Won Auction, Don't Want Item

cormie

Hi,
On the 22nd of February, I won an auction for a digital camera, it was a very rushed decision on bidding for it as I was only viewing items that were ending within an hour. So I won the auction and then made a post here and in another photography site asking did I get a bargain, the response was negative. I saw a much better deal and ended up winning that Auction an hour or two later. I emailed the seller of the first item explaining what happened, I also emailed the 2nd highest bidder asking did they want to take over from the sale (my bid was only £1 more than theirs). That was on the 22nd, I've had no response from either of them and I've paid for, and had the 2nd item delivered in that time. I sent the seller 3 mails altogether and there has been no response at all, no negative feedback, nothing.

I realise it was a mistake bidding on the auction, I'm not too familiar with what's good and what's not in Digital Camera land, but for an extra €15 I got a much better deal. What can I do?

Any feedback appreciated:)

BuffyBot

Very little really - you've contacted the bidder, but technically he has every right to demand payment for the item you have put a bid in for. So unless he decides to cancel the transaction, you're fairly stuck with it.

cormie

I'm hoping he will understand and let it slide. Is there a time limit on how long it takes? Can I back out if he doesn't get back to me after a certain amount of days? If I did actually want it, I'd be pretty annoyed by this stage waiting for him to get back to me about buying the camera off him and I'd want to pull out anyway because of bad service from him and just go and find another one. It's been about 1 week now. How much longer should I wait?

So my options are to either pay for the item or not pay and get negative feedback or are there worse consequences? Can Ebay do anything with my paypal (CC) info they have?

Do I not have the ability to cancel the transaction? what implications are there for this? What implications are there for him cancelling it? Is there a mutual cancellation option where both parties agree to cancel it and there are no reprocutions?

Genghis

Buy it then re-sell it? Probably end up costing you a few euros, but you could even make a few.

ambro25

The seller spent time putting his auction together, was charged by eBay for hosting the auction, so the least you could do his offer to refund his auction fees - that way, he will be able to relist it for free (he would have if the auction had not ended with any bids and/or the reserve had not been met) and he'll not be unduly penalised by your non-compliance.

Of course, that's entirely dependent on the seller's goodwill - technically, you're a non-paying bidder, period.

If I was the seller (which I have been very numerous times on eBay), I'd let it go at that - but that's just me. And if I was the seller and you'd done that one to me but not offered to pay for the auction fees, I'd report you as a non-paying bidder and let eBay suspend your account.

Not being harsh here, but fair is fair.

Sponge Bob

the seller can amicably withdraw the payment request (not cancel the option) a "mutual agreement not to proceed" its called , initiated by the seller .

I would pay him €10 for all the palaver.

ianmc38

Its unethical not to pay thats it. There is nothing the seller can do other than leave you negative feedback. Sellers fees will be refunded by ebay when a case is logged by the seller for a transaction not completed.

Things like this happen all the time on ebay, so dont be too concerned. I have been in similar situations and most sellers amicably close the case without leaving negative feedback, once ebay refunds their selling fees. The seller may also choose to offer the item to the 2nd highest bidder.

cormie

About how much are the auction fees if it sold for £31, this is excluding shipping do you know? I'd have no problem paying the fees of listing it, if they aren't too high of course, if they are too high I'd prefer to just get the camera and sell it myself on boards or something. I'm not sure if I'd be able to make a few bob but as long as I broke even in the end I wouldn't mind.

What exactly does the mutual agreement not to proceed involve? Will either of us be charged? How do we go about this?

How would ebay refund their fees? Would I then pay for these?

What's the best way to go about this without it costing me or the seller fees or too much hassle and with no negative feedback?

Also, is there a time perioud the seller has to respond by? It's getting a bit late now.

Sponge Bob

cormie wrote:

What exactly does the mutual agreement not to proceed involve? Will either of us be charged? How do we go about this?

Ask the seller, its in their control panel

How would ebay refund their fees? Would I then pay for these?

No fees as the sale never took place..technically.

What's the best way to go about this without it costing me or the seller fees or too much hassle and with no negative feedback?

If you offer €10 to their paypal for admin you will be fine

Also, is there a time perioud the seller has to respond by? It's getting a bit late now.

hop to it

ambro25

Sponge Bob wrote:

No fees as the sale never took place..technically.

Ah but it did (from a 'systems' PoV). The auction 'ended successfully', so eBay accounts/admin will have added listing fees + auction fees to seller's tab already, until and unless seller notifies eBay of the no-pay situation.

cormie

€10 is a bit much to be honest considering the value of what I bidded on, I'd prefer to buy the thing and sell it on myself.

It's the seller that's not responding, I've sent him 3 messages and haven't heard from him since I won the auction. Surely if I did want to go ahead with the sale this would almost warrant negative feedback for him because I've been waiting so long after winning the auction?

Hopefully he'll let it slide. Just have to wait to hear back from him. Is there an expiry period on auctions though after which I can choose not to go ahead with my winning bid?

BuffyBot

Try contacting eBay about his lack of contact after winning the auction

cormie

This chap still hasn't got back to me, should I still be expected to pay for this:eek: Is there no way I can just cancel it?

BuffyBot

BuffyBot wrote:

Try contacting eBay about his lack of contact after winning the auction

Have you contacted them yet?

cormie

nope! lol, sorry, haven't got around to it! will do:)

Victor McDade

Its been a month now, I thought the maximum amount of time for the seller to get in touch with the buyer was a week (though im not sure). You've probably got a case to get in touch with ebay and tell them you needed the item at the time and its no use to you now

cormie

#Elites wrote:

Just contact them, the worse that will happen is that you will get Negative Feedback and a unpaid Strike.

So unless its an a/c with a lot of buying/selling it wont rly matter

Buffy was asking have I contacted Ebay yet, I sent the seller a msg the minute I won the bid:) Will contact Ebay now though.

JJ

You can also request the seller's contact info and give them a call. Just go to "Advanced Search" in the top right hand corner of most eBay pages. On the next page, click on "Find Contact Information" and fill in the form.

Alfasudcrazy

I would not fret about it as you have done as much as you can - I would not contact ebay unless you get some contact from the seller first.

Its just a thing that happens sometimes on ebay especially for the cheaper items.:rolleyes:

amp

BuffyBot wrote:

Try contacting eBay about his lack of contact after winning the auction

Yeah, that's your best bet.