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After the Auction: Winning Offline Auctions

When an auction ends, it's time for the winning bidder to make good on his or her bid. But what if there is no winning bidder after the auction is over? There are several reasons for this--a reserve price isn't met, a Dutch auction fails to sell all its items, the auction elicited no bids--but that doesn't necessarily mean there's no room for a deal. Buyers should know that the end of an "unsuccessful" auction might still mark the beginning of a very successful offline (outside of the auction site) transaction.

The Scenarios
First, consider reserve price auctions. When an auction ends but the seller's reserve isn't met, the high bidder might still have an opportunity to make a buy, provided the seller is still interested in making a sale (and many are). If sellers are still looking to make the most of their initial effort, they might be willing to negotiate a selling price--sometimes they just need to have someone ask.

Dutch auctions are pretty easy to join in, even after the bidding has ended, that is, if there are still some goods left on the table. If you find a Dutch auction that has bids and still has some quantity unspoken for, the seller could be willing to sell the leftovers at the same successful low bid as the official winners are buying at. Oftentimes sellers are glad to move as much of their Dutch auction inventory as possible, saving the cost of relisting while also increasing their overall profit.

And for auctions that received a big zero bid total, a buyer might be able to strike up a conversation--and a deal--with the seller. Though sellers are often more hesitant to settle in these situations (they might be disappointed that their auction didn't meet their original sales expectations), there might still be room to help that seller turn a failed auction into a reasonable success.

Making Contact
If you're going to attempt a post-auction deal with a seller, use considerable tact and respect. Remember, the seller is not required to make any sale in these cases, and many are leery of what they suspect might be "vultures" who circle looking for auction remains. Send an email message that's very short and open-ended. Try something like this:

"Hi. I noticed your auction closed without a winner. Would you still be interested in selling the item? Please let me know. If not, that's fine."

Sellers can respond to or ignore your innocent inquiry as they choose--that's their prerogative. However, your polite offer to help sellers salvage their failed auctions might be just what they are looking for--it could save them from having to try to drum up a buyer on their own or relist the item for another go 'round. Nevertheless, if the seller decides not to engage in post-auction deals, so be it. Don't badger a seller and try to pressure a deal.

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