Ebay screwup..did I handle it right?

[soxfanintx]

Guys,

Need some advice here. I apologize ahead of time for the length of this but this is really bothering me.

First off, let me say that I am pretty new to selling on ebay. I guess about 6 months now. Its more of a hobby for me than anything, but I always try to go the extra mile with packaging, sending extra cards as thank you gifts, etc.

So, about 2 weeks ago I list a DeMarco Murray Auto Patch card and sell it quickly. Somehow I became a total moron and listed the exact same card a couple days later. I really don't know how I was so stupid. Lack of sleep I guess.

Well, of course when the second one sells I search high and low for the card and can't find it. Then it dawns on me to check my "sold" page and there it is. I had shipped it out already.

So now I have to tell the buyer what happened and trust me, it was quite embarrassing. I basically fall on my sword, apologize profusely, and immediately issue a refund in full. I also write to him to tell him I'll be sending him some Murray RC's free of charge for being an idiot.

He wrote me back last night and said something to the effect that its "very dissapointing" and "do you have any more like it?". Nothing overtly threatening, but he's fairly new on ebay and I'm worried about the negative feedback.

If I do get a negative, it couldn't come at a worse time as I literally just got my Top Rated Seller status yesterday afternoon. Needless to say I'm psyched about the discount and would like to keep it.

To try and wrap this novel up, I'm sending this guy these cards of Murray: Topps Chrome base, Topps Chrome Refractor, Topps Prime, Chrome Finest Freshman, and Finest Moments.

I know its not a replacement, but I would love to get opinions on whether or not I did the right thing here, or should I do more? It may not save me from getting a negative, but I really do want to do right by this guy, especially for such a bone-headed move. I'll just call it a stupid tax and move on.

Thanks as always.

[freethrowtommy]

Sounds like an honest mistake, but any person who has been on eBay for a while knows that most people are full of crap (I don't think you are, for the record).

If you didn't, I would point him to your sold auction as proof that it was truly an accident, but outside of the buyer giving you some remorse, I am not sure there is anything else you can do. The free cards is a nice gesture. I would just sit and wait. If he does neg you, talk to eBay and see if there is anything they can do to remove it.

[soxfanintx]

Sounds like an honest mistake, but any person who has been on eBay for a while knows that most people are full of crap (I don't think you are, for the record).

If you didn't, I would point him to your sold auction as proof that it was truly an accident, but outside of the buyer giving you some remorse, I am not sure there is anything else you can do. The free cards is a nice gesture. I would just sit and wait. If he does neg you, talk to eBay and see if there is anything they can do to remove it.

Yep, this is what I was worried about to. I know I always assume it..lol. I did mention to him the date it originally sold, so hopefully he checked it out.

[friarbolt]

You seem like one of the good ones you are doing more than enough to make up for an honest mistake. As freethrowtommy said he's probably just suspicious as people list items multiple times intentionally for less than honest reasons. I'm sure he'll figure out that's not what you were doing though.

[HaZeOfGrEEn]

I personally dont even think you owe the buyer anything. If you just sold it, there is proof. Nothing else you can really say.

[ccrab1984]

if he negs you after you refund and send him 5 or or so bucks in rookies that you pay at least $2 to ship not to mention the extra time you took to do that, then he needs to just grow up honestly. Some people do throw around negs too much kinda like they look for a reason to do it. hopefully your dealing with another seller and if so he probably has the sence to realize these things happen. I think your doing plenty enough and i for one would appriciate the gesture.

[avsrock26]

Seems to me like you are taking care of him pretty well. Hopefully the guy appreciates it.

[golferphil]

See if you can get him to agree to cancel the transaction as it was an honest mistake. This will keep him from holding a negative over your head. You definitely went above and beyond what I would expect...

[soxfanintx]

See if you can get him to agree to cancel the transaction as it was an honest mistake. This will keep him from holding a negative over your head. You definitely went above and beyond what I would expect...

Nope, he's not a seller unfortunately. He has 55 feedback as a buyer, all positive.

He actually won the card as a BIN/BO on 11/20. On the 24th I sent him an invoice. He wrote back that he will pay on the 25th because it was Black Friday and he would get double ebay bucks. I told him no problem at all.

I dunno, i'm probably worrying way too much over this and he's cool with it. But I just have a bad feeling. Here is what he wrote when I told him I lost the card and apologized:

That is terrible news. Do you have another one like this one? I was really excited. I did see EBay sent me an email about this. Let me know.

I guess its the use of the world "terrible" that bothers me. Usually you see the words "terrible" and "news" used together when the story is something about kids and housefires, not football cards.

[bigzig]

See if you can get him to agree to cancel the transaction as it was an honest mistake. This will keep him from holding a negative over your head. You definitely went above and beyond what I would expect...

Unfortuneately cancelling the transaction doesn't keep a buyer from leaving a neg. Only a UPI closed with no payment will do that.


Short of not making the mistake in the first place, I don't really think there is any way you could've handled this situation better. The bad part is you will just have to cross your fingers that he is reasonable about it.

Just curiosity, what does his feedback left for others look like? Has he left any prior negs/ neuts?

[tajikey]

If I were the buyer, I'd understand. But I'm fairly lenient in all aspects of life...it is what it is, and that's what I'll take it as.

[soxfanintx]

Unfortuneately cancelling the transaction doesn't keep a buyer from leaving a neg. Only a UPI closed with no payment will do that.


Short of not making the mistake in the first place, I don't really think there is any way you could've handled this situation better. The bad part is you will just have to cross your fingers that he is reasonable about it.

Just curiosity, what does his feedback left for others look like? Has he left any prior negs/ neuts?

Nope, looks all postive. I suppose that's encouraging.

[hairyangryfella]

The fact that you're actually sending him free things already makes you a good seller. And when you show that you did sell it already and listed by mistake, along with those freebies, I can see no reason to receive any bad feedback unless the buyer is an extremely bitter person...

[Lbsbigbro22]

Seems like a totally honest mistake to me and thats awesome how u send free cards to you your the reason why people stay in this hobby and if a little kid ever bought a card from you an extra would go even farther. Hope you don't get a negative.