Problem with selling first item

[ansi4864]

I posted an item, with detailed description of item, on 9/5/21 and got an offer on 9/7/21 which I accepted.  I got a message that the buyer had an inquiry the item and wanted me to call.  I didn't call but sent buyer a message and asked what they wanted to know.  I never heard anything from buyer nor did I get payment.  I tried to cancel order and was not able to cancel.  On 9/13/21 I contacted ebay to find out the problem and was told that Ebay would cancel the order automatically on 9/14 and send me an email.  I have not heard from Ebay about canceling the order.  Does anyone know what I need to do to get this canceled so I can repost the item. Thanks for any help in this matter

[coffeebean832]

Never text or e-mail outside of eBay- it's good you didn't fall for that. Scammers target new buyers and try to get them to communicate offline- then they do things like send fake payment messages and ask you for gift cards. When you didn't take this off eBay, the scammer gave up.

This page has information about the unpaid item process-

https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/getting-paid/resolving-unpaid-items?id=4137

You can cancel the order and you can also set up your account to cancel automatically for the future.

[caldreamer]

If customer "made offer" and you "accepted offer" (you have to wait until offer ends).   You cannot "end offer" manually or make any changes to this listings (because you have offering pending).   Better to have "buy it now" prices that way customer must pay immediately.

Just wanted to warn you NOT to call or text anyone "outside EBAY" (usually a scammer trying to steal from you).

[soitsage]

Hi - my first post here. I have a similar problem...I am a longtime member but have sold very little. I accepted a bid last week without looking at it carefully. If I had, I'd have seen it was a new ebay person with a 0% rating. The bid was followed by a request for information. Then a message saying "text me about this".  I wrote back that our exchanges should be through ebay and should be made before bidding, not after. Heard nothing else. Unclear on:

1.) do I still need to wait until the payment deadline?

2.) if I HAD noticed the buyer had no track record, would it have been proper to reject the bid?

3.) anything else I should know, from seasoned sellers?

Thanks!~

[coffeebean832]

@soitsage 

1- See my post above

2- Having 0 FB could mean it's a new buyer- it's not necessarily indicative of a scammer. The amount of the offer could have been a clue, though.

3- As someone new, listing fixed price with the immediate payment required setting- no auctions, no offers- is generally a good idea. New sellers are scammer targets so minimize the risk where you can. Also- come here to post questions (it's usually a good idea to start a new thread) if you have them- posters here know more than the average eBay CS rep.

[soh.maryl]

That ended on August 14th.  Along about the 19th, if you've not been paid by then, eBay will automatically cancel, refund your FVF and give the buyer a strike, IF you have your listings set for this to happen automatically.  If not, you can open the unpaid case yourself.

The fact that this was an 0 FB buyer does not necessarily mean something would go wrong.

You may need to do some more reading in the Seller Information Center.  

[coffeebean832]

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@soh.maryl wrote:

if you've not been paid by then, eBay will automatically cancel, refund your FVF and give the buyer a strike, IF you have your listings set for this to happen automatically.

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Technically it's an account level setting, not a listing setting. I'm sure you know that Maryl- I just want to make sure the newbies aren't confused. 😉

[femmefan1946]

2.) if I HAD noticed the buyer had no track record, would it have been proper to reject the bid?

You can reject a Best Offer for any reason.

You can cancel a Bid on an Auction for any reason.

If you are uncomfortable with a bidder you can add him to your Blocked Bidder List for any reason.

You can only cancel a Purchase  for Buyer Request or for Problem with Address.

This would be any Fixed Price* purchase or winning Auction bid.

Problem with Address is very flexible-- like "I just don't wanna" level of flexible.

But with a cancellation, the customer can leave appropriate feedback.

Just having no feedback is not usually a reason for refusal.

New members are just that, new.

Instead look at his Feedback Left for Others.

The most dangerous customer would be the high feedback buyer who has had no FB, given or received, for over a year, and is suddenly buying high value/high fraud items like electronics or jewelry. That can signal  an abandoned account that has been hijacked.

*Or Auction Buy It Now or accepted Best Offer.

[soh.maryl]

Thanks -- good that you pointed that out.  

[soitsage]

Thank you - very helpful.

Soit

[soitsage]

Thanks so much. 💎

[soitsage]

Thanks for your detailed response. ⭐

soit

[fashunu4eeuh]

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@soitsage wrote:

Hi - my first post here. I have a similar problem...I am a longtime member but have sold very little. I accepted a bid last week without looking at it carefully. If I had, I'd have seen it was a new ebay person with a 0% rating. The bid was followed by a request for information. Then a message saying "text me about this".  I wrote back that our exchanges should be through ebay and should be made before bidding, not after. Heard nothing else. Unclear on:

1.) do I still need to wait until the payment deadline?

2.) if I HAD noticed the buyer had no track record, would it have been proper to reject the bid?

3.) anything else I should know, from seasoned sellers?

Thanks!~

---

@soitsage 
#2: Having no sales history tells you nothing about the account. They may be a legit buyer, or not. You cannot tell, until they tip their hand, if they are a scammer or not. In this case it was a scammer. They tipped their hand when they asked for texting. Never communicate outside of the eBay system. 

Sellers must have cause before canceling a sale, such as at buyer request, or problem with the address. Otherwise, a seller may get a defect on their account for canceling a transaction.

(In the future, you may consider starting a new thread when you have a question. This way your voice gets heard, getting the attention it deserves, and the OP’s thread doesn't get high-jacked.)

[janet9988]

On the 5th day with NO payment You need to cancel as BUYER DID NOT PAY.

This is what gives buyers the strike against their account and credits the FVF.

[soitsage]

Ansi - My first time using this board. I jumped in to your thread as our issues were similar. I apologize for high-jacking your topic! We live and we learn. ⭐️

Soit