a buyer has purchased an item outside of shipping allocation

[name09062010]

HI, 

New to selling. A couple of weeks ago i listed a dress for sale as a bidding option only (but had also not unticked the make an offer section without knowing) A buyer made an offer of the starting price. She was from Finland. I declined this offer. Then i changed my settings to inside Australia only because i don't know how to deal with shipping etc. outside of Aust. I also unticked the option to have offers made. 

Now this item has just been sold by this buyer for the starting bid amount. I have no idea how she was able to buy it for the starting amount! I also don't know why she did it given that i do not ship outside of Australia. Not sure what to do here now.  

I also don't understand why she could buy it at my starting bid price. esp when i rejected "an offer"  and she clearly hasn't bid on the item because it would've been higher. I am so confused. 

[papermoon.lady]

Is this buyer using your photos or does the item just look like your item?

What is the buyer's feedback?

The buyer can't have your item as you didn't accept the offer and obviously didn't ship it, so either the buyer happens to have a similar item or is a scammer who stole your photos but does not have the item...

[papermoon.lady]

Ah, you mean "bought", not "sold"... I am not a seller, but did you save your settings after unticking the options you mention?

You can cancel the order if you wish though ("problem with buyer's address" would be your option).

[name09062010]

HI, 

the buyer placed an offer which i declined. I then changed my settings as no offers accepted. and also not shipped outside of Australia. 

I didn't want to sell the item for the starting bid, so i don't know why ebay allowed this after i declined the offer. 

She did not bid on the item, she placed an offer, that i declined.  I don't know how this happened and i don't know how to rectify this. 

The item says she bid on it, but that's impossible as you cannot bid with the starting bidding price. I have tried messaging her, she hasn't paid yet. 

[name09062010]

Do you know if there is contact number for ebay?

[papermoon.lady]

I am not sure why you cannot bid (win?) with the starting bidding price? Some sellers have reserves (you have to reach a certain price otherwise the reserve is not met), but I don't think it is possible in Australia.

She might not be able to pay at all though.

Usually when a seller outside Oz does not post to Australia I contact them and if they agree to post they have to send me an invoice, otherwise checkout won't work if postage to the buyer's country is not specified, so I don't think she will be able to pay, and if she contacts you, just tell her that you only post to Australia. I think I have seen the listing, and it does say Australia. Tell her you have to cancel because you only post to Australia, as the listing said.

[curraone]

I'm a bit confused myself - I don't know what you mean by "The item says she bid on it, but that's impossible as you cannot bid with the starting bidding price. "  because of course anyone can bid and win with the starting price.

But that is by the way - it will not be a problem for you - use the drop down option in order to cancel the order - make sure you choose there is a problem with the address, or maybe it will say, area I don't post to,

and then when it is formally cancelled you can re-list the dress, making sure you set it for Australia only, and no offers.

'

[papermoon.lady]

Only eBay live chat is possible at the moment (from the Help page), no phone, but you can easily cancel the order yourself and it should not be a defect for you as the listing said "posts to Australia", so if a buyer outside Australia buys your item you are entitled to cancel the order with the reason "problem with the buyer's address".

[name09062010]

Ok, this is great advice, thank you. 

I am moving house and don't have the patience with dealing in problematic sales right now haha, I thought this item was sorted once i declined her offer, and updated everything to be in Australia only. 

Then i got my message to say her bid won! So confused. 

I guess at the end of the day, i will post it to her, bit i don't know how to work out shipping for her, so that's where the impatience is coming from! 

I will cancel it . Just didn't want to do anything wrong by Ebay rules. 

[name09062010]

Thank you. Yes i just meant that i placed the starting bid at $100, with no "buy it now option" so i am not sure how she got it for 100 still. I thought the item would get relisted it it didn't get any bids. Ebay is very confusing to me. Lots of articles to read until you actually find an answer, very frustrating.   So thank you for your advice.