posted on December 27, 2000 04:26:32 PM new
I just want to say the ONLY thing I am addressing is the case where I get an email that says, "I saw your ad on eBay, do you have more, is it still available, etc.?" I'm not going to be put in the position of having to research the identity of every email I receive. If someone wants to buy from me, I won't turn them away.
I have never spammed eBay members, sold to underbidders, contacted bidders in another seller's auctions, etc. But there is NO WAY that eBay is going to monitor the contents of my Inbox.
posted on December 27, 2000 04:45:25 PM new
I think what eBay is attempting to curtail is sellers making offers from email addys gleaned from eBay's site. I don't believe their policy applies to potential buyers contacting sellers.
posted on December 27, 2000 05:03:11 PM new
Reamond, this is part of eBay's new "Policy Clarification" of no-nos (Gawd, I gag every time I think of that)
· Contacting a seller and offering to purchase a listed item outside of eBay
posted on December 28, 2000 07:03:25 AM new
Lisa B- I interpret the contact rule to apply to an auction that is still open. Once it is closed by running its time limit, the contact is none of eBay's business. If they think it is, the FTC may see it as Restraint of Inerstate Trade.
I see my listing as running a commercial just as on TV. eBay can regulate the content of that commercial, which includes the terms of sale and commission, but the contacts made by running that commercial are my property, not eBays, I paid for it.
posted on December 28, 2000 11:56:11 AM new
Reamond, I am a member of eBay's Voices program and our group fought long and hard against these new policies. I can ASSURE you the policy applies to CLOSED auctions as well, and you can interpret it any way you like, but certainly at your own risk.
Philosophically I agree with you -- I believe that once my item has closed unsuccessfully, it is mine to do with as I choose. I understand that eBay has received complaints about "spam," but I also think they have trouble making distinctions between true "spam" and those communications arising out of an auction scenario where sellers have demonstrated an interest in selling the item, and potential buyers have -- by virtue of participation -- demonstrated an interest.
posted on December 30, 2000 04:32:40 PM new
I also look through the going going gone list - because it takes less time....if I miss an item I would have liked to have and it didn't sell or meet reserve I will also email the seller.....I am not trying to get a deal - I just don't have the time to look though 5 Million items....I am also a seller - and I have sold numerous items after the auction has ended..again the seller can either reslist it, sell it, or sit on it and pass it on as a family heirloom...if I list something I WANT it sold!
posted on December 30, 2000 05:33:29 PM new
As I see it, when a potential buyer contacts me to purchase an item that did not reach reserve or get a bid I will simply tell them that I will be relisting the item at XX:XX
o'clock PST and with a BIN (buy it now) of the price I am willing to sell it at, in the case of a reserve auction or the opening bid of the last no bid auction.
This way everyone is happy,the buyer, ebay and i the seller!!
How wrong is this reasoning?
posted on December 30, 2000 07:40:43 PM new
chizlemon, for now I'd say that's pretty smart!!! However, what happens when Ebay starts charging for buy it now?
posted on December 31, 2000 08:00:58 AM new
I guess I don't see how they could do this. For example I have a book that is listed on Yahoo and Ebay. They both closed. I get a message that says, " I missed the auction. Do you have another?". Most of the emails from people that I get do not reference Ebay or the id. They reference the item. Unless I ask, how would I know where they saw it and how would Ebay?
posted on December 31, 2000 08:28:51 AM new
As far as I can tell, there's no prohibition against selling in that case. And I don't see how eBay could prohibit it.
posted on December 31, 2000 08:34:35 AM new
Well eBay can try to enforce this rule, but it won't work.
There used to be a publication many moons ago called "Tradin Post". You could list your items for sale free, and only paid a commission if the item sold. Well you know how the story goes, no one reported their item sold. So the publication hired "investigators" to find out if the item sold. The business model became unsuccessful due to the investigation costs. Soon they changed to a pay to list and later went out of business.
eBay will have to spend a fortune to investigate this new policy and for those of us that list at multiple venues, there is no way to prove how the buyer came into contact with the seller.
I guess if eBay does try to enforce it by using "fake" buyers, I'll just send the buyer to YaHoo and a BIN auction I have listed there.
posted on December 31, 2000 10:47:59 AM new
SCENARIO:
~You have an item RElisted with a reserve of $200.
~Two hours before the auction ends. High bid 'showing' is $147.00
~One hour before the auction ends, ebay either crashes or goes into 'intermittent functionality' state.
~Auction ends with reserve NOT met.
~You have paid your listing fees including a $1 reserve fee that is now not refundable.
Questions:
1) You get an email from high bidder saying they couldn't access at the end to bid higher. Do you sell at (or a 'little' below) reserve if they offered that amount?
2) You get an email from an under bidder saying they couldn't access at the end to bid higher. Do you sell at (or a 'little' below) reserve if they offered that amount?
3) You get an email from some who never bid saying they couldn't access at the end to bid. Do you sell at (or a 'little' below) reserve if they offered that amount?
4) Would you email high bidder and say something like: You were the high bidder on item #1234 on ebay which was not accessible during the last hour of the auction. Your high bid 'showing' was $147.00. My reserve was $200. Please let me know if you are still interested in this item. (Remember .. their actual bid may be $190)
My answers before the latest 'announcement':
1) Yes
2) Yes
3) Yes ~ depending on feedback, etc.
4) Probably
My answers after the latest 'announcement':
1) Yes
2) Yes
3) Possibly but would be nervous about it re being suspended by ebay (entrapment?)
4) Probably not
I DO think that I SHOULD be able to answer YES to every one of those questions under the given scenario!! Your thoughts??
I have a memory like a steel trap .. unfortunately it's rusted shut!
posted on December 31, 2000 11:46:04 AM new
I've had people after the auctions have ended inquire if I'd sell them the item. I countered with a high/reasonable price and they accepted. So not all these late comers are looking for a steal.
posted on January 2, 2001 11:04:00 AM new
CAgrrl, Hopefuly ebay will see that many are useing the BIN feature to comply with their
new TOS and contine to let it be free.
If they do not do this then I would simply
end the auction early right after the purchaser bid on the item.
However, what happens when Ebay starts charging for buy it now?