Ebay Not Allowing Me To Cancel A Listing Despite The Item Being Sold Else Where

[sjwright]

Hi

I've listed my old Macbook on ebay and stated that "the item is advertised elsewhere and I reserve the right to cancel the auction at any time". Well its now sold, but I can't cancel the auction because its in the last 12 hours.

I spoke to the customer support, and they keep reminding me that I am legally obliged to complete the sale once the auction has finished, yet will not allow it to be cancelled early.

I reminded them that it is stated that its advertised elsewhere and I have stated this, yet their policy is preventing me from not entering into the legally binding agreement. Where do I stand legally on this?

Thanks in advance
Ste

[RATTER15]

Just tell any prospective buyer that it is already sold.

[RATTER15]

^^^Sorry, that wouldnt really work due to the last minute bidders with no correspondence.

[EDDIE51]

There is a 'drop down' to the right hand side of the listing , click on 'more actions' one of them is 'end item' just click on that , it will give a list of reasons to end the item. Choose 1 and click on it , there are several including 'item no longer available for sale'

[sjwright]

Hi unfortunately I tried doing the 'end item' thing, but the same message appears about it being in the last 12 hours. bummer!

[hc4361]

eBay rules state the listings can't be cancelled in the last 12 hours.
When the auction ends you will just have to email the highest bidder and tell him that is already sold.
If he leaves you a neg then so be it.
He could take to court for breach of contract but it is highly unlikely to happen.

You will still have to pay the eBay fees.

[SeaJayPea]

Can you edit the listing and put in great big letters that the item is sold and for people not to bid?

[Anto7]

Can you get a friend to make an outrageous bid that no one else will top.

[joko]

yes just edit the listing to state its sold in massive letters and not to bid

[hc4361]

Anto, that would result in higher fees for eBay.

[Kathyan]

Ii don't think you can edit with less than 12 hours left.

[hc4361]

Even if it could be edited and nobody else bid, the current highest bidder would still 'win'.

[andres]

With less than 12 hours to go you cannot alter a listing description!!.In fact you can't do anything but sit this one out and then be in the embarrassing position of explaining to the buyer (assuming there will be one ) You could be lucky and no-one will bid.But if someone does, ask them if they read the listing thoroughly, pointing out that you did say you would sell 'off-ebay'if asked to.

[andres]

Forgot to say ---Keep an eye on the listing when it is due to end. I don't know how much you have listed it for or what it will sell for. But buyers these days will often pay immediately (through paypal ) as soon as they have won. This would make things more messy for you . Contact them right away. Good luck!!

[Gizmonster]

If someone does bid, create another Ebay account and enter a very high bid.
When your spoof account wins - simply don't pay. Go through the usual procedure of unpaid item and the buyer will get a strike against them (as if you're bothered) and you won't end up paying any seller's fees 'cos you haven't been paid.

[daffy654]

Is it not against Ebay policy to advertise the item for sale elsewhere?

I recently bought a top on Ebay that stated in normal font very low down on the page that this was the case and was quite worried when I didn't receive my item for nearly two weeks, luckily it turned out the seller was just lazy and hadn't got round to posting it to me, rather that having sold elsewhere.

[EDDIE51]

I think you can end an item even with less than 12 hours to go.
I have done it when an item was dropped and smashed with just a few hours to go. You may have to say it is unavailable due to damage or has been lost.

[Sharingan]

I think you can cancel bids on the item even in the last 12 hours, although you can't end it. If so you could do that and leave it bidless but the easier way would be for someone you knew to place a largeish bid on it which would guarantee winning it ( although that is technically shill bidding but no-one would necessarily know) although you would then have to pay the final value fee.

[joko]

if you get someone to type in something like £75,000 'by accident', and wait for it to end.
and get your mate to just say to ebay they didn't have their glasses on or something, and cancel the sale - ebay will know it wasn't a genuine bid.