I Need Some Advice Please

That "Buy It Now" link you clicked on might not have been genuine. It could have been an electronic fake designed to get your money. I'd lose no time in notifying eBay Fraud with the item number and any copies of correspondence you've had with the seller. You might also want to contact your credit card company or bank and stop payment.

Thanks Steve. I appreciate the help. That's what I'll do.

Six inches Lord, that's all I need!

Crafty,

Come back any time. There's a lot of wonderful people on this forum.

but if this was an electronic fake, it would not show up in AS my wins or eBay wins.

Second Chance offers can be used in two circumstances - either when the bidder does not pay or when the seller has more than one item to sell.

quote:

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Second Chance Offer
eBay Second Chance Offer enables sellers to offer to a specific under bidder the right to purchase a closed auction item. This feature can be used by the seller when:

The transaction could not be completed with the high bidder.
Note: Before making a Second Chance Offer, the seller should do everything to work things out with the high bidder before an offer is made to an under bidder (in the cases of a potential Non-Paying Bidder situation where you only have one item). See the Non-Paying Bidder program for details.



The seller has duplicate items to offer to an under-bidder at their last bid price. Best of all, a Second Chance Offer has no Insertion Fees.
The following rules/conditions apply when making a Second Chance Offer:
The seller may send a Second Chance Offer to any under bidder on this item immediately and for up to 60 days from the end of the listing.
Only the seller and the selected bidder will have access to the Second Chance Offer once it is initiated.
The Second Chance Offer is not accessible through Search or Category listings.
The Second Chance Offer may only be sent to under bidders who have opted in to receiving them. Bidders may change their Notification Preferences and indicate that they do not wish to receive a Second Chance Offer.

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Are you sure that the second email from eBay related to the same item? You should be able to access the item you were offered through its item number and it should not be possible for you to be outbid ...

All the best
Andrew

From Andrew's eBay quote: "The Second Chance Offer may only be sent to under bidders who have opted in to receiving them."

Did you elect to receive Second Chance Offers?

When sellers have another of the same item, they have contacted me when I was the second place bidder and offered me the item for my bid plus shipping.

This has happened to me a few times. Since I was 2nd bidder, it seemed logical that if the item was auctioned, I'd probably get it closer to the 3rd bid. So, I've always waited for it to be auctioned, and have always gotten it cheaper. After all, the seller must think this is the best price he's going to get or he wouldn't offer it to the 2nd bidder.

Another example of where the "winner" was a "loser".

Hi Everyone.

amh - that's exactly the notice that I got from eBay. I clicked the link and sure enough it was for the exact same books from the exact same seller. The only difference was that I had bid $15 for these books and the original winner paid $15.50. When I checked the original auction, there was a notice that the first bidder had already paid for them.

I guess it was when the seller failed to answer my email, that I got confused. I tried emailing eBay but I can't find the right link. I guess if the seller would have at least answered my email and said that she had another set or that the first bidder backed out for some reason - then I could understand. But I haven't heard anything yet and it's well over 10 days now.

These books are very hard to find but they do ocassionally turn up. I'll keep looking - they'll appear again.

Thanks everybody for your help. I think you're all fantastic and you do such a wonderful job of answering questions and helping people out. I sure am glad that I found this place.

Thanks again,
Crafty

Six inches Lord, that's all I need!

Last week I put in a snipe for some books. I lost the auction because the my proxy wasn't high enough. ...

I received the emails from AS and eBay that I lost the auction. A couple of days later I received an email from the seller offering me a "Second Chance." It said that if I wanted the books to click a link and use the "Buy It Now." Well, I really wanted these books so that's exactly what I did. It shows up on my wins here and at eBay. Before I could get the money into my PayPal account, I received another letter from eBay saying that I had been outbid on these books.

... Should I leave feedback?

My questions:

1) Crafty used a BIN, but before he/she could pay, he/she gets email (from ebay?) saying he/she was outbidded. How can someone be outbidded after doing a BIN?

2) Did the seller do something that stinks?

3) How can Crafty be in the position to leave feedback, but not be able to pay, and receive, this merchandise?

4) Should Crafty leave feedback, and what kind?

Thanks Rick. Good questions.

Now it gets even MORE confusing. I just received an email from eBay's Safe Harbor that says that they got an email from the seller stating that I had not paid and that I needed to contact the seller to make arrangements for payment.

Now I am probably being an idiot for this, but I went to the "Pay Now" link from eBay and submitted the payment. The books have now been paid for. I rarely (unless it's a big ticket item) request insurance - this time I did. I never use PayPal's "Money Back Guarantee" thing - this time I did.

I'm sorry, but I am SO confused. In 2+ years of buying on auction, this is the FIRST time that I have ever encountered this. But it's definitely going to prove interesting as to who gets the books!

Thanks again for your help and input.
Crafty

Six inches Lord, that's all I need!

This is a long, long shot but maybe the seller got a private offer to buy off-eBay just about the time that Crafty used the BIN. Either the seller tried to close the auction but couldn't because of the BIN, or else the private offer fell through for some reason. Either way, Crafty won the item. She'll be all right since she used the various safeguards offered by eBay. She won't lose any money if she doesn't get the books.

Smart cookie, our Crafty.

Crafty,

Your question about leaving feedback hasn't been addressed.

This seller sounds pretty squirrelly; but not fraudulent. Assuming you get your merchandise, I think any open issues with eBay Fraud should be closed.

If it was me, I wouldn't leave ANY feedback, unless they give you a "negative" or a "neutral". Since you've had so much experience on ebay, and considering all the oddities with this auction, my advice is to finish this transaction as quietly and quickly as possible, and then put as much electronic distance between yourself and this seller.

You had some other questions in earlier posts within this topic that haven't been discussed. If you still have open issues, please repost those questions.

Thanks for the compliment Steve.

Rick, you're definitely right about this. I'll never buy from this seller again. I've added her to my list of "Sellers To Leave Alone."

This particular seller has a feedback of 2144 with a 99.8% positive rating (sounds pretty good in my book) and has been an active member since 2000. While I was researching the first sale, I noticed that she sells a LOT of stuff that has to deal with cars.

I checked with PayPal this morning and she has accepted the funds. Now it's just a waiting game. I have 30 days to file for a refund through PayPal, and if I don't have the books by the end of the month, I'll file for a refund. I think I get everything back, so I shouldn't be out any money. (I hope, I hope.)

I will also keep everybody posted about this transaction. I know I'm really curious as to how it turns out.

Thanks again All,
Crafty

Six inches Lord, that's all I need!

Crafty, be sure you contact PayPal on about the 25th day, if the books do not show. They are EXACT when they say you must contact them by the thirtieth day. On day 31, one is SOL.

Thanks Chatter, I didn't know that. I'll mark my calender for the 25th. Twenty-five days should be plenty for the books to arrive.

Crafty

Six inches Lord, that's all I need!

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!

She just left feedback for me - Positive - now I guess I'll get my hopes up that I'm getting the books!!!



Let's all have a drink and really get confused! rofl

Six inches Lord, that's all I need!

Any seller that leaves positive feedback at the time they ship the merchandise is OK by me. As long as they don't send me a bomb, I'll most likely reciprocate. It's cowardly for a seller to wait a couple of weeks after shipping to leave feedback - no guts; no glory. This seller left you positive feedback, even though you had some problems with them (ebay Fraud?). That's impressive! Hopefully the books will be as described.

I believe that people that buy and sell books are a better class of people (is that OK to say?).

Disagreements?

"The man who doesn't read good books has no advantage over the man who can't read them." - Mark Twain

I agree that sellers who provide positive feedback as soon as they receive payment (be it online or by snail mail) are usually competent and efficient. I find about half of the sellers from whom I buy do this, but others wait until they have received my feedback. It does not really matter to me; I can see arguments on both sides.

I also agree with what you said about those who buy and sell books!

I haven't done any selling for a while (I'm gonna start soon), but I used to post feedback for the buyer on the day I shipped the item(s) he bought. Sort of a "heads up." A lot of sellers, especially those who use software, are now sending out e-mails to their customers when they ship, and I appreciate that too.

Rick, I agree with you.

Since 1999 I have homeschooled teenagers who are at risk for dropping out of high school and one of the things that I try to teach them is that the more they read, the more knowledge they gain, the better understanding of life and the world around them. So far I have helped 9 kids to graduate and next year, I'll be adding 3 more to that list.

(Speaking of school - I have a small finder's fee for someone that can get me an American History book. It has to cover from the 1400s to at LEAST the 1990s. It also has to be high school level or college level.)

Chatter, you mentioned something that I don't understand. Why is it that a seller would wait for the buyer to leave feedback first? It makes no sense to me. I know it's done. If everything went smoothly on their end, why not go ahead and leave the feedback? Speaking of which, I came across an auction the other day. The seller said something along the lines that he/she rarely leaves feedback but if you would, it would be greatly appreciated. I can't remember the exact wording. If a seller isn't going to leave feedback, then why would a buyer do it? I guess some people are just plain strange. As an ocassional seller, within 10 minutes of receiving payment, I leave feedback. As a buyer, when I have received my items and checked them out, I leave feedback. If there's a problem - I email the seller, explain the situation, come to a mutual agreement, agreement gets filled, I leave feedback. It's rare instance that I haven't been pleased with something.

Steve, I know what you mean about the shipment emails. I like getting those. It definitely makes it easier on me. If I know that I'm getting a large package - I know to stay home. If you don't mind me asking, what will you be selling?

Crafty

Six inches Lord, that's all I need!

Crafty, some sellers don't want to be bothered with posting feedback unless they're assured of a quid pro quo from the buyer. In my view they have the wrong priorities if they put saving a little of their own time ahead of posting feedback. But I've seen any number of sellers who condition their feedback on the buyers posting it first. The sellers say so right up front in their item descriptions.

As for what I'll be selling: just some old books and magazines.

Steve hit it on the head. I would say that nearly half of the sellers from whom I purchase items wait until I have left feedback before posting any for me. I assume that at least some of them had the experience in the past of posting positive feedback as soon as they received payment, only to have the buyer post a neutral or even a negative one, maybe complaining that they did not receive the item within a week, or whatever. They have been burned that way and do not wish to do so again.

They probably subscribe to the notion expressed here that sellers are hurt by negative feedback more than buyers are, and live accordingly. Fine by me.

My hopes have now been dashed and I am back to being confused.

I just found these exact SAME books back up for auction.

I wish I knew wha was going on.

Six inches Lord, that's all I need!

Is it possible this seller has multiple sets of these books? I can't see why they would leave you a positive feedback, and then try to screw you. And, it's only for $15.50?

Rick, I don't know. I sincerely hope so.

These books are about 30 to 40 years old. Having a single copy - no doubt in my mind. Two copies - possible, but unlikely. But 3 or more copies?? She said that she gave a copy to her mother (1) sold one to the first person (2) then to me (3) and now on auction (4). I don't know. Maybe there's something that I missed in the descrption. Something I overlooked. I've protected myself as best I could and now I guess I'll just have to wait. She's left positive feedback for the first person and me.

I'm going to have my daughter go read the description, maybe she'll find what I missed.

Six inches Lord, that's all I need!

I had my daughter re-read the item description and in the second sentence the lady clearly states that she found a bunch of these at an old warehouse!

I am SO ashamed of myself. Please, folks, accept my humblest apologies for being so dumb! I am so very sorry. Just take me out and shoot me. I cannot believe my stupidity and I appreciate all that everyone has done and their advice and I feel really bad. If I would have read the whole thing rather than what the books were and what the shipping was, this would have been avoided. My deepest apologies to you all. I'm ready for my 50 lashes!

I got an email from the seller - the books were sent UPS and according to their site, they will arrive sometime tomorrow.

Again, guys/gals, I'm really sorry. Please forgive me.

Crafty
(now crawling into a hole to hide)

Six inches Lord, that's all I need!

Thanks for being honest. Most people wouldn't have admitted a mistake.

Also, we all got to discuss a bunch of stuff on this topic.

"All's well that ends well." - ?

Hey, Crafty, you're gonna get the book and that's what matters. I don't blame you one little bit for being cautious. You don't get bitten that way.

Speaking of getting bitten, did you see the scam that Rickdogg posted? Diabolical, that's wot it is, Mr. Holmes.

Speaking of getting bitten, did you see the scam that Rickdogg posted? Diabolical, that's wot it is, Mr. Holmes. [/QUOTE]

Said with a "proper" Cockney accent, of course.

Rick, Steve, & Chatter - thank-you for your kind words, your help and most definitely your help.

I want everybody to know that the books just arrived. They were wrapped in about 6 layers of saran wrap inside a box that I think she a whole roll of tape on! But I'm a happy camper! I got the books I wanted and now I can go do some more crafts.

Thanks again everybody - you folks are really fantastic.

Crafty

Six inches Lord, that's all I need!