opinions on an eBay selling issue
EVillageProwler
Posts: 5,856 ✭✭✭✭✭
Suppose you were a seller on eBay with lots that open at $1 and no reserve. And, suppose you know of a dealer (yes, an actual dealer and not one who is a collector who moves coins from time to time) who seems to bid on your $1 lots with a very low bid (something like $2 or so).
Suppose also that this dealer bidder has never made any substantial bids on any of your lots. That is, the bids weren't even close to FMV of the lot in question.
Suppose also that you don't have a pre-existing meaningful business relationship with this dealer bidder, and aren't likely to have one in the future.
Suppose also that the main purpose of these $1 listings is to attract bona fide customers and perhaps even offer collectors the possibility of a decent deal.
My thinking is that it would be a shame for this dealer bidder to "accidentally" win a lot at $1 and then sell it to a retail customer at a substantial profit. I would rather it go unsold, re-list, and offer the opportunity again at $1 open to real collectors. Either way, the seller would be taking a hit if the item sells low. But, it just seems more appropriate to offer the potential rip to a collector (and a potential repeat customer).
What do you think?
BTW, how do you go about blocking a bidder ID?
TIA,
EVP
PS I know that you can't always tell the diff between a collector and a dealer; in this case, however, this bidder is an actual dealer.
Suppose also that this dealer bidder has never made any substantial bids on any of your lots. That is, the bids weren't even close to FMV of the lot in question.
Suppose also that you don't have a pre-existing meaningful business relationship with this dealer bidder, and aren't likely to have one in the future.
Suppose also that the main purpose of these $1 listings is to attract bona fide customers and perhaps even offer collectors the possibility of a decent deal.
My thinking is that it would be a shame for this dealer bidder to "accidentally" win a lot at $1 and then sell it to a retail customer at a substantial profit. I would rather it go unsold, re-list, and offer the opportunity again at $1 open to real collectors. Either way, the seller would be taking a hit if the item sells low. But, it just seems more appropriate to offer the potential rip to a collector (and a potential repeat customer).
What do you think?
BTW, how do you go about blocking a bidder ID?
TIA,
EVP
PS I know that you can't always tell the diff between a collector and a dealer; in this case, however, this bidder is an actual dealer.
How does one get a hater to stop hating?
I can be reached at evillageprowler@gmail.com
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Comments
Jeremy
<< <i>PS I know that you can't always tell the diff between a collector and a dealer; in this case, however, this bidder is an actual dealer. >>
What's the definition of an "actual dealer?" OK sorry don't want to get you going.
I don't understand why you would consider blocking someone that bid frequently in such a manner, whether it's 1.00 or 100.00. I bid on things sometimes at the opening bid just to keep a closer eye on them rather than placing them in my "Watch" category, which I frequently forget to watch!
<< <i>i agree and if i knew the bidder was a dealer i'd cancel his bid and then block him, >>
Why ? Please explain.
Ken
In this example, you chose ebay, you chose no reserve, you chose $.99 and now you want to dictate who can and cannot bid just because you believe a bidder is a dealer (true or not).
A sale is a sale and if the high bidder pays, why should you care? The price paid was FMV at that time at that point. Maybe you should look closer at what you listed and how you listed it to attempt to understand why no one else bid on the item.
If I had it my way, stupidity would be painful!
I don't care if it sells for 1¢; I don't care if the winning bidder is EVillageProwler, Legend or stman.
I don't care if this dealer bidder has never made any substantial bids on my lots or if the bids were even close to FMV.
I don't care that I don't don't have a pre-existing meaningful business relationship with this dealer bidder.
I don't care who buys it or what they do with it afterward.
All I want is the $$$$ in my sweaty little hands ASAP.
And I don't know how to block a bidder because I have never put anybody in my blocked bidder list.
The issue simply is that a dealer is trying to rip me on a lot that is designed to offer an opportunity to collectors. That is, if someone is going to make/save money, I'd rather it be the collector rather than a dealer who doesn't care about the coin and just wants to retail it for a substantial profit.
I understand that this is a business, and money is money. But, where is the karmic joy if the end-customer -- the collector -- is denied?
This is probably a non-issue, and I agree with Eric that bids -- even a $1 bid -- normally attract more bids.
In any case, I thank everyone who answered. Some answers are broader than the initial question, but still relevent and fuel for thought.
Regards,
EVP
How does one get a hater to stop hating?
I can be reached at evillageprowler@gmail.com
1) You put the auction up for anyone and now if someone bids low it's an attempt to "rip" you? I don't get that.
2) How do you "design" an auction that just appeals to or caters to "collectors"?
My Auctions
I get a lot of ridiculousy low bids on $1 start coins from the same bidders. Maybe some people make $2 bids just to bookmark the lot rather than using the conventional method(?).
The issue simply is that a dealer is trying to rip me on a lot that is designed to offer an opportunity to collectors. That is, if someone is going to make/save money, I'd rather it be the collector rather than a dealer who doesn't care about the coin and just wants to retail it for a substantial profit.>>>
Maybe you're the one that doesn't understand how it works.
If a collector wanted what you have for sale then a collector would bid on it.
There's no way of knowing or controlling who the bidders actually are. That's the chances you take listing on eBay. If you only want to sell to a small select group then the largest internet auction site in the world isn't the best place to do it.
<< <i>The issue simply is that a dealer is trying to rip me >>
Welcome to the world of no reserve auctions.
Russ, NCNE
Apparently you don't like this person bidding on your stuff---SO BLOCK HIS @#$%^&*
The truth is that I am slightly annoyed by something going on that's semi-related (don't ask for details; you'd never be able to guess). Also, my utterly delightful boss is freakishly paranoid about these $1 bids remaining at their levels that she compounded my annoyance sufficiently that I momentarily considered euthansia. These lots had kicked off early eve Pac time, and the following morning she was asking me why there aren't more bids! Like... how the heck was I supposed to know? It's still early, duh!
Ok, again, thanks for the responses. I still don't know how to block a bidder, but I don't think I'll need to know yet.
EVP
How does one get a hater to stop hating?
I can be reached at evillageprowler@gmail.com
Perhaps another way around the problem is to offer a bonus something-or-other to first-time customers if they win.
New collectors, please educate yourself before spending money on coins; there are people who believe that using numismatic knowledge to rip the naïve is what this hobby is all about.
Suppose there was this guy with some coins to sell.
Suppose he was a member of a coin collecting group.
Suppose he didn't mind selling those coins pretty cheaply, below FMV, but only to collectors, not dealers.
Suppose instead of selling to the members of this coin collecting group, stating he only wanted to sell to collectors, not dealers (just about every one knows who is who around here....errr....around this (ficticious) group) he decides to sell to the general public where a dealer may have a user name not associated with a known dealer.
Suppose he now whats advice concerning selling to dealers instead of collectors.
List your coins at a price you would like to receive from them, collector or dealer.
If you want to sell (decent) coins for a buck or two to collectors, I'll take them....or any number of other collectors here.
Maybe, if you really want to be generious & feel good about it, offer them to YN ONLY. Not sure how you would go about verifying it, but you would be certain that they were not dealers!
JMO
BTW as Russ said welcome to the world of NR Ebay auctions.
I sell quite a bit to eBay PowerSellers and Coin Shop owners, but sometimes somebody else comes along and out bids them.
So I guess I'm selling wholesale to the public as well.
My posts viewed
since 8/1/6
<< <i>Maybe, if you really want to be generious & feel good about it, offer them to YN ONLY. Not sure how you would go about verifying it, but you would be certain that they were not dealers! >>
Then I could just borrow a neighbor's kid.
By listing them, you have to let the free market do what it will... to worry over the bidding IMO is silly.
Liberty: Parent of Science & Industry
1. You should have NO problem with WHOEVER bids on your stuff - WHETEVER THEIR REASON. Remember, YOU set up the auction
AND it's rules.
2. Simple fact is the other dealer is probably just trying do 1 or a combination (or all) of the following:
get exposure for his name - i.e. get his name out in front of all the bidders of your auction. A kind of free advertising. I've seen many do this.
hoping to get a bargain (rarely happens - before you correct me notice I didn't say NEVER happens)
just simply p*ss you off for whatever reason
3. Instead of blocking entirely you might want to consider setting up the auction with pre-approval. This way only those that contact you (and you
subsequently place on "the list") can bid. Of course, it's probably MORE THAN not worth it.
If I were you, I would be annoyed, as well. That said, ebay is a reasonably efficient market, and as Eric indicated, chances are the collector will end up with the coin. I also believe it is good business strategy to offer no reserve auctions for lower price coins (lower for Legend, that is) on ebay. The person buying the $550 MS-63 Saint today maybe the one who is buying proof gold tomorrow.
Doesn't seem like much of a problem to me.
09/07/2006
EVP
How does one get a hater to stop hating?
I can be reached at evillageprowler@gmail.com
Would you believe I have heard the opposite complaints years ago that dealers used to bid on other dealers auction lots to keep the "game" closed to collectors!!!!!!!!!! ROFL.
Let's just say you are a dealer that has a 50cent bin with cheap stuff in it to attract new collectors, YNs, or the like. You have another dealer come in and pick through it, takes it back to his store and marks everything up to 75 cents. Are you not going ot allow him to buy at 50 cents? Going to kick him out of your store?
You won't have to worry about me, a collector, from buying from you. I don't trust you now. Thanks for your warning post.
<< <i>Does a dealer who sells on E-Bay have the right to decide who he sells to? I think so-----------------BigE >>
Does a person who puts an item up for bids at an auction house have the right to pick over the crowd and say that they don't want these people bidding?
There was no indication that EVP is considering ending the auction if the price was not right. You missed the point of the thread.
Does a person who puts an item up for bids at an auction house have the right to pick over the crowd and say that they don't want these people bidding?
No but ebay is not Heritage. Ebay enables the sellers to block bidders and cancel bids. It is within the rules of the auction. Why complain about it?
You won't have to worry about me, a collector, from buying from you. I don't trust you now. Thanks for your warning post.
I love it when people post that. It really cracks me up.