bobbysoxer
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posted on November 17, 2000 01:36:24 AM new
Just before eBay went to transaction only feedback I had started to use private auction for other reasons other than ones toyranch has mentioned in the different discussion groups and threads.
I stopped using private auction because I wasn't comfortable with "private" instead of the auction number. To me if a potentional customer was checking me out they would think I had something to hide.
However, I do have repeat customers and new customers with suspicious (0) feedback...... I DO NOT want to be bothered (~again please refer to a previous posting of mine) with people "interfering" with my transactions. Particularly I don't want to be the next victim by any of the Hardly Boys and Nancy Clues of eBay. ("They're coming to get you Barbara....." I would be innocent but the time, energy, damage and so on would be a waste! I don't want to be bothered by it. I have a life.
So, I would like to hear the different voices on this issue.
Bidders: What do you think of a seller with "private" auctions? When you see a private auction do you think only "special" people can bid? Do you think the seller has something to hide?
Sellers: Is it effective? Or maybe bidders are turned off by it? Have your sales been affected any?
not bobbysoxer on eBay
[email protected]
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KateArtist
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posted on November 17, 2000 07:46:23 AM new
Why would a buyer think you have something to hide that's bad? I would figure it was an auction for a private organization, such as a club or there's something about the item being auctioned that's only known to the permitted buyers.
I guess I would view it with a bit of jealousy that I wasn't included and wonder about it, but that's all. The couple of times I've noticed them, the item seemed to go really high, such as a barbie doll that sold for twice it's worth.
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HJW
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posted on November 17, 2000 08:14:38 AM new
radh
I would probably avoid the auction because I
don't understand the "privacy" issue . It
would be like "private" feedback. There is
something ambiguous about it in my opinion...
maybe because I don't have a lot of experience bidding. My opinion may represent
the opinion of new ebay users.
Helen
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HJW
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posted on November 17, 2000 08:16:03 AM new
Ooops!
I should have addressed the comment above to
"bobblysoxer".
Helen
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bobbysoxer
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posted on November 17, 2000 09:55:40 AM new
Thanks for the input 
When I list this weekend I think I will go with private auctions to avoid any false accusations of any wrongdoings. I have been comtemplating for awhile to go back to private auctions.
Plus it also helps the bidders who want their bidding competition from knowing what they are bidding on.
not bobbysoxer on eBay
[email protected]
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violetta
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posted on November 17, 2000 10:20:00 AM new
As a bidder I have been wary of private auctions. "Private" gives the feeling that only certain people are allowed to bid on them. But if there is an explanation in the auction description about why they are private, that would reassure me and I'd bid.
Violetta
(Not known by this nickname anywhere but here.)
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BlackCoffeeBlues
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posted on November 17, 2000 10:25:38 AM new
When I see a private auction I assume (probably incorrectly some/most of the time) that it's an item of an adult nature, but not necessarily an item belonging in the adult categories.
This is because I've used the private auction feature in the past, to protect my bidder's identities, when selling an item that might possibly be something they wouldn't want others to see them bidding on. In the past I've sold stuff geared to crossdressers and fetishists. Nothing overtly sexual, but large size stiletto heels, vintage odd lingerie, that sort of thing. When I noticed a large number of bidders on my items were male (for certain items anyway) I used private auctions for their discretion & anonymity issues.
SO, when I see "private auction" that's what I think of, and it wouldn't bother me in the least to bid on a private auction.
Sheri
[email protected]
[ edited by BlackCoffeeBlues on Nov 17, 2000 10:26 AM ]
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stusi
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posted on November 17, 2000 10:28:48 AM new
if you have an item for sale that is easily forged such as an autograph, a watch, a work of art etc. then "private auction" is a red flag. some of the more notorious forgers(now prosecuted)started using private auctions when they realized their bidders were being contacted about their forgeries. many bidders know this and avoid private auctions for this reason. if you have items that are not generally "forgeable" then it should not be a problem. many sellers of adult or high ticket items use private auctions for different, obvious reasons.
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triplesnack
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posted on November 17, 2000 10:41:50 AM new
I am inclined not to bid on private auctions. Yes, I am likely to think the seller has something to hide. Some unscrupulous sellers use private auctions to make shilling more difficult to detect. If the item is not an "adult" item such as BlackCoffeeBlues has mentioned, it makes me even more suspicious.
A private auction, in my opinion, is something that exclusively benefits the seller. If I'm so concerned about other people seeing that I've bid on a dirty magazine or a pair of stiletto heels, I'll set up an additional User ID to bid on those types of items. Spam from bottom-feeders (which in my experience as a buyer has been rare) I don't mind ignoring and deleting.
I understand some sellers want to make their auctions private to foil the bottom-feeders or to protect themselves from vigilantes interfering with their auctions. These are legitimate problems. But I'm still less likely to bid; and if I do, I'm going to be VERY conservative with the amount, because I'm concerned about getting shilled. I know access to the bidding history doesn't give me absolute protection from being shilled, but it gives me a little more peace of mind that makes the bidding process easier for me.
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bobbysoxer
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posted on November 17, 2000 10:43:21 AM new
Thanks for all the input!
I don't sell "forgeable" items and would understand if someone would be hestitate to bid on such an item. I would too.
I think I will go with the violetta's suggestion -Thank you!- and add to my description an explanation about the "private auction." I will begin to come up with the language.
not bobbysoxer on eBay
[email protected]
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bobbysoxer
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posted on November 17, 2000 11:02:27 AM new
Thank you triplesnack
I think I can live with the "other reasons" for having a private auction, but to deal with false accusation of wrongdoings is bothersome and I don't want to waste my time and energy of defending myself and business unless it is necessary. I want to avoid it.
It is similar to having a car broken into. I had a person tell me one time that someone broke into their vehicle by breaking the window. They didn't mind it so much but they had to mess with the broken window, putting the plastic on and driving around with it. It was such a hassle.
I have had another person who told me they had their wallet stolen. It was a hassle to get all the cards back such as the license and social security card.
So I know it would not be a good idea to just leave the window open because "I know someone will eventually break into my car" or just leave the money laying around to avoid having the wallet lifted saving the hassle of replacing the contents.
So to me the private auction (until eBay implements the change of viewing peeps email addy) is an avoidence of "possible" problems. However, I don't want to lose bids either.
Thanks again to all for your inputs!
not bobbysoxer on eBay
[email protected]
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bhearsch
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posted on November 17, 2000 01:26:22 PM new
Hello bobbysoxer. I think a good explanation on your auction page regarding the reason for using the PRIVATE AUCTION format is very wise and would help to alleviate a potential buyer's confusion. You could possibly include the bidder's privacy in relation to email harvesting or spam as a good explanation. I know of a few sellers who run PRIVATE AUCTIONS because of this and they feel strongly that their customers are their customers whose privacy should be protected. This is an effective method of avoiding "bottom feeders" from stealing their customers as well as the email harvesting bots.
Blanche
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labrat4gmos
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posted on November 17, 2000 03:44:31 PM new
Well, I just learned something new.
I thought "private auction" feedback was from porn auctions too. While checking out a customer with alot of negs for nonpayments (and still around BTW) I noticed someone with alot of these auctions. Porn is the first and only thing that came to mind. Boy, I have alot to learn!
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toyranch-07
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posted on November 17, 2000 03:50:28 PM new
One person mentioned, on another board, that they are having private auctions so that people can buy holiday gifts from them without the intended recipients finding out what they are getting! At least through the holidays, that's a really good positive reason for having private auctions.
http://www.millionauctionmarch.com/
[email protected]
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bhearsch
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posted on November 17, 2000 04:25:55 PM new
labrat4gmos, don't feel bad because I used to think the same thing. I believe this premise had more validity some time ago before the sexually explicit items went behind the "Black Hole" category because many sellers DID use private auctions to protect their bidders from embarrassment. I'm sure some still do but many others have been using PRIVATE AUCTIONS as a defense mechanism which shows the sorry state of affairs of the eBay community. There doesn't seem to be any other recourse for folks who have been targeted and their auctions interfered with by a lowlife cretin.
Blanche
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Buffaloguy
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posted on November 17, 2000 10:37:04 PM new
"There doesn't seem to be any other recourse for folks who have been targeted and their auctions interfered with by a lowlife cretin"
That says it all ^^
I have a question please why in the heck does ebay allow this to continue ? This is hurting busines$ and heading for a lawsuit seems like "they" would step up to the plate and stomp on them with that big ol corporate foot lol....
[email protected]
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stusi
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posted on November 18, 2000 10:03:15 AM new
assuming a seller is legitimate, it all comes down to a trade-off between wanting to elude unscrupulous competitors badmouthing you to your bidders, and having bidders think that you have something to hide. please remember that many known forgers(now prosecuted) went to private auctions when they knew the "heat" was on and saw that many of their bidders were cancelling their bids. accordingly, many bidders now avoid private auctions unless they are bidding on adult items.
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stusi
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posted on November 18, 2000 10:04:08 AM new
assuming a seller is legitimate, it all comes down to a trade-off between wanting to elude unscrupulous competitors badmouthing you to your bidders, and having bidders think that you have something to hide. please remember that many known forgers(now prosecuted) went to private auctions when they knew the "heat" was on and saw that many of their bidders were cancelling their bids. accordingly, many bidders now avoid private auctions unless they are bidding on adult items.
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aggiebonfire
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posted on November 18, 2000 04:42:56 PM new
I've started using private auctions because I've had a nut-case unhappy bidder (in Japan of all places) contacting bidders in my active auctions making all kinds of crazy statements. I only found out by some of them forwarding the emails to me. (Don't bother telling me to Contact Safe Harbor - I might as well call the Ghost Busters). I sell digital cameras, espresso machines, and watches - I have not really noticed any difference in the prices I am getting with private vs. non-private auctions. The only items that are "forgable" are the watches, and even they seem to to be selling for the same amount (and even more in case of one today!)
Quite frankly when I first joined Ebay I was amazed that anyone could see the identities of bidders - It didn't seem right to me at the time. Now I understand why I felt the way I did!!!
BTW - I am interested in what impact a Private Auction has on AW's customer management system - Will it still harvest emails of non-winning bidders?
Thanks to all and God Bless.
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CAgrrl
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posted on November 18, 2000 04:47:26 PM new
I have only sold a few things via private auctions and had great success with it. (They were not adult items but were not things that anyone would really want to broadcast that they were buying, either.)
As a bidder, I would gladly bid on a private auction if the item were one I wanted and the bidding was at a reasonable level. I'm not particularly concerned with shilling because I only bid what I will pay, no more no less. I think anyone who freaks out that much over shilling is a little weird, personally, but that is just me...and I don't bid on things that are "forgeable" so perhaps if I did my opinion would differ.
Also, I DREAD answering my email- For every legit email I get I get at least 1 spam email and it wastes my time!!!!! I wish to God there were some way to make ALL auctions private (the way they do it on Yahoo would be sufficient for me) because I'm really OVER it!
edited to fix a weird double negative
[ edited by CAgrrl on Nov 18, 2000 04:49 PM ]
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