Auctions

[jote_4512]

Hello, I have a question concerning auctions. I sold an item that I had on auction. I started the the bid process at .99 per App suggestion. One individual submitted a bid of .99, no other bids. I was under the assumption that I could refuse the bid if it was not the amount or close to the amount I wanted to get for the item?

[bonjourami]

Always start the bidding at a price you would be happy with. No, you cannot refuse a bid,never start auctions at .99.If you cancel the transaction as out of stock, you will receive a major defect to your account and leave yourself open to a negative feedback.

P.S. Looks like you are 'guessing' at your shipping prices.Are you weighing and measuring the items in their package before listing them?

[albertabrightalberta]

---

@jote_4512 wrote:

One individual submitted a bid of .99, no other bids. I was under the assumption that I could refuse the bid if it was not the amount or close to the amount I wanted to get for the item?

---

Nope, you assumed incorrectly. You're obligated to sell the item for the winning bid. 

Learn a lesson from your mistake and either do auctions with the opening bid at the lowest price you're willing to sell for or do fixed price listings.

[caldreamer]

No, you cannot refuse bid and must ship this item.    If you cancel this sale...customer will be angry and leave you negative feedback which will tank your feedback rating.

You should have shown starting bid "as lowest price you would accept".   When your starting price is 99 cents  you will "lose money".   EBAY fees based on (purchase price + shipping + sales tax) plus 30 cent handling charge.

Never listen to EBAY suggestions...they do not care about the Sellers (they only want commission on sold items).

[ittybitnot]

@jote_4512 

You assumed incorrectly.  We know eBay suggested the 99 cent thing, but for a newbie with no following it typically does not end well.   When you use the auction format, you are supposed to ship when paid at the ending price for the auction.  It is best to list things for the minimum amount you need for the item also considering the fees you are going to have to pay eBay.  

For a 99 cent listing, the first "fee" is going to be 40 cents, leaving you 59 cents from which eBay will extract the final value fee, fee on shipping, fee on the sales tax the buyer pays, as well as the cost to you for shipping the product (buying the label).  

Refusing to honor the sale/ bid/payment and cancelling instead awards you a defect on your account.  Get a few of those, and you place your account in a position to be prohibited from selling at all forever. 

[luckythewinner]

---

@jote_4512 wrote:

Hello, I have a question concerning auctions. I sold an item that I had on auction. I started the the bid process at .99 per App suggestion. One individual submitted a bid of .99, no other bids. I was under the assumption that I could refuse the bid if it was not the amount or close to the amount I wanted to get for the item?

---

Why did you make the "assumption" that you could back out of an eBay transaction?

Nothing in eBay policy supports that "assumption". In fact, it is quite the opposite:

A seller can cancel an order if:

• The buyer asks to cancel the order and they haven't shipped the item yet
• The buyer hasn't paid within the time allowed
• The buyer used the wrong shipping address when they completed their purchase
• The item is out of stock (this will result in a transaction defect)

https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/member-behavior-policies/order-cancellation-policy?id=5298

[ckimodog]

@jote_4512 

Not a good idea if you want to continue to sell here on eBay.  You must honor all final sales.  My suggestion is not to run auctions or this is the result.  Use a fixed buy it now price, with immediate payment required and NO best offers. You'll get the price you want and hopefully a happy customer.

Happy Selling

[bennotbill]

---

@jote_4512 wrote:

I was under the assumption that I could refuse the bid if it was not the amount or close to the amount I wanted to get for the item?

---

While that's not true if you are lucky you may get an understanding buyer like myself, who would give a pass to a new seller cancellation in those circumstances. Knowing full well the very bad suggestions and selling advice eBay hands out.

Unfortunately many buyers would get upset. So unless it was a high value item, that you can't possibly let go for 99c, it's best as others have said just to suck it up and send it.

[itsjustasprain]

---

@ittybitnot wrote:

For a 99 cent listing, the first "fee" is going to be 40 cents,

---

I thought it was still only 30 cents for listings below $10...?

[wastingtime101]

---

@itsjustasprain wrote:

---

@ittybitnot wrote:

For a 99 cent listing, the first "fee" is going to be 40 cents,

---

I thought it was still only 30 cents for listings below $10...?

---

Based on total amount buyer pays. With ship/tax that lunchbox is more than $10 to almost every shipping zone.

[jote_4512]

Thank you, lesson learned.

[bonjourami]

Good luck, check those shipping prices on your items too,or you are going to get hit with out of pocket shipping fees. You can only charge the buyer the shipping fee on your listings.And be sure to double box all those glassware items.

[ittybitnot]

I thought it was still only 30 cents for listings below $10...?

@itsjustasprain 

Yes, you are correct.  It is not listed on any policy page that I could find, but I found it in the seller update: 

Starting March 15, 2024, the per-order fee on orders over $10 will increase from $0.30 to $0.40 across all categories.

Thanks for pointing it out!