Please tell me best way to handle this eBay problem I now somehow have. Thank you 🙏 in advance!

[jewelbiz]

I sold a book here from my 10,000 volume library, book shop 3 days ago.  
This never happened before now.

I can’t find it.  It’s here but where?

 I spent last 2 days searching for it to no avail getting too too much anxiety & fear.

Due to recent knee replacement surgery I was afraid to go up on the ladder to search highest shelves & knee hurts bending down while searching lowest shelves.

 I put an ad into my apartment building’s inner newsletter asking for help searching for this book.  A very nice man just volunteered & did a most through 1 hour 5 minute search 👀 to no avail.  Another lady is due to come 7 P.M. to also search 👀 for book.

Can’t imagine where this book is.  It is here but I don’t know where!

What do I do about this book I did sell but now is missing & can not be sent to my good eBay buyer?  How to best handle my situation?

Thank you in advance.  This never happened to me before now.  A real turning point in my life with my books…

[heckofagame]

If you can't find it, then do a cancellation and choose the reason "Out of stock or damaged".

[reallynicestamps]

Ah.

The 17th dimension.

The hypothesis is that there is too much stuff in our dimension, so when they are not needed excess stuff goes into the 17th dimension. (It may be the seventh or the 32nd, this is not relevant to the hypothesis.)

When we think about the thing, it returns from the other dimension, but there may be some delay.

Women are better at recalling stuff from the other dimension, which is why a man may look in the fridge and ask "Where is the butter?" but his wife can immediately find it. It's not his fault, it's the 17th dimension.

I once found a book like that a couple of years later, behind the bookcase, where it was hidden by the cheap pressboard backing that always comes loose on Billy bookcases.

[reallynicestamps]

RE: knee replacement. Vitamin E oil will reduce the scarring. And DO THE PHYSIO!

[coolections]

Sorry to say but you lost it so if you are truthful you cancel and check the reason as lost. Nothing more you can do except for lie and hope the buyer does not catch you lying and report you.

[jewelbiz]

But what do I tell the good buyer?  I’m not going to lie to him or eBay about anything here.

 I misplaced the book somewhere here after taking pix of it to list it & put it away somewhere I don’t know where but now neither me nor my nice neighbor can locate it.  I’d call it an honest mistake.

Another neighbor is coming to look for it at 7 P.M. tonight too.  
I know it’s here somewhere lost.

Too too much stuff not manageable anymore.  Turning point in my life!

[mybigsale]

Options:

1. Find the book.

2. Purchase the same book locally or online and ship.

3. Be honest with the buyer and ask if they would like to cancel the order for a full refund OR you can substitute another book in your 10,000 volume library (Up to a value of $XX.XX).

4. Be honest with the buyer and tell them you need to cancel the order because the book cannot be found.

Good luck in finding the book!

[stetbooks]

It's still quite honest to use "lost" as the reason in the pull down menu for why you are cancelling the sale. I've been in this boat myself with something that I simply could NOT find, and had them pile up (as it were) while I was in one particularly bad series of chemotherapy. 

And, to keep your mind and spirit in good stead, feel free to ignore any sellers who reprimand you with all the bits about "it's your own fault." Dear me, but I got a bunch of those. Thanks to all the Captain Obviouses out there for that bit of help/not help.

I know where you're coming from, and if it's just a single cancellation, it's nothing to get too upset about. I hope your legs better soon! 

As we say down south: drink plenty of water and drive fast! 😉

[fern*wood]

It's a sinking feeling when you realize an item can't easily be found.   Do you have a certain spot you are placing your listed books?  Maybe you placed it somewhere along that route due to an interruption.   If you are putting listed items back among the 10,000 books, then it may be totally hidden for normal eyes.

I've had to cancel using out of stock before.   I listed and sold a pair of my husband's shoes that he didn't want sold.  oops   I told my buyer exactly what happened, apologized, cancelled and moved on.  My buyer was great.  I had a defect to look at for a year, and luckily, had no more during that time so no real penalty.   I like the suggestions of offering another book or buying this book (if possible) elsewhere to be shipped to your buyer. 

[stoney45]

It has happened to me a few times over the 25 years I've been selling on eBay.   I simply make a note to myself that I tape to my computer and tell the buyer the truth.   Adding I will contact should I find.   Then cancel the sale.   

[44012]

I do hope you find it. Honesty is the best policy. Maybe check the buyer feedback to see if they are kind and friendly and if they are kind perhaps that will ease the anxiety for you to take your next steps.  I also like idea of buying and replacing if that is feasible but most of the time the buyer is ok with honesty.

Sometimes I can try to find books on our shelves by comparing sizes, colors, thickness.... Sometimes it works. I'm sure you are already doing this but that's what I do.

I will keep my fingers crossed. Feel better!

[lamber9347]

@jewelbiz I had something similar happen to me as a seller many years ago. You already know the correct thing to do is to simply cancel for out of stock. However, you write a sincere apology to your buyer and explain (in fewer words than here) that you have misplaced the book so you are canceling. Explain that you are certain you still have the book but cannot locate at this moment. When you do find it you will send them a message on eBay. Keep the name written down and when you find the book you relist it at a larger discount to your original buyer. 

Most book buyers will understand and not be vengeful. What irks a buyer is when a seller uses an excuse then relists the book for a higher amount, which you will not be doing. It is not worth your anxiety over this, you've spent enough time as it is. These things happen to any of us, you are human. I find when I am NOT looking for an item is when I find it. You will come across that book in the near future. For now, end this, and rest up your knee. Best of luck to you....

[ten_o_nine]

look at the color of the book cover and scan your shelves using a flashlight if dim, looking at every book that matches the color.

[mtgraves7984]

I'm thinking that after thorough searches... it's hiding somewhere in plain sight. At least that's how it happens for me.

[silverstatetreasureboxes]

@jewelbiz 

Jewel, is it the Dow book? Looks like you used a light box to photograph it, look there or near it.