Any compelling reason not to re-list an auction item if you dont' think the winner will pay?

[gurlcat]

Am I correct in thinking a seller gets no kind of demerit strikes for ending an auction after it has bids but before it ends?  And if so, is there any reason not to go ahead and re-list an item if you have a strong suspicion the first winner is not going to pay?   I'm saying if the second auction's end date is past the date that the first winner's time allowance will run out, so if your suspicion was wrong and they DO pay in their allotted time, then you can end the second run, so as not to wind up with two auction winners of the same item. 

To be clear, I don't LIKE the idea whatsoever.  I wouldn't like dashing any hopes that bidders in the second run might have of getting the item, and I realize if nothing else, they might remember my handle and not buy from me in the future.  Then again, I don't exactly like being in a situation where my sales have gotten so bad that I have shutoff notices and literally every day counts.  Until May of this year, slow payers and non-payers were just annoyances; now they're crises.   And I've never liked the fact that Ebay gives auction winners 5 days to pay, without so much as a deposit, communication, or anything else to inform the seller when they will pay, or if they'll pay at all.

Said it before, I'll say it again: if Ebay is "the online garage sale" well I don't know anyone running a garage sale who would set an item aside just because someone claimed they would pay more than anyone else, then turns around and walks away as if to go get their money, but doesn't come back FOR DAYS and the seller can't offer the item to anyone else while waiting.    




  

[mam98031]

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@gurlcat wrote:

I've never been able to think of a reason why 24 hours wouldn't be fair.  I get that a buyer might be asleep or at work or whatever when the auction ends, so they might not know they won for a few hours, but what with notifications on multiple devices and the easy few-clicks of paying for things online, there's no excuse.   In the event of some unforeseen financial problem, there is still the ability to write to the seller and explain the situation.  I wouldn't let the sun rise and fall one time after winning an auction, without either paying or communicating.   

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Likely because many buyers are simply not available 24/7.  

I agree about the communication.  As soon as a buyer sees they have an issue, they should write the seller.  I firmly agree with you.  But the fact is few ever do.  And some of those few have ridiculous requests.

All of this however is just part and parcel of selling via Auctions.  It is nothing new, none of this is other than we have a much faster way to file for a strike on a non paying buyer.  

The history of Ebay should show you that while you would prefer things were different, Ebay simply doesn't agree and hasn't for 26 years.  The auctions just aren't that much different than they were years ago.  Still the same issues for many sellers.  So sellers just have to chose whether they are willing to deal with the issues that come with auctions or prefer to get rid of those problems all together and go with Fixed price listings with IPR.

[quiltgeek]

I've never been able to think of a reason why 24 hours wouldn't be fair. 

Here's a reason: BECAUSE EBAY SAYS SO.

[soh.maryl]

Am I misunderstanding?You THINK the person who is currently winning will not pay?

Based on . . .? 

[gurlcat]

It's a hypothetical, so yes I'm afraid you did misunderstand.  I could cite things I have seen that made me suspect a buyer wouldn't pay and then they didn't, but I'm not going to say what things because I already know what the replies would be, and that's not what I wanted from this post.  The very first person who replied answered my actual question.  

[ms.rodriguez*]

Why in the world would you end an auction with bids before the end time? If a buyer requests it, for sure, your item has interest and you just prevented other people from bidding. NEVER end an auction early because a buyer requested.   If buyer tells you they need it for a birthday present ,  ignore.  Let the auction ride.  

If you ends auctions early,  some bidders notice and they won't bother bidding on your items.

[gurlcat]

I'm not sure where you got 'buyer request' as my reasoning about ending an auction early; this was a totally different kind of scenario and I don't know how to reword it that would make sense to you, if the original post didn't.  Anyway I did get the answer I was seeking (see Solution post).  

[coolections]

What you suggested would be one of the worst ideas I have seen in a while. If every seller did what you would like to do, then Ebay should just shut down ALL auctions.

[1tuna]

you are supposed to wait the 96 hours for the bidder to pay

taking a shortcut to relisting it again is just cancel abuse and is abusive to the other bidders

as others have already said, bidders know monkey business and dont want an item canceled.

auctions need to run the full 7 days if that was the plan

bidders can sense when they are being played just like you can smell a non payer,it works both ways

please dont be that person who just cancels willy nilly.

I do realize you dont want to wait the full 96 hours but those are the requirements. taking shortcuts will only hurt you in the end

@gurlcat 

[gurlcat]

I can't imagine all (or even many) sellers doing it, namely if they feel that being charged a FVF on the highest pre-cancel bid is a big enough deterrent, and for that same reason I don't see why ebay would shut down auctions even if lots of sellers did do it.  Getting 2 FVF's for 1 item --you seriously think ebay would be unhappy about that?  I think the fact that they made the FVF charge the ONLY deterrent speaks for itself, as far as what they frown on or not. 

 And as for upsetting bidders on auctions that get cancelled, how is it any worse than going to a store or website for something you want to buy and it's no longer available?  It's not like there's a fee to place bids, so trying to win an auction is no more sacred or trust-giving than any other endeavor to purchase something.  I've seen auctions end prematurely on things I bid on countless times, and it didn't make me resent the seller; I just figure they have their reasons.  For that matter, it's no more disappointing than LOSING an auction to another bidder.     

[gurlcat]

I promise I will never "just cancel willy nilly."
😇

[downunder-61]

My compelling reason is the fact that I like to see non payers blocked from purchasing from me and other seller's - so I would always wait the 4 and hit them with a strike, but that's just me 

[gurlcat]

Oh I would still hit them with the strike, absolutely (they would still get it because it's not like I would be cancelling THEIR auction win, just letting their time run out and then report them).  AND sell the item to the highest bidder of the second auction run a few days later.  Cake + Eat.  

[wildpitchsports]

Yeah if you do this enough they will send you some kind of message.

It's not advised to do this, and really a seller is cutting themselves short.

[simply-the-best-for-you]

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@gurlcat wrote:

 And as for upsetting bidders on auctions that get cancelled, how is it any worse than going to a store or website for something you want to buy and it's no longer available?  It's not like there's a fee to place bids, so trying to win an auction is no more sacred or trust-giving than any other endeavor to purchase something.  I've seen auctions end prematurely on things I bid on countless times, and it didn't make me resent the seller; I just figure they have their reasons.  For that matter, it's no more disappointing than LOSING an auction to another bidder.     

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For the same reason that being OOS is one of the only things on eBay that will get you a Defect on your account.  It is expected that the seller is serious, has the item & offered it in good faith.  It drives buyers away from the site if they're not.  I have never had an auction end prematurely & I'd be pretty PO'd if I had taken the time & effort to bid & the seller ended the auction prematurely.  I would also think they were likely dishonest & it would leave a bad taste in my mouth.  That's why eBay put the penalty in place.  That said, I haven't bid in an actual auction for years.  I prefer BIN as both a buyer & seller. 

[mam98031]

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@wildpitchsports wrote:

Yeah if you do this enough they will send you some kind of message.

It's not advised to do this, and really a seller is cutting themselves short.

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It will also get expensive with all the fees and no sale.