docadoodle
|
posted on April 14, 2001 10:14:44 AM
I have 3 related items just listed last night. A bidder with good feedback just emailed me to ask if I would close the auctions early (no bids yet) and he would pay what I feel is a very substantial amount for the items. (much more than I expected)
If I take him up on his offer, am I violating Ebay policies? Obviously these items are worth more than I thought, so you never know they may even go for more than he is offering.
Thanks
Doc
|
magazine_guy
|
posted on April 14, 2001 10:27:36 AM
1. Usually when bidders contact a seller asking that he close an auction and sell direct, they are offering less than they know an item is worth, and hoping to get a real steal. It's usually best to let the auction run, IMO.
2. You're not explicitly violating any eBay policy by ending the auction and selling directly, to my knowledge. eBay doesn't want you do do this, though- and they could stretch their "fee aviodance" policy to attempt to cover this if they choose. They would certainly caution the buyer against this as well- claiming that any such transaction wouldn't be covered by the "protections" of an eBay transaction (the "protections" are illusory smoke and mirrors-- use of feedback, safeharbor, square trade mediation, eBay's mystery never-paid-out insurance, and the like).
If you were certain of the item's true value, and were comfortable with the price offered- I'd do it. Otherwise, let it ride.
|
retrod
|
posted on April 14, 2001 10:37:14 AM
I had this happen to me once -- same scenario -- someone offered me $30 for a smurf -- I decided to let the auction ride -- the smurf sold for $132.00 - I would have lost $100 had I cancelled the auction and sold direct. I would let it ride and see where it goes -- Life is a chance anyway you look at it!
|
dazedandconfused
|
posted on April 14, 2001 11:22:54 AM
I never close auctions early - first I believe it is unethical and second, you can nearly always be assured that it will go higher. I know from experience. I was thrilled when an item of mine reached $5,000. I had numerous emails wanting me to close early. I refused them all (in a nice way), and at the end it shot up to more than $8,000. Needless to say, I was very happy - the definite high point in my Ebay experience. If it is something special it will more than likely reach it's highest level.
|
skip555
|
posted on April 14, 2001 12:25:41 PM
Don't close the auction early The first time that happend to me I listed a item for 9.99 That I had paid .25 for next morning I received e-mail from a guy offeing $35.00 Saying he had to go out of town Grandma died ect ect ect. I sid no thanks decided to ride auction out Item closed at 68.00
And addresssing your question I beleive that it would be fee avoidnce unless you contact ebay and tell them the price you agree upon and pay fees accordingly.
Think about it, ebay did there job bringing the two of you together and they should be compensted at the agreed upon rate.
|
eventer
|
posted on April 14, 2001 01:13:48 PM
This may well be fee avoidance under ebay's rules regarding this. Direct from the ebay guidelines:
Fee avoidance - Circumventing eBay fees. Examples:
Using member contact information obtained from eBay or using any eBay feature to offer to sell any listed item outside of eBay
Canceling a listing to sell the item to anyone who contacted the seller through eBay, or became aware of the item through eBay
Ending a listing early to sell the item at a higher price to the winning bidder
Using member contact information obtained from eBay or using any eBay feature to offer to sell an item outside of eBay to any of your bidders in a Reserve Not Met listing.
Here's the url
http://pages.ebay.com/help/community/investigates.html#selling
|
docadoodle
|
posted on April 14, 2001 01:34:23 PM
Thanks everyone. I just emailed the buyer to tell him that I won't stop the auction. I agree if it is worth that much to him, then who knows how many others are willing to pay that much or more. Plus, I've worked hard to build a good name at ebay and I don't want to spoil things. It is going to be an intersting 6 days with lots of nail biting  on my part, but I feel confidant I did the right thing, even if I don't realize the price he was offering.
I'll let you know the final outcome when the auction ends Friday. 
Doc
|
grayowl
|
posted on April 14, 2001 01:39:05 PM
send me the url to item I want to know what it is ?
|
capotasto
|
posted on April 14, 2001 04:47:44 PM
So ebay says it's fee avoidance but they don't provide any method for being honest and paying them the FVF.
So if you get a super offer you're supposed to let the auction ride and both you and ebay get peanuts.
If that's my choice I'll sell outsaide the auction and screw ebay out of the FVF. If they want the FVF they can come up with some way for me to pay it outside of an auction.
Vinnie
|
Microbes
|
posted on April 16, 2001 06:03:22 AM
If you want to take his offer, go in and revise the listings, and set BIN prices to match his offer. Ebay gets their fee's (no fee avoidance this way), you get what you think is a good price (be careful, like someone said, these requests are often made when someone *thinks* it will go even higher than their offer), and the buyer gets what he wants.
|
codasaurus
|
posted on April 16, 2001 06:13:56 AM
Adding BIN or relisting with BIN is a good way to accept the offer and stay on eBay's good side.
Personally, I would simply ask the person to make their bid and see if it holds up. Generally, these types of offers to buy for what sounds like an inflated price after ending the auction early are not to the seller's benefit. Particularly so on hard to find items.
|
eventer
|
posted on April 16, 2001 06:32:45 AM
I've used the BIN method when someone has contacted me after an auction about an item that didn't sell (my computer was down, I forgot, I couldn't find my brain).
That way, ebay gets their fees, the person (if they are serious) can get their item & no rules are violated.
|
docadoodle
|
posted on April 16, 2001 03:07:33 PM
I thought of using BIN but decided to let things ride. I told my would be bidder to go ahead and bid and I'll wait for him to get back from his "trip" to complete the deal if he wins. I even gave him the link to vrane.com in case he wants to put in a last second bid while away. So far he hasn't bid, so we will just have to wait and see.
|
reddeer
|
posted on April 16, 2001 03:34:10 PM
I've had numerous buyers ask me to do this.
On every single last item, the piece has sold for FAR more than what I was expecting.
I just tell these weenies that I have regular customers who sometimes wait until the final hours/minutes to place their bid, and that I don't want to jeopardize my relations with them by ending an auction early.
|
ashlandtrader
|
posted on April 16, 2001 03:46:46 PM
One time I had an old catalog from the 50's posted and someone emailed me and offered me $50 for it (I had it at a few dollars as I had picked it up for 10 cents). I thought it was a great offer so I closed early.
Then the "buyer" turned around and changed her mind as she hadn't even bothered to read the description. I will never end an auction early again! Just let it ride and see what happens!
|
danilynn71
|
posted on April 16, 2001 03:58:24 PM
Can you email me the URL of the auction or your eBay ID? I'd like to see what it is? Who knows maybe someone here has a little knowledge or expertese about this item.
[email protected]
[ edited by danilynn71 on Apr 16, 2001 03:58 PM ]
|
docadoodle
|
posted on April 20, 2001 06:27:29 PM
Well the auction ended this evening and guess what? The three combined closed at $225. My travelling bidder offered $150.(he never bid) Never in my wildest dreams did I think they would go for that much. It was a nail biter though; no bids until last night, but two bidders got in a bidding war in the last hour.
Thanks to all for your help.
|
mikeselis
|
posted on April 20, 2001 09:39:04 PM
I am glad to see that it all worked out. From reading other's posts, I have determined that about 98% of people who email the seller never end up buying the item or even bidding. When I start selling all of the junk my mother has accumulated over the past few decades I will know to just let it ride...
|
misscandle
|
posted on April 21, 2001 12:47:17 AM
Congrats, docadoodle! I'm glad it worked out for you.
|
magazine_guy
|
posted on April 21, 2001 01:06:59 AM
Your travelling bidder may have been one of the last minute bidders- under another ID.
|
amy
|
posted on April 21, 2001 01:37:51 AM
So true Magazine_guy!
I sold a cookie jar once that I recieved several emails from one bidder early on in the auction...he seemed REAL interested. I was surprised he didn't ever bid on the auction as the bidding was within the price range he wanted to pay.
I was even more surprised to find out that my winning bidder was my emailer using a different id!
|
