Dear eBay Queen:

I used to have a large brick and mortar business where I sold high end bedding and bath items.  A few years ago, my husband became ill, and I sold the store and when into a partnership with a friend that sells high end home goods.  She runs the brick and mortar part of the business and I sell the stuff we can’t move in our store on eBay and other outlets.

A couple of weeks ago I had a buyer send me an email requesting I start/end my auctions earlier.  I normally have my auctions end around 10pm Central time.  I made some changes, in how I do things and started ending them at 8:30pm Central time.  To my surprise my listings have actually started going better since I did this.   I received this email from a buyer last night:

“Well, I’ve been trying to win the bid on the white embroidered sheet set for 4 weeks.  Is there any way I can purchase this out right from you?  I emailed you because I was having a hard time staying up to bid on your auctions, and now that you moved them to an earlier time they are going for 3x’s more than what they were at a later time!  Is there any way I can buy without having to bid on them?”

I have 3 set of these sheets left.  I put them on a Buy it Now for her, but before I even got to email her someone else bought them.  I know it’s not eBay legal to sell these outright, or direct her to my .com store, so what should I do?

Nancy

Dear Nancy:

Wow! 3x’s the price is great! Who knew ending things a few hours earlier would make such a difference in your end price!  I would not have thought an 8:30pm ending would change your prices that drastically!

I have had similar situations where a buyer wanted a Buy it Now, and the item sold to another person before the buyer that wanted it could buy it!  When a situation like this arises, I let the bidder know that I will list the item with their eBay name in the title. Instead of placing the name of the item, the title will be something like: “Custom Listing for (insert eBay Name.)” This way, other prospective buyers know that this listing is specifically for that buyer. I hope this helps you out! Congratulations on your eBay success!

Dear eBay Queen:

I am not sure what to do.  I would like advice from someone who might know the best thing for me to do from here. I purchased 2 items from a PowerSeller.  I paid for these items with PayPal the day after I won the item.   The seller is making fraudulent claims for non-payment of items which have actually been paid for. This seller in China has indeed received immediate payments from me, and I have the PayPal receipt emails. However the seller, has now opened two ‘unpaid item cases’ on eBay and PayPal. The seller has an aggressive payment policy and this is in line with that policy – but these items have been paid for, and I have proof!

I deem this to be an attempt at criminal fraud in that:

• the items have been paid for – and I have the receipt
• the seller is claiming that they have not been paid for
• the seller has opened two unpaid item cases
• the seller is refusing to send the items
• I am refusing to pay twice for the items
• the seller is refusing to correspond over the issue

So there is now an impasse. eBay and PayPal are impossible to contact on such an issue. I can’t leave negative feedback on the transaction because the items are flagged as disputed or unpaid. What can I do?

Thanks -

Chris B.

Dear Chris:

I would contact eBay immediately!  To do that, go here: http://ocs.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ContactCS . Select your problem under the “buying” tab.  There will be a phone number to call.  They will be able to straighten this up quickly.  I can’t imagine why this is not showing as paid, if you paid for it through PayPal.  The only thing I can think of is a glitch, or maybe you paid for this through PayPal but it wasn’t linked to the eBay item?

I wish I had better advice for you.  I would not pay for it twice, I’m sure eBay Customer Support will be able to help you.

Strange eBay item of the week: eBay item: 200750064623 Can you sew?  Do you like My Little Pony?  You should check out this auction for Queen Chrysalis My Little Pony Plush, Friendship is Magic Handmade Toy SOLD $2025.00 http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&_trksid=p4340.l2557&item=200750064623