Although impossible not to build a picture of the person at t'other end of the contract, I'm sure O-N is worldly enough not to jump to conclusions about this particular fellow. There may well be entirely legitimate reasons for the delay (tho' it's hard to think of them in this case... )

I wonder how many people using eBay will act on the 'legally binding contract' aspect and pursue the reluctant buyer through thick and thin and small courts, rather than 'accept' it and relist?!



(My 'guitar' guy did finally get in touch nearly 2 days later and was grateful for the offer - he will be relisting it. Damn, damn... )

Oh DA you over-estimate me! I get most of my exercise from jumping to conclusions and pushing my luck. I have rung repeatedly this morning, there is no answer, no answerphone - the phone is off the hook. My thoughts are that he expected to be outbid, and then it never happened.

This is a 'professional' person, and a very well to do one at that judging from his address. I can only assume he is away, which leaves me wondering which part of 'No messers - car to be collected within a few days' he didn't quite understand? This is where I ask advice.

How long do I give it before deciding what I think I know already is actually the case? Ebay gives four days before an unpaid item dispute can be opened. I want to sell the car not become entangled in mystery.

It's a real pita isn't it?

I had much more luck selling my Volvo via an ebay classified ad than an auction. You could list it there (I think it's about 15gbp, maybe more depending on the value) and then if the winner turns up or contacts you can tell everyone else it's been sold? Then you're not selling things twice ?

Open up the NPB and list it as a classified ad at the sametime. You don't want to break Ebay rules on one hand and then expect others to stick by them on the other, I guess?

Just a thought. Good luck!

Well this is the thing. If the guy is hiding under the stairs then he's wasting my time and I want to sell. On the other hand if he's genuinely gone away I'm not sure how long I'm supposed to hang around with my thumb up my ass waiting for a reply.

This chap is an accountant, they have blackberry's, I'm sure he's seen my emails. That's my way of thinking. The unhooked phone kind of confirms it. A business would have an answer-phone.

Can you borrow a different mobile and call him from that? Perhaps you can ring the front desk of the company?

A pita indeed.

Just how close by does this guy live or work? Ok, I'm sure you'd have paid a visit by now if reasonably...

Why on earth would a 'professional' person place a bid and expect - or hope - to be out-done?! Life must be very dull for accountants.

("Sorry", says the doctor, "bad news - you only have 6 months to live." "Oh no - what do I do?" "I recommend you move to a deserted island - and take an actuary with you." "Will I live longer?" "No, but it'll sure as hell feel like it." Brrrrr-cheeeeesh.)

Anyways, let's not slag him off too much - he's probably a thoroughly decent fellow with a perfectly understandable reason for the delay, and will be a perfect new owner for your car. And might be reading this forum.

He may indeed, and I am hesitant to judge him as anything other than inconsiderate at the moment. I was reluctant to auction this car for exactly this reason. I would much rather have sold it for a fair price and everyone walks away happy. I was offered an acceptable price - twice. But the wife's insisted the car stayed on ebay - Only for this to happen.

Now those that offered the good price most likely feel shunned, and don't want the car any more. I could have written this whole damned script, only I'm not allowed to say 'I told you so'.



Google street view finally came in handy...so here's what I believe to be the buyers house cum business. And when ebay legally allow me to claim for a non paying bidder then I'll also post up the name, address and phone number of his business. You see, when I relist this car I don't want people to think that there must be something wrong with it as the previous winning bidder has turned it down, so I'll put this gentleman's details up here so that they can ring him themselves and ask why he disappeared instead of buying it?

I do hope my suspicions are unfounded and there has been some oversight on his part, but how often does that happen? We tend to give people the benefit of the doubt, especially when they appear 'respectable'. So that's what I'm doing for a day or two longer even though experience has taught me otherwise.

note to self:-
dont fall out with The Nail
dont fall out with The Nail
dont fall out with The Nail......Dont whatever happens fall out with..

Sean my old mentor Joe Hubbard used to say in his thick cockney accent:

"Novice - Forgive your enemies...but always remember their facking names"

And so it is. I avoid falling out with people these days though (although it doesn't always work) as it's time consuming. Face to face a disagreement can be sorted in a heartbeat, but on-line why bother? That's why I left the 2cvGB forum. Why suffer the constant mosquito bite jibes of the vocal yokel from Northallerton? Besides, I refuse to enter a battle of wits with an unarmed man.

All I want from this ebay guy is confirmation he doesn't want the car, because I don't want to sell it to him. I've said all along it isn't about the money. I'd rather it went to an enthusiast for three or four hundred quid less than this bloke has bid, but what's the betting if I relist it he'll pop up and get all indignant about it.

You're making a big deal out of nothing, if you ask me. It's only been, what, three days since the auction ended? Granted, the buyer might be pissing you about, but equally, he might not.