the seller told me he meant to list it for $70. He cancelled the transaction, without my consent. I called eBay and they said that he can cancel as long as the item was damaged before shipment or if he ran out of stock. Nothing I can do (except leave appropriate feedback).

The seller then tried to extract an additional $55 from me, saying that it sells for $70. I paid.

spanky74

Wow, that sucks, and I believe the seller is full of it.

PMKAY

<< <i>I totally agree. Just tell him to send them anyway and you will pay the full amount. He will crap his pants.

Shane >>




"Sorry I tossed them out and my garbage was just picked up so I can't"

dtkk49a

Per eBay, You can cancel a transaction:

Up to 30 days after the sale
Even if your buyer has already paid for the item

You won't be able to cancel a transaction if:
The buyer has already opened an Item not received request.
You've already opened an Unpaid item case.

I was not aware of these rules.

dontippet

Just by the way the seller's email is written, it eludes to the fact that he knows he sold it cheap.