Sitting on eBay "best offers" - what is your view?
esquiresports
Posts: 1,360 ✭✭✭
As you know, eBay "best offers" survive for 48 hours, or until auction end, whichever is earlier. I was wondering what you think about sitting on an offer in the hope that something stronger comes in prior to its expiration.
I try to conduct myself on eBay the way I would want to be treated. If I make an offer on an item on eBay where I won't be missing out on the same item that is ending at auction (e.g., something unusual, like a 1971 Topps wax pack), I don't mind a seller sitting on my offer. However, if it's something that is typically up for auction at any particular time (e.g., 1983 Topps wax box), I don't want my offer being sat on because I may miss out of a better price at auction. That's my distinction.
Thanks for your insights.
I try to conduct myself on eBay the way I would want to be treated. If I make an offer on an item on eBay where I won't be missing out on the same item that is ending at auction (e.g., something unusual, like a 1971 Topps wax pack), I don't mind a seller sitting on my offer. However, if it's something that is typically up for auction at any particular time (e.g., 1983 Topps wax box), I don't want my offer being sat on because I may miss out of a better price at auction. That's my distinction.
Thanks for your insights.
Always buying 1971 OPC Baseball packs.
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If it's a fair/strong offer I'll generally accept it right away as a courtesy.
If it's weak, I'll sit on it.
Also, depends on the items. Usually when I put something on eBay it is either slightly higher than usual with OBO to get some feelers or something I'm looking to get rid of quickly.
You just have to weigh how strong an offer it is.
<< <i>I used to think it was very effective when EBAY allowed other members to see there were pending offers. That said since you can't see them it doesn't help intice in new one's anymore.
You just have to weigh how strong an offer it is. >>
I miss seeing pending offers. As a buyer it always made me offer higher than I usually would when there was at least another offer on the table. I don't remember, but did it also show what amount each offer was after it was declined?
<< <i>I used to think it was very effective when EBAY allowed other members to see there were pending offers. That said since you can't see them it doesn't help intice in new one's anymore.
You just have to weigh how strong an offer it is. >>
You can't see the pending offers from the auction page anymore, but you can see if there are any competing offers when you click on the make offer button. You can also see the info on Watch Count.
Collecting 1970s Topps baseball wax, rack and cello packs, as well as PCGS graded Half Cents, Large Cents, Two Cent pieces and Three Cent Silver pieces.
<< <i>
<< <i>I used to think it was very effective when EBAY allowed other members to see there were pending offers. That said since you can't see them it doesn't help intice in new one's anymore.
You just have to weigh how strong an offer it is. >>
You can't see the pending offers from the auction page anymore, but you can see if there are any competing offers when you click on the make offer button. You can also see the info on Watch Count. >>
Good idea to go check Watchcount first. Next time I make an offer I will check both of those.
That said when buyers could easily see that there was a pending offer it could light a fire under their butt's to throw a strong offer.
I think it was a mistake on EBAY's part. The higher the price, the higher their fees.
<< <i>As you know, eBay "best offers" survive for 48 hours, or until auction end, whichever is earlier. I was wondering what you think about sitting on an offer in the hope that something stronger comes in prior to its expiration. >>
I don't see anything wrong with sitting on it. However, as a buyer if I haven't seen any response in 24 hours, I assume the offer is being ignored and haven't been proven wrong yet.
it is funny how quick you will get a response from them after that...
I agree with this and don't understand why ebay wouldn't want potential buyers to know that offers were pending before even clicking on the make offer button. It seems counterproductive for everyone around.
Collecting 1970s Topps baseball wax, rack and cello packs, as well as PCGS graded Half Cents, Large Cents, Two Cent pieces and Three Cent Silver pieces.
<< <i>That said when buyers could easily see that there was a pending offer it could light a fire under their butt's to throw a strong offer.
I agree with this and don't understand why ebay wouldn't want potential buyers to know that offers were pending before even clicking on the make offer button. It seems counterproductive for everyone around. >>
I can think of times when I saw pending offers and just said the heck with it and hit the BIN.
Looking to BUY n332 1889 SF Hess cards and high grade cards from 19th century especially. "Once you have wrestled everything else in life is easy" Dan Gable
1. as a seller...i think or thought it was good because there were rare times as a seller where i didn't get around to checking offers and glad that they were still there. like 20 hours after it was sent. Or there have been times where the offer was some how lost or hidden (an ebay glitch) but either way i missed it somehow the first time around.
but more importantly ..
2.as a buyer....i am now convinced some sellers just sit on it waiting for better offers. which i guess is there right but now I'm locked in. and invariably one that i want will pop up on ebay in the meantime but don't want two if he decides to accept.
READ THIS....how do i know some are nefarious....sent him an offer...the guy did not respond....but meanwhile a few hours later he lowered the BIN (when he made no changes or activity for a couple weeks) hoping to get some nibbles or even a bite..AND then revised his description to something aggressive like..slashing price, accepting lowest offers, contact me to discuss....and then he has my offer in his backpocket...so no lose situation for him. Felt like i was being held hostage. And then he accepted my offer with an hr or two to go.
Im not sure sitting on the offer is necessarily the intent of the 48 waiting period..its not "make an offer so i can go find a better offer or else ill get back to you in 2 days"
<< <i>2 thoughts...
1. as a seller...i think or thought it was good because there were rare times as a seller where i didn't get around to checking offers and glad that they were still there. like 20 hours after it was sent. Or there have been times where the offer was some how lost or hidden (an ebay glitch) but either way i missed it somehow the first time around.
but more importantly ..
2.as a buyer....i am now convinced some sellers just sit on it waiting for better offers. which i guess is there right but now I'm locked in. and invariably one that i want will pop up on ebay in the meantime but don't want two if he decides to accept.
READ THIS....how do i know some are nefarious....sent him an offer...the guy did not respond....but meanwhile a few hours later he lowered the BIN (when he made no changes or activity for a couple weeks) hoping to get some nibbles or even a bite..AND then revised his description to something aggressive like..slashing price, accepting lowest offers, contact me to discuss....and then he has my offer in his backpocket...so no lose situation for him. Felt like i was being held hostage. And then he accepted my offer with an hr or two to go.
Im not sure sitting on the offer is necessarily the intent of the 48 waiting period..its not "make an offer so i can go find a better offer or else ill get back to you in 2 days" >>
I'm pretty sure the seller is not allowed to revise a listing when there is an active Best Offer. About the only thing you can do is end a listing while there is a BO on the table.
<< <i>2 thoughts...
1. as a seller...i think or thought it was good because there were rare times as a seller where i didn't get around to checking offers and glad that they were still there. like 20 hours after it was sent. Or there have been times where the offer was some how lost or hidden (an ebay glitch) but either way i missed it somehow the first time around.
but more importantly ..
2.as a buyer....i am now convinced some sellers just sit on it waiting for better offers. which i guess is there right but now I'm locked in. and invariably one that i want will pop up on ebay in the meantime but don't want two if he decides to accept.
READ THIS....how do i know some are nefarious....sent him an offer...the guy did not respond....but meanwhile a few hours later he lowered the BIN (when he made no changes or activity for a couple weeks) hoping to get some nibbles or even a bite..AND then revised his description to something aggressive like..slashing price, accepting lowest offers, contact me to discuss....and then he has my offer in his backpocket...so no lose situation for him. Felt like i was being held hostage. And then he accepted my offer with an hr or two to go.
Im not sure sitting on the offer is necessarily the intent of the 48 waiting period..its not "make an offer so i can go find a better offer or else ill get back to you in 2 days" >>
You cannot make any changes to a listing that has an offer on it. Not even the picture so I don't understand how that happened to you.
I can't imagine how ignoring a lowball offer would help a seller in any way. If/when I decide to sell, I would still respond to a lowball offer quickly and professionally letting them know what I want to get out of an item, you never know they may agree, It's still a potential sale. Just my opinion.
Esquire...great question that i haven't seen addressed.....to answer.. try again..i agree and treat others the same...Ive never just sat on an offer and waited. I don't know technically what the rule is but it just feels wrong. I know some who do. Many in this hobby have no problem doing that. And many times I've been "trapped" when the same item has come along but don't want two. But your hands are then tied. I suspect some on here who have a loud voice and try misdirection practice those shenanigans. Keeping you locked in while they fish for a better offer.
Anymore to avoid that scenario and other negativities, if I really want it I just hit the BIN. If I am making an offer then I don't really want it nor care either way.
Funny, rather more interesting story...why id love to be rich.....We had one item posted for many many thousands of dollars with a BIN and BO. We was knocking 10-20% off some pretty good liquid product. But this guy just hits the BIN. No counter offer, no lowball, could have saved at least 3-400$ without trying. I saw the name and address and just laughed. Must be nice to be rich.
You may or may not know, but you and I are in some of the same circles outside of cards. As is this gentleman.
RIP Mom- 1932-2012
<< <i>Sitting on offers really isn't necessary; all one needs to do is set the BO feature to auto-reject offers below a certain level. Let's say it's a $125 BIN item that you're OK accepting $100 for. Set auto-decline on any sub-$100 offer. You get what you want (or a bit more), they get it less than the $125 BIN, everyone's happy. It isn't brain surgery. If you're afraid that you aren't getting every last buck out of something then you're never going to sell anything. >>
This is a good point, however if you deal in modern cards what a card is worth when it first comes out compared to what it might be worth a year later can vary drastically. I've listed cards when they first came out for $40 with OBO. The $40 price at the time is low compared to what others are asking so to follow your example I would set it to decline any offers under $35. A year goes by (I have too many listing to monitor each one, hard as I may try) and I get an offer for $15. I see it and realize that yes this is a $15 card now so I accept the offer. That's why I don't set the auto decline levels on my listings.
With exception. I have a five figure item up and got one reasonable offer thou at 60 % of ask price. The offer came in at 1130 pm est on a Friday. So I spent an hour or two contemplating it. Again it's a higher price item that i think warrants a little time. I tried to email the potential buyer but couldn't seem to from the app and wasn't near a computer. Didn't matter because the buyer retracted the offer around 10am
I didn't counter straight away because firrst two offers were auto decline.
I buss it's for the best. If buyer really wanted it they would have at least waited 12 hours even if it is overnight.
Honestly, I dont play the offer/counter offer 5 times game. I will let you know up front what I would be willing to take. I have cards that average $50 sell price and listed at $59.95 and I get an offer of $25 when I counter $50, they offer $28. Honestly, that is a waste of everyones time.
<< <i>
<< <i>Sitting on offers really isn't necessary; all one needs to do is set the BO feature to auto-reject offers below a certain level. Let's say it's a $125 BIN item that you're OK accepting $100 for. Set auto-decline on any sub-$100 offer. You get what you want (or a bit more), they get it less than the $125 BIN, everyone's happy. It isn't brain surgery. If you're afraid that you aren't getting every last buck out of something then you're never going to sell anything. >>
This is a good point, however if you deal in modern cards what a card is worth when it first comes out compared to what it might be worth a year later can vary drastically. I've listed cards when they first came out for $40 with OBO. The $40 price at the time is low compared to what others are asking so to follow your example I would set it to decline any offers under $35. A year goes by (I have too many listing to monitor each one, hard as I may try) and I get an offer for $15. I see it and realize that yes this is a $15 card now so I accept the offer. That's why I don't set the auto decline levels on my listings. >>
I'm no card expert to be sure (I'm a coin dealer) but I know enough about the very fickle card market to know that the best money is the quick money on most new issues. If a card is hot right off and your $40 BIN is low compared to what others are asking, then you should be able to move it at some level fairly quickly I should think. I certainly wouldn't let it sit in inventory for a year watching it go down in price. Even $30 at the outset is better than half that a year later.
RIP Mom- 1932-2012
<< <i>If I get a decent offer, one I am willing to live with, I accept it as soon as I see it. If it is just under what I can live with, I counter offer with my price and politely tell the buyer that the number I gave them is the lowest I would accept at this time, thanking them for their interest. If it is a lowball offer, I either immediately decline it OR I let it expire depending on how stupid the offer is.
Honestly, I dont play the offer/counter offer 5 times game. I will let you know up front what I would be willing to take. I have cards that average $50 sell price and listed at $59.95 and I get an offer of $25 when I counter $50, they offer $28. Honestly, that is a waste of everyones time. >>
+1 on this. I try to start with a reasonable BIN. I will usually set up an auto reject for offers less than 50-55% of my BIN to avoid the aggravation of someone offering me 10% of my BIN price. Any offer above the minimum is politely countered with my best price.