posted on January 22, 2001 08:27:26 PM
OK, something weird just happened. I got an email today from someone who noticed that an auction of mine ended without a bid. This person offered to "take it off my hands" for $10 less than the starting bid price.
I knew that Ebay said this was a no-no, and I wasn't interested in selling it for less than I listed, so I replied that I couldn't accept less than the bid price because I'd be losing money, what with the Ebay fees and all, and I'd be happy to relist it for her. She then sends me a snippy email saying it was against the rules to include fees in a price, so she'd pass. (I really want to respond to her email with "fine, I didn't want to sell it to you anyway" but I think it's wiser not to respond at all!)
I distinctly recall at the time of the Reserve fee debacle, that Ebay told us we should "raise our starting bids to cover the cost of the fee". Am I crazy, or did that really happen?
If so, what does that mean in terms of Ebay saying that we can't include fees in the starting bid price? Does that just mean fees OTHER than Ebay fees - such as Billpoint, Paypal, or whatever?
El
"The customer may not always be right, but she is always the customer."
(edited to clarify that I wasn't gonna sell the thing off Ebay anyway - El)
(edited because I can't type)
[ edited by eleanordew on Jan 22, 2001 08:50 PM ]
[ edited by eleanordew on Jan 22, 2001 08:52 PM ]
posted on January 22, 2001 08:38:30 PM
I am of the understanding that you can't specify fees applying to listing, paypal or billpoint use, etc...
You can include in your starting bid price whatever you want and are under no obligation to share that information with anyone. It's just that you can't go on to say in your description that there is an additional charge to the buyer to cover listing fees or online paysite fees.
That's what I think, anyway!
______________________________
Sticks & stones may break my bones, but words can break my heart.
posted on January 22, 2001 08:46:47 PM
Ignore her. There is nothing wrong with including your Ebay fees in your price. It is the cost of doing business. Most people figure their cost of the item, add Ebay fees and whatever else the item cost you, add the profit they would like and start their bid there. Some just start at $1.00 and hope they won't lose out.
You are doing nothing wrong.
She is just upset she could not talk you into a bargain.
posted on January 23, 2001 05:51:40 AM
"OK, something weird just happened. I got an email today from someone who noticed that an auction of mine ended without a bid. This person offered to "take it off my hands" for $10 less than the starting bid price"
Just forward the email to eBay as violating the TOS and the sludge-sucking bottom-feeder will get a reprimand for violating the TOS.
"it was against the rules to include fees in a price" ... wrong. It's against the rules to tack EXTRA for fees onto the final bid.
You can set WHATEVER price you want on an item without detailing how you came to that price. Your pricing structure is your business alone. Potential buyers have no right to complain, they just don't have to buy it.
