posted on July 1, 2001 04:46:56 PM new
Someone saw an auction of mine on ebay, and they have identical items. They want my advice on selling them. I'm not going to give it to them since the items are identical.
Has anyone else ever had someone e-mail you you have never heard of and want advice to sell an identical item? I don't mind if its similar but not the exact item, but this is a little much, especially when I have tons of others to put up.
Should I just delete the e-mail or reply with something like "it can be different for every auction" or ???
posted on July 1, 2001 05:13:01 PM new
I would take it as a compliment that someone likes the way your auction looks. I'd send an email with some simple advice, and wish them luck on their auctions. Its much easier to be friendly.
posted on July 1, 2001 05:22:22 PM new
I agree, though they are competitors its not like you are Microsoft trying to crush Oracle.
I am sure whatever you are selling is in high enough demand that you can give advise and not feel any thing on the bottom line.
If anything, help make his/her auction look nicer! I hate ugly auctions.
posted on July 1, 2001 06:19:36 PM new
It just that the items are for something that is going high right now, and there is a limited market for them. It vintage stuff, so its not like you can find them anywhere else but ebay. I just am afraid it will cut into my business.
Anyway, I said I have made enough mistakes that I don't offer advice because when *I* make a mistake no one but me looses money, but wished them luck on their auctions.
posted on July 1, 2001 08:45:05 PM new
I helped a previous auction winner of mine get started on ebay. He somehow contacted my supplier and now he's one of my biggest competitors. I guess there's room for all of us. If he lists the same items as I have on ebay at least he ends them on different days than mine.
posted on July 1, 2001 08:52:10 PM new
This is sort of on topic with a question I was going to post ...
I had a person bid and not pay (but at least he told me early on which is much more than I usually get). He said he had money problems so I spared him the neg. I went through the NPBA and Credit Request.
He emails me to say he doesn't understand these NPB emails and wants me to explain them to him. Then he says he bid on another auction of someone else that he can't pay for and doesn't want to get in trouble and how can he cancel his bid. And I try to explain you can't cancel bids on a closed auction. And he says he thinks you can. And on and on for 10+ emails.
Finally I told him that quite frankly I had spent enough time on him ESPECIALLY given that he was a deadbeat on my auction! And please email [email protected] or just RTFM to get the answers to his questions!
Was I too harsh?
[typo]
[ edited by wbbell on Jul 1, 2001 08:54 PM ]
posted on July 2, 2001 03:27:10 AM new
Too harsh???????
What you should have asked him-what part of the previous 9 emails didnt you understand???????
[ edited by MUSICMAN12533 on Jul 2, 2001 03:29 AM ]
posted on July 2, 2001 06:22:23 AM new
If you run your ebay sales as a true business, than how much help you want to give should be base on how little you can afford to give. After all, real business are not going to out business secrets to competitors.
If you are doing it just for fun, than maybe you want to be more helpful. I am sure some stranger help you out when you first got started on ebay.
posted on July 2, 2001 06:35:07 AM new
jenndiggy1 - This has happened to me also. I tell them that I'm very busy at this time, but that they can check out ebay's 'site map' where they will find many tutorials that are full of helpful information. That way I feel I have helped them, but haven't had to give the time for individual tutoring.
posted on July 2, 2001 06:46:34 AM new
At last count, I've helped about 5 people get up & running on ebay, several of which sell in the same categories I do. A couple even used to be customers.
I don't mind offering a bit of advice here & there (how NPB works, figuring out postal questions, where to find shipping material, what kind of things to put in TOS). I figure if they bring more people to the market, then some might spill over into my auctions.
I wrote up a quick "tutorial" in plain English when I helped the first one & just send this along to anyone to asks.
I also don't mind answering newbie buyer questions about how feedback works, what to do if they have a problem w/a seller.
If someone came to AW & asked for help, we'd all join in to give them info. It's a bit more personal but then I enjoy checking back in with them over time to see how they are doing & feel a bit of satisfaction to see they are flying well on their own.
posted on July 2, 2001 11:27:14 AM new
It's one thing to offer general advice. It's quite another to set up a competitor. BTW, asking for this kind of help is rude. It's like QuickChicken asking Colonel Sanders for his "11 secret herbs and spices" recipe.
. Internet Pioneers
posted on July 2, 2001 12:08:13 PM new
Twinsoft -- THANK YOU! My mother said there was nothing wrong with me helping this person. (She was in the room when the e-mail came in and I started witching.)
BUT the way *I* see it, with what we are selling being hard to come by as they are no longer being made and not that many around, I feel like it is asking Colonel Sanders for his recipe because someone wants to build a fast food franchiese.
I've helped many people get started on ebay, but to give advice for them to get the most out of the same thing I am selling, esp. when I don't know them is a little much in my opinion,
posted on July 2, 2001 12:17:54 PM new
Then again, you could offer them a quick out... Perhaps they could help supply you? If you could buy at a good discount and they've got the quick cash... Maybe this could work out for both of you. A quick bird in the hand, ya know.
posted on July 2, 2001 05:49:34 PM new
Advise? I sell a lot of "parts". I get people emailing me links to other sellers auctions asking if a part someone else is selling will fit their application. I ussualy just delete emails like this, as I don't want to:
1. Be responsable for a mistake in a deal I have nothing to do with.
2. I don't fell any obligation to help someone else make a living.
I get it in my shop too. If I would let people get away with it, someone would pick my brain 4 or 5 hours a day, without me getting a cent out of it. You want to buy parts from me, great. You want to pay me to repair something, that's great too. You want me to spend an hour or two telling you how to repair it yourself, GET LOST. I HATE to be this way, but that's the nature of what I do for a living. If I didn't nip it in the bud, I would spend hours every day giving free advise.
Who Need's a stink'n Sig. File?
posted on July 2, 2001 06:58:18 PM new
You blew an opportunity to give her some advice that would have worked to both your advantages- namely "wait until no others of this widget are listed on Ebay to get the max price possible".
I get emails like this on a fairly regular basis, and I always give a few pointers- and that is always one of them.
posted on July 2, 2001 09:21:48 PM new
I tell people I have a lot of fun with it but it is definately not a free ride - it is a lot of work. I also tell them to spend a couple of months researching the category that interests them most.
I have shown 4 people how to work eBay - my parents, a brother, and a sister. My sister found AW - so I guess she returned the favor
When I was trying to figure out eBay it was extremely difficult to even get one person to talk to you about it. AW, this board in particular, has been extremely helpful to me.
My hats off to everyone on this board - you are an awesome group of people! Where else can you come and get the answer to a problem in 15 minutes or less?
I come from the world of antique markets where secrecy is extreme about virtually everything. However in this case I agree with CAgrrl that this person can with your help be put in a position that would not be harmful to you, and without your assistance could easily kill your sales.
I my memory is correct, you sell Dept. 56 items. It would seem the same items can be listed under different categories with that type of item. Simply advise what other categories might be worthwhile since the same item at the same time will kill bids for the both of you. And if only one category is practical, then take turns on specific items. If you do not turn this person into a friend, she will default to being a direct competitor and an enemy. Your lack of assistance will not keep her away.
Indeed it might cause her to be spiteful.
Fortunately I deal with mostly unique items so that helping newbies is certainly not a threat, nor a real imposition on my time.
But in the retail market fierce competition is inevitable and some form of co-operation is the only way to keep prices from plunging through the floor.
I come from the world of antique markets where secrecy is extreme about virtually everything. However in this case I agree with CAgrrl that this person can with your help be put in a position that would not be harmful to you, and without your assistance could easily kill your sales.
I my memory is correct, you sell Dept. 56 items. It would seem the same items can be listed under different categories with that type of item. Simply advise what other categories might be worthwhile since the same item at the same time will kill bids for the both of you. And if only one category is practical, then take turns on specific items. If you do not turn this person into a friend, she will default to being a direct competitor and an enemy. Your lack of assistance will not keep her away.
Indeed it might cause her to be spiteful.
Fortunately I deal with mostly unique items so that helping newbies is certainly not a threat, nor a real imposition on my time.
But in the retail market fierce competition is inevitable and some form of co-operation is the only way to keep prices from plunging through the floor.
I come from the world of antique markets where secrecy is extreme about virtually everything. However in this case I agree with CAgrrl that this person can with your help be put in a position that would not be harmful to you, and without your assistance could easily kill your sales.
I my memory is correct, you sell Dept. 56 items. It would seem the same items can be listed under different categories with that type of item. Simply advise what other categories might be worthwhile since the same item at the same time will kill bids for the both of you. And if only one category is practical, then take turns on specific items. If you do not turn this person into a friend, she will default to being a direct competitor and an enemy. Your lack of assistance will not keep her away.
Indeed it might cause her to be spiteful.
Fortunately I deal with mostly unique items so that helping newbies is certainly not a threat, nor a real imposition on my time.
But in the retail market fierce competition is inevitable and some form of co-operation is the only way to keep prices from plunging through the floor.
I come from the world of antique markets where secrecy is extreme about virtually everything. However in this case I agree with CAgrrl that this person can with your help be put in a position that would not be harmful to you, and without your assistance could easily kill your sales.
I my memory is correct, you sell Dept. 56 items. It would seem the same items can be listed under different categories with that type of item. Simply advise what other categories might be worthwhile since the same item at the same time will kill bids for the both of you. And if only one category is practical, then take turns on specific items. If you do not turn this person into a friend, she will default to being a direct competitor and an enemy. Your lack of assistance will not keep her away.
Indeed it might cause her to be spiteful.
Fortunately I deal with mostly unique items so that helping newbies is certainly not a threat, nor a real imposition on my time.
But in the retail market fierce competition is inevitable and some form of co-operation is the only way to keep prices from plunging through the floor.
