posted on August 2, 2001 04:53:52 AM
I have a widget that ended at $86.00. The winner was a deadbeat. That was a couple months ago and I just now got around to relisting it. Right now it's at $37.00 with 4 days to go.
I just received an email asking me if I would end the auction early for $50.00. The emailer would like to buy the widget as a birthday present for his Dad. The birthday is in 4 days and he will pay for overnight delivery and use Paypal.
According to ebay we're not supposed to do this right? I couldn't find the exact policy anywhere.
What would you do? This is the first time this has happened to me in selling for over a year.
posted on August 2, 2001 05:09:06 AM
It is OK to end an auction early, it's one easy button click on eBay. It's not OK (to eBay, at least) to sell it outside of eBay such that you avoid paying fees.
That said, many people will lowball an item when they think it will go high. That would appear to be the case here. If $50 is good enough for you, might as well end early. If you think you might get $80 again, then I would leave it. More and more people are using snipe software and you may get your $80 bid in the last 10 seconds of the auction.
posted on August 2, 2001 05:11:45 AM
Generally, people here will tell you not to end early because invariably, the offer is lower than you'll get if you let it run. This has been my experience also.
I believe if you end the auction early, and you sell the item to an eBayer, I would cover my butt by emailing eBay and telling the the price you sold if for and requesting they charge you FVF's. I'll probably get creamed for this on the boards, but, pollyanna or not, if eBay provides me with the venue to sell, and I agree to their terms, then they should get FVF's on this item.
posted on August 2, 2001 05:12:01 AM
I have sold approx 150 items on ebay.
Going by guesstimation?!!, I’ve had offers to close about 6-8 auctions from 2 dozen or so unique users, I’ve declined them all.
All were more expensive items than your current one, some over $1000, and ended up 2-4 times the amount offered, except 1. That one was an offer of $300 on a $350 reserve item which failed to sell and got 450 when subsequently relisted (which subsequently ended as a deadbeat, but that’s another story).
posted on August 2, 2001 05:33:47 AM
If you do decide to end it early, have the e-mailer bid the auction so that they are the high bidder and then you end it. Otherwise if you cancel the bids and end it, that would not be right and you have no feedback rights or protection? from ebay.
posted on August 2, 2001 06:08:26 AM
have the guy bid 50.00 on the auction
if he is high bidder then end the auction and sell to him.
IF he has a decent feedback, AND since you are asking here I assume that 50 bucks is ok with you.
I also make sure Ebay gets the FVF
posted on August 2, 2001 07:07:37 AM
Reminds me when I was fairly new to ebay I listed a zippo lighter that I had paid .50 for next morning I get a email Guy offers me 35.00 to end now His grnadmother just died he has to go out of town for the funeral today ect ect ect.
U was going to take it ,,My wife says hey you only have .50 in it lets see where it goes...It ended at 78.00 and the guy whos grandmother died bid several times up to about 50.00 if I recall
Since then I am always happy to get this type of request becouse it means it will end up OK
I wouldn't end early let it run it's course and see where you go. It went to 86.00 once the high bidder was a deadbeat but the 85.00 bidder probably would have paid,
spock here......
posted on August 2, 2001 07:39:53 AM
I agree....I wouldn't cancel it.
BUT if you decide to do so, please be sure to cancel all bids on it first, otherwise the high bidder will be the legal winner.
[ edited by Linda_K on Aug 2, 2001 07:41 AM ]
posted on August 2, 2001 08:09:59 AM
If you decide to end it, have the buyer Pay Pal you a deposit to show their good faith. Then deduct the deposit from the cost of the item. My worry is that you will end the auction and they will flake out.
