posted on July 19, 2002 12:27:35 AM
PLEASE READ THIS EMAIL...
[an example of what we[I] am plagued with now]....
"hey, i noticed you have no bids on this bookcase and only a couple of hours left on the auction. i think this is an absolutely beautiful piece of furniture, and would love it if you would contact me after the auction, so maybe we could work something out. i am also in atlanta. my email is [email protected].
thanks alot!"
there is clearly no intent to bid...the emailer wants a better price, etc. my question is this: AM I THE ONLY SELLER WHO IS PLAGUED WITH MORE AND MORE OF THIS EVERY
MONTH? in all honesty, i do succumb to some of these, especially those auctions i can sell to my advantage...i say this knowing fully it is also "self incriminating." i have tried every marketing ploy i can think of to offset these kind of prospective bidders, but to no avail...SO, IF THIS IS NOT JUST MY PROBLEM, I WOULD IN ALLLLLL
SINCERITY APPRECIATE READING ANY IDEAS AS HOW TO OFFSET[SOLVE] SOME OF THIS PROBLEM....THANKS AS ALWAYS, MYOLDTOY
_________________________
smhoward
posted on July 19, 2002 07:11:10 AM
I see nothing wrong with this. I have done it a few times myself, especially with newer sellers. If their auctions close with no bids, it should be obvious that the starting price was too high. If the item sells, there is nothing to discuss.
If you have 'succomed' a few times it seems to me as you should appreciate, not whine about this practice!!!!
posted on July 19, 2002 07:30:08 AM
Your always free to decide which way to go. I have people ask all the time - I just made it policy not to sell a nobid item off site - too much risk. You can get set up and suspended or the person buying can get angry and turn you in or a competitor can fwd the emails to safe harbor and your toast. My theory is this - If the only way to get your items is by bidding and the items are in demand then people will bid.
Luck to you
Ok4
posted on July 19, 2002 07:42:46 AM
I agree with OK4---don't do it anymore. There have been rumors of eBay personnel lurking around and sucking someone in just to see if they'd sale off eBay--if you want to continue selling on eBay, why risk it?
posted on July 19, 2002 07:48:02 AMIf their auctions close with no bids, it should be obvious that the starting price was too high.
Not necessarily. There are lots of cheapos and bottom feeders in this world. And at times there may not have been the right bidders looking for your item on that particular week. Perhaps people were reluctant to have a piece of furniture shipped also as that would be an extra cost.
Even if you list again at a lower price how many of these bottom feeders even make an attempt to bid the 2nd time? Probably very few if any.
I get these same type in my RL store. Do I take offers? Yes. But no, I don't like to be insulted by them either.
posted on July 19, 2002 07:51:37 AM
i sell sets and i get emails all the time asking me could they buy just one thing from the set or all but one thing. i will NEVER sell off of ebay. not worth the risk at all. ive even had sellers ask me if id like to do a bin off of ebay because im the only bidder or what not. i refuse.
posted on July 19, 2002 08:45:35 AM
If this happens, and you want to accept the offer, you can either relist the item (on eBay) with a "Buy It Now" price you negotiated with the other party, or you can run an auction with a pre-approved bidder list, IOW run a special auction just for the one bidder.
Another way to avoid the problem would be to list the item with a lower opening bid.
eBay is certainly a buyer's market so it's no surprise these low-ball offers happen frequently. Either your opening bid is too high, or the time is not right for selling your item. 'Used to be you could get a good price for belly-button lint, but those days are over.
I sell auction management tools, and I can tell you that for every seller who gives up, ten more are waiting to take his place. Buyers can search through millions of listings for the best price, with just a mouse click. It's a buyer's market. Don't look for improvement any time soon.
posted on July 19, 2002 09:01:20 AM
I think most eBay sellers are tired of the high fees and high-handedness of eBay and try to complete as many side deals outside of eBay as possible. Not really very ethical but eBay isn't all that ethical either.
That is another reason that I think eBay would like to see the most of the auction portion of the site quietly die while the fixed price portion took over 95% of the items. Can you dicker on Half? No. Does eBay get a 15% comission on Half items? Yes.
The rare collectibles will always need the auction platform but the mass produced items do not really belong on that platform. The competitiveness of the Half sellers brings the prices down to rock bottom prices.
eBay knows the side deals are going on in large scale and they want to close those loopholes. JMHO
