Unresponsive buyer
hi, I made a mistake when I listed my two China bowls for sale. In the title I listed for but I only have two. The description was correct but the title was misleading. I had a buyer and they paid and that’s when I discovered the mistake. I wrote the buyer explaining the situation and offered to either refund his money completely or to sell him just the two bowls that I have for the same amount of money since that was my intention all along. I have sent him to messages but have not heard back from him. Shipping was supposed to be yesterday But I don’t want to ship just two bowls. Should I wait until I hear from him on the situation?
16 comments
bucky0025
OP1 year agoUpdate: I just cancelled the order with a full refund, as well as a note of apology and an offer to buy them at a 5o% discount if he wishes. The shipping date was the 18th as I stated in my first post because the item sold while on vacation mode. Thanks for your support — this was my first time going through this situation. If I hear back from him, I will post another update.
legalbeagle52
·1 year ago@bucky0025
Thanks for the update .. I'm glad you let us know. That's what confused me was the 18th shipping date. That's why I wasn't sure if that was the order. Now I understand. Some of my buyers with a 'messy' situation have been very kind & understanding. I hope your buyer will be too. But regardless, you fixed it as best you could.
714ricki
·1 year agoJust cut your losses and stress level. Cancel the order immediately due to the item being out of stock & refund the buyer. If by chance the buyer responds back & is OK with the two bowls, then just open up a new listing for two bowls only at an adjusted price. Errors happen, just don't make it a habit here on ebay.
Good luck & hang in there! ðŸ™âœŒï¸ðŸ˜Ž
a*river*runs*through*it
·1 year ago@bucky0025
Looking at the listing it says 3 business days handling. The item sold on April 12th which would mean shipping should have happened on April 16th, not the 18th as you stated in your first post.
As a buyer I would expect to get what was advertised: 4 bowls. But like many buyers it appears they did not bother reading the description that states 2 bowls.
Yes, you made a mistake in the title. It happens to the best of us. As a seller you need to own your mistake.
You need to either fully refund the money now and take the strike or ask them if he would still like the 2 bowls for 1/2 the price he paid and send him a $10 refund.
If you don't hear from the buyer by tomorrow afternoon, assume they are not happy with what has transpired and do the full refund.
simba6
·1 year agoJust have to refund as an out of stock item.
I would not wait any longer.
legalbeagle52
·1 year ago@bucky0025
We all make mistakes. I know I certainly have. I've done the same thing as you where the description & title didn't match. It's a big panic! But you have to try & fix your mistake any way you can. And that includes taking a loss if you have to. Sending the buyer 2 bowls for the same price as 4 is NOT going to make him happy. It is not a fair resolution.
I would ask him if he wants a full refund with a sincere apology. Depending on the item, if it's not terribly expensive) ... I might offer to send the item just for the cost of shipping. (I'm not sure which listing it is of yours). Or as mentioned at the very least deduct half.
I would try to reach the buyer again tomorrow afternoon and hope he gets back to you.
If we sell long enough, most of us make 'cringy' mistakes at one time or another.
Just fix it & move on. Good luck! ~
bucky0025
OP1 year agoThank you very much for your very kind and understanding response. I appreciate your Advice which is given in a helpful, non-combative manner.
albertabrightalberta
·1 year agoI'm really bothered that you'd want to send him the 2 bowls when you advertised 4, whether "that was your intention all along." If they think they bought 4 bowls, why would they accept 2 at the same price!
It's Easter so the buyer may not be online today so I'd wait (at least) until tomorrow but IMO, sending 1/2 the quantity at the full price is wrong.
bucky0025
OP1 year agoI’m sorry you completely misunderstood me. I will not send him two bowls when he thought he bought four. I will only send him the two bowls for the original price if and only if he agrees. I have also offered him a full refund. I am not a dishonest person And I’m trying to do the right thing
dryophelia
·1 year ago@bucky0025
I would guess the buyer would want at least half their money back, since they are getting half of their order.
albertabrightalberta
·1 year agoI didn't misunderstand you at all! I knew you didn't want to give him the 2 bowls at 1/2 the price even though he probably thought he was buying 4 bowls for the price he paid.
Exactly! We've all made mistakes - we're human. And when I've made mistakes, I've eaten the loss and learned not to make a similar error in the future.
bucky0025
OP1 year agoWhy are you attacking me? You don’t know me. You don’t know my intentions And I highly resent your remarks. I think you’re way out of line, especially being a mentor. I came on here looking for some honest advice from the eBay community and instead I get attacked and accused of being dishonest.
albertabrightalberta
·1 year agoHonestly, there's no "attack." You asked for honest opinions and you got them. I didn't think it was fair to have a listing offering 4 bowls and offering the buyer 2 at the same price because that was your "intention all along." As @legalbeagle52 said, "sending the buyer 2 bowls for the same price as 4 is NOT going to make him happy. It is not a fair resolution."
momtoabeautifuldaughter
·1 year agomtgraves7984
·1 year ago@bucky0025
I'm with @inhawaii... tell the truth. Cancel the order citing 'Out of stock/Item no longer available'. But be extra careful moving forward... you only get two OOS cancellations in 12 months without eBay whacking you on the hand. We empathize.
inhawaii
·1 year agoTitle says 4 bowls but listing is only for 2?
I don't think the buyer will still want them, but you can ask.
If not, cancel the transaction. Reason: Out of stock.
The buyer will automatically be refunded.