What's this guy trying to pull?

[bigdeals.etc]

Whenever a buyer messages you to request a cancellation (because it is passed the buyer cancellation request window), do you report them?

Because of the power the buyer has to affect a seller and their account, it is in every sellers interest to agree to cancel an order from a buyer anytime they request it and not ship the item out. But eBay obviously tells you it is your choice and you are not obligated to honor the request. I wonder if this is why many buyers believe the cancellation requests are actually cancellation demands. Anyway, I'm getting off topic here.

I just got a buyer (seasoned, 800+ feedback) who messaged me outside of their cancellation window and said "I need you to cancel the purchase. My water heater broke and I need all the money I can get." As an eBay seller, I honored the cancellation... as well as reported the buyer. Then I started to recall something and I did some digging. Apparently this same buyer bought a totally unrelated item from another one of my seller accounts 3 months ago. And they did the exact same thing. Same out of cancellation window, same message, same excuse, same verbiage. Back then I also honored the cancellation and also reported him.

I wonder how many other sellers has this buyer peddled that excuse to get cancellations. I highly doubt his water heater can break that often. Some of you might think I'm harsh for reporting him just because he wants to cancel outside of the eBay window. But for someone like me, he is what I would call an "inventory nightmare." Just as I would block buyers who return items frequently, I would also block ones who requests to cancel frequently.

[kataggr-44]

I'm not sure what reporting him does, because he is allowed to cancel a transaction...and now you should block him so he doesn't do this a third time.

[fern*wood]

I agree you should definitely block, since it seems to be a pattern.  I personally never thought about the 1 hour window as the only allowable time a buyer can request to cancel.  Very few of mine have been within that window, and I never pay any attention to the reason they give,  if they even give one.  I'm definitely annoyed when it comes as a demand, rather than a request.

I'm not high volume, though, and I can see it being more problematic for you.

[reallynicestamps]

If he asks to cancel, he isn't going to pay.

You could refuse the request and eventually go for an Unpaid Item Dispute, closing and getting your FVF refunded six to eight days from now.

Or you could cancel. The BBL is yours to control.

What difference does it make to the supermarket if you decide you don't want that box of Super Sugar Bomb Crunchies while you are in the cereal aisle, later in the detergents aisle , or at the cashier?  Some overworked clerk will still be putting in back on the correct shelf. 

You are the overworked clerk.

The flibbertigibbet buyer did nothing worth Reporting.

It's business, not personal.

But then again, BBL.

[mypostingid15]

What are your other choices?, I see none, 

1- If item is not shipped - cancel

2- If item is shipped - Wait for the return and cancel

3- If message is received while on way to post office, make a U turn, go home and cancel

[1tuna]

I run into this more frequently than I care for

I just have to roll with it.....

you cant make a buyer pay for something

I know I now ...............its the principle

the buyer gets to yank your chain

ive been around ebay a long time

I remember the days when you could see exactly what somone whas bidding on

many people have very good taste

expensive............rare baubles.............rare....hard to get.........................you know

it was easier to just follow someone with great skill in buying

when I would get a buyer telling me some sob story about this or that............broke you name it.

i would often wonder..................

if they have no money..................why are they bidding on so much great stuff

[lightlily_arts]

Unfortunately, my buyers get a rude awakening when they attempt this with me.  I have my accounts set up to message me and my phone alarms whenever I have a sale.  As I have everything pre-packaged I am busy printing that label within minutes of the sale and depending on the time of day it's already shipped.  If I'm shipping Fedex I can drop off at Walgreen's until 10 p.m.  Our post office is open until 6:30 p.m. and there's a self service bin available 24/7.  As both are only a few minutes away  unless they contact me within that hour it's already shipped.   Although inconvenient don't mind canceling orders as it could be a problem later as they will just find a reason to claim a SNAD when they get it.   One thing I do is put those buyers who cancel on my blocked bidder list because I don't want to deal with them again.

[1tuna]

wow.................

that is a very good analogy.........my wife says I have a strong knack for it..........

I have realized that it can take me a while to get my point across with a CSR

what may take me 8-10 minutes to write would take me 20 minutes to explain to a CSR

the written word gets right to the point.................no need to waist time.............

I know exactly where to go for a BBL............i tend to keep it active.......you know.............

dispatching those time waisters.........

I like to think 10 seconds saved is 10 seconds earned

lets get the BBL button back where it belongs..........

where it used to be

I am talking about the dispute console...........

[7606dennis]

What "buyer cancellation request window" are you talking about?  If the buyer requests that you cancel the transaction, it is up to you as to whether you wish to do so.  The buyer can only request.

Personally, if it was a fixed price item and it hadn't been shipped yet I might consider it.  If the item hasn't been paid for yet, I probably would accept their request.  Of course, much depends upon the buyer's reason and how he worded the request.

If the item has already been shipped the buyer would need to put in a return request once he received the item.

In the case of auction listings, I'm more inclined to deny such requests since the bidder's winning bid may have kept an other interested party from bidding.  

Of course, regardless of anything else, the buyer would be placed on my BBL.

[mam98031]

For me, if I haven't shipped it I will cancel the order.  So much easier and less likely to turn into a problem.

Life does get in the way sometimes.  Those unexpected expenses happen.  A hot water heater, installed is a good $600 expense.  For a whole lot of people that is a whole lot of money.  But then there are those like the buyer you got that it is hard to explain what the heck they are doing.  

Knowing me, I would have cancelled the order, block the buyer on all my accounts and then send them a little note.  Saying something like, Oh I'm sorry to hear you had this issue again.  That has got to be beyond frustrating for you.  Just last ________ you wrote me to cancel an order for you because of your hot water tank breaking.  You have probably thought of this, but just in case I'll through it out there.  This one should be covered under the warranty.

It will at least put them on notice that you are wise to them and it will shock them a little.  Some people have so much nerve it is just crazy.  

[fern*wood]

One thing I want to mention that was surprising to me, unless it has been changed, if a seller declines the official 1 hour cancellation request from the buyer, they cannot then open an unpaid item case.  

[mam98031]

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@fern*wood wrote:

One thing I want to mention that was surprising to me, unless it has been changed, if a seller declines the official 1 hour cancellation request from the buyer, they cannot then open an unpaid item case.  

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@fern*wood 

I've never heard this before.  It makes sense, I just hadn't heard it before.  Do you remember where you got that info?

[luckythewinner]

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@bigdeals.etc wrote:

Whenever a buyer messages you to request a cancellation (because it is passed the buyer cancellation request window), do you report them?

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Like it or not, eBay is a platform where buyers do not always have to pay at the time they "purchase" an item.

And you are correct -  the power the buyer has to affect a seller and their account is real. 

So I see absolutely no upside in trying to force a buyer to purchase an item that they clearly do not want to purchase. 

All that aside ... what exactly would I report him for? 

[fern*wood]

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@mam98031 wrote:

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@fern*wood wrote:

One thing I want to mention that was surprising to me, unless it has been changed, if a seller declines the official 1 hour cancellation request from the buyer, they cannot then open an unpaid item case.  

---

@fern*wood 

I've never heard this before.  It makes sense, I just hadn't heard it before.  Do you remember where you got that info?

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I found it!!! 

https://community.ebay.com/t5/Bidding-Buying/Non-Paying-Bidders-Won-t-Get-Case-Opened-Against-Them-N...

Trinton pops in around 50+ post to confirm that the 1 hour cancellation request by a buyer is basically treated as a open case, so a second one can't be opened.

I posted later in the thread wondering why sellers are even given the option to decline, since most won't know this and they are then stuck with the fees. 

@mam98031 

[mam98031]

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@fern*wood wrote:

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@mam98031 wrote:

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@fern*wood wrote:

One thing I want to mention that was surprising to me, unless it has been changed, if a seller declines the official 1 hour cancellation request from the buyer, they cannot then open an unpaid item case.  

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@fern*wood 

I've never heard this before.  It makes sense, I just hadn't heard it before.  Do you remember where you got that info?

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I found it!!! 

https://community.ebay.com/t5/Bidding-Buying/Non-Paying-Bidders-Won-t-Get-Case-Opened-Against-Them-N...

Trinton pops in around 50+ post to confirm that the 1 hour cancellation request by a buyer is basically treated as a open case, so a second one can't be opened.

I posted later in the thread wondering why sellers are even given the option to decline, since most won't know this and they are then stuck with the fees. 

@mam98031 

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THANK YOU!  I appreciate you taking the time to go back and find this.

@fern*wood