posted on July 16, 2001 04:45:42 PM
This has never happened before.
Get an e-mail on one of my items, no bids currently.
Here is the e-mail:
"I wish to see the item first hand before I make an offer to buy. Could you send me your location."
This is from someone with 0 feedback, registered on eBay since June 13th, lives about 30 minutes away it looks like.
How would you respond? I've never liked people coming to my house to pick things up AFTER an auction, I'm not sure I want to start doing this BEFORE the item is even bid on.
BTW I have 2,588 positives, only 10 negs, 9 were retaliatory, 1 deserved. I go out of my way to describe accurately & have tons of feedback comments "better than described" so I feel my auction description on eBay should be sufficient.
posted on July 16, 2001 04:54:29 PM
This has happened to me several times and I simply say no. Antiques shops, malls, flea markets etc are the venues if you wanted to have a ftf with customers. _Online_ sales have been an enormous relief for me
posted on July 16, 2001 04:59:31 PM
what kind of item is it ?
I would let him come see it ...but then thats me
If you are uncomfortable just offer to email him detailed pictures of whatever portion he is particulary interested in.
I would also add these pictures to my auction description....anytime anyone asks a question on a item I add the answer to the item descreption...I figure others might also be interested
spock here......
posted on July 16, 2001 05:01:13 PM
First, does the item warrant being inspected?
If this is a big ticket auction for a questionable item I would understand.
Maybe the buyer has heard some of the ebay horror stories that have happened and is a bit cautious.
I have no problem having people over to inspect and pickup items. (after I have talked to them on the phone at least)
This is your call, only you know how you feel about it, although you do express concern here.
If it bothers you, tell them no, sorry.
(but understand that if it's a legit buyer he is also going to feel a bit more cautious)
posted on July 16, 2001 05:32:44 PM
Thanks for the insights & the chuckle.
I've decided to send the following response. By the way, it is an old glass bottle, I feel quite comfortable in my photos & description of it, this is my #1 collecting category for the past decade.
Anyway, here's the e-mail response I sent:
Hi,
I try to describe items very accurately in my auction descriptions & photos (and have sold & collected old bottles for about 10 years now). If there is something specific you are interested in or concerned about that you don't feel shows up in either the current photos or description, please let me know & I will e-mail or post additional photos to the auction, and will answer any specific questions - however, I'm not available at this time for a personal inspection of the item,
posted on July 16, 2001 05:44:36 PM
Just a suggestion....If the item is easily transported, maybe meet him at a public place, library, starbucks, etc. for him to look at it.
posted on July 16, 2001 06:03:11 PM
How much is this thing worth? Are we talking $2000? or $20? If it's a $2000 item, it's understandable, and I would make arrangments for them to see it. If it's a $20 item, I wouldn't let someone waste an hour of my time over paranoia.
Who Need's a stink'n Sig. File?
posted on July 16, 2001 06:10:44 PM
wasn't there a item about a year or so ago I beleive it turned out to be a very early pickle jar that brought something like 14,000
the media picked up on the story and my recollection is that one or two buyers flew in to inspect it before bidding.(
that impressed me at the time ....but i'm esay to impress)
the seller a experianced dealer who was hoping for maybee 200 had the item sitting on his porch for a year prior to listing it
you probably have earlier ,rarer, version of it but in todays ebay climate 0 bids
spock here......
posted on July 16, 2001 06:21:14 PM
upriver, I think your response to them was the right way to go.
It may be a nervous new bidder or it may be some snoop or competitor who just wants to come over and check out your entire operation. I would never invite a stranger into my house just to check out an item I am selling on an auction.
What would they do if they really wanted the item and it was selling from a location across the country? They have to learn to trust people just like the rest of us do or else buying on the internet just won't work for them.
posted on July 16, 2001 07:50:46 PM
This was a suggestion I got off this board that I am currently using. If it is actually true for you, then that's a useful added bonus
Hi, My business license with the city and local zoning ordinances require that I operate as mail-order only, that is, I cannot entertain customers at my business location (my home). I hope you understand that I prefer not to violate this condition and face losing my license.
[ubb]
[ edited by wbbell on Jul 16, 2001 07:52 PM ]
posted on July 16, 2001 07:57:40 PMupriver, Great response! You made your point politely and professionally as well as offering to provide additional photos and answer any questions...If somebody expects more than that I think they are expecting too much.
posted on July 16, 2001 08:05:36 PM
I once sold an antique jukebox on ebay. A dozen or so people asked to come by and see it. Very understandable, it was a $2000.00 item. It was a real hassle, though. A couple of people, including the man who eventually bought it, were very nice. Most people, however, tried to convince me to sell it to them on the spot. Several of them would badmouth the item, then try to buy it for half of it's value. Really not worth the hassle unless it's a big ticket item.
