Seller ends Item before offer

[smashedbanana]

So an interesting one. Thought I'd ask sellers about this rather than buyers.

I make an offer on an item.

About 12 hours later seller makes a counteroffer.

It says I have 48 hours to respond.

I click respond now and I get a box saying the seller has ended the item.

When I click on the ended item it does not say it's been relisted or anything.

I click on the sellers other items and there is a new listing for the item (not shown as relisted)  at full price.

I assume the seller panicked and that's why they cancelled the item. But kind of seems like an abuse of the end an item function. 

The seller could have just declined my offer.

[sodelight]

The seller likely changed their mind about the offer they submitted to you. There is no option allowing them to alter it once sent. The only option would be for them to end the listing. It's their item, they have a perfect right to do this, it's not abuse.

[mam98031]

There could be any number of things that cause the seller to do this.  He may have upgraded pics, spotted an issue in some part of the listing and he wanted to improve it, etc. etc.  Lots of legit reasons they may do this.

If you are still interested, just go into the new listing and make an offer.

[7606dennis]

An offer is only valid for up to 48 hours or until the listing ends.  It is possible that someone purchased the item by using the Buy Now button or the seller received another offer which they accepted before you had accepted the counter offer.

[mam98031]

@7606dennis 

The OP said the seller re-posted the listing.

[7606dennis]

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@mam98031 wrote:

@7606dennis 

The OP said the seller re-posted the listing.

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Sorry!  I thought that the OP stated it didn't show as being relisted but a new listing was made which could have been a new listing for a duplicate item.  My bad.

[smashedbanana]

The seller ended the item. It was not sold.

[smashedbanana]

The new listing is identical to the old one I made an offer on.

[smashedbanana]

I understand mistakes and second thoughts. But is the reason that an offer cannot be modified not because it's supposed to be binding? I mean otherwise what's the point if can all make offers and then walk away from them?

[femmefan1946]

I sold a vintage book last week. Printed in UK about 30 years ago.

Packed it ,shipped it, then, using Sell Similar, listed a second copy I had in stock, after taking a new scan of the cover which showed different flaws.

Basically, even if it was a vintage or used item, the seller may have had multiples.

And if it is a new in box, currently available, mass produced item  it's even more likely.

It is the seller's right to control her sales and stock, right up to the point where the buyer pays.

Even after payment, the seller has a (very) few options to end the transaction if she thinks there may be problems.

[mam98031]

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@smashedbanana wrote:

The new listing is identical to the old one I made an offer on.

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There is structure to a listing that a buyer can't necessarily see.  The seller may have had a need to change that or maybe they didn't.  I'm just saying, the sheer fact that the seller closed the listing and then reposted it does NOT mean the seller is trying to do anything wrong or deceitful.  

As I suggested before.  If you still want the item, make an offer on the new listing.

[jason_incognito]

It's obvious the seller decided that they did not wish to honor the offer they made to you. Refuse to buy it from then, go buy it elsewhere and move on. 

Sellers like this are a big reason eBay is circling the drain.

[buyselljack2016]

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@smashedbanana wrote:

I understand mistakes and second thoughts. But is the reason that an offer cannot be modified not because it's supposed to be binding? I mean otherwise what's the point if can all make offers and then walk away from them?

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The offer(counter offer) was not accepted by you.

Yes the seller walked away.

Had you accepted, that is a different situation, and a walk away then by either would be a foul.

This situation, no harm, no foul.

[fern*wood]

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@smashedbanana wrote:

I understand mistakes and second thoughts. But is the reason that an offer cannot be modified not because it's supposed to be binding? I mean otherwise what's the point if can all make offers and then walk away from them?

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I know buyers can retract their offers, so it seems logical that a seller could too.  I would have been afraid of ending it for fear ebay would think I was selling it off site.

[dhbookds]

OP.........look closely at the new listing............is there a change?    I'm guessing that perhaps the seller found an error in the listing after he sent the offer.  If so, there is no way he could have changed anything......and to leave it open would have been asking for problems........disappointing you, OS defect, etc.  If that happened to me, I'd notify the buyer of why I was canceling, but not every seller would think to do that.