E-BAY, Urgent advice please...

Babbler

Hello all,

I just sold a phone online and got all excited when I saw how much it went for. However, when I looked closer I noticed it was an American buyer (its a 3 phone) and I stated UK Only in the auction. How is this possible? Also, what can I do as the next bid down was good enough but I need to know the procedure for contacting them and getting them to buy it.

What do I do about the first buyer?

Cheers

PS - They have no feedback!

stavros_2

For the next best bidder, just go into the bid history of the item and you'll be able to send him/her a second chance offer (basically a private BIN at their max bid).

As for the American winner I suggest you email them and let them know that you stated UK only in you auction and so you won't be sending them the phone. After 7 days you'll then be able to file a NPB alert to get back your FVF from their winning bid

Shugster

Probably worth contacting the member that you send the second chance offer to. Explain that the winning bidder didn't read the auction, this will ensure that your second chance offer is accepted.

Babbler

stavros wrote:

After 7 days you'll then be able to file a NPB alert to get back your FVF from their winning bid

NPB? FVF? Sorry, Ive only been selling for 2 weeks now!

Thanks for all the help. Have contacted the original buyer (who has been a member less than 30 days) and will now make a second chance offer to the second bidder. Will have to figue out how that works now!

If only people could read!!! Urgh...

EDIT: AHA - Have just worked ou what you meant!

Babbler

Also... is there a way to ensure that the second bidder IS from the UK. I would assume they did read the details but you never know!

stavros_2

Babbler wrote:

Also... is there a way to ensure that the second bidder IS from the UK. I would assume they did read the details but you never know!

Go to the bidding history and click on the number next to their name (their feedback rating). In the top right hand corner it will show their location

bleugh

ask them to post cash to you, or some form of non bouncable payment

DO NOT post phone untill cash is in your hands

DO NOT use paypal for a high value item like this, chances are it'll bounce higher than a very light rubery ball on the moon

be nice first tho, you cam pretty much assume a yank will be plain stupid and not have read the auction terms.

more than likley tho, they will want to use paypal or western union or similar to pay, check the postal address matches the verified address on paypal, if they dont match, or paypal address is unverified, walk away and file a non paying bidder (NPB) alert

quoia

stavros wrote:

For the next best bidder, just go into the bid history of the item and you'll be able to send him/her a second chance offer (basically a private BIN at their max bid).

Max bid ?

Surely the value of this bid is the lowest at which the bidder in 2nd place would have won the auction ?
Otherwise it is a form of shilling, intentional or not, and the 2nd place bidder has lost out.
He should be offered the item at the price he would have won it assuming the winning bidder had not bid at all.

eg.
bidder A bids £10 on an opening bid level of £1 so the current bid is £1
bidder B bids £20 and outbids bidder A and the current bid is now £11
bidder C bids £30 and wins the auction at £21 (£1 more than bidder B's max)

bidder C's bid is now deemed "illegal" and has to be "withdrawn".
The winning bid now is £11 and NOT £20

Babbler

quoia wrote:

Max bid ?

Surely the value of this bid is the lowest at which the bidder in 2nd place would have won the auction ?
Otherwise it is a form of shilling, intentional or not, and the 2nd place bidder has lost out.
He should be offered the item at the price he would have won it assuming the winning bidder had not bid at all.

eg.
bidder A bids £10 on an opening bid level of £1 so the current bid is £1
bidder B bids £20 and outbids bidder A and the current bid is now £11
bidder C bids £30 and wins the auction at £21 (£1 more than bidder B's max)

bidder C's bid is now deemed "illegal" and has to be "withdrawn".
The winning bid now is £11 and NOT £20

E-Bay automatically sets the price to the highest the bidders last bid was. I couldn't change this, although I did offer the buyer it at a lower price than his final bid. Will wait to see if he takes up the offer...

quoia

Babbler wrote:

E-Bay automatically sets the price to the highest the bidders last bid was. I couldn't change this, although I did offer the buyer it at a lower price than his final bid. Will wait to see if he takes up the offer...

But if that is the case, (in my example bidder B would be offered it at £20 and NOT £11) then eBay themselves are guilty of attempted shilling !
OK bidder B is not being forced to pay £20, afterall it is only an "offer to buy", but if the winning bidder had not existed, and hence not pushed up the final price, bidder B would have won it and only paid £11.

If I was bidder B and received a "second chance offer" in circumstances like this, assuming I still wanted this item, I'd take it at £11 but tell the seller to relist it otherwise. Afterall, I can still make my £20 bid on the relisted item and if there are no other bids, actually win it for only £1 (in my example)

stavros_2

quoia wrote:

But if that is the case, (in my example bidder B would be offered it at £20 and NOT £11) then eBay themselves are guilty of attempted shilling !
OK bidder B is not being forced to pay £20, afterall it is only an "offer to buy", but if the winning bidder had not existed, and hence not pushed up the final price, bidder B would have won it and only paid £11.

If I was bidder B and received a "second chance offer" in circumstances like this, assuming I still wanted this item, I'd take it at £11 but tell the seller to relist it otherwise. Afterall, I can still make my £20 bid on the relisted item and if there are no other bids, actually win it for only £1 (in my example)

I'm afraid that's how it works. As with most things ebay/paypal it is in their best interests :rolleyes: