Put wrong starting price in - what to do?

tilly-roo

Hi -
I sold an item yesterday but to my horror I put in the wrong starting price, as 2.50 instead of 25.00! It's now sold for 2.50, an item that's brand new and cost me 50.00, the person's already paid for it - any advice on what I do without getting myself a bad feedback rating? Thanks!

soolin

There is nothing you can do to guarantee that you won't get a bad rating.

Obviously you can post it out and add a message saying that you made a mistake and hope the buyer realises they have a bargain..or you can refund the payment and refuse to sell. If you do the latter you may get a non performing seller complaint and a negative which depending on your normal monthly turnover of feedback may get you close to suspension.

No one can force you to sell though, just make sure if you do decide to refund that you do it immediately.

frivolous_fay

Really the time to be asking this would have been before it was won

All you can do is throw yourself on the buyer's mercy and explain. If they don't want to cooperate, they can report you for refusing to sell. It would then be up to you whether to sell it at a loss, or take it on the chin.

mrbadexample

Or do what a buyer did to me when the item didn't sell for as much as they hoped...they just didn't bother sending it. I emailed a while later to say that it hadn't arrived, they replied: "Really? Very sorry, here's your refund". :rolleyes:

soolin

mrbadexample wrote: »

Or do what a buyer did to me when the item didn't sell for as much as they hoped...they just didn't bother sending it. I emailed a while later to say that it hadn't arrived, they replied: "Really? Very sorry, here's your refund". :rolleyes:

A good way to get a neg though, at least if OP is honest and refunds quickly they stand a good chance of buyer being reasonable and just shrugging it off.

chja

Two options:

1) Send it and put the loss down to experience (you won't list something again and not check it for 7/10 days !).

2) Politely explain the mistake to the buyer and say that you are sorry, but you are not prepared to complete the sale. Depends on their good nature whether they understand or they neg you.

The right thing to do is option 1 as you have made a legally binding contract, but at the end of the day, no one is going to sue you for a £2.50 sale.

soolin

The only other thing to note is that if this was an auction then other people did have a chance to bid, the fact that they didn't means that your estimate of 'worth around £25' (based on actual start price) is out.

If it was a bIN then that is a different matter.

Refund quickly though, buyer may well be expecting their item to be sent today and receievd in a few days..delay is more likely to get you a neg.

miss-coordinated

I once sold a item worth around £20-30 for 99p, I would've sent it and taken the loss on the chin if it weren't for the fact that I stupidly underestimated the postage which alone would have left me £10 out of pocket (not including the fact the goods were won at such a cheap price)

The item was glass and sadly it got broken before being posted I explained this to the seller and issued an instant refund, they were very understanding.
It was a shame, but at least I didn't have to pay £10 to post it.

I wouldn't make such a stupid mistake again though and was very lucky to have had an understanding buyer.

Good luck...

pinkshoes

Chances are that someone was trawling ebay looking for people who have made mistakes, and came across yours, hence paying immediately!

You could be honest, & tell them you made a mistake with the starting price. They'll either be a nice understanding person, and accept it, or if they were looking for mistake bargains, you'll probably get a neg!

Or you could lie and say it's been broken/lost...

Or you could just send it!

POSSETTE

why did you not noticethis before listing ended? you would have had aweek to check it????

Cerenia

POSSETTE wrote: »

why did you not noticethis before listing ended? you would have had aweek to check it????

Might have been a BIN that was only put on yesterday as far as we know