peiklk
|
posted on July 22, 2001 10:14:41 PM
Semi-rare widget. Only one listed in ebay's completed auctions. Seemed to be a bidding war going on for it near the end. Ended up at $68 or so.
I just listed one of these widgets as well -- dug it out of the closet.
Would it be wrong of me to simply contact the bidders of the first widget to advise them that another is on the market? Or do I just hope they stumble across mine as well?
|
kiawok
|
posted on July 22, 2001 10:22:41 PM
Yes, it would be wrong. eBay considers this spam, and if reported by one of the spamees, you would get a good spanking by safe harbour.
|
RichieRich
|
posted on July 22, 2001 10:22:42 PM
I can tell you from personal experience eBay considers this SPAM! If the person reports you you will be given a warning.
I used to do this ever now and then (about a year ago).....until someone turned me in.
You can mail this auction to a friend and use a non ebay email address.
[ edited by RichieRich on Jul 22, 2001 10:23 PM ]
|
peiklk
|
posted on July 22, 2001 10:37:14 PM
Cool.
Won't be doing it. 
Thanks!
|
morgantown
|
posted on July 23, 2001 12:48:55 AM
Mind your business. Concentrate on selling, not watching the auctions of others in hopes of cashing in illegally.
|
tomwiii
|
posted on July 23, 2001 05:23:27 AM
my goooooodness! That's what happens when ya make whine out of fermented bamboo...
You end up being full of:
Pith and Vinegar!
|
skeetypete
|
posted on July 23, 2001 05:34:32 AM
well don't be scared by all the boo hoo'ers here.......send the notice to those who have shown an interest. they will not report you unless the same stick that is stuck in some folks here has made it to them.......i consider letting others know, from closed auctions, just a simple gesture of kindness, a helping had towards finding the item they so desire....just as long as the other auctions are over i say go for it. its not like you will be booted if ebay does find out. to cover your butt send it from a different ID, just sign it "the search angel"
|
JMHO2
|
posted on July 23, 2001 05:41:04 AM
You can email whomever you please, but to email bidders is looking for problems with ebay.
Mail this auction to a friend is for a known friend not someone else's bidders. For example, if your sister is looking for something and you find it on ebay, you can mail her the auction. You can't mail my sister the auction just because she bid on someone else's widget and lost out.
My suggestion is not to do it. It's against your TOS with ebay. You signed an agreement not to do certain things and you should uphold your end. It's their playground and their ball. Play their game or go home.
|
kiawok
|
posted on July 23, 2001 06:34:49 AM
Trust me, if I was one of those underbidders, that email with full headers would go straight to SH. I hate bottom feeders.
If the high bidder doesn't follow through on the deal, you just screwed a seller out of a potential sale with the runner up.
Do your OWN work, pay your OWN fees, and find your OWN customers.
|
kiara
|
posted on July 23, 2001 07:24:07 AM
As a bidder I am willing and able to find my own auctions, thankyou.
Just because I was interested in a widget last week doesn't mean I am interested in the same one this week.
|
REAMOND
|
posted on July 23, 2001 07:30:15 AM
It is considered SPAM if you do it, but when eBay does it, it's not SPAM.
As for the Nay-sayers, if Gates and Henry Ford, and a host of others played strictly by the rules, many Fortune 500 companies would not exist.
|
eventer
|
posted on July 23, 2001 07:44:50 AM
"I didn't like that rule so therefore I chose to ignore it" most likely isn't going to be a great defense if ebay finds out.
|
peiklk
|
posted on July 23, 2001 08:05:03 AM
HELL-OOOOOOOOO?
I said I wasn't going to do it. Jeepers folks, I was just asking if it was ok. I would have been better off shooting first and asking questions later -- I would have gotten yelled out by ebay much less than some folks here have done.
If it violates, then I don't do it. I prefer to play by the rules -- it's my nature. My question was whether this action was against the rules.
Goodness.
|
amy
|
posted on July 23, 2001 08:16:40 AM
Peiklk...calm down I think the "scolding " by some is directed to the advise of those who are suggesting you ignore the ebay rules...the scolding is not meant for you.
|
peiklk
|
posted on July 23, 2001 08:20:43 AM
ok... I'm calm. Blood pressure coming down.
|
bluepaloma
|
posted on July 23, 2001 08:21:51 AM
One thing I would suggest is to put it on a 10day auction and possibly with a reserve. The reason for both of these is I have found that in a lot of cases I've not experienced near the amount of bidding that the previous seller did. Not that I did anything wrong or much different. My feedback is 99.5% positive etc. There just seems to be a phenomena that exists on ebay with unique items that have had a heated bidding round. A cooling-off period seems to follow for the week or two after then the frenzy returns. I know this sounds strange to some (maybe most). But in my selling of collectible videos and cds, I've seen this occur with great consistency.
|
JMHO2
|
posted on July 23, 2001 10:31:00 AM
Peiklk, no you're not being scolded at all. It's the ones who call the rule players "nay sayers" and "boo hooers" that are way off base.
Just sitting here wondering if they're still registered with ebay or have been kicked for violations.
Reminds me of the old story. One kid tells another it's okay to cheat as long as you don't get caught. This didn't work in school, it's not going to work in business especially when you do business in someone else's venue.
|
ahc3
|
posted on July 23, 2001 11:59:41 AM
I did it once a couple of years ago for a digital camera - I sold it for $500, so it seemed worth a chance to not have to pay $30 or so in Ebay fees. Transaction went well, both parties were happy. Not saying it is right, but I figured ebay would get by without my $30
|
peiklk
|
posted on July 23, 2001 12:35:07 PM
Well, ahc3 -- What you're proposing is CLEARLY WRONG. Theft from ebay.
I was just referring to letting them know another item was up for auction ON ebay. Not trying to circumvent the rules and be dishonest.
|
ahc3
|
posted on July 23, 2001 12:42:50 PM
As I said in my message, did not claim it was right, but neither are a lot of things! I shouldn't drive 45 in a 35 zone, but I still do it.
|
MrsSantaClaus
|
posted on July 23, 2001 01:04:16 PM
When I first started on eBay I bought a book on how to do it. One of the suggestions is to contact losing bidders with a link to your auction if they are interested. Of course, that was before the new eBay rules. When I did do that, I found it increased bids dramatically. I also added the following line:
If this is an unwelcome email, I am sorry. I will not contact you again.
Many people actually thanked me for the "heads up" on items they collected. (I usually only contacted obvious collectors with another item in the series, not just that particular item).
But then, that was before half.com and before "watch this item".
Ahhh... the good ole days!
Becky
|
lowprofile
|
posted on July 23, 2001 01:45:35 PM
Examples of what are not allowed:
An email to active bidders in an open auction and offer them the same or similar items.
Adding email addresses to your mailing list without first obtaining permission from the users (this includes past bidders and sellers).
Examples of what is allowed:
Sending a message to someone asking if he/she is interested in a particular category without indicating that you sell the collectible. Also, this type of email must only be sent to users you've dealt with before or to users you reasonably believe would want to receive such information.
Sending email to users asking for permission to be placed on a mailing list. If you do not receive a confirmation, you cannot send that user unsolicited email
|
REAMOND
|
posted on July 23, 2001 04:33:34 PM
eBay is only a venue. Some people fear eBay like some god or the IRS.
This is YOUR business not eBay's. Your job is to move your product, with or without eBay's blessing.
What every seller on eBay SHOULD be doing is developing their business to be as independent as possible from eBay. That includes building relationships with buyers, contacting, and data basing contact information on all your buyers.
eBay began by spamming newsgroups - and encouraging sellers to spam newsgroups and using email to spam.
What eBay is attempting to do is to make eBay indespensable for selling online, they don't give a sh*t about spam, or a "safe" trading environment- it is about MONEY - they want an ever increasing cut of everything that sells.
The sooner we grow up and realize this, the better we may handle OUR businesses. Those who are wringing their hands about SPAM will be crying the loudest when eBay puts them out of business through fee increases and because you haven't retained your customer information, you'll be out of luck if you list at another site or start your own web site sales.
The policy of Half.com of no contact information between buyer and seller is coming to eBay. If you don't take the initiative to run your own business and keep eBay's "venue" nose out of it, you'll have no one to blame but yourselves when eBay starts squeezing more money out of you.
|
peiklk
|
posted on July 23, 2001 09:02:02 PM
I can see it now.
Saturday Morning. Flea Market setup in an old drive-in theatre.
Rows upon rows of merchants with their wares stocked and ready to go.
The customers begin to pull up to the entrance. They then park and proceed to a single central counter where they place their search requests. Staff runners proceed around the market finding the best deal on the item requested. They grab it, take it to the customer and sell it to them directly, cutting out the merchant.
Then they pass the money on to the merchant, minus a hefty commission of their own choosing.
|
REAMOND
|
posted on July 23, 2001 09:33:25 PM
eBay has gone beyond "branding" and market share. That war is won.
It is now time to tighten the noose around our necks as tight as possible.
eBay SPAMS us all in the EOA notices, as well as the "other similar item" notices to under bidders.
You all should be making offers to sell other items directly in all your EOA emails to YOUR buyers - as well as providing a link to a direct sales web page if you have one. If eBay attempts to stop that, a Restraint of Trade Class Action Suit, as well as an an action for Interference With a Business Relationship , will provide for a generous retirement for several good attorneys.
[ edited by REAMOND on Jul 23, 2001 09:34 PM ]
|
