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As a seller - I received Negative feedback received on an item I didn't even sell
My item sold, and the high bidder ignored payment requests. After several days, eBay suggested sending a "second chance" offer to the next-highest bidder. This bidder did pay immediately, and I printed out the shipping label eBay provided. I sent the item, and he gave me positive feedback. But unbeknownst to me, eBay went ahead and actually created a duplicate listing, and the original high bidder finally sent payment, after I had already shipped the item. The original high bidder finally sent payment, which eBay deposited into my account, all the while, this was a "phantom listing" created by eBay. When the original buyer learned that the item was sold to the next-in-line bidder, she immediately gave me negative feedback, even though I did give her full refund. eBay says they cannot remove this feedback. Which makes no sense, this is negative feedback on a transaction that never happened! Any one else have this happen? I thought teh whole idea of "feedback" was to be honest and accurate. So how can one item have TWO buyers, each of which sends feedback?
evry1nositswindy
Mentor2 years agoWhen you send a second chance offer, it creates another listing of the item, just for that person. It is normal. The 'ghost' listing is actually the first one. The buyer had 4 full days to pay. Never send out second chance offers until the first transaction is finished, as in cancelled due to non-payment.
No need to contact eBay. The first buyer had a right to give negative feedback because they won the auction and had 4 days to pay. It was a transaction and it did sell. You sold it out from under them with a second chance offer. Sorry to have to give you this news.
newrecordhound
OP2 years agoThe original buyer actually finally paid after SEVEN days, after no replies to payment requests. I think I really need to talk to someone at eBay again. The first time I spoke to a live person there, they gave me wrong information. Nowhere was I instructed to "cancel the sale"; eBay simply suggested I send a "second chance offer". How could eBay then not cancel the original transaction? How was this possible? How can eBay accept double payments on one item?
Anyway, thanks for the info, and here is the timeline : Item sold on 3-8-24. Both eBay and myself sent requests for payment, no response. Second chance offer sent, on the suggestion of eBay, on 3-12-24, second bidder did buy it and sent payment on 3-14-24. I shipped it to him, he gave positive feedback. Then, on 3-15-24, the original bidder sent payment. eBay duly subtracted their fees (again), and deposited it into my account. This was SEVEN days after the auction ended (3-8-24 to 3-15-24).
Even after a full refund and letter of explanation and apology, this original non-paying bidder was able to leave negative feedback on a transaction that never happened.
eBay made me look like a shady seller, which I am not. So much for their policy of fairness, honesty and integrity.
dryophelia
Mentor2 years ago@newrecordhound
There is no need for a seller to send invoices or payment reminders as eBay does that. If they don’t respond/react to eBay messaging, invoices from the seller will also be ignored.
When a seller sends an invoice, the 4 days the buyer has to pay are reset. So another 4 days begins.
The fact that your CSR on the phone couldn’t explain simple eBay function of offering a SCO creates a new listing, should be a discouragement to calling again.
We hear all the time about the inaccuracy of the CSRs.
The information provided by the responders before me perfectly explained what happened.
Another call to them will end with them telling you what you want to hear. Two common responses could be,
-I've created a ticket for your situation.
-A supervisor will call you within 48-72 hours.
If you reach out to eBay for business on Facebook, they should be able to confirm all that has been posted here in response to your original post.
myangelandmyprincess
Mentor2 years agoHow many days did you give them to pay? You needed to cancel our the original transaction for non payment before selling to the second bidder.
newrecordhound
OP2 years agoThanks for your reply!
I was never told this; cancel the transaction?
Even so, WHY did eBay create a DUPLICATE listing without my knowledge?
I am now trying to speak with an actual person with eBay.
In my 25+ years with eBay, I have NEVER had a problem. eBay has made a LOT of money from me, and I had hoped for better Customer Service.
gator08041971
Mentor2 years ago@newrecordhound
Anytime you have a non-paying bidder, they have a minimum 4 days to pay before that transaction can be canceled. Now, depending on your settings, that could be automatically canceled, or you would have to go in and manually cancel it.
This "phantom" listing is probably the original listing, but the one the first bidder had won, and they finally did pay, because the transaction was never canceled. In the meantime you sold it to a second bidder.
Not sure how you missed this, but if you ever look at your transactions under your order page, they should show up if you look at All Orders. Also the payment page will show any payments received.
As for them not removing the feedback, you did in fact have a transaction, as you stated you provided a refund. So there was an order, a transaction did take place, even though it sounds like a simple mistake.
I can understand it causing some confusion and frustration though.
newrecordhound
OP2 years agoThank you for your input and suggestions. I am trying to contact eBay; I did speak with someone when this happened, and they did not know how or why a duplicate item was listed. As for never having a transaction, I can understand your logic, but if I go to a store and simply hand money to the cashier without actually buying anything, and the cashier hands me the money back, no business was conducted. Hopefully I will get this straightened out, because eBay is "supposed" to be about fairness and honesty, and creating phantom listings without a seller's knowledge is not honest.