Cancellations - eBay should alter how they handle them

[conanfan111]

Just had a customer request a cancellation. Of course I did (as it only hurts sellers if we don't), but sellers get nothing from eBay when this happens.  It would be great if eBay would promote the item for free or something as compensation for losing a sale.
Many collectible items are time-sensitive and when we lose a week in selling them, sellers potentially lose financially while eBay and the buyer lose nothing.
Free promotion of the relisted item was one compensation I thought of, are there any others?

[chapeau-noir]

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@conanfan111 wrote:

Just had a customer request a cancellation. Of course I did (as it only hurts sellers if we don't), but sellers get nothing from eBay when this happens.  It would be great if eBay would promote the item for free or something as compensation for losing a sale.
Many collectible items are time-sensitive and when we lose a week in selling them, sellers potentially lose financially while eBay and the buyer lose nothing.
Free promotion of the relisted item was one compensation I thought of, are there any others?

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Unfortunately, that would be immediately abused.

If someone cancels, it's the breaks, unfortunately. Sellers are free to not cancel, or to cancel - eBay doesn't get into the middle of it.

[onefootflippers]

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@conanfan111 wrote:

Just had a customer request a cancellation. Of course I did (as it only hurts sellers if we don't), but sellers get nothing from eBay when this happens.  It would be great if eBay would promote the item for free or something as compensation for losing a sale.
Many collectible items are time-sensitive and when we lose a week in selling them, sellers potentially lose financially while eBay and the buyer lose nothing.
Free promotion of the relisted item was one compensation I thought of, are there any others?

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If there was free promotions then sellers would have their friends buy their items and cancel constantly.

Also, there is already a positive effect. It creates a sold comp at the price you had the item listed at. Makes it more likely to sell.

As a full time seller I find cancellations to be a non-issue, I just relist the item. I don't understand how you are losing a week, I am normally losing a few hours.

[stainlessenginecovers]

In the past, listings were charged for EVERY listing; NOTHING was Free so you could easily spend $25 to $60 (went by starting price .25c under $9.99; .60c over $10) for each 100 listings prior to getting any sales. 

Made getting a 'store' much more valuable; 

Then you were charged a Final Value Fee and you got to WAIT for the buyer to snail mail you a check/money order, of which nothing could eventually show up. 

So, the current system isn't so bad. 

[tobaccocardyahoo]

Not all sellers who receive cancellation requests are innocent victims.

Some buyers are a little slow in understanding the listings and noticing the red flags.

[12345jamesstamps]

'request a cancellation'...and it comes out of current  'available funds'...not present 'processing funds' on the cancellation. Although the biggie sellers don't care...this hurts the small sellers.

[conanfan111]

You are right, it would be abused. But if I don't allow the cancel, they rarely pay and then I am out even more time waiting and more work dealing with it. Maybe it is the best system in this type of platform.

[conanfan111]

It would be abused, you are correct.  Some of the items I sell lose their "immediate demand" (fomo) buyers after the first week or two, so time is an issue on those items if I do an auction.

[conanfan111]

Yeah, I have been around that long.  I'm not sure it's better now.  Faster, yes, better...I'm not sure. I dealt with far less fraud back then and it was more of a true auction site. 

The situation I'm currently describing didn't happen to me back then as I'm currently talking about selling new items while they're "hot."  The perceived hotness can fade after a week of listings.  This particular instance the auction ended and then they cancelled.

But the other responses are right, free promotion would get abused.

[stainlessenginecovers]

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@conanfan111 wrote:

Yeah, I have been around that long.  I'm not sure it's better now.  Faster, yes, better...I'm not sure. I dealt with far less fraud back then and it was more of a true auction site. 

The situation I'm currently describing didn't happen to me back then as I'm currently talking about selling new items while they're "hot."  The perceived hotness can fade after a week of listings.  This particular instance the auction ended and then they cancelled.

But the other responses are right, free promotion would get abused.

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I dealt with far MORE fraud back then- my son got taken for over $500 in 2 transactions, after Paypal started, but there was no where to complain when the item a.) didn't show b.) an 'older-used' item was shipped.

[kenneth686321]

There is inherent risk in selling time sensitive items. Yes the buyer can cancel but the buyer can also decide to return the item up to 30 days after purchase. 

Why should eBay compensate a seller for cancelled orders? Are you going to leave for greener pastures elsewhere? No.  

A cancelation is a minor inconvenience for everybody but the buyer. 

The seller looses a sale 

eBay looses in the FVF and PLS fees 

the shipping company looses potential business since nothing was shipped

You can always decline the cancelation and ship out the order anyways hoping the buyer is too afraid to open up a INAD case for something they didn't want.  

[inhawaii]

I agree with you.

Ebay should also lower their fees and send us xmas bonus checks at the end of the year.

[mr_lincoln · Accepted solution]

Hi @conanfan111 

Yes some alternatives:

-Sellers have a block setting for Buyers who have 2 or more Cancellation requests in 12 months.  Sellers can increase the 2 value to higher numbers if they want.

-Similarly, for Bid retractions, a block setting for Sellers to block Buyers with 2 or more bid retractions in the last 12 months.  Sellers can increase the 2 value to higher numbers if they want.

These two alternatives could be tested for 6 months or so to see if the number of Cancellation requests and Bid retractions decrease as Buyers learn not to abuse the system.  The way eBay is set up Buyers can ask questions prior to bidding or buying.  Sellers can answer questions if they want, smart ones will.   Buyers who don't get answers should move on to other Sellers. 

[a_c_green]

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@inhawaii wrote:

Ebay should also lower their fees and send us xmas bonus checks at the end of the year.

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Many (many) years ago they did indeed send out gift cards to some eBay members at Christmastime, I think possibly for something to do with participation in the Community groups over the previous year. Mine was for $35.

[lakefor94]

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@a_c_green wrote:

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@inhawaii wrote:

Ebay should also lower their fees and send us xmas bonus checks at the end of the year.

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Many (many) years ago they did indeed send out gift cards to some eBay members at Christmastime, I think possibly for something to do with participation in the Community groups over the previous year. Mine was for $35.

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Cha ching.   Awesome.