eBay - cancelling and sale

[flip_flop]

Somebody has bought something from me on eBay, but they've said they bought it by mistake and would like me cancel the sale.

I find eBay just about the most confusing website there is so I have no idea how I do this...........help!

Many thanks

[boxtops]

Last time this happened to me, I opened a dispute with the buyer then immediately closed it saying "closed by mutual agreement" or whatever the option says.

I don't find eBay confusing at all, I guess it may be familiarity with the site.

Personally, I don't understand how anyone can buy something "by mistake" - when they bid they enter into a legal contract to buy, so you could hold them to it if you really wanted to. The last time it happened to me, the woman said her three-year-old had placed the bid without her knowing - yeah, right.

If in doubt, use the Contact Us facility on eBay, they take you through a list of FAQs and you might find your answer there on the screen, if not you can email them and they do get back to you quickly.

[cathfromsaron]

do you mean they want to 'withdraw their bid' or has the sale finished?

they are bound to pay if it has finished!

look here for what to tell them if the auction is still going ...

http://www.ehow.com/h..._cancel-ebay-bid.html

[boxtops]

I've read it that it's finished, cath - flipflop says "bought"

[cathfromsaron]

mmm ... can i ask how much this item was sold for? did he mis-key the bid (easily done) or has he bought from someone else (his tough t1tty)

looks like you will get no joy, so you will have to open and close a dispute and then relist for free FF!

cath x

[flip_flop]

Thanks for the answers. The sale has ended. It was a coat for a 9 year old girl which sold for a fiver. In the listing it clearly says the coat is for a nine year old girl, and yet the person who bought has said she bought by mistake as her daughter is just 3 (quite how somebody can confuse a 9 with a 3 is beyond me, but hey ho).

Should I just say tough - you've bought it and you need to pay and if you don't I will enter a dispute?

[cathfromsaron]

that is completely her fault and she shopuld suck up the £5 loss (or keep the coat in readiness)!

but i wouldn't bother to push that far for £5, just explain that a dispute will be opened and closed, and relist!

you may get ore money next time!

have a look at your advert and enlarge the text!!!!!!!

[boxtops]

It's up to you,flipflop - personally, unless someone is really messing me about, I find it easier just to sigh loudly and cancel the sale. Was anyone else bidding? - if so, once the sale is cancelled, you can offer it to the Second Chance bidder.

[flip_flop]

For the sake of a fiver I'm happy to give them the benefit of the doubt and cancel the sale so will follow Cath's advice and enter a dispute and show it as resolved.

Thanks

[boxtops]

Flip, click the link for Customer Support, top right on your eBay screen, then select the dropdown option for Resolution centre - the fifth option is "I want to cancel the sale".

[flip_flop]

Excellent - thanks boxtops.

[joko]

there is no way a 3 yr old could bid accidentally! haha... the site even asks you to confirm.

unless he was sitting on her knee and hit the keyboard just as she was about to confirm, but changed her mind.

i once bid £7,000 instead of £70.00 ... the seller quibbled too -

i wouldnt have had to pay that much, because thats just my highest bid, but i insisted it was removed as he could have got friends to bid on his behalf and bump the final amount up to a ridiculous amount because of automatic bididng....

[mrs.chappie]

eBay now has a "Live Chat" help facility whereby you can ask (by typing to each other online) your question and get an answer from eBay directly. I had to use it recently and found it very helpful.

I am a very slow typist and was surprised (and pleased) at their patience with me.