need guidance...

thehallmark

A bidder asked me to end an auction early at a price that would satisfy my goal for the auction. It doesn't feel right to me, though.

So I'm asking...
What are the ethics of ending an auction early? I don't care if it happens all the time. Do you feel like it's a totally normal, totally fair way of doing business?

MuckyMutt

I think most of the time the one who makes the offer is trying to get a better deal than he thinks he will if the auction goes to the end.

I always let the auction continue.

gotsparks09

From a moral standpoint, I think it's okay. It is YOUR card after all, right? You're free to do with it as you wish. You don't OWE anything to anyone...including keeping the auction up.


Does it piss me off when I'm watching a card/item I really want, just to see it end early? Sure, but que sera sera.

thehallmark

Well...I'm all for the idea that it's "your card and you can do what you want"....and all of that.
But when you agree to put it up for auction, you are essentially entering into a contract. And I'm a big fan of honoring your end of the deal.

I just didn't know if I was taking it too seriously or if ending auctions early is more of a universally accepted part of ebay card buying/selling world.

fur72

I havent sold on the bay in awhile but I always hated the question. "How much do you need to end this auction now?". I never felt comfortable ending one early but if someone makes you an offer I think its ok.

vintagetoppsguy

I've ended auctions early for bidders before. Some people will tell you it's wrong and some people don't have a problem with it. If you're happy with the offer, take it! However, the only way that I will EVER end an auction early is if the buyer pays PayPal first. I never end the auction before I have the funds. You don't want to end it early on an empty promise.

thehallmark

good advice about the Paypal. gracias.

I'm not sensing a lot of ethical opposition to this. Maybe I should just do it? hmmmm.

CDsNuts

If it has bids, it kind of sucks for the high bidder who thinks he might have a shot at it. If it has no bids, you're not really screwing anyone.

jimq112

If I bid on an item and the seller ends it without at least giving me the opportunity to match the offer, then that seller will never sell me anything again.

If somebody offers you a deal that's too good to pass up, at least give the current high bidder a chance to match or beat the offer. If he does, you get more. If he doesn't, at least you gave him a chance and he would have been outbid anyway. If he matches/tops the offer you can sell to him. The other guy talked you into ending it early, you just didn't sell it to him.

rube26105

ive ended em without bidders,but i dont end em if they got a bid,unless its some guy with a negative 2 feedback score or something!then hes outa there!