Buyer can cancel order with impunity

[costero]

I had an item up for auction for 10 days,  and after completion, the successful bidder sent a cancel transaction request, with the reason "price too high" -- meaning, he realized his bid was too much, and he wanted to back out. But instead of retracting his bid, he did this after the end of the auction. 

As a seller, what are my options in this circumstance? If I refused to cancel, he could refuse to pay. It seems like there's no real penalty to him.

In bending over backwards to make buyers feel comfortable, it seems like eBay is putting all the burden on the sellers. (I'm not a professional seller; I do maybe a dozen auctions a year.)

Related to this: In the case described above, how can I quickly send a "relisted" or "second chance" message to all those people who bid nearly as much as the winner who flaked out?

[bonjourami]

Just cancel the transaction at buyers request, then you can relist or do a second chance offer..but be glad he did it now, instead of after he received it and filed a snad case, so you would have to pay return shipping, you are doing the right thing.

[klhmdg · Accepted solution]

You can cancel per buyers request and relist now. Add this "buyer" to your BBL.

OR you can let the buyer get an unpaid item strike by waiting to day 5 and then relist.

Most sellers have their accounts set to not allow bids or offers from buyers with 2 or more unpaid in 12 months.

Its up to you. I would just cancel as buyer requested.

[costero]

I did cancel, and I did block that particular buyer from my future auctions. But I'm still dismayed that eBay's long-standing edict that "your bid is a contract" does not seem to hold water. That particular radio I was trying to sell is under factory warranty, but not for much longer. Adding another 10 days (or more) reduces the value of the radio because the remaining warranty is getting shorter and shorter. Plus, it's a hassle for me and my own vacation planning; I'm going to be travelling when the relisted auction ends. Finally, what about my second query: How do I get the word out to the bidders who lost on the first go-'round?

[bonjourami]

You can send a SCO..

[albertabrightalberta]

I'd rather a buyer cancel before I send an item than have him open a NAD return (or even remorse return) after receiving the item. 

[inhawaii]

I say you should have MADE that buyer pay!

[buyselljack2016]

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@inhawaii wrote:

I say you should have MADE that buyer pay!

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You can say that, but it seems from what the OP posted, that there was an "official cancel" request that,   unless things have changed, nullifies the ability to make the buyer pay, or get a strike for not paying.

[76c]

'Your bid is a contract' doesn't mean anything to either eBay or buyers.  Lately, I have had several people make offers, that I accepted, and they never pay for them.  It's like a game for them.  So, I cancel the sale and block them.  It used to make me mad, but anymore I almost expect it.  

[76c]

You can't make them pay.  I cancel the order and then block them.  It's not worth the hassle.