ebay- is this a violation or not?

[crazymomof4]

No flames please, this is an innocent question. I tried researching it on ebay and couldn't find anything on it one way or another. Since I REALLY don't want to do anything inappropiate, I thought I ask here if anyone knows for sure..........

I'm selling an item that is the exact same itme as an item that sold 2 days ago. There were 2 persons bidding on the one that sold. Would it be a violation or in any way unethical for me to press his/her "Contact Member" button and send the losing bidder a message saying that I have the same item up for auction in case he'd like a chance to bid on it?

 

[Skatermom23]

I don't know the official ruling on this but as a frequent bidder I would not want to be contacted.

 

[Cindyluwho]

If you go to the site map of Ebay's site you'll find that they have message boards like this one. I'm sure you can find your answer there!

 

[Not so Dumbo]

I'm not sure. I'm almost positive it would be posted in the rules if it were. Most times, a potential buyer will move on to something else in a day or two anyhow.

 

[crazymomof4]

If you go to the site map of Ebay's site you'll find that they have message boards like this one. I'm sure you can find your answer there!

Ya, thought of that, but I've read several times here on the DIS that those message boards can be an unfriendly place to newcomers. Call me a chicken.

 

[va32h]

It's very much against the rules. It's considered spam. You cannot use ebay's messaging system to send unsolicted mail to another member.

 

[Tiffer]

It's very much against the rules. It's considered spam. You cannot use ebay's messaging system to send unsolicted mail to another member.

True! Against the policy. That doesn't mean tons of people don't do it!

Can youjust go to you old item and click second chance offer? Is it exactly the same?

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

As a buyer--if I really wanted an item but didn't get the one I bid on...I'd be looking for another one anyway and probably wouldn't care to be contacted.

 

[Not so Dumbo]

Can youjust go to you old item and click second chance offer? Is it exactly the same?

Only if she wants to sell it for the price that bidder bid up to. I also don't think she can if she already has it listed in another auction.

 

[crazymomof4]

It's very much against the rules. It's considered spam. You cannot use ebay's messaging system to send unsolicted mail to another member.

OK thanks! It's definite then, I'm not going to do it. I'm fairly new to ebay and I just thought that maybe it was commonly done and I just never knew about it.

 

[Imzadi]

Ya, thought of that, but I've read several times here on the DIS that those message boards can be an unfriendly place to newcomers. Call me a chicken.

Once I had a major problem with a buyer who clicked on "Buy It Now" then backed out, meanwhile screwing up my auction which had an item time sensitive for a specific hoilday, and even if relisted, would have been past the holiday. I went to the ebay boards to ask for advice. Instead I got people who's sole purpose is to scrutinize other people's auctions with the express purpose of shutting down as many auctions as possible.

never again will I post under my eBay user name. If i really need help, I'll create a new user name, or post on more friendly message boards who really want to HELP people, like our DIS Budget Board or at: Mycoupons.com Auction Board

 

[famofsix]

Sometimes when I lose an auction ebay will mail me a list.
It goes items not won but similiar items are...
If you listed it soon enough they would get that too.
Good luck.

 

[MOMTOMOOTOO]

Just send a second chance offer.

 

[grlpwrd]

Once I had a major problem with a buyer who clicked on "Buy It Now" then backed out, meanwhile screwing up my auction which had an item time sensitive for a specific hoilday, and even if relisted, would have been past the holiday. I went to the ebay boards to ask for advice. Instead I got people who's sole purpose is to scrutinize other people's auctions with the express purpose of shutting down as many auctions as possible.

never again will I post under my eBay user name. If i really need help, I'll create a new user name, or post on more friendly message boards who really want to HELP people, like our DIS Budget Board or at: Mycoupons.com Auction Board

Some folks at the ebay boards are ruthless. It's just crazy.

I second the MyCoupons auction board. I don't go there as much, but folks like "Cuthie" and "sexysmurf" are wonderful there.

 

[Honu]

Ebay's policy is you are not to contact members that you aren't currently involved in a sale with.

If you are asking questions or bidding on their items its OK.

If they are inquiring, bidding or did bid on your closed auction it's OK.

I recently sold season football tickets. After the auction closed, someone sent the losing bidders second chance offers. Unfortunately, one of them bit and sent almost $4500 via paypal to a hotmail account.

 

[va32h]

Just send a second chance offer.

You can only send a second chance offer to your own under-bidders. The OP was talking about sending emails to the under-bidders on other people's auctions. Huge difference.

 

[louie694]

No flames please, this is an innocent question. I tried researching it on ebay and couldn't find anything on it one way or another. Since I REALLY don't want to do anything inappropiate, I thought I ask here if anyone knows for sure..........

I'm selling an item that is the exact same itme as an item that sold 2 days ago. There were 2 persons bidding on the one that sold. Would it be a violation or in any way unethical for me to press his/her "Contact Member" button and send the losing bidder a message saying that I have the same item up for auction in case he'd like a chance to bid on it?

nope, ebay wants you to do stuff like that. if you sell it via ebay in an auction or in your store that is called ebay marketing and makes you a hero! if you write to the buyers and tell them to meet you at a gas station to do a deal, that might get you kicked off ebay, if they caught you. and controversially enough, ebay has surveillance cameras at 80% of all the gas stations in the united states! bet you didn't know that. not many people do. it's very controversial and is one of the reasons why ebay recently raised their seller's fees.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

No need to contact. Your item will be accessable to the losing bidder via a link to a list of similar items.

 

[JR6ooo4]

Once I had a major problem with a buyer who clicked on "Buy It Now" then backed out, meanwhile screwing up my auction which had an item time sensitive for a specific hoilday, and even if relisted, would have been past the holiday. I went to the ebay boards to ask for advice. Instead I got people who's sole purpose is to scrutinize other people's auctions with the express purpose of shutting down as many auctions as possible.

never again will I post under my eBay user name. If i really need help, I'll create a new user name, or post on more friendly message boards who really want to HELP people, like our DIS Budget Board or at: Mycoupons.com Auction Board

Ya, ebay does not help much. I bought a DVDlisted as high quality and it was a capture of a very bad video tape. Several other similar complaints and they did nothing for me. Paypal as well...

Mikeeee

 

[Honu]

nope, ebay wants you to do stuff like that. if you sell it via ebay in an auction or in your store that is called ebay marketing and makes you a hero! if you write to the buyers and tell them to meet you at a gas station to do a deal, that might get you kicked off ebay, if they caught you. and controversially enough, ebay has surveillance cameras at 80% of all the gas stations in the united states! bet you didn't know that. not many people do. it's very controversial and is one of the reasons why ebay recently raised their seller's fees.

I just forwarded this to my friends that work at ebay (yep, they're still at work at 9 pm) and they are all rolling.