I am mortified to be writing this post right now, but here is an urgent update for all of you who have been waiting for the fan-fronted auctions, i.e. the items donated by fans for fans, to go online. The following announcement does NOT affect the Guy jacket auction which is already live! It only refers to the remaining fan items that were due to go online this evening.
I am so sorry, but there is a delay and the auctions will not go online tonight. This is due to an issue with my selling limits. Since the Guy jacket has already broken the €4,000 mark, my selling limit of €3,000 means that the system will not allow me to list any further auctions. I have already been in touch with eBay and requested a raise of my selling limit. My request has been passed on to the relevant department. However, they have informed me that I will only receive an answer tomorrow (Monday) lunch time the earliest.
I am thoroughly mortified because I hate not being able to follow through with my plans, and I am embarrassed that I am disappointing you. My apologies for that. Those of you with whom I have been in touch about the auction organisation during the previous weeks, know that the selling limit issue had been on my radar from the moment I received Richard’s donation. In fact, I had raised the issue with eBay on 26 July, requesting a raise of my selling limits *prior* to the auctions and pointing out that I was expecting rather large auction proceeds from one particular item. (I told them what it was and that I expected it to make thousands of Euro.) That request was denied or rather I was told by two individual eBay customer service agents that there was no need to worry. From their replies to me: “Your selling limit will only impact the starting bid that you place on a listing. If your buyers should bid higher than your selling limits, it will not impact their ability to bid.” and “A___ has explained correctly that your selling limits will not stop bidding from proceeding (i.e. – bidding can always go above your selling limits)”. Now the worst case scenario is happening, and I am frustrated that despite my best efforts, I was not able to prevent it.
There is unfortunately nothing I can do tonight, except apologise to you. I thought I had covered all bases. I am as frustrated as you are. And especially so because the auctions of fan-donated items are our party. I wanted them to shine as brightly as the wonderful donation by RA. We have to wait until tomorrow. I will inform you of any developments as soon as I hear. Keep your fingers crossed that eBay raises that limit. They’d be silly if they didn’t – they are making a mint with all our auctions this year!!!
My apologies to all of you, and especially to the wonderful donors who placed their trust in me. I truly am sorry!
Guylty Pleasure 
You have done everything in your power to avoid this. This isn’t on you. I wouldn’t worry your dear heart about this. We all adore RA and the charity we’re helping and we can just roll with it. 😇
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Sherala 🤗. The frustration is still with me, but at least I have cooled down a bit overnight…
LikeLike
You have nothing to apologize for. As you said, you made every effort to get this taken care of before everything went live. It’s eBay‘s costumer service that should apologize. Please don’t stress (I know, easier said than done), we’re all behind you. (((hugs)))
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Kate – and knowing that you are all behind me, makes it definitely easier to deal with the obstacle. Just so frustrating when an issue pops up that I anticipated – and was prevented from solving in advance. Meh.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Don’t worry love, it’s not your fault. It doesn’t matter if there is a delay and there is joy in delayed gratification! X
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you Jane 😊. I really hope the gratification won’t be delayed for too long. The fan-fronted auctions were *always* the main part of our fundraiser, and I don’t want them to be pushed in the background.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Best laid plans…I give you so much credit for pulling this off, we can all sit tight until everything is sorted 😊
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you T 😘. It’s usually not that hard – only got difficult because eBay ignored my warning. Meh. I hope the delay won’t be too long.
LikeLike
Exactely, “Selbst der beste Plan endet mit dem ersten Feindkontakt.” in this case ebay…Moltke definitely didn’t think of ebay back then, but still 😉 Sorry to read that there was this little hiccup and as all the others said: It’s not your fault at all!
LikeLike
Hahaha, touché. Good old Moltke had a point. I am currently in negotiation with the “enemy” 😉, so no combat operations yet. There is a chance we will resolve the issue at the negotiation table.
LikeLike
My goodness how ridiculous that they have informed you wrong at Ebay!! Don’t feel guilty, Guylty, this is NOT your fault. Don’t worry about it, we’ll just start the party a little later. 🙂
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thank you, Esther – that is a nice way of looking at it. A (bigger) party a little later. Hopefully today…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fingers crossed! We’ll just take it as it comes… 🙂
LikeLike
Yep 🤗
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is absolutely not your fault, Our Magnificent Guylty! We know that you always do everything you can to make the auctions a delightful, smooth experience for all of us, despite how much work it entails on your part. We always have faith in you, and always will. 💜
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, LoLo, so sweet of you to say. The work is fine, because there is much gratification in it for me. Maybe the extra challenge will result in more gratification? 😂 Could do without that, though 😉
LikeLike
ebay are twazzocks, don’t worry -it’ll all get sorted x
LikeLike
Hehe, word. They are really shooting themselves in the foot. I mean, they would get a pretty penny from the fan-fronted auctions, too… Hope they cop on soon.
LikeLiked by 1 person
yeah, annoying as heck though x
LikeLike
Very. Makes me wonder whether they are just slow – or dealing with hundreds of similar issues on a daily basis…
LikeLike
nah, they’re idiots lol
LikeLike
😂
LikeLike
Just to second what other people have already said – please don’t worry about this – it’s not your fault.
We are gobsmacked and thrilled at the amount people are bidding for the Guy jacket, and we are only on Day 1! It’s all good. (Sadly it’s really already out of my reach, and I just realised we would have to pay 20% VAT on top because we left the EU. It would be cheaper to pay someone to come over here wearing it and just happen to leave it behind with someone!)
Back to the point – we can see you are doing everything you possibly can to resolve the situation, and we completely understand the issue.
Rest assured we will still be here whenever the rest of the auction happens!
LikeLike
Thank you, Sarah – I appreciate that!
And yep, the jacket very quickly went out of my grasp, too. Hehe, I had been wondering about personal delivery/pick-up, too…
LikeLiked by 1 person
S., it’s not your fault. eBay is a bunch of twat-waffles for not automatically raising your limits, especially as this is for charity. Hugs!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Lady – and “twat-waffles”, love it. I am not sure whether I’d be more annoyed or less annoyed with the current situation if it had been *myself* who had neglected to identify the selling limit as a potential obstacle. The fact that eBay let me run into it, is extra frustrating.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sorry for the double post. WordPress is giving me grief.
LikeLike
worth it for the twat waffles tbf
LikeLiked by 2 people
No worries 😉. Have deleted the double post!
LikeLike
Not to worry! We have all week to enjoy the auction, it really doesn’t matter! 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Sofie. And yes, here’s hoping we get the auctions up today or this week the very least.
LikeLike
Sonja, absolutely no reason for you to apologize!!! You are doing amazing and we have so much fun! This is only the result of the immense successful auction of the jacket 😊 We are still here when our next party starts. So we will have two wonderful days instead of one (an extra one for other donors) 😊 Thank you for the amazing day 😘
LikeLike
Thank you, Graza – and I like your way of looking at it 😉. The power of Guy (‘s jacket) is so strong, it is causing a rift in the time-space continuum 😂 – or rather with the automated eBay system…
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s all good, I think most of us following you are reasonable thinking people and know this is an unforeseen and unpreventable hiccup that you tried to resolve a month before. You are amazing in your endless hard work girl. Stay strong, we’re with you! 💕
LikeLike
Thank you, Mimi, and you are right. I know that everybody is reasonable and rational about this. (Except for eBay *haha*) But yeah, my own expectations were not met by how this played out. Hopefully will get some sort of resolution today.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Another here saying please, *please* don’t worry, it just means the fun will last longer, for the interested onlookers as well as the bidders themselves. I’m thrilled and delighted that the jacket is doing so well. Time enough for the rest when eBay gets its ass in gear..
LikeLike
Thank you Jenny – and I like the way you are looking at it. Fun for longer. Indeed. I mean, if this rolls over a little longer and we don’t get to transfer the money on the birthday itself, it doesn’t mean that it is NOT a birthday present anymore. It’ll be a late birthday present. (If it gets delayed at all…) I’ll keep you all posted, anyway.
LikeLike
Don’t worry! As the others already pointed out It is a pity but doesn’t matter. Aufgeschoben ist nicht aufgehoben.We are here, behind you, and what counts is that the other auctions will not be cancelled. Should that be the case however I will donate nevertheless. We know that you are giving your best. I hope you can sleep
LikeLike
Thank you, Bea, I appreciate that! The fan-fronted auctions won’t be cancelled, I promise. They may get delayed, but definitely will go ahead. Everything is made and sorted, even the listings are basically ready for upload. As soon as eBay gives me the go-ahead, those auctions will happen.
LikeLike
Hugs! Let this go, we all appreciate the hours and hours you’ve invested to make this special, and it will happen in good time! Bless you Sonja!
LikeLike
Thank you, Monica! I am feeling much calmer already, thanks to the reassurance from all of you!
LikeLike
Guylty, there is no need to feel guilty. You did all you could and it just means we celebrate a little longer….no harm in that.
LikeLike
Thank you, Carolyn – yep, that’s a good way of looking at it. The party will happen – just a little later 🥳
LikeLike
Oh sweetie, please don’t worry, it’ll all work out eventually… I must say I am thrilled at the bidding on the leather jacket ! Sit back, put your feet up, glass of wine and sort it out tomorrow with Ebay.. No worries
LikeLike
Thank you, Tessa! The bidding is quite something, right? I’m trying to suppress my internal screaming here 😉
LikeLike
Aw please don’t worry. There is plenty time for celebrations all around and even a couple of days won’t be any issue. Just sorry you were at the receiving end of big corp bad customer service, sigh comforting 🫂 axx
LikeLike
Thank you, Hari! – Yep, big corporations are buried in so much bureaucracy, they can’t react *before* it’s actually too late. Silly of them – they are shooting themselves in the foot because they’d be making a good bit of commission from the auctions. Meh.
LikeLike
Just to add my voice to the chorus, you have nothing to apologise for, it’s eBay customer service (what a misnomer!) that’s at fault. Please try not to worry xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Mezz, and 😂 re. the misnomer. Yep, the service did not really have customer interests in their focus.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pingback: Focussing on the Positive: Milestones!!! #RA50Auctions | Guylty Pleasure
Goodness Sonja, you have nothing to apologise for! It’s an ebay problem and nothing to do with anything you’ve done. I hope it does get sorted soon though, for your own peace of mind. In the meantime, please try not to worry and stress about it. Just to reiterate, none of this is your fault. 🙂
LikeLike
Thanky you Jay, for the reassurance. It does put my mind at ease. The good news is that I have been chatting with eBay, have explained the whole situation (in a massive long comment 😂) and hope that they will accept my explanation and credentials soon enough. I’ll keep you all posted!
LikeLike
So you’ve been stymied by your own success. Just do your best, and don’t sweat it, G. We all trust that whatever solutions you find will be equitable and certainly tolerable. And if some disagree, too bad. Carry on….
(I wrote this reply before reading the posts above, and now see that 20 or so other people agree with me. Interesting how consistent the replies are, right? This is a nice fandom.)
LikeLiked by 1 person
The consistency is interesting – but not surprising. As you said, people here are nice and reasonable, and I am really grateful for that. Doesn’t mean that I would feel comfortable just generally doing whatever takes my fancy – I still feel there is accountability for my actions. But I do feel very much backed up and supported by you all. That’s what makes “my fandom” (as in: the RA fandom I engage in) feel so special to me.
LikeLike
Don’t be mortified. I hope it gets sorted soon. Worst case we do the test of the auction next month. The grand total will be out of the park this year anyway! 😘🤣🤲❤️
LikeLike
You are right, the fundraiser is already a success. Hehe, but we want more 😇
LikeLiked by 1 person