eBay

falloutbeeb · ‎09-29-2017

Hello,

I'm pretty new to this forum but I was hoping I could get some help on this matter.

I recently finished an auction for a cosplay and long story short, a minor bid on my auction using their parent's (I'm assuming) account, and then contacted me on social media begging for me to cancel their bids as they didn't have the funds to pay. This was within the last 5 hours of the auction and it looked like they were going to win the auction. As an attempt to not further escalate the situation, I cancelled the bids and let the auction run its course.

The actual auction winner, after being sent an invoice to pay, is now refusing to pay and is accusing me of shill bidding on my own auction with a seperate account. I offered to provide proof of the conversation between me and the minor who needed their bids cancelled, but the winner refused and began being increasingly rude and difficult to work with, calling my claim "**bleep**" and "that I knew it", along with calling me a scammer and a liar.

The auction winner has now been talking about how they're going to report both my account and the cancelled bid account. I called Ebay customer service and asked what I could do in this situation, and the response was basically that "I shouldn't worry and that nothing will happen to my account", but I'm still afraid and pretty stressed out that my account could be disabled, etc.

In short, I'm afraid that I may still get in trouble with Ebay for this. I have reported the auction winner for harassment and am planning to call customer service again. I would really love to get some help on what to do in this situation and if anyone here has experienced this before.

If necessary, I can provide all proof of messages pertaining to this.

Thank you.

emerald40 · ‎09-29-2017

@falloutbeeb wrote:
I have already cancelled the transaction. This user is still bent on getting me banned, it appears 😞

You did nothing wrong.

A disclaimer is on ebay that even if you are outbid you could actually win the listing if the top bidder cancels.

If he did not want it, why did he even bid on it?

View Best Answer in original post

campesinoplastic2014 · ‎09-29-2017

I would ignore and not worry.

Even if it were shill bidding, they look the other way

campesinoplastic2014 · ‎09-29-2017

Block them both if you haven't done so

emerald40 · ‎09-29-2017

When you bid on an auction buyers are well aware that if for some reason the top bidder retracts then the next highest bidder could very well become the winner.

Since the now winner is being so difficult, give him the option that you will cancel for him if he does not want the item.

Forcing him to purchase something he obviously does not want will just backfire.

falloutbeeb · ‎09-29-2017

I have already cancelled the transaction. This user is still bent on getting me banned, it appears 😞

emerald40 · ‎09-29-2017

@falloutbeeb wrote:
I have already cancelled the transaction. This user is still bent on getting me banned, it appears 😞

You did nothing wrong.

A disclaimer is on ebay that even if you are outbid you could actually win the listing if the top bidder cancels.

If he did not want it, why did he even bid on it?

partial*eclipse · ‎09-29-2017

Your bidder might have misread the bid history. When you (the seller) look at the bid history, you see the bidders' real IDs. But the rest of us see camouflaged IDs which are made up of two characters from the real ID, separated by three asterisks. (Each bidder can see their own real ID in the bid history.)

In this particular case, the cancelled bidder is shown as e***t (0) and your underbidder (who placed 9 bids) is shown as e***3 (0). I wonder if your winner has misread this and thinks that all these bids came from the same bidder, and you selectively cancelled only the bid that was higer than his.

falloutbeeb · ‎09-29-2017

I didn't know this! It's my first time selling, so this information helps a lot. Unfortunately I don't believe the winner is going to do anything to work out a solution, even if it was a misunderstanding. (shrug)

emerald40 · ‎09-29-2017

@partial*eclipse wrote:
Your bidder might have misread the bid history. When you (the seller) look at the bid history, you see the bidders' real IDs. But the rest of us see camouflaged IDs which are made up of two characters from the real ID, separated by three asterisks. (Each bidder can see their own real ID in the bid history.)

In this particular case, the cancelled bidder is shown as e***t (0) and your underbidder (who placed 9 bids) is shown as e***3 (0). I wonder if your winner has misread this and thinks that all these bids came from the same bidder, and you selectively cancelled only the bid that was higer than his.

A newbie. Blame and accuse rather then learn how ebay works.

OP, just block and forget about him.

Just because he may be clueless does not equal you did something wrong. Hopefully ebay will explain that to him.

jonathankirkland · ‎09-29-2017

@falloutbeeb wrote:
I have already cancelled the transaction. This user is still bent on getting me banned, it appears 😞

No need to worry. With these types of people, from now on, it is best to respond with NOTHING.

I would not have even made mention of this other cancelled bidder's claims. And if the person would have just kept on badgering you just block.

All you can do to be a good seller and protect yourself is be courteous and honest. And of course never try to force anyone to purchase something they clearly do not want.

It sucks that as sellers, we kind of have to be a doormat for the buyers, but it is a great lesson for all of us in futility and really learning to take the high road.

Better luck to you in the future!

campesinoplastic2014 · ‎09-29-2017

This is especially important, if I am correct. I have heard, on various occaisions that the second highest bidder is extremely suspicious if the high bidder abducates. I would not be surpised if this is very accuarate, considering the lack of overall trust on this venue.

jonathankirkland · ‎09-29-2017

@campesinoplastic2014 wrote:
This is especially important, if I am correct. I have heard, on various occaisions that the second highest bidder is extremely suspicious if the high bidder abducates. I would not be surpised if this is very accuarate, considering the lack of overall trust on this venue.

Yes, and not only that, but there is such a lack of paying bidders lately that in my case as a buyer, whenever I win as a "2nd chance", I become suspcious not of the seller shilling his own lot, but of another sport bidder or whatever the case may be, just trying to jack the price up.

It turns me off to the lot in a lot of cases.. it's only natural to feel uneasy about winning a lot that you really didn't win.

discountme · ‎09-29-2017

Why would they contact you on social media and not through eBay? That don't make sense to me.

cynthealee2 · ‎09-29-2017

@702new2u wrote:
Why would they contact you on social media and not through eBay? That don't make sense to me.

If the minor leaves messages on eBay, parents can track it later and or see the response from the seller in messages. Where as on facebook (and the like) the messages would go between the kid and the seller completely bypassing the parents.

OP needs to block both id's and relist the item and try again. If it sold that fast it'll sell again, specially if they get it back up fast enough.

I hate photobucket right now... PS Answers given years ago may or may not be current now, please check with current posters to the boards to see if the information is still relevant.