posted on August 20, 2001 12:54:53 PM new
Usually when a rash of folks start using the same tactic, some self-styled "expert" has written an article on how to "beat those dealers". I experienced this once when I was exhibiting at antiques shows in California. An article in the Los Angeles Times advised that buyers should go to the antiques shows and offer no more than 50% of the tag price. (Are we talking basic ignorance of economic principles here?) By the time the show was underway, we dealers had all formed an alliance and we knew who the bottom feeders were before they hit our aisle. We refused them entrance to our booths. In fact, I got a few chuckles from other dealers by saying to one particularly obnoxious lowball, "You paid $5.00 to get in here. There are 5 aisles of booths. Here's $2.00. Go over 2 aisles and display your ignorance to someone else."
We are always amazed at the bidders who do not understand that not everyone on eBay is a hobbyist. We are serious professional dealers and we make our living here. As a former educator, I try to do a little teaching in my emails. I now point out that our minimum bid price is already our lowest price, and I list the items that go into our overhead. Many bidders email back indicating that they were not aware that we had costs associated with doing business, especially that we actually had to pay something to get the item in the first place! My favorite is the one that emailed back, "Gee...I had no idea that you had to pay fees to list on eBay." Ignorance is alive and well out there, folks.
I think eBay should go after these loons with their ridiculous offers. And it would not be crazy for eBay to contact the rocket scientist journalists who propose these ridiculous ideas and suggest that they learn more about the subject of selling before they start typing.
Other part of Meridenmor here. On the other hand, the dippy emails sure beat having the person standing in front of you. I once had a long encounter with someone who kept insisting that there was no such place as Austria, let alone Vienna. And that I was making up all these European countries just to cheat people. Big problem when they are here in person and there is no delete key. And this was a middle class, educated person who had a driver's lisence. So, awful as they can be, at least there is delete.
Yes, eBay should at least inform the journalists that they are encouraging theft of fees. Which may be illegal.
"You may not send this type of email to advertise eBay or an eBay listing or solicit private sales outside of eBay."
(bolding is added)
Doesn't look to me that it matters who is trying to solicit a sale, either way it's against the rules. Of course, what Seller in his right mind would turn a buyer in for this?
But if eBay ever starts filtering the emails that go thru their mail servers, alot of buyers are in for a rude awakening.
