ebay question (yep, another)

[Belle0101]

I have an item up for bid on ebay. There is one bid on it and that is the starting bid. I'm okay with that. I put it up for the lowest price I will accept.

I received an email from a person who is not the bidder. They told me they would "buy these now for" (for being the amount they are currently at) and "would you put a .38
cent stamp" and they would pay them tonight.

I politely declined but now I'm wondering if this solicitaion is against ebay policy. Would anybody know for certain? I don't want to get anybody in trouble but I just wonder if by only declining I'm doing the right thing. As a seller am I obligated to do more?

I'm pretty new to ebay so I'm not sure what is the right thing to do.

Thanks!

 

[DiaDeGuadalupe]

I'm not sure if it's against policy, but I do know that this sort of transaction if frowned upon by Ebay, mainly because there's no recourse if something goes wrong with the outside sale. You definitely did the right thing by declining the outside sale. If that person really wanted your merchandise badly enough, they would have placed a bid.

I've heard lots of stories about people who try to get sellers to stop certain auctions in order to get items at much lower prices, then try to stiff the sellers on shipping. In your case, you already have someone else who has put in a bid, and it would be unfair to that buyer if you went ahead and sold the item to the person who emailed you. Besides, you never know if you'll end up getting more money for that item by the end of the auction

 

[Belle0101]

Thanks for the answers. I feel more confident now. And I have to agree that it really wouldn't be fair to the person who did bid and is also willing to pay for USPS Priority Mail shipping. Thanks again!

 

[Ilovestitch]

Its not against ebay policy as long as you make the sale through the ebay website. You can set up the auction as a buy it now for that one particular bidder.

The other day a seller on ebay had a disney pin for sale that I really wanted. They had it for $3.00 plus $4.00 shipping. I emailed them and said I would buy it now for $10. I also asked if they could charge a little less for shipping- like $2 (since you can mail a pin with delivery confirmation for around $1). The seller said sure and revised his auction to make it buy it now for $10 with $2 shipping.

I'm a seller and I've had people email me who want to buy it now- if the price is right, then why not? Some people can't wait a week for something and are willing to pay more to get it now. If that means more $$ in my paypal acct. faster, then i'm all for it -Steph

 

[bettyann29]

Pesonally I dont think its right to do this.. How would you feel if you were that other bidder and then the seller did that? I would be mad.. If someone wants it I say they do it the right way.. and you never know.. If you have more than 1 person wanting that item they may bid against each other and you may get more for that item than what this person is offering you... That may be why they are asking you to do it as buy it now..

I hate when people email me and complain about the shipping... I dont overprice it.. Most of the time Im right on the mark.. occasionally Ive been a little off and it bugs me when people will contact me and tell me the shipping is way too high!! If they dont like it, then just dont bid..

 

[PURTYPAT1]

Hi There

I Am A Seller Also. Alot Of Times, When I Start An Auction, I Will "several" Emails, Asking To Close, Especially With Disney Products.

Beware For, I See That A Lot Of Times, These People Buy From You,(when You Close Your Auction For Them) At A Cheap Price, & Then Turn Around Resell It At Much Higher Price.

Do Your Homework, & Check Completed Items & See What Your Items Are Worth.

If I Don't Have A Buy It Now, Then I Usually Don't Close The Auction Down.

As Far As Shipping Goes, There Are So Many People That Are Over Charging On Shipping Costs, That It Really Makes It Hard On The Honest Sellers, That Are Really Charging What The Correct (in The Ball Park) Price.

Hope This Helps. I Have Become Quite An Expert.

Patricia