How do I cancel a sale when the winning bidder is unethical?

[jactro7106]

I have one bid on an item, so the item is now considered sold by eBay. The buyer however, seems suspicious and wants to meet and pay cash. I am pretty sure this is a scam.

How do I cancel the sale, relist and report this user?

[countessalmirena · Accepted solution]

The only thing that raises a red flag is the buyer’s suggestion of avoiding eBay fees.

If the buyer pays cash, that doesn’t mean that you don’t pay the FVF fees. The item is sold, and only if you were to lie and claim that the buyer didn’t pay and sale is cancelled would fees not be payable. eBay’s algorithms are good at picking up this type of behaviour and it would mean sanctions and possibly cancellation of your account - so the buyer is not doing you any favours with the suggestion!

However, paying with cash is absolutely fine. As said, eBay will take their FVF nonetheless; being signed up for Managed Payments means of course that eBay can take their fees from your nominated bank account.

A buyer wanting to inspect the item before handing over cash is fine. (They can’t inspect beforehand: not permitted under eBay policy.) If the buyer isn’t happy to proceed because the guitar doesn’t look as they’d expected from the description, then you can cancel the sale on the grounds of buyer requesting cancellation.

There are a couple of issues that I think may be worth considering.

• I suggest not giving your address details as to the buyer, but rather nominate a safe place such as next to a police station as the pickup address. If you get a bad feeling, you can always move things into the police station foyer.

• For pickup items, eBay provide a way to prove pickup - using a QR code - but from a recent thread on the forum, it seems that this QR code is only available if the buyer pays with a method eBay can verify. In lieu of that, have a receipt ready for the buyer to sign, and the buyer can scan a copy of it while you retain the original.

These simple things can make it go smoothly.

[domino-710 · Accepted solution]

How can you actually prove that is the signature of the buyer - if an INR is opened.

[countessalmirena · Accepted solution]

As COP isn’t covered by the MBG, it shouldn’t (hopefully) be an issue.

Seller could ask to sight D/L to check signature and ID, just as required when picking up a click and collect item at a shop. … Uh-oh, that reminds me - I’ve got to pick up the flea treatment for Ichabod!

[padi*0409]

As has been said, if you cancel the sale then you will most likely have to pay the eBay fees on the sale, and you'll more than likely end up with a neg on your feedback.

[twyngwyn]

The guitar? If so, it's listed as pick-up?

[jactro7106]

It has been a long contracted communication with this person who also has an "associate" emailing me after I also listed the guitar on Gumtree (I've since taken this down as it attracted scammers). They are suggesting we avoid the eBay commission so this is not sounding ligitimate to me. I am not prepareed to risk a scam. I don't have to report the buyer but I do want to know how to cancel the sale so the guitar does not show up as sold.

[twyngwyn]

tell them they can pick it up, once paid...then when they refuse you can cancel due to them not paying...

[twyngwyn]

https://www.ebay.com.au/help/selling/getting-paid/sellers-can-cancel-order?id=4136&st=3&pos=1&query=...

[gutterpunkz05]

You can cancell the sale, however as it is your choice, ebay fees can/will still apply, and will be debited from your nominated account, as will be the case if the buyer pays in cash.

[twyngwyn]

why would a buyer care about eBay fees? Do they want it cheaper?

[sandypebbles]

These are the things that should have been mentioned in your original post. Rather than only posting the things that are a 'normal' process for pick up only items

[jactro7106]

Thanks everyone for your input. The buyer told me that they will not pay for it until they have seen it, and I have no idea why they care about eBay fees. It's a pity I will still be charged an eBay fee for the transaction.

[sandypebbles]

Is that the item you have sold that actually says local pick up?

It *has* sold* which is eBay consider it as such

If so, how do you assume meeting and paying cash is a scam?

By listing as local pick up, that is what you are offering

You have no grounds to report the buyer on what you have posted

eBay even 'suggest' as buyers paying in cash for pick up items

Were you intending to use the QR code as required? 

Were you just not happy with the price due to only being one bid?

[jactro7106]

I was quite happy with the price. To be honest, I did not know that there could be a cash transaction - how does eBay control this and work out their commision? I also didn't know of a QR code. Excuse my ignorance. It has been a long contracted communication with this person who also has an "associate" emailing me after I also listed the guitar on Gumtree (I've since taken this down as it attracted scammers). They are suggesting we avoid the eBay commission so this is not sounding ligitimate to me. I am not prepareed to risk a scam. I don't have to report the buyer but I do want to know how to cancel the sale so the guitar does not show up as sold.

[genienep]

I am a long time Ebay user, I have since 2000 bought and sold with no problems at all, UNTIL recently.  I have always looked at feedback profiles and for the most part sellers have been very good, I pay immediately however, a week ago I won an auction. It ended about 7am on Monday morning, I was the only bidder and won the item at what I call an excellent price.  The seller cancelled the order within an hour.  claiming the item was out of stock. or damaged. it seems to me the seller was not happy at selling for the price she listed at.    This happened another time from an item I purchased from UK.  Again seller not happy with price, cancelled then relisted the exact same item at a higher price.  Then another seller last week after I bought an item didn't send, I had contacted the seller then got the excuse OH I am overseas I can't send it to you till I get back.  ( in a months time)   So I purchased another of the same item from another seller. and the item and requested the seller to cancel the item as it was intended as a gift for my daughter, and her bday would have been and gone before she could get back to Australia to post the item. 

I have only one thing to say to sellers. if you have active BIN or Auctions on ebay don't go overseas and leave them running.  there is a way you can pause your items for sale.  

Communication is key to a successful transaction.  for both seller and buyer. 

I am becoming increasingly frustrated with sellers who do not honour their end of a sale.  

I reckon I have seen it all now on ebay

[repentatleisure1952]

What does this have to do with the subject of this thread?

[davewil1964]

This relates to the OP how? Nothing have written is relevant to the OP, and is from a buyer's perspective to boot.