Cancellation

[auditjc]

I sold an item today after a 7 day auction and for a price I was happy. Within seconds, the winning bidder requested to cancel. I read the help page and it seemed I didn’t have a choice. This seems to me to be bad news for sellers on eBay and is wasting sellers time and no doubt allowing purchasers to mess people around with ulterior motives. In my case I also had a message from another none bidder who’d made a message enquiry before the sale, asking if the winner didn’t want, he could make an offer. It rang alarm bells with me given the question was asked literally on the finish of the auction. Felt like it could be the start of a scam. Any thoughts? #ebay is this helpful for your platform??

[tressygirl]

Cancellation requests do happen and yes they are annoying but in my humble opion ion best to grant them,  as sending off an unwanted item,  you may well receive and item not as described case,  and the return of a damaged item.

Cancel the item,  citing Buyer Requests to Cancel,  and relist the item,  if that other buyer wishes to buy it will be on your eBay listing for them.

@auditjc 

[red_magpie]

You did have a choice. As a private seller you don't have to accept change of mind cancellations or returns, only business sellers do.

If you have not already accepted it, wait for four days and if the buyer hasn't paid you can cancel it as unpaid, see: https://www.ebay.co.uk/help/policies/payment-policies/unpaid-item-policy?id=4271

This is the best and safest way to cancel a sale, where applicable. Neither party can leave feedback; any already left can be removed. The buyer will receive an unpaid item strike for not paying, which will stay on their account for a year. Two strikes mean that most sellers will automatically block them from bidding.

If they have already paid, you could refuse the cancellation request - but this runs the risk that the buyer will wait for it to arrive, and then find some reason why it is "not as described". They could open a money back guarantee case which you would have to accept, and also send them a prepaid return label. They may also leave you negative feedback. eBay almost always accepts the buyer's word for faults.