Closing active auction with bid?

[pastime]

Hi,
Have US buyer who has bought BIN and paid and I'm ready to wrap and post tomorrow. This buyer has now put a bid on an auction with 7 days to go.
Given the high international postage costs can I close the auction for this buyer so that postage can be combined and posted together, rather than make the buyer wait unnecessarily or pay 2 postage charges? (having had this item listed over a long period of time I'm quite sure that any other bids are most unlikely).
Found a year old thread asking a similar question and receiving the advice that this is not possible - has the system changed since then?
Many thanks.

[kreativebargains]

Contact support, they should be able to help.

[HerMajesty]

Or the buyer may not be in a hurry, and would be happy to wait for the second auction to end to take advantage of combined shipping...

[astral276]

I don't know if this will work... Try editing the listing end time to a few minutes from now.

If it will not let you do that (due to the bid) then you can:

Remove the bid - http://mootango.webspace.virginmedia...idkb.htm#a0024
Relist/Edit as Buy Now for the agreed price.

[pastime]

Thank you for your help, Astral. Tried to edit, but greyed out. Checked your link to delete, but am nervous to blackball a newbie, so have sent an email asking if they would prefer to wait for both items to be posted together. Will contact Support to see if I can end earlier.
So, thank you all for your help in this matter - I've been able to use all suggestions and I'm very grateful to you all for your time and your help.
Your help on the forum is what helps make eBid a good and worthwhile site.
Thank you.

[astral276]

...but am nervous to blackball a newbie.

It's all about communication. As long as you let the buyer know what you are doing and why there should be no problems in using the blackball to achieve the aims of both buyer and seller.

The temporary use of the blackball is just a tool, it does not reflect on the buyer and nobody else is aware that it has been used.

[suesjools]

It's all about communication. As long as you let the buyer know what you are doing and why there should be no problems in using the blackball to achieve the aims of both buyer and seller.

The temporary use of the blackball is just a tool, it does not reflect on the buyer and nobody else is aware that it has been used.

Good point.

If it were me (as a buyer) I'd appreciate your efforts to save on shipping costs and wouldn't be offended by a temporary blackball to rectify the situation. Or, as HM suggested, a wait til the auction listing is closed wouldn't be an issue for this buyer either; of course I'm a bit older, so patience is not generally an issue. You might want to contact the buyer, offering up both suggestions, and see what he/she would rather do.

Oh and congrats on your sales!

Best wishes for many sales to all,

[pastime]

Thank you Astral, for your help with my query. Both suesjools and Tiskets pointed out that I was being overly cautious with my response to this option, but given my ability to get into a complete muddle with the simplest of IT tasks (think piggy and plungers! via IWIW60) I always take fright.
As suggested, have contacted buyer, and sale completed and now posted - so, thank you all for your support and patience - it is hugely appreciated.
Marie.