posted on September 2, 2001 10:49:31 AM new
I know this is something that eBay is attempting to prevent, that is the selling of items for which they do not collect fees.
And I realize some sellers have strong negative feelings about being approached for after auction/off site sales.
But I wanted to ask your opinion on a slightly different senerio.
I would like to support alternative venues and the effort by sellers to support those sites.
If I see a item, likely something new and the seller might even be offering it as a Dutch auction, how would you feel about receiving the following email?
"I'm interested in buying one of your "fill in the blank". I would prefer to make the purchase on a venue other than eBay. Do you list the item anywhere else?"
Just because I saw the item on eBay am I obligated to make the purchase on eBay?
I'm certainly entitled to search for the item elsewhere.
Am I entitled to ask the seller if they list it elsewhere?
posted on September 2, 2001 10:57:29 AM new
I tend to be paranoid about this sort of thing. I'd worry you were an eBay spy.
If the auction was still running, I'd probably thank you for your email and explain that at this point in time the item is only available through the eBay auction. I'd then encourage you to contact me in the future to see if I had more of the item.
If the auction was over, I'd sell it to you. I know this is also against eBay rules, but its a qualitative difference to me. The auction is over. eBay has finished that particular transaction with me. You now inquire about the item or one like it - to me this is no different than you calling me from an old classified ad in last week's newspaper. I might still get busted by eBay, but I bet I wouldn't get suspended.
Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get you,
Sadie
posted on September 2, 2001 11:17:43 AM new
You could be turned into Safeharbor for something like this if a seller wanted to do so. I generally get a bit suspicious of someone asking for an off-auction transaction unless I have already dealt with them, they have good feedback or they aren't trying to simply get something at bottom dollar. NEVER do one with a newbie who has zero feedback. Most all of my off-venue dealings have been very good.
Most sellers, including myself, use other sites. I would suggest you just search other sites--they desperately need the traffic. I have had items on Bidville for months without a single pageview, much less a bid.
The only reason I approach a seller cold is to ask if I can get something I need quickly, a similar item they might not currently have up for sale but have in the past, or a quantity of something that's not listed.
I would try to find out if the seller has a web site, and if the s/he does I would either buy directly form the site, or email from the site and not mention eBay at all. If the seller had a direct email link on an auction page or Me page I would send a message and not mention eBay. I would use an email address that was not registered with eBay.
What I would *not* do is use the ask seller a question link because it passes through an eBay server. I would not buy an item either by Dutch or regular auction, or through an eBay Store and then ask the seller to sell off eBay.
Generally I would try to find a way to contact the seller in a way where I wouldn't have to go through eBay or mention eBay.
I have bought stuff from eBay sellers off eBay. I have always found a way to contact them pretending I haven't a clue that they sell on eBay. Never had a problem and sometimes I get replies that direct me to their auctions on eBay.
The object of the exercise is to not give eBay any ammunition against the seller ,and to try not to put the seller in an awkward position. As I understand the rules sellers are supposed to tell people who email them directly when queried about an item on eBay to bid on the auction, or buy the whatever from their eBay Store. I have seen galloping paranoia where some sellers think Ebay is trying to entrap them having "mystery shoppers", or some ebay employee ask if they will sell off eBay when they get these queries too.
My understanding of the gist of eBay policy it is that when you list an auction on eBay you are paying fees to sell an item or items,period. What eBay is trying to get across is that you are not paying $.30 to advertise your web site. You are not paying $.30 to draw traffic to you web site. You are not paying fees to sell one item to then sell 5 five to the same person without paying eBay fees. There is also the interpretation that if an item has been listed on eBay, and then sell the same item at a later date, through your web site, or other means to a registered eBay user, you have a liability to eBay to pay fees. The theory being that eBay provided the "venue" for the buyer to find your item that was once listed on eBay and therefore ebay is entitled to a fee for the sale. I am sure there are more rules and other interpretations as well.
Now this what I understand, although as a practical matter, how all of this nonsense is enforced is another question that is beyond me.
