posted on September 29, 2005 07:20:52 AM
Do people really go through your feedback rating to see what you've bought? About a month ago, I bought a very rare item for dirt cheap with the Buy It Now (seller didn't know what it was worth I guess, or just wanted to get rid of it, also not his normal line of merchandise so he may not have been familiar with it). Last week I sold a similar and even more rare item for a sky high price.
It bothers me that people can see this, they might think I'm a heartless scrooge. They see I've bought low and sold high. Imagine how the seller of the low priced item feels?
Normally if I do this, I buy under one user ID, wait a bit, and then sell under another user ID. I know, I know, some of you will probably say "who cares" it's their problem not mine. But I don't want people to get a bad impression of me, and maybe not buy from me on priciple. Plus I don't want the seller of the low priced item to know that he could have got almost four times more for it. There's no way of knowing if he's checked my transactions or not, I'm hoping he hasn't. What he doesn't know won't hurt him.
So, what do people do when they look at feedback, just look at the number of positives, or actually look at actual transactions?
posted on September 29, 2005 08:31:33 AM
yes, if i really want to do my homework, i don't look at just actual feedback, i click the link and look at what was bought or sold and the price.
that said, i think you worry too much! buy under one i.d. and sell under a different one. if anyone has any problems with that, well, that's just too bad. it's your expertise in your area of knowledge that makes the difference and you reap the reward.
posted on September 29, 2005 08:37:09 AM
I think you are being a bit paranoid as sellers are different, better (or at least differnt) FB numbers, better pictures, better write -ups, easier terms, different time of year, closing time etc. so it is very possible to buy and sell at a profit.
I have never bought with separate ID but if it bothers you by all means buy with one ID and sell with the other ID.
posted on September 29, 2005 08:41:36 AM
When I check feedback I do look at what they've bought and sold. You should buy with one ID and sell with the other. Something I learned long ago - even before Ebay - is do not reveal where you buy - whether it is online or at a particular auction house.
I've broken my rule here and there, and 95% of the time have regretted it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Caroline
posted on September 29, 2005 08:46:45 AM
Powerweb, I am sure I've sold things for way less than they are worth and they have probably gotten turned over for more. Thats the way it goes sometimes
.
[ edited by dblfugger9 on Sep 29, 2005 02:59 PM ]
posted on September 29, 2005 08:53:50 AM
If you would rather buy high and sell low contact me ASAP as I have thousands of items to sell you.LOL. Buying low and selling high is what selling is all about. I buy from a local dealer that loves to tell me he paid $1.00 for something he is selling me for $100.00 and I am happy for him as long as I can still make money off the item.
posted on September 29, 2005 08:58:29 AM
Thanks for your input. Normally I use one ID for bidding and another for selling (or if I do break this rule, it's for items I plan on keeping or for items that are in a totally different catagory).
This time though, I came across this deal with the BIN, and not wanting to risk losing it by logging out of one ID and logging into another which could leave enough time for someone else to get it. And believe me, it could happen! Then as it happens, I wanted to sell my other item becuase that was the optimal time of year to sell it.
Maybe I am a bit paranoid, but I just don't want people to know what I'm buying if I end up selling it. That said, I think it looks good for a seller to have some purchases mixed in for good measure, as long as they're unrealated, like you sell women's sweaters and have buy a new computer keyboard. No harm there.
posted on September 29, 2005 03:41:30 PM
You should never feel guilty. Remember that you are performing a valuable role in determining the true market worth of a (previously undervalued/overlooked) item - which required your keen instinct and incisive intellect
Most of the Vendio community have two or three eBay accounts anyway for just such occasions, or to throw off nosy relatives and neighbors, and the rare auction stalker.
Caroline