Last week I asked the question about whether to list my Audubon prints as individual items or as a set. After researching individual prices, I determined I would be better off to list as a set.
The auction went up last night and has only had 5 views according to my counter. I just received an offer of $50 to end the auction early.
For an item with unknown value, I have never ended an auction early but $50 is more than I figured I would get for this set.
If I were you, I would not close it early. I think there are several things you should consider.
1) Your item should probably have been listed under the art prints:animals category (it's what the other set was sold under). You may wish to end your auction early and place it in that category
2) The other auction was ended by a "Buy it Now" bid. That can sometimes mean that the seller didn't know the true value of the item being sold, hence it was snapped up quick by an eager bidder.
3) Your feedback rating, pictures, & auction description are far better than the previous auction.
4) Your bidder, although the may have small feedback, may be a seasoned eBay veteran who is using a buying account (I have a seperate one myself.) Many sellers try to prey on people who don't know what they have so that they can get stuff cheap and sell it at a big profit later
That said... as a dealer in magazine advertisements and other paper collectibles, I would think that your lot of prints should sell for more than fifty dollars. (probably $75-100 range, or more depending on bidding interest). Now, I'll be honest, I have not had any of these particular prints in to sell, so I could be overestimating.... but I really don't think so. Hope this helps!
posted on January 28, 2002 09:37:20 AM
I would not end my auction early, but I would tell that buyer that if the auction ends without a bid that you would consider selling the prints. Most times when someone wants to end an auction early they know that the value is higher than the asking price, so let him bid and for his high bid put $50.00 and if your lucky someone else will come along and bid over him. The only one that will win is you....
posted on January 28, 2002 12:38:07 PM
I would also be hesitant about ending an auction early. I did once (lady offered me $50 for an old catalog), and after ending my auction she changed her mind.
I like Libras idea about letting it run and telling them that if it ends w/o bids then you would be willing to possibly sell it for an agreed upon price.
posted on January 28, 2002 01:27:46 PM
I would leave out the part about it ending without bids you might sell to him. If you tell him that, he is not going to bid on them either.
Just explain to him that it is your policy not to end auctions early and welcome him to bid and a good luck to him.
This may cause him to bid on them and get the bidding rolling.
I would first revise the auction and add the second category, art prints.
