posted on January 22, 2003 06:04:23 PM new
I have a singular (meaning: unusual, odd, one-of-a-kind) customer who has in the past bought 100-300 items from me in a six-week period, then paid for them all at once two or three weeks after I bidder-block her. (I *have* to bidder-block her, otherwise she would go on bidding like the Energizer Bunny.)
In fact, we have had three of these cycles. She bid-bid-bids, I block her, she stalls, she finally pays.
We have just finished a fourth, and this time, unlike the others, she is not going to pay for the 207 items she won.
OK, fine. Don't cry for me; I certainly knew this could happen given her erratic behavior.
But now I have 207 pieces of jewelry I would like to dispose of quickly.
I never use BIN, but I was thinking of doing it with these 207 pieces. To sweeten the deal and get some cash flowing, I was thinking of throwing in some bonus jewelry if the high bidder does BIN and sends a PayPal instant payment.
Can I advertise this in my auctions, or is some jealous competitor going to turn me in for an arcane rules infraction?
posted on January 22, 2003 06:11:11 PM new
Here is eBays policy on bonuses. If you wish to find this do a search in eBay
Bonus Auction...
bonus auction
It is generally permissible for sellers to offer a bonus item to bidders within their listing as long as the following requirements are met:
In all bonus listings, the seller must state the exact price at which the bonus will apply. For example, it is not permissible to state, "I will throw in a state-of-the-art black and white TV if bidding reaches a high enough amount." It is permissible to state, "I will throw in a state-of-the-art black and white TV if bidding reaches $150."
In Mutiple Item Listings the seller must offer the exact same bonus item to ALL buyers. Multiple Item Listing rules require that all buyers receive identical items.
Policy: Bonus listings in which the seller does not state the exact amount at which the bonus will apply and Multiple Item Listings in which the exact same bonus is not offered to all buyers are not permitted and will be ended. The Insertion Fee will be automatically credited for such listings.
posted on January 22, 2003 06:20:29 PM new
Thanks for the info, Libra63. Looks like it's a gray area, since I can't really use a dollar amount target.
i.e. I can list a bracelet for 1 cent (as usual) with a BIN of $14.99, but I only want to give the bonus if the bracelet is purchased with BIN....not if regular bidding hits or exceeds $14.99.
Looks like it would be safest to be as specific as possible.
posted on January 22, 2003 06:52:10 PM new
Fluffy >> I think it'd be okay, since you are essentially stating that the bonus will be given if the winning bid amount equals an exact amount, which is the BIN. Don't know about the requirement of having to use PayPal, though...shouldn't be a problem, since eBay now owns PayPal!
"Who's tending the bar? Sniping works up a thirst"
posted on January 22, 2003 07:10:01 PM new
I often offer free shipping with BIN and payment within 24 hours. The rule is rather ambiguous as to whether this is okay or not. Never had anyone complain. Ebay hasn't shut me down. I guess that leads me to assume it's alright.
posted on January 22, 2003 07:42:38 PM new
I see hundreds of BIN auctions that offer free shipping if the BIN price is used. I think it's a smart move and incentive to get buyers to use the BIN.
Sniping works up a thirst"