AuctionPulse
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posted on August 7, 2001 11:07:39 AM new
Just wondering what buyers and sellers think about eBay's newest feature?
From eBay announcement board:
***Make a Personal Offer***
eBay announces the Personal Offer Feature!
The Personal Offer feature gives sellers a second chance at selling an item, quickly and easily, with all the benefits of eBay's services.
With it, a seller can send an offer to purchase an unsold item to an under bidder if the winning bidder is unable to complete the purchase. This feature is also available for Reserve auctions that do not meet reserve in all eBay Motors Vehicle categories. Personal offers are limited to one potential buyer at a time and do not apply to Dutch Auctions.
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Eventer
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posted on August 7, 2001 11:10:23 AM new
Very interesting. ebay found a way to get it's cut.
I'm surprised they did it only for auctions where the winning bidder backs out. Look for this to be extended to ALL auctions that end w/o a bidder in the future.
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capotasto
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posted on August 7, 2001 11:43:00 AM new
"Look for this to be extended to ALL auctions that end w/o a bidder in the future."
Ummmm... who would the seller send the offer to?
Oh I get it, it's a joke!! LOL
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REAMOND
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posted on August 7, 2001 12:33:20 PM new
This "new" service is considered spam if a seller does it, but if eBay does it and charges a fee, it's OK. I better not get any spam email as an underbidder.
This whole system is about money and has nothing to do with a "community".
The credibility of eBay is zero. This business is every man/woman for themselves. Sell your items anyway you can as often as you can - the H*LL with the money grabbing eBay! Do yourself and your business a favor and by-pass eBay every chance you get.
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AuctionPulse
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posted on August 7, 2001 01:12:07 PM new
This message now appears in "My eBay"; under the Selling section.
In a lovely blue box:
"Your vehicle listing has ended and reserve price not met", "Send a Personal offer"
This just makes no sense, I never bid on or sold a vehicle.
This is just another feature which has not been thought out.
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Eventer
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posted on August 7, 2001 01:18:28 PM new
I never bid on or sold a vehicle
BOY, now THAT'S service! Have any vehicles you DO want to sell?
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kittykittykitty
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posted on August 7, 2001 03:31:53 PM new
"Your vehicle listing has ended and reserve price not met", "Send a Personal offer"
i've got it too. never have bought or sold a vehicle on ebay. annoying to be spammed every which way.
but i *like* the idea of the 'make a personal offer' thing.
kittyx3
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amy
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posted on August 7, 2001 04:41:50 PM new
When ebay announced the rules on no off ebay sales, and the subsequent email-relay system, many who had negative reactions said they would not mind paying a FVF to ebay for after auction sales of unsuccesful auctions.
Many who were upset about the new rules, including some of the voices members, suggested to ebay that they develop a method where the seller could notify ebay that they were doing an after auction sale so ebay could get their fee.
Sounds like ebay has listened to the users and is developing such a method.
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quickdraw29
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posted on August 7, 2001 04:54:07 PM new
Yahoo has had this feature for as long as I can remember and I've never so much as received one offer from an under bidder, mainly because they have already bought it from someone else during the lapse in time.
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jalleniii
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posted on August 7, 2001 05:03:15 PM new
You can only send a Personal Offer for items in the following categories: Passenger Vehicles, Motorcycles, and Other Vehicles.
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Microbes
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posted on August 7, 2001 05:16:26 PM new
I don't see anything wrong with the idea, but I see a way for it to be abused.
"allows a seller to offer an item to an under bidder at the bidder's maximum bid amount"
Now what happens when a shiller gets stuck on his own auction??? The underbidder has a chance to buy at the bidder's maximum bid amount This is a Shillers Dream, the ideal situation, so to speak.
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sun818
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posted on August 7, 2001 05:32:59 PM new
jalleniii -- Although the advertisment suggests that this feature is for the automotive category only, I was able to send Personal Offers to bidders in other categories. Perhaps they are working out the bugs...?
* ~ * ~ * ~ *
http://techgems.net
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amy
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posted on August 7, 2001 06:00:47 PM new
Microbes...yes, I can see where it could be abused...but is there anything that can't be abused by those who are less than ethical?
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Microbes
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posted on August 7, 2001 06:06:30 PM new
Amy, no, there are things all over ebay that can be "gamed". 
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kittykittykitty
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posted on August 7, 2001 07:45:31 PM new
The underbidder has a chance to buy at the bidder's maximum bid amount.
i don't see this as a particular problem, though. it's not like the underbidder is obligated to buy it. so if the bidder wanted it for their maximum bid, shill or no (although i admit i hadn't thought of this), they'll still be getting it for the price they were willing to pay, if they still want the item.
kittyx3
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jalleniii
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posted on August 8, 2001 03:14:57 PM new
sun818-
Yes, eBay may include other categories in the future but for now......eBay Motors only.
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sun818
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posted on August 8, 2001 03:31:12 PM new
I will state more clearly. I sent a Personal Offer to a buyer for a Computer category item. They replied and have agreed to purchase the item at their high bid price. I don't think it applies to eBay Motors only.
What a great way for sellers to backsell mass produced items. I doubt a buyer would refuse a lower priced item, unless they bought it already.
FYI, here is the e-mail that goes out to the buyer:
From: [email protected]
To: [buyer]
Subject: [Auction title]
Dear [buyer],
You have received a personal offer from seller [Seller ID] to buy the following item:
Item Title: [Auction Title] [Item number]
Personal Offer price: [buyer's high bid price]
Offer is valid until: [number of days you set]
Seller User ID: [Seller ID]
To purchase this item, click the "Buy It Now" button located at the bottom of this Personal Offer page: http://cgi3.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewPersonalOffer&item=[Item number]
Note: The original winner bidder on this item didn't buy the item. Therefore, the seller is making a Personal Offer to other eBay users who originally bid on this item. If you want to buy this item, we recommend that you buy it now.
To learn more about Personal Offer go to: http://pages.ebay.com/help/sellerguide/faq-personaloffer.html
If you no longer wish to receive Personal Offer emails please uncheck the option to receive Personal Offer emails at: http://cgi3.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?OptinLoginShow&filter=131089
Regards,
eBay Staff
* ~ * ~ * ~ *
http://techgems.net
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bemused
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posted on August 8, 2001 03:37:30 PM new
The story about this on AuctionBytes indicated that bidders can opt out of receiving these emails. I would imagine there would be a link to do that in the email themselves. I for one think its another usefull tool in my eBay aresenal. It looks more businesslike (I think) to have the offer passed through ebay rather than going hat in hand to the underbidder yourself and playing the "how low will you go" game. I think the announcement also indicated you can put an expiration date on the offer.
This feature may also have the added benefit of placing a little psychological pressure on buyers who tend to pay at their leisure, as well as give underbidders something to think about. To get the maximum benefit though you'd probably have to mention in your TOS that in x days after the auction the item would be offered to the underbidder.
[ edited by bemused on Aug 8, 2001 03:45 PM ]
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twinsoft
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posted on August 9, 2001 10:03:30 AM new
I think what bothers me about this is that eBay is building a "deadbeat factor" into their auctions. And then taking a piece of the action. Kind of like the police department selling you insurance in case someone throws a rock through your store window. eBay should be making sure bidders do follow through on their bids. The steps they have taken so far are not working. Any user who is suspended can be back on eBay the same day.
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ok4leather
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posted on August 9, 2001 11:43:56 AM new
Anything for a price - How about an option to offer all the bidders a similar item for whatever price you agree on. Lets call it the -"Make it Dutch" option - then ebay could collect final value fees on more sales. WoW think of the boost on Wallstreet !
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jalleniii
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posted on August 9, 2001 01:04:58 PM new
sun818
Yep, I stand corrected. According to eBay
"Personal Offer" will be available for all items in all categories, including eBay Motors.
The Personal Offer for Reserve Not Met transactions will apply only to
the eBay Motors Vehicle categories. If this proves successful, the will
consider expanding this to the rest of the site.
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