posted on February 18, 2002 07:05:20 PM new
Hi everyone.... I had a auction up for a "plastic" parking sign...they sell for $3.99-$4.99 most of the time... my winning bidder was involved in a bidding war, and it ended at $20.50. I kinda feel bad for him,should I say or do anything ?? I know I did not do the bidding, as he did, he is new ... like signed up yesterday.... what would you do ????.....thanks for all of your help, want to do the right thing here....TL
posted on February 18, 2002 07:13:00 PM new
Hi:
As a newbe he may have no intention of paying you!
If he pay's good for you!
If he don't file a NPB and Neg.him!
Don't ever feel sorry you got a good bid!
posted on February 18, 2002 07:13:19 PM new
Wish I had your problem! Actually, can understand your feelings of sympathy but if you let him have it for a lower price, what about the guy who was the 2nd high bidder? I'd say consider yourself a lucky seller today. The next time, your item might only bring $2.00!
posted on February 18, 2002 07:22:01 PM new
I have felt like that, too.
What someone told me was that depending on where the buyer lives, that item might be very hard to find.
For instance - Where I live, I have to drive a long way for clothing. My choices are very expensive or cheap junk. So...here I go to Ebay! The sellers probably wonder why I don't just run out and buy locally!
From my standpoint, I am getting a good deal.
posted on February 18, 2002 09:14:10 PM new
I feel bad when this happens, but not bad enough to offer a reduced price or anything like that. It's the way it goes. These are the sort of things that make up the really bad auctions. Nobody is forcing them to get into a bidding war.
posted on February 18, 2002 09:14:37 PM new
I just had the same problem. I sold something I didn't know anything about, for about double what similar items were selling for. Since I didn't know much about the item, I had no idea of why it was going for such a high bid, and worried that when the buyer got it, he would be disappointed or feel that I had misrepresented the widget.
I felt like I lucked out; I got good feedback from him so I guess he got what he wanted and wasn't upset about the price.
posted on February 18, 2002 11:20:24 PM new
There's so much you and we don't know about why that bidder went so high. You know, he may have been "needing" a sign like that, looked on ebay, saw your auction, and decided to sign up with ebay at that moment. Who knows? I myself have bid higher than "a" going price "somewhere" because I knew I'd never find the item in my area. There are many reasons for bids--very subjective--sort of like the "artistic merit" in the ice dancing contests! ;-D
posted on February 19, 2002 08:36:02 PM new
And why the heck aren't you out making a personal offer to the backup bidder? And maybe the third and 4th place bidders, if there are any, assuming you have more of these available (even if you have to pay retail). (this sitation is what the "personal offeris all about)
posted on February 19, 2002 08:52:43 PM new
I had 2 bidders get into a bidding war over an enamel daschaund pin with rhinestone eyes it should sell for $8-$12 the closing bid was $127. I instantly received paypal payment from the high bidder asking for ASAP priority shipping because his wife's birthday was next Monday and she was an avid Daschaund collector and how happy he was to find a piece she didn't have.
At the same time I received an email from the second bidder requesting me to email the high bidder to see if he could buy the pin as it was for his sister Susan's birthday next Monday and he really wanted it because it was a piece she didn't have and how hard it was to find a new piece for her collection.
Come to find out the two bidders were brother-in-laws. If they had known each others Ebay ID the husband could have saved $124 since the opening bid was $3.
We all had a good laugh and they were still happy to have gotten the piece. I even gift wrapped it and mailed it Express mail next day by noon.
If they are willing to pay for the item why not.
I spent 4 times the retail for a strange action figure in an Electric Chair for my brothers birthday simply because I could have it shipped to him in CT 2000 miles away and I didn't have to go to a dozen stores and track it down.
Be happpy with the bid and have a great time selling
posted on February 19, 2002 09:01:39 PM new
bugler1988--
First of all, I admire your capitalistic attitude. If I were the seller I would also
be looking for ways to increase sales.
With that said, be careful emailing underbidders because offering to sell merchandise off ebay is against ebay's rules
and could get the original seller in trouble.
When I was a newbie, I used to do this all the time. But, that was before I knew the consequences if a bidder decided to turn you in for spamming.
On the other hand, if the seller is lucky enough to be contacted by an underbidder, I would certainly be willing to deal.
posted on February 20, 2002 10:19:25 PM new
Profesor: Ebay now has a new way of selling to underbidders called the personal offer. It is legitimate, you don't have to pay listing fees and ebay gets their commissions and the buyer gets the protections of ebay, whatever those are. I have alradyused it a few times, with success.
posted on February 21, 2002 12:52:40 AM new
bugler1998---
I wasn't aware of that new feature, so I guess ebay decided that if they made that practice legitimate it would be better than fighting it.
Plus, it allows them to earn more revenue (FVF
fees) quickly.
What kind of a reception would you say you've
gotten regarding the amount of personal offers you send to the ones who are successfully received and conclude with a sale?
posted on February 22, 2002 07:15:39 PM new
Just happened to me too. I was almost going to email the person to say, HEY- that is way too much money!!! I felt guilty for a while, ate a Hershey bar and got over it. I had another one for sale and put a Buy Now on it for almost 1/2 the price it sold for the first time. It sold in a minute. (Wish I had more than 2 of them) I was so pleased that I included a little something in the package for the overbidders. (A little $1.00 item.) I like to do that so they feel as happy as I did.
It's all a game- to them and to us. Just remember this when you sell something for $3.00 that you paid $40.00! It all evens out.
posted on February 23, 2002 02:14:58 PM newantinoise1
I never thought about it that way & another way is, how many times did I pay too much. I'll bet the seller didn't feel sorry for me.
The free postage I gave was for 1.25, not all that much, I felt better, but no big deal to the bidder, she didn't even mention it. Oh well.
posted on February 23, 2002 10:40:27 PM new
Profesor: I have made a total of 4 personal offers in recent past. 3 of the 4 were immediately accepted, and the other guy responded with an offer to pay $10 less than what his $65 bid had been. As I am confident I can get the higher price (famous last words) I told him I would be relistng and when it would be relisted in case he wants to bid again and take his chances. By his 2nd response, I suspect I will get an email with an increasd offer just before I relist.
I think the personal offer is best for low priced item that have a history of not receiving bids at all. For example, I have a bunch of 8 x 10 photos of sports stars. I have very little invested in them, but often find even $1.95 minimum with $.95 postage brings no bids, probably because nobody notices them. I am out 40 cents if no bids, which is a big chunk of profits on $1.95 items. If I get one bid, I often get 2 or 3 bids, so if I sell to underbidder without listing fees, I have increased my profits and avoiding a 1 week wait for a small item.
posted on February 25, 2002 11:22:55 AM new
AWSOME. Perfect timing on that personal offer info. I Sell Olympic pins, and the market has JUST peaked... I have a bunch of pins to sell, and prices are higher now then they will ever be. I've received multiple bids on many of my items for several times what I think they are worth. If only 1 or 2 of these come through, I will be in hog heaven. T
