How to respond to buyer?

[sunsprocket]

I have a vintage cookie jar w/lid listed for $9.99 which I have received 1 bid on. The buyer who bid on it sent me a message stating that if she wins the auction, would I sell her the lid ONLY without the cookie jar at a discounted price? She said that her grandmother has the identical cookie jar but broke the lid.

How do I respond ??? 

[jonathankirkland]

I would say sorry, no.

Because then you're stuck with a useless lidless jar. 🙄

[jonathankirkland · Accepted solution]

Also I'd ask if she intends to buy the whole thing if she does in fact win, and if not does she want you to cancel her bid?

If she wants the bid canceled and doesn't intend to buy, I'd do so and then add her to BBL list immediately.

[2013grotz]

You'd be out the value of the cookie jar if you just let the lid go.  I would say no.  If she wants to buy the whole thing, great.  If not, cancel her bid, add her to BBL list, and move on.

[lamber9347]

@sunsprocket I just want to point out  why I think you should accept her offer. She has admitted she only wants the lid to replace a broken one. She's actually being upfront with you, which is a nice thing for her to do. You obviously do not want this item and listed it for only ten dollars so you obviously are also not expecting to make a large return on it. 

If you sell her only the lid for say $5, you will save on shipping and still get a sale. Shipping the entire cookie jar could end up broken but only the lid should arrive intact. You can even offer to save her money on the shipping by only sending the lid. You will guarantee to make your buyer happy because she only wants the lid. You can then donate the jar to a thrift store, or use it as a flower decanter outside. After all you didn't want it anyways. 

The flip side is if you make the buyer purchase the entire jar, she can then claim it arrived broken. You will then end up with a return case on your selling account, whether she actually returns it or not. You would lose that case as eBay always sides with the buyer. It's a win/lose case for you, she would still get her lid and probably for free. Right now she is willing to pay you for the lid. 

Always think about the worst case scenario for yourself. This is your item to sell and your money you are considering. What would work best in YOUR interest? Give it a little more thought. Best of luck to you....

[reallynicestamps]

The problem I see is that if you only ship the lid, she can file a Not As Described dispute and get her payment refunded. You can demand the return of the lid, but you would still be paying shipping in both directions.

You could however, set up an auction just for her.

The auction would be for the lid alone and the title of the auction would be her eBay ID, to prevent anyone else finding it.

And the price would be the value of the complete jar with lid.

Shipping would, of course, be lower. That's her saving.

Really she'd have been better off to keep her mouth shut about her personal history and plans. I am suspicious, since I am a grouchy and cynical old woman, that whatever you do for her, won't be enough.

Treat her fairly, but treat yourself fairly too. This is the only time you will ever deal with her because this does not sound like the kind who becomes a return customer.

[bigdeals.etc]

Respond like so, “Cookie jar with lid - $10. Lid without cookie jar - $15.”

[lamber9347]

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@bigdeals.etc wrote:

Respond like so, “Cookie jar with lid - $10. Lid without cookie jar - $15.”

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You are so bad....🤣😂 LMAO....

[sunsprocket]

Interestingly enough is that she is a also a seller with over 1000 items for sale in her ebay store......hmmmm

[sunsprocket]

😀😂🤣

[gracieallen01]

Maybe tell her that the auction is for both pieces, but she would be the proud owner of a spare cookie jar, so when the first one gets broken, she will have a backup.

[dbfolks166mt]

Agree with reallunicestamps on the solution. Saves her money on shipping, you get your $9.99 and you can always sell the jar separate without the lid to somebody else who has maybe a lid but no jar. 

[snoopwiz]

Cancel the bid?  Place the buyer on a BBL?  Why?

[perfumenmore]

lamber9341 is 100% right. I would tell her that I can't discount the price but that the shipping costs will be less because the item will be cheaper to ship. So she will be saving in the end. If she goes for that, make sure you package the lid real well so there is no chance it arrives broken. 

[dnasilver]

I would say the  listing is for both the jar and lid. Since grandma broke the lid it would be best to have a replacement jar in case she breaks that. (really doubt grandma broke it)