posted on September 15, 2001 04:48:44 AM new
I have had a significant increase of people contacting me after the auction is closed to ask to buy the product if the auction ended without bids. Here are examples of just a few of the excuses I have received over the past week:
I am a firefighter and was called to a fire just before the auction ended.
I had your item bookmarked and with all of the events happening in the nation, I forgot to bid.
I work in Washington DC and our building was evacuated.
I tend to believe every one of them, especially the third one as this person asked a question right after I listed the auction. I have resisted the urge to give them "this is a prime example of why you should bid your max early" lecture.
Is anyone else experiencing this same thing?
Editing to draw attention to my Tennessee public school edukashun.
[ edited by dixiebee on Sep 15, 2001 04:50 AM ]
posted on September 15, 2001 05:04:30 AM newdixiebee
It wasn't me that wrote you about any of your auctions, but I have to say that I missed an auction last night and I could kick myself!
I only bid at the end, sorry! Last night, I was watching the news and they had an interesting side story and before I knew it, I had forgotten what time it was and totally missed the end of the auction. I guess I should have set my kitchen timer and had a loud bell remind me when it was time!
It really is easy to be interested in an item and miss the end. And, it seems to me that more and more bidders ONLY bid at, or near, the end of the auction. I'd forget the lecture as it won't make one bit of difference. You take a chance with either method of bidding.
It's up to you whether you want to do anything with those who wrote you.
posted on September 15, 2001 08:41:11 PM new
busybiddy:
Sign up for one of those free sniper programs like vrane (or try the esnipe site for their free trial period).
You can set your snipe as soon as you've looked at the item; then, if you forget a week later, at least some bid from you will get there.
These snipe services all allow you to cancel your bid until the last few minutes if you DO remember...
PS--That vrane site also has a great little tool that will search out just the negative and neutral feedback from a seller's total list (though not his responses).
posted on September 15, 2001 09:19:23 PM new
Two weeks ago I missed bidding on something that I wanted. Something I'd have to drive to Canada to get, if I wanted it, since I've never found any store in the U.S. selling these (a particular kind of art my wife and I collect).
I wrote the seller saying that I missed bidding (I had won another of his auctions the day before, so I actually had a *real* reason to write him. I was very happy that I did mention it, though, because it turned out that he had a direct connection to the artist and was able to get another item from that artist for the same price.
I would *never* be offended by someone writing to me saying that they missed bidding. The very worst is that I'd have to write to them saying 'I'm sorry but I don't have any more'. OTOH, it could lead to a potentially regular customer. I'm looking forward to buying from that person again, very much.
posted on September 15, 2001 10:57:59 PM new
Actually, out of habit, I logged on at 10pm tuesday night and looked at the catagories I always look at. Many nice things at unbelievable prices (mostly with no bids). It didn't strike me until today why I won so many auctions this week.
