Selling an item

[tisa6971]

I put my first item on Ebay and it was suggested that I start the bid at $.99 which I did. Someone bought the item and is bullying me to sell it at that price. I have contacted Ebay on the chat line and the representative said that I can cancel the sale. The buyer disagrees and insists on me honoring the sale. Has anyone had this happen?

[monica-sells]

As a long-time seller....

we'll agree to disagree..........

but, it is actions like you did that hurt all ebay sellers and drive buyers elsewhere...

[4pawsup*]

You made a mistake it happens. Block the buyer he will not be able to contact you with that id. Read the policy for new sellers. There is good information about how to start selling click on the link.Good luck.

https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/selling/start-selling-ebay?id=4081&st=3&pos=1&query=Start

[lazarustradingco]

The anger expressed by the buyer is understandable but if he continues to harass you, you can report him to eBay. Good luck.

[4pawsup*]

@monica-sells I could not disagree with you more.

[monroe67]

"As a long-time seller....

we'll agree to disagree..........

but, it is actions like you did that hurt all ebay sellers and drive buyers elsewhere..."

As opposed to another poster, I say to Monica:  BRAVA !!  

Breaking the promises made when listing an item for auction on eBay -- which is essentially what the OP did when he/she cancelled the transaction -- hurts not only (1) the buyer who wanted the item and got it for seemingly a great price and (2) the seller who feels "used" by eBay, but also (3) eBay itself, because this is another situation in which the buyer may not be able to differentiate between eBay and the seller.  Buyer will tell a friend how he/she was "cheated by eBay" and that friend will tell two others, and those friends will tell two others, and so forth.  

The OP's situation seems too common for new sellers.  
Makes me wonder about some of those specific sellers.  
When I sold my first few things on this ID, so long ago I think they've probably been dropped off all of eBay's records, I remember seeing that suggestion of starting auctions at $0.99.  

Maybe my brain just works differently, but I thought to myself -- wait one minute, now.  What if there's only one bidder and he bids that minimum 99 cents?   I think I would be obligated -- required -- to sell the thing for only 99 cents !!  Even back then, in the early 2000s, I was aware that eBay did charge fees when items actually were sold.  That would be bad.  I would maybe earn 5 cents or 10 cents.   What would be the point of me starting an auction for only 99 cents?  

Also, I know the meaning of the words "suggestion" and "suggested."   
(I knew that BA in English would come in handy some time.)  

[4pawsup*]

Back in the early ebay selling days you started an auction at .99 to get the lowest cost for the listing fee. The higher the start price of your auction the more you paid in listing fees. Ebay no longer has the amount of auctions they had when they started. I do not think the buyer who won will give up on ebay over one transaction.

[monica-sells]

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@4pawsup* wrote:

 I do not think the buyer who won will give up on ebay over one transaction.

---

Sure, it's only 1 miniscule transaction amongst thousands done every day. BUT...

the fallout from 1 bad transaction goes a long way to alienate and victimize all ebay sellers when the "winner" / "buyer" posts on social media how "EBAY reneged" on an auction they won for .99 cents (they will most certainly post in ALL CAPS) with MANY !!!!!!!!!!!!! (exclamation points) to make sure Google and all the web crawlers pick up the post and display it for ALL to see, further damaging an already challenging selling environment......

[tinsoldierunderground]

Well told!!!!!!!!!!!!

[tinsoldierunderground]

It's unfortunate that you took the advice of an ebay idiot in the CS department and cancelled the transaction... It wouldn't hurt you as much if you were an established seller, but as a new seller with no sales?  As others have pointed out, I'm afraid you've shot yourself in the foot.

[worldcoinauctions]

Congratulations! You just got your first tuition bill for the school of ebay selling. Far better to learn before you start, but you will get an education this way! Just be careful out there, you can get yourself in trouble too.

[titipeo]

We also need to add that seller will also blame eBay as well. Comment on the "scam" for low listing and how someone will get the item for nothing. Sure, there are many opportunistic buyers that will buy an undervalued item, they are everywhere, but they are not scammers. It is up to the seller to familiarize itself with the value of item and what will be the minimum amount they will accept. They take no accountability for their actions, and blame it on someone else.

[titipeo]

Also, back on those early day's auctions were extremely popular and very active, multiple bidders, now, not so much. 

[rjackshoes]

You had an item for bid and someone was able to buy it and so they bought it. Now you could ship it out and chalk it up as a lesson learned or you can cancel the order and chalk it up as a lesson learned. You do what's right for you...you made a newbie mistake and a seasoned buyer jumped on it. In short, cancel the order, apologize to the buyer, take the eBay lumps and move on!

[bennotbill]

I see this many times. If the seller is new I will usually give them a pass. I don't blame them for innocently believing eBay's advice in starting at 99c, and that it will attract more bidders.

Every time a new seller is fooled into doing this it probably is the last time they will be seen on eBay. Perhaps one of the many reasons for the fall in seller and buyers numbers.

[lux.ra_14]

I was the only bidder in a 99-cent auction, and the newbie seller did not honor the transaction.

He sent an e-mail after the auction to complain about the price but pledged to ship as soon as possible. Complete silence after that. He never shipped, ignored inquiries, and made me wait it out until eBay stepped in and refunded.

I didn't neg him since he was new and obviously fell for eBay's bad advice. If I had, the neg would have been deserved and could have ended his selling days here. Most buyers would not be so charitable, so consider that if you want to keep selling.