posted on February 5, 2001 03:53:12 AM new
Hi again - I had some auctions cancelled because of VeRO. I'm 100% sure that I'm ok but - since I don't want to take any chances - I cancelled the bids on my remaining auctions and ended them early. I sent a note to each bidder explaining why.
Well, naturally I missed a bid (there were two bids on the auction and I only cancelled one). The 'high bidder' just wrote expressing her pleasure and surprise that she won this item so 'early'. But I can't sell it to her - I promised the bidder (whose bid I cancelled and who had a higher bid) that I would let her know when I re-list it. And I only have one of these items.
I wrote the 'high' bidder and explained the situation. (In her email, she asked what was going on since she noticed that auctions in this category were disappearing right-and-left.) I also mentioned that it was my fault and she was within her rights to leave a negative feedback but that I had made a promise to the other bidder and didn't know what else to do.
Is there anything else I can do? If she leaves me a neg., what 'response' would you leave?
(No, I won't leave her a negative too. It's not her fault that I missed cancelling her bid.)
PS - But eBay could make it easier by saying something like "there are bids still outstanding on this auction, are you sure you want to cancel it" or words to that effect.
posted on February 5, 2001 10:38:53 AM new
I don't think there is much else you can do at this point, since more email to the "buyer" might start looking odd ("methinks she doth protest too much" ). I don't know if you already did this, but I probably would have offered to send her the pointer to the relisted item as well.
As far as a response to a hypothetical negative, as always, a non-emotional listing of the facts is always the best response. Perhaps "ended auction early, missed cancelling her bid, sorry!" kind of response.
I'm just curious why you cancelled the auctions yourself (I'm assuming you can legitimately sell the item since you plan on relisting it)? I'm not terribly familiar with all the VERO stuff, but unless there is something I'm missing, I'd just let the auctions ride - more bidders for the remaining ones, plus you avoid the hassle of cancelling your own auctions. If they end up being cancelled, you'd get your listing fee back (I think). Or do you run the risk of being suspended if more auctions are cancelled? just wondering...
