Interesting eBay Dilemna. What Would You Do?

braddick · December 26, 2003 6:38AM

Say you've got a coin listed on eBay that closes at $200.00. The Buyer sends fast funds and you ship the coin. A week or so later that same Buyer reports via an email that, for one reason or another, he doesn't want the coin and he ships it back. He reasons there is nothing wrong with the coin, it just doesn't fit within his "collecting objectives". No big deal. You refund the $200.00.
Now, you relist the same coin using the same auction description and photo and again let it ride. Only this time the coin looks like it's going to peak at about $100.00, give or take. You are also mildly amused and surprised to see the same bidder/buyer from the first go-around bidding again!

Now, armed with this information, do you allow this Buyer to continue bidding and possibly win this coin for much less than the auction closed the first time? Do you simply chalk it up as the cost of doing eBay business or do you get aggressive and prevent/block this Bidder?

sinin1 · December 26, 2003 6:41AM

let him keep on bidding

his collecting objectives might be to get a coin like that for $125 instead of $200

if you block him, he will not be able to bid up other bidders

if he wins - then you have an interesting dilemma

Fairlaneman · December 26, 2003 6:43AM

Are you a Approval Service ? How about a Cherry Picking Service ?

Block the Smuck ! He has cost you money once. Will you let it happen again ?

Ken

Boom · December 26, 2003 6:43AM

To put it as mildly and simply as possible...NO! The first time he gave you any crap (this is what I do ) go and put his little user ID on the blocked bidder list! Just as proprietors of any given store, "We have the right to refuse service to anyone!"

razorface1027 · December 26, 2003 6:47AM

Screw'em Braddick........In fact, this sounds like a new wave dilemna; whereas, people are getting too involved with the bidding frenzy and finding out that they can't afford it, and in some cases, paid too much for said item. Some think that vendors are having shills to do their bidding. The bidder bids extreme amounts only to find that it's nowhere near worth what he/she paid for it; hence, their need to return it. Some are just plain JERKS. Precisely why I don't post a return policy on graded material. I'd inform him not to place anymore bids on your item and ban him/her from bidding in the future....Good luck!......

cosmos66 · December 26, 2003 7:05AM

The guy is a schmeckel ... treat him as such.

mgoodm3 · December 26, 2003 7:11AM

Block him. If some guys going to get it cheaper, it shouldn't be him.

cosmicdebris · December 26, 2003 7:14AM

Unbelievable.

BigD5 · December 26, 2003 7:30AM

I think I'd let him bid. I offer a return privelage, and it's a no question return. You don't like the coin because it smells like my cologne once you receive it......fine, return the coin, and I give you a refund less shipping charges, as stated in my item description. It would cost me my initial listing fees ($5 max?), and I can recoup my final value fees after the return.
At that point, I'm starting fresh with the item, albeit the listing fees added into my cost at this point. If I'm willing to start the coin at $1, let the dogs run!! Whatever happens, happens.
Quite possibly the buyer may have liked the coin, but not at the price he bid for it. Maybe figuring it was PQ for the grade etc, and worth a premium bid. Once receiving the coin, realized it wasn't worth the premium, and returned it, not wanting to ask for a partial refund. Seeing the coin listed again, the buyer figures the coin isn't worth his premium bid of $200, but to obtain the coin at $100, that may be ok.
The more I type, the more I realize I wouldn't have a problem with this.

mgoodm3 · December 26, 2003 7:34AM

BigD5. You're being very nice to him. Where's the spite? There's always room for spite.

Dog97 · December 26, 2003 7:38AM

I'd probably just cancel his bid and send him email telling him that if it didn't fit his "collecting objectives" last week it sure as hell won't this week.
That's probably about as strong scolding I would give him. I don't charge for shipping and wouldn't want to ship the same coin to the same person twice for free. I'm a hobbiest, not a dealer, so I can't write it off my taxes like dealers do.
I wouldn't let him bid on it again because I would be thinking he would return it again.

coinguy1 · December 26, 2003 7:39AM

<< <i>Only this time the coin looks like it's going to peak at about $100.00, give or take. You are also mildly amused and surprised to see the same bidder/buyer from the first go-around bidding again! >>

Pat, apparently, you're a calmer and more understanding person than I am - I would be something other than "mildly amused".

I'd send an email, informing him of why he was being blocked as a bidder. I'd also be tempted to inquire as to whether his"collecting objectives" had undergone a sudden change.

BigE · December 26, 2003 7:45AM

PM one of your friends to bid the coin up for you

-------------BigE

KollectorKing · December 26, 2003 7:49AM

What Fairlaneman said.

Fairlaneman · December 26, 2003 8:02AM

<< <i>I have several people blocked because they have sent back pq material. I figure if pq material wont satisfy them nothing will.

>>

This is exactly what I had to do with a guy and then he kept asking why I blocked him seems how he wanted to Bid on another item. Over and Over I told him my products would not please him in my opinion. Finally he wanted a quote on a item so I High Balled the quote to the Max. Darn I have not heard from him again.

Some Bidders just think sellers were born yesterday and are as sharp as a broken pencil.

Ken

ldhair · December 26, 2003 8:30AM

Hi braddick

You may have thought of this but has the bidder left feedback for the first deal?

He may come back at you if you block him now.

Good luck.

Striker · December 26, 2003 8:56AM

I'd cancel his bid and let him know its the same coin he already mailed back to you as your explantion.

goose3 · December 26, 2003 9:08AM

I'm with Coinguy!

Cancel the bid, Block them, then email them.

sinin1 · December 26, 2003 11:19AM

give us a link so we can bid him up

clw54 · December 26, 2003 11:24AM

<< <i>I'd cancel his bid and let him know its the same coin he already mailed back to you as your explantion. >>

I like this suggestion.

dddangerousdan · December 26, 2003 11:31AM

I'd block him. I won't do business with someone like him twice.

DAN

DHeath · December 26, 2003 11:33AM

Pat,

You could always hope he wins, accept his payment, and then send his payment back, saying your collecting objectives had changed.

Bochiman · December 26, 2003 3:50PM

I like what striker said about canceling his bid, telling him it is the same coin, and that that being the case, it wouldn't meet his objectives so you wanted to save him the hassle.

I wouldn't spite him from other auctions as he may end up getting them bid up higher (unless he does this again).

And, did he already leave feedback? If not, and you just cancel him or insult him, you may get a negative that you may not want....just FYI.

Neptune · December 26, 2003 3:59PM

if coin was returned you can receive the eBay fees back by filling out the form -- AND he can't leave feedback for an auction that he did not keep, I don't think. I think after you fill out proper paperwork, he can't leave feedback? Seem's appropriate but not sure how it works.

Mrpawn · December 26, 2003 4:37PM

He may not be the sharpest nail in the bag.. in other words he is looking for that coin but probably forgot that he returned the one that he is now bidding on. You and I both deal with these people daily.

Coinguy1 seems to have the best idea.

Most of the time a nail needs to be beat on or about the head before the point sinks in

eagle7 · December 26, 2003 8:57PM

In keeping with MrPawn's analogy, dont try to drive a twenty penny nail with a ten penny hammer. Whop him good. This kind of stuff can not be allowed to happen. Cancel his bid and block him from ever bidding on your auctions again. Nuff said!

relayer · December 26, 2003 9:09PM

When you get a return and claim your final value fee credit, eBay asks if you want to block the bidder. 75% of the time I say yes (100% of the time for chuckleheads like this guy). I even block people who send annoying email. Problems happen enough on their own, so blocking problem people as a preventative measure is a good idea.

I've only had a handful of returns and I don't have a problem giving them their money back, but I'm not running an approval service. If it was a problem transaction, why deal with them again?

So, I would have blocked your bidder the first time when you claimed your final value fee credit, but since you didn't I guess your concern now would be feedback from the earlier transaction.

If he can still leave feedback you leave yourself open for a negative now if you make him mad by cancelling his bids.

If feedback is not an issue, cancel his bids and block him now.
If it is an issue, still cancel his bids and block him but be nice with your explaination as to why.

supercoin · December 27, 2003 3:39AM

Well my first thought was that his bid is making you money, so why cancel now... wait until the auction ends and then block him from future bids. But if he wins, you're back to dealing with him, though obviously if he pays you don't have to honor a return policy.

But... if there's one thing I've learned (over and over again, hmm... come to think of it, I guess I'm still learning) as a coin dealer, it's to CUT YOUR LOSSES and move on when it comes to bad deals.

I actually (re)learned this lesson one more time with what turned out to be my final coin sale.

I had some proof sets sold on eBay a month ago, the guy had decent feedback but didn't pay despite various e-mails, phone calls, etc.. I was ignoring my own advice because I was getting out of the business and didn't want to try to resell them at the last minute. I finally gave up, negged him, and relisted the coins.

They sold in less than 12 hours at the same price, and to a guy who paid within another 12 hours. In fact he actually overpaid me a few dollars not realizing insurance was included. When I told him that, he wished told me to keep it, wished me a Merry Christmas and said to have a beer on him. Cheers!

So...

Life if short. Cancel, block, and move on.

LucyBop · December 27, 2003 3:49AM

Kick him in the Frankies!

roadrunner · December 27, 2003 5:00AM

Sometimes, coins aren't worth what the buyer pays. Actually, most of the time on ebay! I've returned a number of coins that were listed as super PQ+ or what have you and they weren't anything special. The 2nd time around this bidder would own the coin with no excuses. No return. Do not pass go. Do not collect $200.

roadrunner

coincollector1989 · December 27, 2003 5:07AM

Block that clown.

tgilliams · December 27, 2003 5:16AM

Needs to be blocked, don't want him to make a fool out of you.

gemtone65 · December 27, 2003 6:20AM

I must say that there are a lot of opinions offered in this thread, virtually all of which I am in disagreement with. How one should respond to the situation described by Braddock, it seems to me, depends in large part on how accurate the seller feels his auction description and pictures were of the coin. Most sellers attempt to present their coins in the best light, to coin a pun here. Upon receipt, the high bidder might be disappointed, but still be interested in acquiring the piece at a price commensurate with its true quality. Most sellers will not negotiate price after the auction closes, so the only practical way to obtain the coin at a fair price is to return it and re-bid.

If the seller believes there are other reasons for the return, other than his own descriptions, then more forceful action may be called for. On unconditional returns, buyer's regret is okay, but it doesn't necessarily allow the high bidder to re-bid. In any event, a less severe opton is to inform the re-bidder that his return privilege is waived should he be high bidder again.

In either case, the option of permanently blocking the bidder without, say, warning the him that you don't like re-bids, seems a little severe to me. This is especially the case for those of you out there, and you know who you are, who engage in auction deceptions far more egregious then re-bidding on a returned coin.

solid · December 27, 2003 8:43AM

I like gemtone65's idea of just emailing him, informing that it is the same coin and that
his return privelege will be waived if he ends up the high-bidder.

Ken

supercoin · December 27, 2003 8:33PM

Hmm... that might be ok except I'd cancel the bid first. Then e-mail him to let him know it's the same coin, and he's welcome to re-bid on the condition that there's no return privilege.

If you don't cancel first, then you're in limbo if he doesn't reply to your e-mail.

Wisconsin · December 27, 2003 10:15PM

It may just be that he feels bad about returning the coin,and is trying to help you get the coin started agian.

greghansen · December 27, 2003 10:49PM

I'd block that guy/gal in an INSTANT. As an aside, if you do not intend to post his EBAY user ID here in the open forum, I would consider it a great favor if you would PM me with his ID, as he would go on my blocked list pronto. Thanks.

JoeHolt · December 27, 2003 10:54PM

close the auction now and cancle all bids wait a few weeks to relist after the holidays just a thought then it dont so seemed at him

Neptune · December 28, 2003 12:17AM

also, could be he had buyer's remorse but then got a wad of cash for Christmas. If he does win tho, you will up creek w/o paddle so best nip in bud before. Then again he may not even know it's your coin! He could be a duh-head.

Wait until after he has driven the coin price up and block him just before he tries to snipe at auction end - if possible. I have never blocked anyone, so don't know. Boy that will get his goat - however if you are still open for a neg feedback by not contacting eBay for refund on fees, etc.- you could be setting yourself up.

Interesting eBay Dilemna. What Would You Do?

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