How does E-Bay 'Make an Offer' work??

Ed62 · December 28, 2013 8:29AM

I just engaged the 'Make an Offer' feature for a coin on E-Bay offered by a semi-major dealer. The rejection notice flashed back to me at approximately the speed of light with no counteroffer. Then I raised my offer a few hundred dollars and likewise got an immediate reject. I have done this before a couple of times and have always gotten back a counteroffer. This was on a Saturday evening when unlikely any real person was in front of his computer actually looking at offers that may come in.

So can we assume this was a computer programed to automatically reject anything below a specified percentage of the asking price? Anyone know how this works??

ctf_error_coins · December 28, 2013 8:32AM

Yes auto reject

The seller can set parameters

lostincoins · December 28, 2013 8:33AM

Yes when seting up your make an offer you set the parameters of that offer. It will then auto reply to the person making the offer. If you want the coin bid till you are a a price you feel comfortable and if your offer is not accepted by then msg them with your offer.

LanceNewmanOCC · December 28, 2013 8:37AM

.
you also only get 3 strikes, then you are out.
.

magikbilly · December 28, 2013 8:39AM

FWIW you offer is binding. Some forget this. I just mention.

Eric

thisnamztaken · December 28, 2013 8:43AM

To put it another way... when the seller is composing his listing and includes a "or Best Offer" price for his item, he also can choose options like "accept any offer higher than xxxx" and/or "refuse any offers that are less than xxxx". eBay's computer program will then automatically accept or reject offers that fall under those guidelines.

As Eric said, once you make an offer, it is binding and if the seller accepts it eBay will require you to buy it. If you try to back out of the offer after the seller accepts it eBay will keep it on their records to see how often you renege on your offers and eventually take further action.
Another thing to remember is that once you've made an offer, the seller has up to 48 hrs. to accept or reject it, so it can temporarily "tie up" your available "offer" money that you might want to (meanwhile) spend on other coins.

coinsarefun · December 28, 2013 8:47AM

If you really like the coin, click the contact button and write him an email.
Ask him his bottom line and go from there instead of guessing(make offer)

SeattleSlammer · December 28, 2013 8:48AM

<< <i>If you really like the coin, click the contact button and write him an email.
Ask him his bottom line and go from there instead of guessing(make offer) >>

That's my usual course of action, too.

Ed62 · December 28, 2013 9:00AM

Thanks everyone for passing along all the helpful information and advice. This forum once again proves its great value to the hobby.

How does E-Bay 'Make an Offer' work??

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