Ethics and Ebay ?

twodrhrdtp · December 12, 2006 11:10AM

Is it wrong to email a seller that has an auction running and ask to offer a buy it now and end the auction?

WinPitcher · December 12, 2006 11:12AM

Does the item already have bids?

if so I would not do it.

Steve

goose3 · December 12, 2006 11:13AM

I've done it a LOT.

Russ · December 12, 2006 11:14AM

That approach is perfectly acceptable. Make sure you do it when you're going to be at your computer for a while. I did it late one night and when I came in the next morning the seller had added the BIN and some turd grabbed it.

Russ, NCNE

Russ · December 12, 2006 11:14AM

<< Does the item already have bids?

if so I would not do it. >>

If the item has bids, the seller can't add a BIN.

Russ, NCNE

granpagraf · December 12, 2006 11:17AM

I do it all the time! I have gotten alot of good stuff that way!
The only way flea-bay will find out is if the person whome You contacted squeals on You, which never happened to Me.

flaminio · December 12, 2006 11:17AM

I don't think it's ethically wrong. However, as a seller I would never accept your offer. If you want the item, bid.

goose3 · December 12, 2006 11:18AM

Never say never.

Money talks.

Russ · December 12, 2006 11:19AM

<< The only way flea-bay will find out is if the person whome You contacted squeals on You, which never happened to Me. >>

eBay has no problem with a seller adding a BIN so the buyer can buy the item.

Russ, NCNE

flaminio · December 12, 2006 11:20AM

<< Never say never.

Money talks. >>

It'd have to be a shockingly large amount of money. Each time someone has offered to end an auction early, I've declined; and in each case, the auction ended up closing for more than what the jumper offered.

ziggy29 · December 12, 2006 11:24AM

Nice oxymoronic thread title here.

WinPitcher · December 12, 2006 11:32AM

If the item has bids, the seller can't add a BIN.

I stand corrected, i misread. However, could a seller cancel all bids and then do the BIN?

Steve

Russ · December 12, 2006 11:36AM

<< However, could a seller cancel all bids and then do the BIN? >>

Nope. He can cancel bids, of course, but he still wouldn't be able to add a BIN.

Russ, NCNE

notwilight · December 12, 2006 11:42AM

I do a lot of true auctions starting at low $. So I usually get bidders immediately. Probably 6 times out of 10 I'll get someone asking me to end the auction and sell it off ebay. This is indeed a violation of ebay policies and I always refuse and explain that I am committed to the auction.

--jerry

bhartman35 · December 12, 2006 11:50AM

As a seller, it wouldn't make any strategic sense to me to accept a BIN on an auction that had bids, even if it was possible. The only reason a buyer would want a BIN is if they thought they could grab it for less than what the bid would eventually be. Knowing that, as a seller, I would want to force the person to bid higher.

But I don't do a lot of selling, so maybe you can't go by me. That's just what my instinct tells me.

Russ · December 12, 2006 12:02PM

<< The only reason a buyer would want a BIN is if they thought they could grab it for less than what the bid would eventually be. >>

Ya think?

Russ, NCNE

numisma · December 12, 2006 12:21PM

<< I do a lot of true auctions starting at low $. So I usually get bidders immediately. Probably 6 times out of 10 I'll get someone asking me to end the auction and sell it off ebay. This is indeed a violation of ebay policies and I always refuse and explain that I am committed to the auction.

--jerry >>

Jerry, I take the same approach.

bhartman35 · December 12, 2006 12:25PM

<< 

<< The only reason a buyer would want a BIN is if they thought they could grab it for less than what the bid would eventually be. >>

Ya think?

Russ, NCNE >>

And yet, sellers seem to find these outside offers to buy persuasive. Why is that??

airplanenut · December 12, 2006 1:22PM

I had someone offer $300 for both of the two items I had up last week. They sold for $230 and $515... sometimes offers are low.

PonyExpress8 · December 12, 2006 1:43PM

If you are going to have an auction and you have a minimum price do both up front.

braddick · December 12, 2006 1:49PM

Perhaps the seller can cancel all bids, place a restriction on who can bid (allow only the interested party to bid) and place a minimum bid that is equal to the what would have been the BIN.

End of auction the one (allowed) bidder wins the coin at the opening, reserved bid.

braddick · December 12, 2006 1:51PM

Here's the eBay LINK to get you started after canceling all bids.

garsmith · December 12, 2006 1:54PM

I have done that often, they worst they can do is say no!

PerryHall · December 12, 2006 9:38PM

<< I've done it a LOT. >>

I'm curious. What was your success rate?

Cladiator · December 12, 2006 9:45PM

I had a bidder email me once and offer me $400 for a coin I was selling if I stopped the auction. I told him no and that I wanted the auction to run its course. He ended up winning the auction as the high bidder at just over $300.

jdimmick · December 12, 2006 9:55PM

Usually when I get those type offers to end early, its becuase the intrested buyers know its going to sell for stronger money or with at least mutiple intrested bidding.

jbsteven · December 12, 2006 11:41PM

I do it all the time. Picked up a high grade coin I really wanted. Auction just started and had a reserve. I sent a good sized offer and the seller accepted. I asked what the reserve was and my offer was 2% over the reserve.

AuldFartte · December 13, 2006 12:50AM

<< Nice oxymoronic thread title here. >>

Coins101 · December 13, 2006 1:21AM

<< Is it wrong to email a seller that has an auction running and ask to offer a buy it now and end the auction? >>

It is against ebay rules to do so if it is done outside ebay. To do it like Russ said is ok as the sell is still through ebay.

I am amazed at how many members here who often quote ebay rules and how they must be followed (binding contract, etc) seem to think it is ok to break this one.

RBinTex · December 13, 2006 2:01AM

No.

Tonelover · December 13, 2006 2:12AM

I don't mind getting offers but what I really hate are insulting lowball offers from someone who wants me to end the auction and sell privately. When that happens I'll respond with something like:

"Thank you very much for the interest! I'm willing to consider your offer, but first I need to show your email to eBay and make sure that it's OK to end this auction early and sell to you off of their site. If they say it's OK then I'll be happy to discuss it further. Thanks!"

I get all sorts of interesting responses after that.

notwilight · December 13, 2006 2:20AM

<< I don't mind getting offers but what I really hate are insulting lowball offers from someone who wants me to end the auction and sell privately. When that happens I'll respond with something like: "Thank you very much for the interest! I'm willing to consider your offer, but first I need to show your email to eBay and make sure that it's OK to end this auction early and sell to you off of their site. If they say it's OK then I'll be happy to discuss it further. Thanks!" I get all sorts of interesting responses after that.

>>

Yep. I get the same thing. I like your response...I take it I have your permission to use it. --Jerry

Tonelover · December 13, 2006 2:31AM

Yep. I get the same thing. I like your response...I take it I have your permission to use it.

Permission granted! I don't really report them, it's enough fun to just watch them duck and cover.

Ethics and Ebay ?

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