problem buyer

[chelseavonchastity]

I've got an odd situation that I could use some advice regarding.  So I listed an expensive sought-after rare collectable card from a trading card game series.  I've owned the card for 15 years and I know it to be real.  Upon the end of auction of over $110, the winning bidder refuses to pay stating (without any evidence) "I wish to cancel the transaction because I believe you are selling fakes."  I have 100% positive feeback and there is no reason to insinuate that I'm selling counterfeit items at all after having sold much of my collection (a variety of different cards) on here in recent years.  I really want to clear my name by having this item authenicated professionally to prove what I know to be true, but the other part of me wants to no part of doing business with this individual who lies freely with no basis.  Should I have the item appraised and increase his invoice for that cost to clear my name, or cancel the transaction entirely, or just sell to the next bidder as a 2nd chance offer?  I wish I could leave him negative feedback without fear of retalliation.

[seven-summits]

I'm a new seller on eBay, but if it were me I would advise the customer to go ahead and put through a cancellation. Provide instructions if they're not familiar with how to do it. Promise to approve the cancellation within a certain time frame.

You could enter a cancellation yourself, but you risk not being able to relist it immediatly.  The customer may ignore it. You'll be stuck for, I think, ten days. It would then drop off and you could relist.

Nothing shipped, nothing lost. If it's rare and highly sought after you shouldn't have a problem selling to another buyer. 

If you're going to get it authenticated be sure to do it before relisting or offering second chance. Having a COA will also help you get a higher sale price.

[theposhmermaids]

DO NOT SELL TO THIS BUYER!!!  Cancel this sale and offer it to the second bidder.  Then I would call ebay and report this buyer.  Have you looked at the feedback he has given others?  He may have pulled this before.  It sounds like a remorse purchase, and while ebay doesn't allow that as a reason for the buyer to cancel a purchase or return an item, they (ebay) will not support you as a seller.  You do not want to force a sale and have him destroy the card and then claim a SNAD and get to keep the card and your money.

Make sure you have him initiate the cancellation.  That way it counts against him and not you.  Make sure all communication is through ebay and remain friendly and professional, even though you want to rip his eyes out . 

Also, you cannot have the card appraised and then charge him.  Appraising the card, no matter who you sell it to, is on your dime.  You would just need to consider if you could recoup that cost in the purchase price of the card.  The only person you would be 'clearing your name' with is this idiot, and who cares?  I recently was called a liar in negative feedback and even though I had the emails to prove my nasty buyer lied, ebay would not remove it.  You want to stop this before he is able to leave feedback.

I'm not sure if he can leave feedback if he cancels the sale.  Hopefully someone else on this board can answer that.  Good luck!  

[theposhmermaids]

Also, put this person on your blocked buyers list immediately.  In the future, if you have a item up for auction with a lot of bids, you can check out the bidders' feedback left for others while the auction is still open.  If you find a trouble bidder you can candel their bid and place them on your blocked list before the end of the sale.  This will possibly keep something like this from happening!

[buyselljack2016 · Accepted solution]

@chelseavonchastity

Cancel using "buyer request" as the answer. No ding for you. You will get seller FVF credited back to your account.

Then add the non-buyer to your "blocked bidder list".

[classic_luxe]

It's as easy as 1, 2, 3. Cancel transaction, block buyer and then report buyer to eBay.

[chelseavonchastity]

Yeah as a veteran ebayer of 20 years, my initial reaction to any problem buyers (which has been only 3 times) has been to place them on my blocked list, so he's been there since message 1.

There were no red flags to suggest he would have been a problem buyer judging solely by his feedback prior to listing end. 

I thought I had read  in the policy that if I cancel the transaction, he can still give me negative feedback. Is that true?

[plumbingspecials]

Oh definitely cancel and block. Buyer will cause future problems for you.

[rixstuff]

Some nutjobs just like to overbid to keep others from getting the card.  Just cancel and block him so he cant bid again when you relist it. This shouldnt count against you as HE is the one who wants to cancel not you.

[rixstuff]

And totes offer to the second bidder at his lower price.  He clearly wants it.

[chelseavonchastity]

I just canceled the sale 30 seconds ago. But what would stop all sellers from just cancelling transactions that didn't meet expectations claiming winning bidder's remorse?

[rixstuff]

If the SELLER asks to cancel it counts agains the seller as a defect.  If the BUYER asks to cancel it is a freebie.  When YOU say to cancel the buyer has to agree so you cant fib about it.

[oldmanspider]

I agree with everyone just cancel it by buyers request, call eBay and report him and then block him right away. You know you are an honest person even though you want to prove this person wrong, this person is going to continue to be a no good buyer. I know you are an honest person and that doesn't matter because it's what's important to you, that you have always done what is right by what you sell. I have felt the same way and I get frustrated and angry but my wife says that if I let someone like that get to me then they win so cancel it or better tell him to request cancellation and cancel it immediately then block and report him. After that just put it back to sell because someone will buy it, I'm pretty sure. Have a great day.

[theposhmermaids]

Yes, as far as I know, he can leave feedback if you cancel the transaction (someone step in here to correct me).  But if he cancels, I don't think he can.  I just wanted to get confirmation on this before you did anything, not after!

[oldmanspider]

If I'm not wrong right after you block him he can not give you any feedback at all but I would call eBay just to be sure.