FVF on item ended early.

[oldcoin007]

I lost a bidder on my item because ebay communication issues did not let me receive their questions. I ended the listing early in an attempt to not lose more money than possible. Ebay then proceeds to hit me with FVF's based on what my item was bid up to at that time.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Does this seem right? I realize that ebay probably has a policy somewhere on it that I am not aware of. However, policy or not, does this seem right is what I am asking. Thank you.

[alcoforever]

Doesn't matter whether or not it seems right.   It is ebay policy to charge FVF on all auctions ended early at the last showing bid price.   Too many sellers such as yourself were ending auctions early because they didn't like how the bidding was going so ebay instituted this charge.  Now you know.

[fashunu4eeuh]

Yes, you are correct. There is a policy about this. In an effort to thwart off-eBay transactions, eBay reserves the right to assess Final Value fees on early-ended auctions. However, they usually allow one pass a year. Have you ended another auction early? Below is the policy.

https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/listings/creating-managing-listings/cancelling-listing?id=4146

[oldcoin007]

Hi - If you had a thousand dollar item that was going to sell for under a hundred dollars unless you ended the listing early, what would you do? My item is obviously not that expensive (though some ebay sellers would list it that high), but I am trying to make a point. I do appreciate the help, but you say "too many sellers such as myself," & I am not sure what you mean. I am a very honest seller, & truth be told, I probably lose money on most everything I sell. Did you read the part about ebay communication issues kept the bidders questions from reaching me? He then cancelled his bid. I was stuck as a result. 

[katzrul15]

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@oldcoin007 wrote:

Hi - If you had a thousand dollar item that was going to sell for under a hundred dollars unless you ended the listing early, what would you do? My item is obviously not that expensive (though some ebay sellers would list it that high), but I am trying to make a point. I do appreciate the help, but you say "too many sellers such as myself," & I am not sure what you mean. I am a very honest seller, & truth be told, I probably lose money on most everything I sell. Did you read the part about ebay communication issues kept the bidders questions from reaching me? He then cancelled his bid. I was stuck as a result. 

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Not certain why you start a thread and then immediately get upset with those who post?

As a Seller, the onus is on you and only you as the Seller to understand the parameters to selling here.  You are not a new seller - the time to understand how a listing works and what the constraints are to that listing are BEFORE you list the item.

[fern*wood]

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@oldcoin007 wrote:

Did you read the part about ebay communication issues kept the bidders questions from reaching me? He then cancelled his bid. I was stuck as a result. 

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Could that just have been the reason he picked to justify cancelling his bid?  It really isn't fair to your other bidders to just end your listing  fundamentally due to not getting the price you hoped for.   So you should list as fixed price rather than auction to avoid this. 

[oldcoin007]

Hi - I appreciate your assistance. Did you read the part about ebay's communication issues causing the problem to start with? I have sold off and on for a while. I mostly buy. However, how could I possibly anticipate the problems caused by ebay?  Please read my original post. It is a tad bit frustrating when people make statements without having all the pertinent facts. I am trying here. 

[oldcoin007]

Hi fernwood - You may be correct. As far as a buy it now price, I really don't know how much. Too high & no one buys. Too low & I lose more money than normal. I hope to relist it next week probably. I will have to go thru the aggravation of getting ebay to call me & refund the FVF on the relisted item. Oh well ... 

[luckythewinner]

@oldcoin007 wrote:

Does this seem right? I realize that ebay probably has a policy somewhere on it

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There is a policy. 

eBay has a reason for doing it, whether you think it is "right" or not.

If there were no penalty for ending an auction with bids, sellers could end the listing and sell to buyers off eBay.

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@oldcoin007 wrote:

because ebay communication issues did not let me receive their questions

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What exactly was the communication issue? Are you saying the buyer asked you questions that did not appear in your eBay messages? If so, how did you find out that you were prevented from receiving their questions?

[pikabo-icu · Accepted solution]

One thing in regards to;  if an expensive item will sell for too low..

You should always start your auction at the absolute lowest amount that will be acceptable to you.

If you have an item and would not let it go for under $100. but you hope to get more, start the auction at $100.

Also you can always search sold items that are similar you yours to help decide a BIN or auction starting price. 

There are rules to ending auctions, to help prevent nefarious actions of off site transactions, fee avoidance etc.. That is NOT to say YOU personally would do that- nobody is accusing, we are just explaining that it has been done many times in the past and that's why the rules are set as they are.

I never do auctions because the rules are long & wide..

It looks like the link was already posted above- so you should have a look at it- I have read it through several times and still have to read it anew whenever there's a question. 

@fashunu4eeuh posted you're allowed one pass each year- I don't know if that's automatic or you have to call but you should take advantage of that so you don't have to pay the fees. 

[stainlessenginecovers]

Just to reiterate what @pikabo-icu  said (as it is the only right answer on this)

You should always start your auction at the absolute lowest amount that will be acceptable to you.

Communications issues here or anywhere, sale prices incorrectly shown on ads by stores etc. ALL have 'outs' to these issues and are NOT responsible for any issues due to issues 'out of our control'.

What would you do if that $100 item was suppose to sell for $5000 and there were 1000 bidders that wanted to bid THOUSANDS of $ but the internet went out; the electricity went out etc. 

Nothing you can do about it, so again...follow that smart advice shown in Italics.

[oldcoin007]

Hi pika - You have way of getting the point across without being critical. I do appreciate it. It does not answer all my concerns, but comes as close as I can realistically expect. Thank you! 

[oldcoin007]

Hi - Electricity or internet service are not the issue here, but your point is made. I am speaking of a real life  situation where you or whomever stood to lose a lot of money, or they could end their listing early. Just please consider it. 

[buyselljack2016]

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@oldcoin007 wrote:

Hi - I appreciate your assistance. Did you read the part about ebay's communication issues causing the problem to start with? I have sold off and on for a while. I mostly buy. However, how could I possibly anticipate the problems caused by ebay?  Please read my original post. It is a tad bit frustrating when people make statements without having all the pertinent facts. I am trying here. 

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Buyers have very limited choices for cancelling a bid.

One reason that they can use is to select that there was a communication issue with the seller.

Some choose that as the reason even if is not so. eBay does nothing to those cancelling a bid, but they still have to choose a reason.

[eleanor*rigby]

@oldcoin007 wrote:

It is a tad bit frustrating when people make statements without having all the pertinent facts. I am trying here. 

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I'm sure it's frustrating that so many of the threads you post end up this way.

Whether a bidder cancelled his/her bid is irrelevant, as is the reason why s/he cancelled it. It was still your choice to end the auction. You didn't have to do that, you chose to do that. eBay did not make you end it.