WHAT WOULD YOU DO: eBay Question

Aethelred

I am concerned about the direction THIS AUCTION is taking. The current high bidder lives in Germany, has a feedback rating of (0) and has only been an eBay member since 18 Mar 2005. If the item were not such a high priced one I would not worry about it, but alas it is. Should I:

1. Block the high bidder, but leave his bid in place.

2. Block the high bidder and cancel his bids.

3. Let the auction run it's natural course and see what happens.

4. Wait until someone else bids then end the auction early.

Thanks for your help!

theboz11

Block and cancel, change description to note that zero feedback need not bid.

Steve27

I vote for number 4: Wait until someone else bids then end the auction early. Of course there's a little problem if no one out bids him.

wybrit

Danger, danger Will Robinson!!

I agree in principle with what boz11 says, but with a slight twist: exercise option (1) right now, then wait one more day to see if it gets any legitimate action, after which I would consider exercising option (2).

Aethelred

Should I contact the underbidder and offer him the set at his current high bid if he will bid again and get into the high bidder place so I can cancel the auction? Would that be unethical?

Aethelred

I have blocked the current high bidder, we'll go from there.

theboz11

<< <i>Should I contact the underbidder and offer him the set at his current high bid if he will bid again and get into the high bidder place so I can cancel the auction? Would that be unethical? >>



I would not do anything with anyone but the zero feedback buyer, just asking for trouble otherwise

wildjag

I would cancel the auction and keep those coins. Low mintage and you know you want to keep them. Very pretty

MyWorldCoinTypeSet

Without the 0 feedback bidder, the top bid would be ($1128 + one bid increment). If you're willing to sell at this price, get rid of the 0 feedback bidder. Otherwise, take your chances, and let it run its' course.

AuldFartte

You don't have to ship the coins until you have payment in hand, so I guess I don't see a big problem here. 'Twould make me a bit nervous, but you have two obviously interested, albeit "newbie" bidders going to war here. Besides, all of us started at "zero" when we were new to the game. If it was me, I'd sweat a bit, but I'd let him keep bidding

ccrdragon

Let it ride - worst case scenario, you have to get the listing fees back from ebay. Best case, you sell the coins for a bundle and get a happy customer for life.

cosmicdebris

As long as you get your money before shipment why not give him a chance? Everyone has to start somewhere.

theboz11

Worst case senario is, lost on the way to him.

trozau

#3. I agree with cosmicdebris.

CIVITAS

We got stiffed on our Korean amulet on eBay. Some 0 feedback bidder pushed it up all the way to $60.00+ and then defaulted on all the auctions he bid on. So we relisted it and it went for $10.00 the second time around (everybody probably thought we were shill bidding it or something). I think someday someone's going to get sued pretty hard for screwing around on eBay. Imagine if it was a really valuable item that sold for 1/6 of it's original realization because of some idiot bidder.

JamminJ

Why not try to contact the zero feedback high bidder? If you can't get him or he sound flakey cancel and block.

-JamminJ

ajaan

#3. I had a feedback rating of zero at one time.

drjules

<< <i>Why not try to contact the zero feedback high bidder? If you can't get him or he sound flakey cancel and block.

-JamminJ >>



I agree (but it is too late )

Did you try to contact the bidder?

Dr J

BigAlan

Everybody has to start somewhere but I agree it does worry people for high dollar items.

wybrit

Agreed, everyone starts at zero. I sold a fairly expensive coin (for me) to a gent from Japan not long ago who had a zero feedback. He paid on time and left positive feedback once he received the piece, so it was a fine transaction.

I've been reading a lot of threads lately on PayPal payments being made by buyers and then rescinded, resulting in these buyers keeping their money and taking the seller's merchandise. Does this bother only me? Am I missing something here? Well, probably.

At the very least, if you decide to let this bidder win, hold off sending the coin for a few days until the payment "clears." Send the item only via trackable means, like FedEx or Registered Post with return receipt. That way, you're less at risk.

cosmicdebris

Paypal can only take your money if you leave it in your Paypal account for a refund, right? They can't go into your regular bank account or visa account and take it, can they?

wybrit

I must confess I lack any reliable answer to your question. I hope they can't.

CIVITAS

I'm sure they can. Otherwise what's to stop a buyer and seller from teaming up and banking the cash and then doing chargebacks?

Aethelred

As much as I hated to do it, I have deleted the bids from the German guy with (0) feedback. I hope I have not done this to an honest newbie, but I have got to be able to sleep at night. The new high bidder is a person from South Africa who has been on eBay since 2003 and has pretty good feedback. I also checked USPS.com and I can ship to South Africa fully insured for $55, but I am only going to charge the winning bidder $10 per my auction terms.

wybrit

I have got to be able to sleep at night.

That makes it the right choice. While the zero feedback bidder he may be legit, better safe than sorry for this wad of money. New bidders need to start small.

Aethelred

<< <i>

That makes it the right choice. While the zero feedback bidder he may be legit, better safe than sorry for this wad of money. New bidders need to start small. >>




I hope I have done the right thing, I would feel very bad if he were really a legit bidder, but I have to protect myself.

PuddlePirate

Well my two cents worth says you listed it without conditions so you should have taken whatever comes. That is the "auction environment", You could have either revised your auction so low bidders would not qualify or canceled it altogether and relisted it. As others have already said, everyone started at "0" once.

Granted the items I sell on EBAY are not high value items like this set is, my odds and ends go for under a hundred bucks an auction. At my level I get alot of begining bidders, and I will give them a chance. I haven't been burnt yet. I will eventually I am sure, but so far I've only encountered the good ones.