Seller did not reveal they are selling for someone else

[snesn]

The problem here is that I have contracted to buy an item from someone who is not actually the seller. The seller has good feedback and so I trusted the item description (eg used but "in perfect condition").

The 'hidden seller' was allowed to list the item with their own description and this hidden seller has, of course, no feedback and I have no basis to judge the trustworthiness of their description.

I feel that I have been mislead (not intentionally but mislead nevertheless) and the transaction is now too risky and may need to be cancelled. Am I entitled to cancel?

[putney32]

you really have no basis to want to cancel the transaction.

if you have already received the item and it is not as described you should open a dispute in PayPal

no buyer can ''cancel'' a transaction, for any reason, so NO it is not an option.  but why would you want to before you even see the item?

[snesn]

The transaction is not complete and, no, I am not considering cancelling for any reason but for reasons I have clearly stated. As you have given no reasoning for your view your response is just trolling.

[forumfool]

Is there any other reason for not trusting the description other than the seller is 'hidden' rather than the original seller?  If not, I would proceed with the transaction and go from there.  You might find that it is indeed as described and therefore be satisfied with it!

If not, you can proceed as normal with contacting seller for refund etc.   If it is a pick up item, pay via Paypal if possible and examine the item closely before you take it away.  That way you have Paypal insurance and can't be given an unpaid item strike. 

[snesn]

It is not possible to know whether this item works as it should until well after the transaction is completed.

I think the focus here should be on the fact that I am buying an item from a person with zero feedback when I was led to believe that I was buying from someone with solid good feedback. That is substantially misleading and I would not have bid if I had known that fact.

[putney32]

eBay allow all sellers to use a 3rd party to list, they are called Trading Assistants, and there are hundreds of items listed every day that are Listed by an eBay member who is not necessarily the owner of the item.

the person actually listing the item is the member who is ultimately responsible for the transaction, so if that member has good feedback and is in good standing with eBay there is absolutely no reason to not complete the transaction.

[digital*ghost]

I think the focus here should be on the fact that I am buying an item from a person with zero feedback when I was led to believe that I was buying from someone with solid good feedback. That is substantially misleading and I would not have bid if I had known that fact.

As the account holder must agree to assume and accept all responsibility for the listings under their account, you most certainly are buying from someone with a feedback record. Ownership of the item is irrelevant to who sells it (with permission, of course). 

[snesn]

This person is not a Trading Assistant. Trading Assistants always make it known that they are selling on behalf of someone else. This seller hasn't.

The seller has already made it clear that they know nothing about the item and all the description was supplied by the hidden seller. It is not really relevant whether the seller is "ultimately responsible". That does nothing to help me ascertain whether the item has been truly described.

[putney32]

sorry, but Trading Assistants are not required to reveal that they are.

Many do, but a huge number do not mention in the listings that they are selling on behalf of another member.

It is not a requirement of eBay's to reveal that information in a listing.

[snesn]

As already stated the nominal seller has not taken any steps to test the veracity of the hidden sellers assertions. He is doing his brother a favour which raises the question as to why the brother is not listing it himself. Does he have zero or negative feedback?

The brother is not incapacitated in any way that would limit him from listing it himself. I can only assume that he is borrowing his brother's ebay credibilty because he doesn't have any and that inevitably creates suspicion.