Sold an item cancelled by buyer, resold next day, cancelled again?

[triple512]

I have been selling on eBay for nearly 18 years as both private and small business seller and have never had anything like this happen before?

Listed a personally owned camera on my private account. On Sunday, a buyer messaged to ask a question, I answered it and they purchased the camera (best offer accepted).
8 hours later they cancel (luckily before I'd posted it). No message or reason, just request to cancel.

I respond to the request, relist and as a precaution add the buyer to my blocked bidders list. Should mention it was a new account, zero feedback, 1 item for sale based in London.

Yesterday, camera sells again,  3 hours later I get the message buyer wants to cancel!!

This time it's a 10 year old account, 50+ feedback, buyer & seller, but the account appears not to have been used for over 12 months, also based in London but a different part.

Is this some kind of scam or someone trying to take out my listing.

Is there anyway to see if the accounts are linked?

Or, am I just incredibly unlucky?

[myriad*seller · Accepted solution]

Probably because eBay shows the buyers a "this is what you could have bought" listing after they bought yours, and it was cheaper.

So they cancelled your sale and bought the cheaper one

It's so nice of eBay to show buyers cheaper listings after they make a purchase.... so helpful to sellers...

[triple512]

Well plausible, I can understand it happening once, but twice on two consecutive days, same listing? Just seems really odd.

Would be worse if I'd posted it as no doubt they'd find a reason to return, probably damaging it it the process.

I'll block second buyer and go again, 3rd time lucky hopefully 🤞

[dancewithadingo]

Good Afternoon Triple

You need a tipple after that misfortune.  It sounds to me as if they are not only linked but intent on messing you around.  You've done all the right things ie block etc.

I suggest relisting on a BIN basis with immediated payment required on purchase.

Good luck on your 'triple' attempt in selling.

Dingo

[triple512]

Yes, twice in two days is too much of a coincidence.

Item was on BIN and immediate payment required.

It was sold, paid for then cancelled both times. First cancelled within 8 hours, second within 3 hours?

Both buyers now blocked, but very, very weird.

[triple512]

---

@myriad*seller wrote:

Probably because eBay shows the buyers a "this is what you could have bought" listing after they bought yours, and it was cheaper.

So they cancelled your sale and bought the cheaper one

It's so nice of eBay to show buyers cheaper listings after they make a purchase.... so helpful to sellers...

---

Yep, I reckon you were right. From the limited research available on the site now, it appears the 2nd buyer did indeed buy elsewhere (different brand, similar price) so not as sinister as I thought.

Camera sold again last night, wasn't cancelled overnight so I've now bought label and sent.

Fingers crossed all ok this time.... 😁