Ebay, ending auctions early.....ooooops!

So, I sell stuff for my boss. And I sell stuff for others, we pull a comission from pals for our work. Not much or for many guys, just regulars in the shop. One of the regulars brought in some NOS stuff like headlight lenses and such. Well, today with a high bid of $40 on a single NOS 39 Buick lense I dropped the fucker while moving a pile of stufff!!!!! I knew it was gone as it slid off the pile of boxes. My only recourse was to cancel the bids and end the auction with the reason sent to all biddders (lost or broken item) I feel bad for the guy who really wanted the thing and was the high bidder, but what do you do?

 

Hey, stuff breaks. Just too bad that it had to be on your watch...

 

yeah, that happened to me once also...

what else can you really do..??

 

At least you had a good excuse, most sellers that I have had cancel auctions on me did so to avoid selling the item at the high bid. They wanted to avoid the extra cost of using a reserve, so they just cancel when they see the biiding isn't going well. Some folks just sell outside of ebay and close the auction early because they sold the item to someone else. I wouldn't feel bad about canceling the auction, I'd really be hatin' life if I brought the lens though...

 

When that has happened with one of my items, I sent a digital picture of the broken item to the bidders. It helps them understand that you did not sell it "off ebay" to someone who made an offer, and it keeps them from comlaining to ebay that you ended an auction early. While you can end auctions early on ebay, they frown on it, especially for people running reserve auctions who end the auction before the reserve price is met and then sell the item "off ebay" to someone who asked a question about the item during the auction. Ending an auction that way avoids the reserve auction fee.


If a seller ends a lot of auctions early and ebay gets a few complaints they will investigate (and I know that doesn't apply to you, but I'm letting other HAMBers know about it).

 

I did keep the big pieces to take pics of, I will email it to the bidders tomorrow. I really do feel bad. I know it happens, my inlaws deal in VERY pricey glass ware and have pieces broken from time to time..................glad this wasnt a $4000.00 Vase!!!!!!!

 

That would be fair T- I heard you lost your last job as a diamond cutter for the same reason.......

 

I'd send the guy a note of appology and a real cool hand made pike nut. But hey, that's me. You do what you feel is right.