brush up on the rules/help as a seller

[evry1nositswindy]

I had a buyer bid on an item and held the bid for the entire time.  The item sold and a couple of days later I get a message that the buyer bid in error and 'misunderstood the items are available for bidding' and wanted me to cancel the bid.  I explained I couldn't cancel the bid because they already won the item.   I told them to request that I cancel the sale.  They did and I cancelled the sale.  I also put the ID on my BBL.

I relisted the item with a price drop because the shipping is quite hefty with the new dimension shipping that wasn't in place when the item originally sold.  Deja vu...I get a bid right away.  The buyer just happens to be a 0 feedback new buyer and just opened their account recently. 

If by chance this is the same 'buyer', am I allowed to cancel the sale without incurring a defect?  What would the reason be?   I just want to be armed with the rules in case this is what I think it is.  There are several watchers, so hopefully there will be more bids, but you never know.   

[extrememobility]

you can call Ebay reps and ask if the account is related to the same person or IP address? they will tell you either yes or no? Good luck!

[labs118 · Accepted solution]

You need to just let it go don't cancel anything.
You can call CS and give them the ID you added to your BBL and the new ID .
They will never tell you if the 2 accounts are the same person but at least get it on their radar.
If the buyer ends up being the same person they require you to ship the item and If there is any harm done to your account then & only then will they address it.
Even though it is on the help pages that buyers aren't allowed to create a new ID to circumvent your BBL ebay allows it unless they cause harm to you by filing a Snad or leaving Negative feedback.
they expect you to ship the item & then they say they will protect you.
I made the mistake of cancelling don't do it.

[fashunu4eeuh]

There are two instances that won’t get you a defect—customer requested cancellation or problem with address. (More info in the link below regarding defects.)

If it turns out that the buyer is the same person on your block list, you would have to call eBay at that time and register a complaint that the buyer violated policy by circumventing your block. Such behavior falls under the unwelcome and malicious buying policy, link below.

Unfortunately if you called now, eBay will not divulge whether or not a an established member has opened a second account. They consider this privileged information and a privacy concern for the buyer.

https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/selling-policies/unwelcome-malicious-buying-policy?id=4375

https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/selling-policies/seller-performance-policy?id=4347#section2

[popeye3165]

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@evry1nositswindy wrote:

I had a buyer bid on an item and held the bid for the entire time.  The item sold and a couple of days later I get a message that the buyer bid in error and 'misunderstood the items are available for bidding' and wanted me to cancel the bid.     

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I tried a bunch of auctions about 6 weeks ago and had 2 out of 10 "winning bidders" cancel as soon as the auctions ended then I had to chase down 3 non-payers that was 50% of my "winning bidders".

IMO eBay has done a great disservice to sellers by ignoring the auction side of their eCommerce platform for so long.

[evry1nositswindy]

Follow up:  NO need to cancel, as the new buyer is not the same buyer who did not pay.    Hopefully this transaction goes smoothly and THIS buyer will pay!  Thanks to all who helped and gave great advice.