Ebay ending auctions early etiquette - opinions?

bobbyw8469 · December 25, 2009 10:17PM

I have an item that I have received some offers on. The offers have been substantially higher than what the current Ebay bid is, although I have between 20-30 watchers on the item. What is the opinion on sports memorabilia sellers on ending the auction early? Do you do it and risk alienating potential bidders? Just wanted some feedback....

Bosox1976 · December 25, 2009 10:32PM

I never even think about it unless the offers are about 50% more than I thought possible. If a low pop PSA common, I don't think about it at all - I let it run. I end early maybe once or twice a year.

gameusedhoop · December 25, 2009 10:33PM

I wouldn't end an auction early in your situation. If it had watchers, but no bids, then I'd have no problem ending it. In that case you'd be taking the sure thing and saving some fees also. You are getting those offers for a reason, there is competition for the item. Most likely you'll get more than they are offering if you let it run it's course. There is a good chance that one of the current bidders just tossed a cheapy in to remember it, and they are either coming back or sniping. Let it finish and not PO possible future customers of yours.

How would you feel if someone ended it early on you without giving you a chance to win it fairly? You know what is right....

Brick · December 25, 2009 10:34PM

When sellers end auctions early on cards I was interested in I tend not to be too interested in their other auctions. Not the worst thing to do but still a negative to me.

bobbyw8469 · December 25, 2009 10:46PM

Well...the item in question isn't a graded card. It is an All Star Game program - no VCP to check averages on! It is extremely rare though, and I vaguely remember selling one 2 years ago for about $600.....the current Ebay bid is $13.50.

schr1st · December 25, 2009 10:53PM

Let's put it this way: if someone is willing to contact you to buy the item off-eBay, they're likely to bid that much. If you have that many watchers, and someone willing to bid that much, it would be foolish to end it early.

gameusedhoop · December 25, 2009 10:57PM

I still say if they are offering you X, that they would be willing to bid X+Y. They are just trying to steal it now, thinking that you don't know what it is worth.

If you want a guarantee of more $$ do this:
1. cancel all bids
2. end it, make sure there are no bidders
3. relist it, start it a price of 75% of the best offer you've had, with a BIN of 150% of the best offer, and see if they hit it.

The only thing that would worry me is that some bidders may be on vacation or away for a few days. If it doesn't end until after the 1st you should be OK, but if it ends between now and then you may want to start over with my above pricing.

swartz1 · December 25, 2009 11:03PM

I agree with the previous poster...if it is a "rare" item...let it fly because the offer will most likely be bid anyway...

WalterSobchak · December 26, 2009 12:03AM

I don't consider it poor etiquette when sellers end auctions early (until a 'deal' has been reached it is their item to do with what they choose), but as a buyer I do find the practice annoying. If they wanted to take advance offers on an item, they should have put it up BIN/OBO in the first place.

thenavarro · December 26, 2009 12:27AM

I often times send offers to buyers to end an item early and sell it to me. About 90% of the time, I offer them an amount higher than what I will bid if I'm forced to bid, so don't necessarily count on them bidding as high. Many times, if a person isn't willing to deal with me if I made them an above reasonable offer, then I won't participate in the bidding. When I do end up bidding, I usually win the item at least 75% of the time and usually far lower than my initial offer. I'm willing to pay a premium for the "sure thing" and for not wasting my time on something I might not get if it goes to auction. Time is money, and a lot of times is far more valuable.

Ebay allows you to end the auction early with the reason, item is no longer available for sale. That would be a valid reason if you sell it away from ebay. If the price you are getting for the item meets or exceeds your expectation, then by all means, take it. Ebay is just another advertising venue and I don't see it as being a question of fairness to allow the other people a chance to bid on it. If they want it, they can step up to the plate and make a decent offer, otherwise, they didn't want it bad enough to take the initiative to strike a deal with you.

If ebay didn't allow this, it would be a different story, but they do. If you list in your listing that you won't end the auction early, then by all means, stand by your word and don't end it early. However, if you don't state that you won't end it early, you don't owe it to anyone to continue the auction if you feel you want to take an offer.

Mike

onebamafan · December 26, 2009 12:57AM

This may not be a popular view here however, your goal is to sell this item for the maximum amount you can (the idea for selling) or whats fair to you, i have no loyalty to EBAY or its "potential bidders" which is what they are. As a seller your goal is to move the item, the means by which you do this is irrelevant. Sell this item anyway you feel is best for YOU. "Potential bidders" doesn't always mean buyers.

alnavman · December 26, 2009 1:30AM

I don't end auctions early and always let the person know that is my policy. I've never had any problems doing this and most of the time the person who asks to end the auction sends back another message thanking me for at least considering their request. I believe that if you are polite and honest with everyone it works out longterm. al.

WinPitcher · December 26, 2009 2:30AM

Every time I was ever asked to end an auction early I always wound up with more

for the item than what the person who asked me to end it offered.

I generally never bid again with such sellers too.

Steve

MeteoriteGuy · December 26, 2009 2:37AM

<< I don't consider it poor etiquette when sellers end auctions early (until a 'deal' has been reached it is their item to do with what they choose), but as a buyer I do find the practice annoying. If they wanted to take advance offers on an item, they should have put it up BIN/OBO in the first place. >>

This is pretty much my thinking....as I think this is eBay's stance. When selling on eBay....what eBay thinks one can and can't do should be the guidelines for lack of better term. But I do agree with the above, meaning I find it annoying.

It is however a little rough out there in a basic world right now and if a seller gets an offer for more then he thinks the eBay auction will bring, it might be in their best interest to end it, and I am no one to stand in the way of someone else making a legal buck.

hammered · December 26, 2009 2:54AM

<< I have between 20-30 watchers on the item. >>

Watchers don't = bidders. If I have 20 watchers, I can count on maybe one of them putting in a last day bid.

storm888 · December 26, 2009 3:43AM

On EBAY, sellers should always do what they think is
in their own best interest..... provided EBAY policy/TOS
is not violated.

mtcards · December 26, 2009 4:17AM

Its YOUR item, if someone offers you what you want for it, I see no problem selling it. You paid your listing fee, so ebay got theirs and you get yours.

vladguerrero · December 26, 2009 4:39AM

it's easier to lose $ by letting it run and not taking a best offer based on what I've experienced.

VintageCardLover · December 26, 2009 5:01AM

i have bid on several board members items only to have them "end early" i dont hold it against them, i assume they got a great price and avoided the Ebay fees. Good for them.

edited for spelling.

bobsbbcards · December 26, 2009 5:22AM

<< On EBAY, sellers should always do what they think is
in their own best interest..... provided EBAY policy/TOS
is not violated. >>

Are you saying that eBay has no policy against sellers using eBay to advertise their product and then doing off-line deals in order to avoid eBay fees? I find that difficult to believe.

If a seller wants to end an auction early with a Buy-It-Now at the amount of an off-line offer and still pay the eBay fees, then I think that's completely up to them (eBay has provided them a venue to advertise their wares and should be paid for that service). If I was a bidder with a snipe set and an item was sold out from under me, I won't buy from that seller in the future.

Edited to add: I don't think that the few pennies people pay for listing fees would be enough to keep eBay in business. And I, for one, do want eBay to stay in business. Do you all remember purchasing sports cards on the Internet before eBay?

MeteoriteGuy · December 26, 2009 5:43AM

<< 

<< On EBAY, sellers should always do what they think is
in their own best interest..... provided EBAY policy/TOS
is not violated. >>

Are you saying that eBay has no policy against sellers using eBay to advertise their product and then doing off-line deals in order to avoid eBay fees? I find that difficult to believe.

If a seller wants to end an auction early with a Buy-It-Now at the amount of an off-line offer and still pay the eBay fees, then I think that's completely up to them (eBay has provided them a venue to advertise their wares and should be paid for that service). If I was a bidder with a snipe set and an item was sold out from under me, I won't buy from that seller in the future.

Edited to add: I don't think that the few pennies people pay for listing fees would be enough to keep eBay in business. And I, for one, do want eBay to stay in business. Do you all remember purchasing sports cards on the Internet before eBay? >>

If eBay was to fall....or fall more as it is....I don't think off eBay deals would be the reason.

It is against eBay policy to accept an offer via their messages. But for example, Bill could message me here in the PSA forum, and I don't see why I couldn't sell to Bill, and use the end of auction link that says "the item is no longer for sale." Assuming one was concerned that eBay get there....personally, I am not. I have the same policy towards eBay...they have for me. When I was doing good sales on eBay hitting 1500-2000 a month in eBay bills, eBay made it quite clear they did not care about me and was much more interested in buy.com sellers.

Clear Skies,
Mark

divecchia · December 26, 2009 6:14AM

I think it is a crap shoot with most items unless it is extremely rare and it has a large following, not just a handful of people. I would not be happy if a person ended a listing early, but I have to realize it is their item and they are entitled to do what they want with it. If you think there is a reasonable offer there, you may want to take it as now is not the best time for selling items on eBay.

Just to give an example I bought an item for almost $200 less than the offer I made the seller a month earlier...Donato

NickM · December 26, 2009 6:23AM

You have multiple offers. That's an indicator of serious competition for the item. IMO your return will be maximized by letting it run its course.

Nick

bobbyw8469 · December 26, 2009 6:41AM

<< If a seller wants to end an auction early with a Buy-It-Now at the amount of an off-line offer and still pay the eBay fees, then I think that's completely up to them (eBay has provided them a venue to advertise their wares and should be paid for that service). If I was a bidder with a snipe set and an item was sold out from under me, I won't buy from that seller in the future. >>

A bidder with a snipe set does me no good. I am HOPING that someone comes thru in the last 3 seconds and bids up a $1,000 item from the $50 it is currently at. If I lose snipers, than I lose snipers....I am a sniper myself, and most snipers want items as cheaply as possible. If I have an offer that is 10 times what the current bid is, then I guess I am in agreement with most of the other posters......end the auction....

storm888 · December 26, 2009 6:48AM

<< 

<< On EBAY, sellers should always do what they think is
in their own best interest..... provided EBAY policy/TOS
is not violated. >>

Are you saying that eBay has no policy against sellers using eBay to advertise their product and then doing off-line deals in order to avoid eBay fees? I find that difficult to believe.

If a seller wants to end an auction early with a Buy-It-Now at the amount of an off-line offer and still pay the eBay fees, then I think that's completely up to them (eBay has provided them a venue to advertise their wares and should be paid for that service)..........

.......Edited to add: I don't think that the few pennies people pay for listing fees would be enough to keep eBay in business. And I, for one, do want eBay to stay in business. Do you all remember purchasing sports cards on the Internet before eBay? >>

///////////////////////////////////////////////////

"...provided EBAY policy/TOS is not violated."

I thought that was fairly clear, based on what we ALL know
the policy/TOS to be.

Sellers who try to burn EBAY on a transaction in which EBAY
was the procuring cause, are violating the policy/TOS. Such
sellers can and will be NARUd, if their violation is discovered.

................................

The easiest TOS-compliant method of accepting the type of post-bid
offer contemplated here is to cancel the listing AND list a new BIN for
the offering buyer.

There are other compliant means, but I think this is the easiest.

...............................
....................................

I am little concerned whether or not EBAY "fails."

I pay EBAY for a service; usually, they sort of perform
the service, sometimes not so much. My concern for
them is very similar to EBAY's concern for me.

On EBAY, ANY action a seller takes in his own interest is the right
action, "...provided EBAY policy/TOS is not violated."

..................................................

In most categories, MANY sellers have learned that the best
way to make money on EBAY is to use high-BINs with BO.

Especially in this TERRIBLE economy, auctions are great for
buyers but NOT so good for sellers.

WinPitcher · December 26, 2009 7:41AM

Just because the current 'bid' is 51.00 does not mean that it is.

The person that is in the lead could have a larger bid in.

I know cuz I am that bidder.

Steve

bobbyw8469 · December 26, 2009 7:46AM

Steve!!!!!!! I didn't even know you wanted the program!!!! You had no idea the significance behind it!!!

WinPitcher · December 26, 2009 7:49AM

Bobby

Hey I threw down a bid.

Actually the one I really want is the 63 Mets one.

Steve

bobbyw8469 · December 26, 2009 7:54AM

I got three of those Steve!!! one at auction, and the nicer ones are BIN's....Ill cut you a deal if you want one of the nice ones....

WinPitcher · December 26, 2009 9:20AM

Pm sent

jackstraw · December 26, 2009 11:24AM

If you do alot of selling I wouldn't end anything early.

hookem · December 27, 2009 8:19AM

I hate it when sellers do that. Nothing worse then the email from eBay saying the item you were the high bidder on is "No longer aval". Really pisses me off.

Maybe I am just bitter cause I lost out on a "Heisman Pose" Ricky Williams minor league baseball PSA 10 card that I was high bidder on one time. This was when he was out of the league and I was willing to pay several hundred. My bid got canceled with less than 24 hours left at less then $50.

Ebay ending auctions early etiquette - opinions?

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