Am I liable for fees?

[orlca_23]

I sold an item for pickup only and the buyer contacted me immediately to tell me they bought by mistake and asked me to cancel. I went to cancel and it said I would have to pay 400 in fees. I asked to buyer to sort it out with eBay. They sent a claim saying I never shipped the item (note this is pickup only). I replied to correct the record and said the buyer bought a few hours earlier and does not want to come pickup. 
ebay sided with the buyer, which I think is OK, I need to give them their money back. However, eBay just sent me an email saying I will be charged the 400 in FEES!!!

can somebody please help me? I don’t see any way to contact eBay other than to appeal. I did Appeal but they already had all the facts. 

[lakefor94]

The way I am reading your depiction of the transaction, hope I am wrong......  

Ohhhhh man. You should have cancelled the sale with the reason of Buyer Requested Cancellation. 

You are screwed by letting eBay step in.

Wish you would have come here 1st and asked. 

Once eBay steps in, getting anything reversed is nearly impossible. 

[soh.maryl]

There has to be some information missing here.

You sold a $2800 item.  The buyer asked you to cancel.

You did cancel, citing buyer requested? Or not? And did you cancel immediately upon request? 

The buyer opened an item not received case? Why would they do that after they asked you to cancel? I thought the idea was that they did not want to receive the item.

[candd205]

If you haven't already appealed it, do it now. You should get your fees back. (I couldn't tell if you had or not from your message.)

[pickermall]

I have had to cancel orders at times, due to buyer asking to cancel. I never had to pay fees. Never EVER tell the buyer to contact Ebay! That creates a huge mess. Hope Ebay will make it right

[blingfling123]

I know that eBay has in the past charged fees for something where they thought a seller and a buyer was trying to take a sale off of eBay to avoid fees by fake cancelling.  It was also a local sale. 

Was the buyer in your area or far away? If they are far away, then I would reach out to eBay for Business on FB explain the situation and have them review your location, the buyers location and the messages and see if they can assist you.