OT - Ebay Auction

[T. Lynn]

I found something on ebay I really wanted. It was just listed so I contacted the seller to see if they would consider a buy it now.

I got an email back stating they have a reserve on it for xx amount, which is VERY high (nearly double) compared to completed items in past 30 days.

Anyway, I went back to check the auction and low and behold they put a reserve on it. That wasn't there when I asked. Guess I should have placed a small bid right away because then they wouldn't have been able to do that.

I'm really upset at myself that I took the initiative to ask...I've never done that before but it's something I've been looking for so I thought it wouldn't hurt. Guess I was wrong.

Sorry, just had to vent...I've never had this happen before.

 

[EpcotMatt2]

Well what about this. Go ahead & put a bid in for what you have paid if the the auction had a Buy It Now to your liking. If the auction ends without the reserve being met & you're the high bidder, the seller just may offer it to you for what you bid. Nothing to lose there.

 

[T. Lynn]

They stated in the email that if they didn't get the reserve they were going to give it to their neice.

I might just try anyway just to see. I wish I would have just put in a minimum bid. Lesson learned...

 

[EpcotMatt2]

The whole niece story may have been a ploy to try & "scare" you into bidding at their desired price.

 

[seashoreCM]

Somehow, today, I don't think it is worth getting pushy or upset or adamant over anything on or about eBay.

Except to file a dispute if you are the winning bidder and send your payment and the item doesn't arrive.

(Occasionally there are bidding irregularities that prevent decent bids from registering and a low bid ultimately wins. If I suspect such irregularites I would quietly notify the buyer, refuse to accept payment, and refuse to ship the item.)

Disney hints: http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

Disney tickets, once usage has commenced, are not transferable. Since it is impossible to tell whether a current ticket is used or not until after you get to Disney, it is unwise to purchase tickets sight unseen from private parties including via eBay.

 

[va32h]

Look at this from a seller's perspective....you list an item; almost immediately someone emails you asking you to sell it for a fixed price. You think to yourself "Wow! This must be a really desirable item. Maybe it's worth more than I thought it was."

As a longtime seller on ebay, that's what sellers usually think when someone contacts them asking for a buy it now on an auction....that they've lowballed their opening bid.

You're right, it's best to just bid on the auction without trying to work out a side deal with the seller.

 

[Kies99]

Look at this from a seller's perspective....you list an item; almost immediately someone emails you asking you to sell it for a fixed price. You think to yourself "Wow! This must be a really desirable item. Maybe it's worth more than I thought it was."

That's exactly what just happened to me. Guy offered me $75 to end it immediately. Next day he offered $100. I ignored both offers as I figured if he was this interested, he was going to try and get it no matter what. I let it go and he ended up winning the auction and paying $160!

 

[Darcy03231]

As an ebay selller I never end an auction early. If you want an item I have listed, bid on it. I typically start all my auctions low with no reserve (I'm still cleaning out my grandparents house and want to get rid of everything). Sometimes things get sold for the opening bid and other times I've been pleasantly surprised where something ended.

 

[T. Lynn]

I do understand that and could have just been told to bid. I was just a little upset that they put a reserve on it right after the email and then told me what the reserve was (which again is 2x the price they sold for in past).

Oh well...

 

[Winston1204]

I had kind of a similar situation happen a few days ago. I was bidding on tickets, and I was the current high bidder. The next day I find out the seller ended the auction early, cancelled my bids, etc. I contact the seller to find out what happened and all he replied with was "sorry, already sold." I was furious!

 

[T. Lynn]

Guess she didn't give them to her neice. Item has been relisted with a reserve. Now there are 2 more sets as well so it might be harder for seller to get the price she wants.

A day or so after her reply I was able to get my item for $20 (new in box) and she wanted $50 for used.