Very strange tuba sale

[hup_d_dup]

Early in March I listed a tuba for sale on eBay, specifying that the tuba was for pickup only, no shipping. The tuba sold, but to a person 700 miles away. He wrote to me and said his teacher would be coming out to New Jersey to try out and pick up the instrument. I considered canceling the sale, but I had received the payment and still had the instrument, so I said OK. I even said if he wasn't pleased with the tuba I would refund the money.

A couple of weeks later the buyer said his teacher couldn't come, please ship the instrument. I reminded him that the sale did not include shipping, but if he was interested I would check out shipping charges and methods, but it would involve additional cost. I also told him that in August I will be traveling to within 100 miles of his location and if he can wait until then he can pick it up there at no additional charge. I also again offered to cancel the sale and return the money.

After several weeks I have not received an answer. He does not yet know where I will be traveling to and has not asked. I still have the tuba and the money. All correspondence has been handled through eBay (no direct e-mail communication with buyer so there is a "paper trail").

Hup

[hup_d_dup]

Ummm.... contact eBay?

I actually did contact eBay when they charged me the commission. Fortunately, my correspondence through eBay tells the full story. An eBay rep said that if I refund the money they will credit to me the commission. However, if it comes to that I will probably just deduct the amount of the commission from the refund.

Hup

[hup_d_dup]

Refund the money. If the kid gives you a negative feedback, label the kid as a deadbeat buyer.

I don't have any objection to this, but first I'm going to give it some more time.

Do you know the kid's professor?

Contact him and see what is up.

Even if I did, I wouldn't contact him. That could lead to misunderstanding in a situation that is now clearly documented. I also considered calling the buyer to talk it over, but I think it's best to have all contact via written communication through eBay.

[b.williams]

Early in March I listed a tuba for sale on eBay, specifying that the tuba was for pickup only, no shipping. The tuba sold, but to a person 700 miles away. He wrote to me and said his teacher would be coming out to New Jersey to try out and pick up the instrument. I considered canceling the sale, but I had received the payment and still had the instrument, so I said OK. I even said if he wasn't pleased with the tuba I would refund the money.

A couple of weeks later the buyer said his teacher couldn't come, please ship the instrument. I reminded him that the sale did not include shipping, but if he was interested I would check out shipping charges and methods, but it would involve additional cost. I also told him that in August I will be traveling to within 100 miles of his location and if he can wait until then he can pick it up there at no additional charge. I also again offered to cancel the sale and return the money.

After several weeks I have not received an answer. He does not yet know where I will be traveling to and has not asked. I still have the tuba and the money. All correspondence has been handled through eBay (no direct e-mail communication with buyer so there is a "paper trail").

Hup

Maybe the buyer died...

[Michael Bush]

I agree with Schlep. I would cancel the transaction, send him a refund, relist the tuba, and move on. Anything else is too likely to lead to drama. (If you cancel the transaction on ebay, there's no risk of negative feedback.)

[hup_d_dup]

Situation totally resolved. The buyer's father finally contacted me by telephone. He had asked his son 'whatever happened to that tuba you bought' and his son told him he had e-mail problems (although, as I explained, we had two-way communication through eBay). Keep in mind this was some weeks after I had received payment. The father was very nice, and when I explained the situation he immediately mailed me the shipping cost and I sent the tuba. Case closed.

Hup

[Dan Schultz]

Situation totally resolved. The buyer's father finally contacted me by telephone. He had asked his son 'whatever happened to that tuba you bought' and his son told him he had e-mail problems (although, as I explained, we had two-way communication through eBay). Keep in mind this was some weeks after I had received payment. The father was very nice, and when I explained the situation he immediately mailed me the shipping cost and I sent the tuba. Case closed.

Hup

Kids can do some strange stuff. Glad you gave it some time and everything worked out OK.