Buyer bought an item not in my active listings, I already sold it back in 2022

[civicwagonparts]

This was an odd one,
I had an order come in last night, item# 265714748557
I sold this back in 2022, and it was not in my active listings.
Shown on the listing, "Start time: May 30, 2022 04:25:34 AM PDT".
My sales records do not go back that far, to prove I sold this.

This is a rare used car part. Not quite one-of-a-kind, but a unique listing for sure.
I have no way to fulfill the order, I will have to refund and apologize to the buyer.

Why did this happen?
Thanks for any guidance.

[ittybitnot]

There shows in "revision history" that the listing was updated Dec. 25 2023 for the Bin Price.  So it was 'still around'  then.  ????

Whether it is an error or a result of a "ghost listing" you will have to refund the buyer. 

[aproudparent2010]

Shows BIN price was revised in December 2023?

[steve_stuff]

Welcome to the ghost listing club. You can CALL the person and explain and MAYBE they will agree to 'ask' for cancellation.

[dhbookds]

I notice that there was local pickup on the item........so wonder if you couldn't have sold it via that and just not taken down the listing..........

Couldn't find a "sold" listing in Terapeak. 

[meme6253]

You have to call The Ghostbusters!!, It's a ghost listing, It has happened to me as well!

[broto_64]

Checking your active listings occasionally can help prevent these particular inventory control issues.

[albertabrightalberta]

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@broto_64 wrote:

Checking your active listings occasionally can help prevent these particular inventory control issues.

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I'm not sure it would show. THe one time I had a ghost listing (of an item I'd sold 2 years prior), the item never showed in my active listings until it suddenly sold.

[broto_64]

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@albertabrightalberta wrote:

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@broto_64 wrote:

Checking your active listings occasionally can help prevent these particular inventory control issues.

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I'm not sure it would show. THe one time I had a ghost listing (of an item I'd sold 2 years prior), the item never showed in my active listings until it suddenly sold.

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The group of sellers who have so-called "ghost listings" are in a distinct minority.
I've never had such a thing, but I can tell you I've had mental lapses.

Just a week or two ago a buyer purchased something...

In my listings I have it in an html remark (invisible to the buyer) the location where the item is in my inventory.
I looked, and it wasn't there.
I looked again.

Then I went through my entire inventory, every location, looking for it (just in case I had placed it elsewhere).
No luck.

Did you know the mind can fabricate false memories?

For example, I thought that I had already sold this item years ago. Then that thought led to me thinking of having had a ghost listing experience with enough conviction I was just starting to believe this may have indeed been the case.

Puzzled I thought about my options.

Looked through the original inventory location as stated in my html remark again, and found the item.

Twice I had looked there before, and did not see it.

Isn't it amazing?

Do you think I should have come here instead and reported about my ghost listing?

[kostso-68]

This is my worst nightmare about using Ebay.  I delete all my posts even if they are listed as sold for fear of this kind of thing happening.

[steve_stuff]

Like poster eight said they sometimes don't show up on your active list.

'inventory control issues.' sounds like a 'nice' way of saying it's the seller fault.

Had two of the same record, listed one, sold it, did sell similar - changed photos and condition, list new version.

Four months later refreshed scheduled list and count is one too many -  find both versions on it.

[m60driver]

This happens to me about once every 10 years.  It is just one reason that I end about 5% of my listings each week and then relist using sell similar.  Before relisting I always check either mentally or physically that I know where the item is located in my stock.  There are always items that are rather old listings, I have many long tail items, that I can't picture in my mind, and I have to physically locate them before I relist, especially books.  It is not that uncommon for me to try to relist an item but I stop when I can't find it or when I am pretty sure it already sold.  Don't know if that is because of a ghost in the Ebay machine or a glitch in my brain, of which there are plenty these days..  Anyways, checking about 5% of my listings each week tends to correct such errors.