posted on December 23, 2000 10:59:01 PM
This seller whose auction I found is selling a box lot of x items. The photos show approx 1/2 of x items. There is a reserve on the auction and it hasn't yet been met. (The item only has one bid.)
The items that are shown in the photo are nice and I'm interested in bidding on them to put in my personal collection. So naturally I emailed the seller to ask what the other items included are, and if I could see a pic of them, and what the reserve price of the auction is.
The seller emailed me back saying that (s)he can't tell me the reserve price as that would be inethical and (s)he likes to go by the book. Then (s)he added that (s)he might add a pic of the other items that are included after the reserve is met. (S)he also said for me to bid with confidence because the item is fairly priced.
I wrote back asking how in the world I would even know what to bid, as I have no idea what the "price" is and I also have no idea what I'm even bidding on?
To make it even more interesting, the seller has very low feedback and the item will end up being pretty expensive, based on what IS visible in the ad. Shipping charges are not even mentioned anywhere in the description, so that's something else to consider.
Item is now on my watchlist, but I doubt I'll bid on it. Why do some sellers handle their auctions this way? It drives me CRAZY!!!!!!!
posted on December 24, 2000 12:01:25 AM
LOL Cix! You have a REALLY GOOD point.
However, I am hoping this seller is more "overly optimistic newbie" than idiot. And does the whole thing tell you how badly I want the items in question? (The ones I can see in the ad, anyway )
posted on December 24, 2000 03:47:40 AM
"(s)he can't tell me the reserve price as that would be inethical and "
No ... it is up to the seller whether they want to or not, but "ethics" has nothing to do with it.
"(s)he added that (s)he might add a pic of the other items that are included after the reserve is met."
So you are supposed to bid on something you can neither see, touch or feel? Bid on something you MIGHT see a picture of IF the seller feels like it?
The only reply for this is ... MIGHT bid on it IF there are pictures of everything before the end of the auction, but I do not buy things sight unseen."
"(S)he also said for me to bid with confidence because the item is fairly priced. "
In what alternate reality?
Send them an email and say that you have put the item on your watch list, and if pictures of everything appear BEFORE the end of the auction, you MIGHT bid on it.
posted on December 24, 2000 02:06:27 PM
abacaxi- I agree with you on all counts!
Send them an email and say that you have put the item on your watch list, and if pictures of everything appear BEFORE the end of the auction, you MIGHT bid on it.
I did! LOL!!!
No ... it is up to the seller whether they want to or not, but "ethics" has nothing to do with it.
I told her that too!
Shosh-
Unethical to divulge Reserve, but Ethical to not show pics?????
She has "newbie" written all over her doesn't she?
Run, as fast as you can...
No new pics have appeared yet, I think I will probably just take this advice. DARN!
posted on December 25, 2000 11:09:34 AM
Well, she is obviously inexperienced. But if you wanted to be technical, I think her auction would qualify as a "chance auction" which is not allowed:
http://pages.ebay.com/help/rulesandsafety/42010004.html
Violetta
(Not known by this nickname anywhere but here.)
posted on December 25, 2000 11:43:03 AMBecause they don't know any better...being new and all. Hopefully, she WILL learn...someday. And hopefully it will be sooner and not later.
I hope so. New sellers really should look at their TOS and description by putting themselves in the buyer's place. They should read it and say, "Would I bid on this or is there some information missing?" Then revise it accordingly.
There was an item I really, really wanted to bid on a while back but the TOS was just so bare that the item went for peanuts compared to what it probably would have if collectors got into the bidding.
I sent an e-mail afer the auction saying that I was very interested, however, because certain information was omitted I was not comfortable placing a bid. (I had e-mailed very early but got no reply). I suggested that their future auctions should mention x, x and x and they will surely get lots of bids.
posted on December 25, 2000 02:45:22 PM
CAgrrl: Is the first bid higher than what you want to pay? If not, is it worth it to place a bid based on the items that you can see? Say, if the items that you can see are worth a 50.00 bid to you, you might get lucky and figure the items you can't see are a bonus.
I'm not sure if I am making sense.
But I certainly would find out the shipping charges before I bid.
posted on December 25, 2000 04:21:28 PM
Since this auction has "Newbie Seller" written all over it, I would think it's more inexperience with the marketing process than a scam or coverup. You mentioned that you wanted these items for your personal collection so I am assuming you have a great deal of knowledge about the items you can see and their value. If this is the case you should reread helnjoe's post. Other collectors may be afraid to bid on this auction for the same reasons you are. The potential for a windfall or a disaster are both here. I would first try to pin them down to a firm shipping price and then make a bidding decision based on my own best judgement, expertise and the results of a coin toss or tea leaf reading.
The light at the end of the tunnel will turn out to be an oncoming train.
posted on December 26, 2000 01:54:16 PM
amy- well said, as usual.
violetta- what an INTERESTING point you make! I never thought of it in that light. I don't know that I agree completely, but it's something to ponder. (I'm usually willing to gamble on an auction with no photo at all, but ONLY if I have a CLEAR DESCRIPTION of EXACTLY what I'm bidding on- which is not the case here!)
helnjoe- great post! Very insightful. As of right now, the item has one bid of $20.00 (the same as it did when I first posted- no real surprise.) No new photos or info either. The items pictured are easily worth that plus more. But you did make perfect sense- you're saying to bid what I think the visible items are worth, and if I meet the reserve and get the whole lot, GREAT, whatever might be in the rest of the lot is just a bonus.
sparks- LOL! I don't know how to read tea leaves, so I guess a coin toss would be in order...
Thanks for all the extremely helpful responses, you guys. I really appreciate it!
posted on December 26, 2000 02:08:14 PM
If you are interested in the items, I would make one more attempt with the seller:
"I am considering placing a bid (based on the items pictured), but I need to know the approximate shipping charge and if there is an additional handling fee."
If you don't get a satisfactory response, I'd walk away. I agree with Cix, it ain't worth dealing with boneheads. Based on what you've described, I'll bet the reserve is (too) high.
posted on December 26, 2000 02:14:27 PM
Just a chuckle to add ....
Went to an auction for storage spaces where the rent wasn't paid.
All I could see was a couch and 2 speakers with a tape deck on top with a few dishes. No one would bid for real so I based my bid on what I would pay for the couch and the speakers.
$110 later this is what I owned:
Beautiful couch and loveseat, stereo with receiver and tape deck, microwave, super nintendo system and 4 tapes, 2 first edition and 2 second edition comic books, an incredible Star Wars collection, complete set of Correll plates, electric sander, some kids clothing, Star Wars Monopoly, the Loving Game and ......
A WHIP AND HANDCUFFS!!!!!!!!
Geez, I am quite happy buying this "pig in a poke" as Grandma would say. Bid, and consider whatever else you get as just a wonderful bonus. Now, under what category do I list a whip?
posted on December 26, 2000 02:36:08 PM
mrssantaclause- GREAT POST!!! You had me ROTFLMAO!!! Come on, don't tell me Mr. Santa couldn't find some use for those handcuffs????? Just kidding!
twin- will do! agreed, MUST find out additional shipping charges- what if the additional unpictured items weigh 5 lbs each? LOL!!! frustratingly hard to know if reserve is too high- unpictured items could be trash or treasure!! reserve still unknown. (seriously doubt there are handcuffs included. )
posted on December 27, 2000 02:43:57 PM
Actually, Mr. Claus was more interested in the whip .... which is why I am looking to sell it! No use for the handcuffs -- no posts on the bed .....
posted on December 27, 2000 04:55:03 PM
Just curious if the box lot happens to be vintage jewelry?? Happens sometimes in this field . . . .
Your seller may be an optimistic newby but she also strikes me as LAZY. She should be falling all over herself trying to answer your questions. I dislike sellers who act like they are doing YOU, the customer, a Bodacious Big Favor by ALLOWING you to meet their reserve. I'd also wonder if like many country auctioneers, all the good stuff is on top, hiding a bunch of cr*p.
True story: once went to a local estate sale where a huge glass case of vintage/costume jewelry was being sold for several hundred dollars for the whole thing. I discovered the case was locked, but my eye picked up a lot of glitter and pretties, so I asked the proprietor to unlock the case. He grumbled but obliged, and as I looked at the items, discovered most were damaged or of poor quality. I declined to purchase, and I overheard the guy say to an assistant, "That's the last time we open that case for anyone." Which definitely made me want to RUN from ANY estate sales that company handled from then on -- I mean c'mon! Slimey tactics!
posted on December 27, 2000 08:06:56 PM
Lisa_B- I collect dolls, but I could easily see the same thing happening here too. Yeah, I wouldn't want to deal with that company either. Or one like it. The trouble is that it's so hard to tell which you're dealing with when you can only communicate by email!!!!
It's a tough call, because (assuming the seller is trying to "pull something" in the first place) it all depends on whether the seller is truly knowledgeable what's "good" or not.
OK, A true story for you now. Very recently I won an auction for a huge lot of dolls on Ebay. There were some nice-ish newer dolls and a whole LOT of absolute junk in the lot. The newer dolls were in the prominent spots in the photographs and the junk dolls were all lying down, half hidden. I wouldn't have given the lot another look except that I happened to notice what looked like a vintage Barbie leg in the whole mess. I couldn't tell if it was the real thing or just the repro, or even if it was attached to an entire body, but being the gambler that I am, I decided to bid on the lot (and nobody bid against me.) Long story short, I ended up with a vintage #3 ponytail Barbie doll, and paid about $30 for her & the rest of the stuff (including shipping & sales tax!!) All because the seller didn't know her stuff, and thought that that ugly/poor condition doll was junk.
It really is true- one man's trash is another man's treasure.
)
Just kidding!