Who is this guy who asks me to end 12 auctions and sell early?
jrdolan
Posts: 2,549 ✭✭
I have a career run of PSA 8 Koufaxes (all but the rookie) on eBay ending tonight and tomorrow night. The bidding is quite spirited on most of the cards, especially the ones you'd guess -- 57, 62, 63. Now a guy named Michael Gamson emails me and asks me to end all 12 auctions, half of them with a couple hours to go, and sell to him. No $ amount is mentioned. He says call him immediately if I'm interested, and he gives a phone number.
His offer is out of the question. For one thing, there is no incentive since the auctions are doing quite well and doubtless he would want a bulk discount. For another thing, eBay has this thing now where you are unable to end auctions with less than 12 hours to go. And a whole bunch of people would be p*ssed off if all these auctions went *poof*
But now I'm curious. Who is this Michael Gamson? Is he a player? I know most of the big names in the hobby, but I don't know this one. It just feels fishy to me. If he's got an offer that he thinks would be too good to refuse, why not just proxy or snipe all 12 auctions with top-em-all bids?
His offer is out of the question. For one thing, there is no incentive since the auctions are doing quite well and doubtless he would want a bulk discount. For another thing, eBay has this thing now where you are unable to end auctions with less than 12 hours to go. And a whole bunch of people would be p*ssed off if all these auctions went *poof*
But now I'm curious. Who is this Michael Gamson? Is he a player? I know most of the big names in the hobby, but I don't know this one. It just feels fishy to me. If he's got an offer that he thinks would be too good to refuse, why not just proxy or snipe all 12 auctions with top-em-all bids?
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Comments
Playing games with no intent of purchase and screw with ya.
The last thing you want is one nutty guy winning all your auctions and then having the whole deal blow up.
jr, cards I sell are modern graded Rcs, sets, set builder. I would get trade offer. When I tell them I don't trade I get irritating emails from them. I also get email asking me about book values (I think they should research before they buy), why I put the kind of price on the card, beckett (mag) says book value is ....., could you modify your auction I need the following cards.... no price offered (wants to cherry pick the lots I sell). Here's a good one: I really want your card could you modify your buy it now price to $.... that person wants buy it at half the price. (I can modify it but I will not do so). These are some questions that I get.
mb
1963T Dodgers in 8s
Pre-war Brooklyn 5s or higher
1. If one would be upset if someone pulled an auction on you...why would one do it to someone else.
2. When bidding, sometimes a whole deal comes up about bidding constitutes a "contract"....and so forth...well, if you want someone to honor their bid and pay for their item, then the knife cuts both ways.
The seller, once a bid has been entered, has to honor that sale unless the item has somehow been compromised and can not be sold.
This is just my take as a buyer/collector since I don't sell on ebay. And BTW, all of those arguments about "I have been screwed by...." and ebay "is rich enough...." and so forth, are really irrelevant to doing what we all know is the "right thing."
If anyone, has a couterpoint...let's discuss it?
your friend
Mike
He won't get the cards until I have the money locked up tight, but I'd hate to relist after this great night of bidding.
and then it went to $600.
the direction of this thread turned on a dime from closing the auction to the topic of zero FB bidders. On this one, I wish you the best of luck. The guy may be loaded! It's a shame since I know your sales were going well. Hope this turns out well.
your friend
Mike
On the subject of canceling auctions I personally will not do it, I have discovered 9 out of 10 times these people are just trying to get it for alot less than it usually goes for on Ebay. They either want to resell it right away or are just trying to jilt the seller. I have no problem with a buyer reselling for a profit, but do it fairly.
On that subject I saw a neg the other day that was something like "Bought my item only to resell for a profit" The seller had misspelled a keyword in the search and the item sold for about 60 dollars less than they normaly sell for, and the seller apparently blamed the buyer.
Nick
Reap the whirlwind.
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You know, we all start somewhere. Until he does something wrong I can't assume he's a loser, hoaxer, nonpayer, whatever. If he screws up one sale and doesn't pay, I can live with relisting. I was just worried he was some bozo retaliating for a neg or something, trying to monkey with ALL the auctions.
...and if you read his posts, his larger concerns seem to be his "ethos" as a seller and giving the guy the benefit of the doubt. In fact, by allowing this (0) feedback bidder to bid, he's probably turning a few potential bidders away. Like someone else said earlier... Some of us automatically assume that (0) feedback bidders could be shillers - and we shy away unless we know the seller is a good guy.
anyways... it has been said that you can't end auctions with less than 12 hours to go. I believe that is incorrect. I believe you can end auctions anytime. You just can't modify an auction with less than 12 hours...
Please let me know if I am wrong...
-G
Click here to view my Knickstars collection and wantlist
<< <i>Sounds like you didn't want to cancel the bids from the guy with zero feedback for one reason, GREED. Aren't we all greeding. >>
Jay
What are you basing your accusation on? JR is a good guy who sells high quality stuff.
your friend
Mike
edit for clarity
I guess this guy just has a knack for only bidding on your auctions and always being runner up....
I believe JR said the 0 feedback guy is the one who asked him to cancel all of the auctions, so naturally since he didn't cancel (a good move) he tried to win it on his own. It could have been another seller who just wanted to use an unknown user name to buy; maybe he thought he could get a discount if he bought all of them and then turn a profit that way. From reading his posts and seeing his auctions, I believe JR is completely legit and only looking to be fair, yet realistic.
Chris
Just my 2 cents for what it's worth
scott
<< <i>Hrmmm...
I guess this guy just has a knack for only bidding on your auctions and always being runner up.... >>
Walls
Please go back and re-read his thread - that is the whole point...if he were shilling, why would he bring it up here?
That's not fair. Again, this is an honest ebay seller who had concerns about his sale and how it would affect others and himself.
your friend
Mike
<< <i>Hrmmm...
I guess this guy just has a knack for only bidding on your auctions and always being runner up.... >>
the guy just joined eBay YESTERDAY, so its not unusual that everything he bid on is from the same seller..
and JR is a class act.. i would be 200% comfortable bidding on any of his auctions..
<< <i>No. my comment about greed has nothing to do with JR's integrity. It has to do with trying to get the most money for your cards, thus greed. It sounds like risk/reward on a buyer with zero feedback. I think he really know what he wants to do. >>
i think "getting the most money for your cards" in a fair and legal way, should actually be considered "intelligence" rather than "greed"..
Current and recent auctions bid on by 713michaelg( 0 )
1 - 7 of 7 total. Click on the column headers to sort
Item Start End Price Title High Bidder Seller
5146324594 Dec-08-04 Dec-18-04 18:00:00 US $540.00 1956 TOPPS #79 SANDY KOUFAX (DODGERS) PSA 8 NM-MT 2320ma (*) mick-vt
5146325579 Dec-08-04 Dec-18-04 18:15:00 US $960.00 1957 TOPPS #302 SANDY KOUFAX (DODGERS) PSA 8 NM-MT baseblue48 (*) mick-vt
5146326207 Dec-08-04 Dec-18-04 18:30:00 US $460.00 1958 TOPPS #187 SANDY KOUFAX (DODGERS) PSA 8 NM-MT 2320ma (*) mick-vt
5146326927 Dec-08-04 Dec-18-04 18:45:00 US $430.00 1959 TOPPS #163 SANDY KOUFAX (DODGERS) PSA 8 NM-MT sportsmems (*) mick-vt
5146327575 Dec-08-04 Dec-18-04 19:00:00 US $232.50 1960 TOPPS #343 SANDY KOUFAX (DODGERS) PSA 8 NM-MT strikn_ii (*) mick-vt
5146328151 Dec-08-04 Dec-18-04 19:15:00 US $355.00 1961 TOPPS #344 SANDY KOUFAX (DODGERS) PSA 8 NM-MT fdcpwfgn (*) mick-vt
5146534911 Dec-09-04 Dec-19-04 18:00:00 US $625.00 1962 TOPPS #5 SANDY KOUFAX (DODGERS) PSA 8 NM-MT 713michaelg mick-vt
Greed has nothing to do with fair and legal. If ebay's policy allows you to cancel someones bid then, it is your right to do so. The safe bet is to cancel the guy with zero feedback and lose out on his higher bids and hope you get someone else to bid higher on the card. Remember he is concerned this buyer will not follow through with the transaction. If you are not greedy, then you take the safe route and cancel his bids. Once that happens greed disappears.
i cancel zeroes all the time.
Greed means "desire for more than one needs or deserves."
That word does not belong in this thread.
"All evil needs to triumph is for good men to do nothing."
Jay did not back off from the "greed" accusation. The first sentence in his last post was a quote from Perry. He then went on to say why he disagrees and still stands by the "greed" position.
I disagree with him, as I feel JR explained that he didn't cancel the guys bids because everyone starts at zero, and he wanted to give the guy the benefit of the doubt for now. But to each his own. With his references from other guys on this thread, I would think JR's integrity is solid.
Happy holidays to all...even those who think like Mr. Scrooge.
Those who wondered if this was a shill because of Michael Gamson's intense interest in these Koufaxes, I have the phone number he gave when he offered to buy the whole lot. I don't know what state is 713, but it sure ain't my area code, 802. I won't publicly post the home phone number of anyone who hasn't screwed me, but if anybody here wants to call him and see what his deal is, PM me.
Those who backed me up while I was away today, thanks. You're right, I would be a moron to shill my auction and then put the spotlight on it. Again, these auctions were doing GREAT before this guy came along to give me high blood pressure.
You would almost have to be a mind reader to know what is in the head of a bidder.
In my inferrence of what JR has been talking about....I don't think greed is an issue...he is genuinely concerned that his sale stay legitimate - honest - above board.
Just my take
your friend
Mike
I wonder if the sellers groaned when I bid on my first auction? Good thing for them they didn't cancel me, because now they have a rather large amount of my money.
The irresponsible use of incendiary words like "greed" just has no place
on a message board that uses only words to communicate.
Unless "greed" has been redefined to mean anyone striving for full and fair value,
Jay is absolutely wrong. I have a sense that he means something else, perhaps
he meant a general rail at capitalism, but he didn't say that.
Dr. Dolan has managed this auction with a great deal of integrity,
not to mention a sh*tpot of incredible quality Koufax material.
"All evil needs to triumph is for good men to do nothing."
<< <i>anyways... it has been said that you can't end auctions with less than 12 hours to go. I believe that is incorrect. I believe you can end auctions anytime. You just can't modify an auction with less than 12 hours...
Please let me know if I am wrong...
-G >>
The 12-hour rule for modification has been in place for some time, but this year EBay expanded it to include ending auctions early, too.
<< <i>Hrmmm...
I guess this guy just has a knack for only bidding on your auctions and always being runner up.... >>
I'd like to point out that since losing out on my Koufaxes, Mr. Gamson of the zero feedback is bidding on others. Skerbe is one of the auctions he is pursuing now. I think he's just a guy with a jones for Koufax, feeling his way around eBay. I know I was suspicious of him at first, but I hope he doesn't get screwed as part of his education, the way many of us were.
Keep up the good work...I think everyone knows that you are a good guy.
Mark
If you check out my last post, I think I paraphrased what Jay might have meant - where the greed can or may come into play here. I don't think this pertained to John at all. Just stating conjecture.
This has pretty much run its course and I don't think anyone meant to hurt one and other. I do want to say that when a board member has "fully established" themself here and would not be considered any kind of a troll...expect to be given hell for accusing one of them without a shread of real evidence. I believe we owe it to each other to show respect. Now disagreement about teams, which cards to collect, good investment, bad investment...now that is a different thing...let the battle of words commence!
Now, if anyone wants to give me this for Christmas...
your friend
Mike
When he first bid on your item and you saw he had zero feedback you could have emailed him and told him he could bid on your items but that if he won he'd have to make immediate payment via paypal. if he won an auction and did not make immediate payment then you could block him from future auctions. at least this way he'd only have a shot at ruining one of your auctions or if he paid maybe bidding up others.
Mike,
I didn't read you post competely. How did you get a picture of me? How many posts do I need to fully establish myself? 100, 200, 1000? Once I establish a lot of posts, I still want you to give me hell if you disagree with something I post.