Vendors cancelling auctions - why does Ebay let them get away with it??

Question

Second time in this month that I had winning bid on an item, and vendor either cancelled auction, or simply did not deliver item. Ebay seems to do nothing to these derelict vendors. It is obvious that they decided they wanted more money. But, they could have put a minimum, or reserve on it. They'd rather just inconvenience, and **bleep**-off, buyers than follow Ebay rules. I think they should be removed, if they refuse to treat buyers with any kind of respect. Or, at least make the consequences...

woodland_gnome · Answer

If you mean s/he cancels all bids and ends early without a winner: It is specifically against the rules for a seller to cancel all bids and end the auction early without a winner IF it is because s/he deliberately set the Starting Price lower than s/he was willing to sell for, and it hasn't reached that high. This is considered fee avoidance because eBay charges a substantial fee for sellers to have a Reserve Price so they aren't promising to sell as low as their Starting Price.

But there are legitimate reasons why a seller would have to do so, and a few years ago eBay got tired of having to divine the subjective intent of a seller who took that action, so it adopted some procedures that make it less attractive to do so with that intention: it may only be done before the countdown reaches 12 hours AND it charges a fee (the FVF% for that seller in that category times the highest cancelled bid) when s/he does so (with the first such fee per calendar year waived to allow for the very occasional legitimate reason for doing so).

If you mean s/he cancels the transaction after the auction ends with a winner, see the other post.

So yes, eBay does impose financial sanctions on sellers who do this.

lady_madonna · Answer

@gotnash

When a seller cancels a transaction, Ebay will impose a defect on their selling account. Too many defects will affect their seller performance levels which could result in higher fees for the seller and too many defects may get them restricted.

If you purchase an item and do not receive it by the latest estimated date of delivery, you can use Ebay's Money Back Guarantee by filing a Refund Request.

https://www.ebay.com/help/buying/returns-refunds/get-help-item-hasnt-arrived?id=4042