Had someone enter bids of $9.99, $39.99, and $49.99 to feel out my reserve price. It remained overnight and into today and then a little while ago, they retracted the bids claiming they entered the wrong amount.
How do you enter THREE bids in the wrong amount???
------ "Bend over backward for the customer. Don't bend forward."
posted on March 3, 2005 04:42:13 PM
So how do I report this person? The rules say if you entered the wrong amount, you're supposed to have a follow-up bid with the correct amount. This didn't happen.
And non-paying bidders are one of the flaws of auctioning period -- it doesn't make auctioning wrong. Reserve prices are a smart option as we've established here before.
------ "Bend over backward for the customer. Don't bend forward."
posted on March 3, 2005 05:08:54 PM
is that your biggest problem?
if so - GET OVER IT!
Block them if you feel like you just have to and move on.
Personally, I think reserve price auctions are stupid (except for Salgal's Limoge).
I've seen auctions that I've been interested in and the starting price was $99.99 with one bid. I don't bid. I go back after the auction is over and reserve price has been met at $110.00. What's the point? Except you excluded me as a bidder.
Either list it for the minimum of what you would accept for it, disclose the reserve price in the auction or be prepared (hopefully) for a sh*tload of emails.
I've known for a long time that you could find out the reserve price that way. Have I ever used it? No.
posted on March 3, 2005 05:20:06 PM
There not much you can do about bid retraction. If someone make a habbit out of it, then they might get temporily suspended.
posted on March 4, 2005 04:38:13 AM
At this point, I'd be happy that he or she retracted the bid. Seems to me that's better than having a non-paying bidder on your hands.
Cheryl
"No drug, not even alcohol, causes the fundamental ills of society. If we're looking for the source of our troubles, we shouldn't test people for drugs, we should test them for stupidity, ignorance, greed and love of power." ~ P.J. O'Rourke
posted on March 4, 2005 05:11:46 AM
"Either list it for the minimum of what you would accept for it, disclose the reserve price in the auction"
I have been saying this for a couple of years now.I have NEVER bid on an article that had a resereve price on it.I dont have time to play guessing games and if you thing Im going to keep bidding on your piece of junk to get in a bidding war with something-get lost.They only thing is that if your going to disclose the reserve price in the auction,you might as well start the bidding there.
I also like the ploy some sellers use.They put in N/R on an auction with a high starting bid-well hello?? that is a reserve price.I.E.-I was just looking at some digital video cameras.
The starting bid was $199-but he stated there was no reserve-what the hell is the difference???..do I have stoooopid written across my forehead??? If he started the bidding at $1.00 and stated there was no reserve thats a different story.
posted on March 4, 2005 07:45:59 AM
Almost everytime I've asked for the reserve, I've been told. EVERYTIME I've been asked I've told. It's the way reserves work.
In all the ones I've done, this is the first time someone cheated to find out.
Sorry glassgirl that you have bigger problems and have to bash those of concern to others.
------ "Bend over backward for the customer. Don't bend forward."
posted on March 4, 2005 01:55:00 PMHad someone enter bids of $9.99, $39.99, and $49.99 to feel out my reserve price
When you do these type of auctions, you cannot cry when others feel the need to check out for themselves what your reserve is. Reserve auctions simply don't have any purpose online except to piss off potential buyers. I look at reserves as someone who cannot tell the truth in general. Put your minimum price in and go from there. Quit the BS games.
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Alive in 2005
If you have a true investment of, let's say, $300 in an item & you START bidding AT $300, the reality is: ain't nobody gonna look...
I rarely use RESERVES (can't believe those who use them on $20 auctions) but, WHEN I DO, I state the RESERVE price right in the description, kinda like this:
"LOW LOW $300 RESERVE PRICE"
"Who could have possibly envisioned an erection — an election in Iraq at this point in history?" Prez.Jim Beam, at the White House, Washington, D.C., Jan. 10, 2005
posted on March 4, 2005 03:46:12 PM
starting a digital camera at 199 with no reserve.
i dont see anything wrong with that,some cameras run into thousands.
-sig file -------Life is one big happy 'All You Can Eat' buffet .
posted on March 4, 2005 03:51:03 PM
Quote: "...have to bash those of concern to others."
??
I simply said if you have a reserve price on an auction and if it's not something I just have to have then I rarely bother to email to ask what the reserve price is.
I rarely buy $3,000 items of course
But I see time after time, auctions that start at one price and their reserve is only $10.00 over their starting price - well then....that just doesn't make sense to me. At that point, you've alienated me as a potential bidder.
I'd rather bid on an auction that starts at $110.00 with no reserve than an auction that starts at $99.99 with the reserve set at ? when in reality it's $110.00. But I don't know that so I don't bid.
posted on March 4, 2005 09:21:18 PM
How To Bid On a Reserve Auction:
Look at the item and read the terms.
Decide how much you want to pay for the item.
Bid that amount.
What will happen is:
A. You meet the reserve, end up high bidder and win the item.
or
B. You don't meet the reserve.
or
C. You meet the reserve and someone bids more than you did.
Please Note: B. and C. are the same.... have the same result .....someone valued the item more than you did.....does it matter who? No.
What's the problem ?
I, as seller, own the item...I decide what I want for it.
Is there a rule that you have to sell at a loss on ebay?
List everything for a penny because some people are too cheap or too broke to be on ebay?
I've bought and sold on ebay using reserve auctions with no problems.
But I'm glad some people fear them because it cuts down on the competition when I'm bidding
posted on March 4, 2005 10:57:22 PM
Reserve auctions = waste of time for both buyer and seller, as well as extra fees to the seller when the item doesn't sell.
Simply put, reserve auctions act as a barrier to bidding.
Best to use reserves if you are not sure what a value of an item might be, and do not want to risk selling it at an under-valued price. (set a high reserve, and then subsequently list at an appropriate price)
posted on March 5, 2005 07:19:03 AM
sthoemke why are auctions a waste of time for buyers and sellers?
I deliberately took out the word "reserve" from that question because a reserve auction is no different than a "no reserve" auction except , yes, the fees are higher.
Did you read the post right before yours????????????
But, once again, I'm glad so many people are afraid of reserve auctions.....keeps them from bidding on the stuff I want
posted on March 5, 2005 08:52:32 AMa reserve auction is no different than a "no reserve" auction except , yes, the fees are higher.
Crowfarm, do you actually surf ebay, ever????? If something starts at .01 cents and the reserve is set to $99.00, you might be bidding until you are blue in the face trying to purchase the item. Whereas, if there is no reserve, the item can be purchased for the highest bid at end of auction at any price including the opening bid. No difference, myazz.
posted on March 5, 2005 09:31:58 AM
No, dblfugger, you don't have to bid until you're blue in the face. Read the post where I tell how to bid on a reserve auction.
You determine how much the item is worth to you, then bid that amount...once. If you change your mind and want to bid more, that is an option.
Why would anyone want to sell something for a penny? That really doesn't make any sense....that IS a waste of fees.
Please read my post again...A, B, C and the follow up.
posted on March 5, 2005 09:51:18 AM
So then in effect, if you have no idea what the reserve is, all your doing [if you only enter your highest purchase price] is opening the bidding for somebody else to purchase at or above the reserve?
Crowfarm, you're too dense for me. Believe what you want to believe.
posted on March 5, 2005 09:57:56 AM
dblfugger says, "So then in effect, if you have no idea what the reserve is, all your doing [if you only enter your highest purchase price] is opening the bidding for somebody else to purchase at or above the reserve?"
The bidding is "open" at the start of the auction.
If another bidder places more value on the item than you do you will be outbid no matter if it's a reserve auction or not.
""if you have no idea what the reserve is" ......
You have no idea if you will be outbid until the auction , any auction, is over....remember snipers.
posted on March 5, 2005 10:35:33 AMThe bidding is "open" at the start of the auction.
Bidding may be open, but technically, bidding has not started until you get a bid. Otherwise its just another advertised listing hanging out in the stratosphere of ebay's vast marketplace.
[where, oh where, is classicrock when you need 'em? ]
okay lets try this again with cf's own words
You have no idea if you will be outbid until the auction , any auction, is over...
The difference, crowfarm, is: On a "no reserve auction", you can ultimately, conceivably, purchase the item at YOUR BID PRICE if you DONT get outbid. But with a reserve auction, you must meet a sellers expectations of price for the item, regardless to what he started the bidding at.
I have found that sellers who do use reserve are usually trying to square in the market with competitors opening pricing, but do not want to take the chance of letting it ride to get what they really think they should for the item. Therefore, you will generally find yourself bidding at least twice to find or hit the reserve; and then again if another bidder comes along.
Lot of trouble unless you really want the item and go in with an outlandish proxy to begin with. And most people dont bid like that. They bid low and then adjust for other bidders. Thats enough to ask. On a reserve auction, the seller has almost set himself up as the high bidder one has to out-bid and that amount remains a mystery until a "real" bidder hits it.
That, crowfarm is the difference.
..
[ edited by dblfugger9 on Mar 5, 2005 10:47 AM ]
posted on March 5, 2005 12:01:19 PM
Ok, dble
""You have no idea if you will be outbid until the auction , any auction, is over...
The difference, crowfarm, is: On a "no reserve auction", you can ultimately, conceivably, purchase the item at YOUR BID PRICE if you DONT get outbid. But with a reserve auction, you must meet a sellers expectations of price for the item, regardless to what he started the bidding at.""
NOT neeting the seller's expectations has the exact same result as getting outbid.....YOU don't get the item.....it doesn't make any difference to whom !
Try to look at it like getting outbid by the seller.
You don't have to have an "outlandish" proxy bid...just what YOU want to pay.
WHY would you want to pay an outlandish price for something?
You say, "" And most people dont bid like that. They bid low and then adjust for other bidders. ""
They could but I just bid the highest I'm willing to pay and let ebay bid for me....simple. Yup, sometimes I change my mind if I'm outbid and throw in another bid.
""On a reserve auction, the seller has almost set himself up as the high bidder one has to out-bid and that amount remains a mystery until a "real" bidder hits it.""
Yes, you're right! You simply have to outbid the highest bidder as in ANY auction.
posted on March 6, 2005 07:27:07 PM
What the anti-Reserve people constanting misunderstand is the power getting that first bid has on actually selling the item.
They claim all these things about reserves being a barrier to bidding and bashing (yes, glassgirl, you were the critical one, not me) those who use them, but the fact remains auction houses use reserves ALL THE TIME and ebay does as well.
How many of you have ever been to a real auction, big or small? I've seen items try to have an opening bid of $100 with no takers, they back down to $50, nothing. Down to $25, nothing. $10 and the bidding starts... and escalates WELL ABOVE the $100 initial bid.
A reserve simply keeps that for selling for $10. But at a real auction the reserve is rarely revealed.
One other thing is that I've stated CLEARLY that in my experience with reserves NO ONE has ever cheated. But people (who fail to pay attention as they read) say nonsense like (paraphrase) "you do idiotic stuff like using reserve then you cannot cry when people break the rules to find out what the reserve is..."
HOGWASH!
Of course I can properly complain. Especially when it's NEVER happened before to me. And as many others have pointed out, reserves DO have a value in ebay -- even if they don't work for you, they do work for others and are NOT a barrier to bidding.
You people need to step back and realize that what works for others may not work for you -- and accept that. Don't whine and complain about people using tools at their disposal to run their business. And that NO MATTER WHAT, the bidder CHEATING to find out the reserve IS THE SOLE PROBLEM. Not the seller who is running their business fairly and properly (even if it is different from you).
There.
------ "Bend over backward for the customer. Don't bend forward."
posted on March 6, 2005 09:39:19 PM
When a seller uses a reserve, even before the first bid has been placed, in essence a bid has been placed, that being the seller’s. So even though you may be placing the item’s first bid, you still have to beat the seller’s high bid (reserve) in order to get it.
I’m constantly amazed at all the ho-hum items with reserves. It’s like sellers think their $29.95 items are priceless. When I see a reserve auction, I just click on the Back button.
And while I’m on this topic, when doing searches, I WISH eBay would identify the reserve auctions with a little “R” next to them, like they now do with a little “PP” for PayPal. Sure would save me some time.
posted on March 6, 2005 10:11:18 PM
I dont believe in using reserve auctions. why start the auction at $10. when you have a reserve of $100. i founf that all it does is to make angry customers. i for one will never bid on a reserve auction. i just pass over it and find auctions that are not reserve. i agree, all reserve auctions should be marked in the heading on the list of auctions page, so we can see that it is a reserve auction without having to go into it.
posted on March 7, 2005 03:03:02 AM
I don't think there is any immediate solution to your bid retractions - it's cheesy behavior, but not illegal.
Ebay will only monitor and attempt to stop behavior that costs them money.
The pro/con reserve issue has come up before, and is one of those things that there will never be agreement on. One thing to remember, however, is that you cannot equate an eBay auction with a live auction. They are very different.
[ edited by Damariscotta on Mar 7, 2005 03:59 PM ]
posted on March 7, 2005 06:59:19 AM
I agree the debate on reserve auctions will never end...but like I said, it cuts down on the competition
I have bought what I want at the price I want with reserve auctions. I have sold with reserve auctions....works for Southeby's...works for me.
Good post, peiklk !
Dixielou says, "So even though you may be placing the item’s first bid, you still have to beat the seller’s high bid (reserve) in order to get it."
YUP, you're right, you always have to beat the high bid to win ANY auction.
If someone gets "angry" because they're outbid maybe an auction site is not where they should be.
posted on March 7, 2005 02:23:45 PM
I have used the "reserve" a few times.
Two of those times I was listing an item for someone else.
Once was for my husband's motorcycle.
Once was for a marked cigar mold that booked for $200. My reserve was set at what I had paid for it, $45 (which is not what I believe to have been an unreasonable amount). My starting bid was $19.95, to get it started. I still have it. I am not willing to "give it away" either.
Once was for my mother-in-law when she wanted to list an enameled cup from the coronation of Czar Nicolas of Russia. We had seen this in an exclusive shop for $1200, her reserve was $250 (again, not unreasonable).
posted on March 7, 2005 06:13:00 PM
Yup, twig , there are good reasons for sometimes using a reserve....like the OWNER doesn't want to part with it for less than such an such an amount.
Or, I have a vintage item that I was thinking of selling so I've been doing searches on it for a few months....I've seen it go for between $85-$135.
I did see one auction where it went for $25.00...don't know why, the item looked the same as the others, everything appeared the same so maybe the right person wasn't there, maybe it ended at a bad time....who knows.
But if I list mine I will not take a chance that it will go for $25 through some fluke....it will be listed with a reserve.
posted on March 8, 2005 04:41:07 AM
I listed something a month ago with a reserve. The reserve was not met. I re-listed at the price I wanted with no reserve and it went well beyond that. I'm convinced that it's better to list at the price you want. The fees are less and it scares less people away. I do bid on reserve auctions myself. I put in what I'm willing to pay. If the reserve is not met, I simply move on.
Cheryl
"No drug, not even alcohol, causes the fundamental ills of society. If we're looking for the source of our troubles, we shouldn't test people for drugs, we should test them for stupidity, ignorance, greed and love of power." ~ P.J. O'Rourke
posted on March 8, 2005 04:59:12 AM
The reason this can never be resolved is that people are motivated by different things, and they set up "buying rules" (or selling rules). This is not new with eBay, it is the way some, if not most people are.
Some people here have made statements like: "I never bid if there is a reserve; I only bid if they start at .99, etc."
In the off-line world I have often heard similar. "I don't buy unless the dealer discounts by 20%, I don't buy if I have to pay sales tax, I don't buy from auctions, I only buy from auctions, I don't buy.... whatever.
So, some of these people will be accommodated by some sellers, but there is absolutely nothing a seller can do that will please everyone.
