beginner help on eBay

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Summary: patboi-0 is a beginner seller on eBay and is having problems managing their sales. They accidentally confirmed a sale without realizing it needed their prior approval. They also tried to remove items they had listed and fix mistakes in their listings, but they feel overwhelmed. max2661953 advises them to read the site rules, while jacquelinedu36 shares a link to instructions for using eBay. patboi-0 is looking to cancel their sales and better understand the procedures on the platform.

Hello. I’m a beginner as a seller (private individual), I think I don’t really know what I’m doing. I’m retired and I’ve always accumulated old things, I inherited some of them. Today, before the holidays, I’m trying to sell things to improve my budget for my children and grandchildren. I put some items up for sale, some at auction. I received messages for two items on which someone had placed a higher bid.

I accepted when the offer seemed interesting; I sent those items. Since I had offered to cover the cost of delivery by standard mail (items roughly A4 size weighing 50g), I put them in a tear-resistant secure envelope and then in a bubble envelope, stamped it sufficiently and put it in the mailbox. I took a photo of my package that I sent to the buyer. (1st mistake, no other proof) It turns out that a few days later the buyer placed a higher bid on other items of the same type, and he tells me that I have to send them to him because the sale is validated. I don’t understand because to me that wasn’t possible without my validation? Also, before this purchase, I had told him in a message that I had to update my listings because two items were no longer available. see below

Your previous message

Hello again

Sorry, I’ve just canceled the last two prints that you wanted to buy.
I don’t understand, I did not validate these two sales, not only because of the price but because these are the two prints I gave to my son; as I told you this morning. I need to update my prints for sale; I thought all sales had to be validated by the seller before the sale was finalized; maybe I don’t know the selling procedures very well? Regards

I didn’t know how to go about it, or how and who to contact for help. Also, in these changes I wanted to delete items that I had listed twice, I don’t know how I did it, but I don’t have these items in duplicate. I tried to delete the sale but apparently I don’t see any results. The buyer contacted me, asking if I was going to send him the last two items “sold at auction” I re-explained to him that for these two items that wasn’t possible because they were no longer available.

I told him he hadn’t replied to our exchange concerning receipt of the first shipment. His answer was that the mail wasn’t delivered every day (it’s been 8 days since the mail was sent) and he asks me whether he will receive the other two items bought at auction. He sent me messages saying “not fun. screwed up, not validated” Since then nothing. I think that given the situation I shouldn’t count on the proceeds of my sale because the buyer will say he didn’t receive the items. I admit my mistake (I wanted to minimize shipping costs and cover them myself);

But my concern today is that I’d like to cancel the sale and remove my items from auction and list them for direct sale, or at least understand how this type of sale works. In the meantime, I’ve managed to set a higher price for these items so that no one outbids, because I’m afraid of being taken advantage of again. Thank you for your help Kind regards