Ebay sellers, did I handle this ok

FrankinWI · August 11, 2002 12:42PM

OK, I had a couple of coins up for auction that closed tonight. Before they closed I get a message to the seller shown below:

I JUST WANT TO GIVE U A BIT OF ADVISE. U R ENDING YOUR AUCTIONS TO CLOSE TOGETHER. U R NOT GIVING PEOPLE WHO REALLY WANT YOUR ITEMS A CHANCE TO BID WHEN THEY END ALMOST ALL AT THE SAME TIME

So I respond as I thought a good seller should:

Thanks for the advice. I'll keep that in mind when I put up more items in the next couple of weeks. You might try using an Auction Sniper program. Really works great when your trying to snipe several auctions at the same time.

So this is the response that I get in 3 seperate emails:

I DONT USE THAT I THINK ITS A LOUSY THING TO DO AND IT ONLY HELPS THE SELLER NOT THE BIDDER. THANKS FOR SETTING ME STRAIGHT ON YOU HOW YOU WORK
I HAVE LET EBAY KNOW OF YOUR TELLING ME TO USE A SNIPER PROGRAM AND I SEE SOME STRANGE GOINGS ON IN SOME OF YOUR BIDDERS.
AND THERE IS ONE BIDDER THAT I SEE WINS OR BIDS AT THE LAST MINUTE ON YOUR ITEMS AND SOON AFTER WARDS IS LISTING THE SAME COIN.

Ok so how should I handle this? Should I be worried? I have excellent feedback (196) and have never run into anything like this before.

Frank

Placid · August 11, 2002 12:44PM

I would ignore it and not respond any further.

truthteller · August 11, 2002 12:45PM

Place him on your ebay blocking list and email blocking list.

TRUTH

FC57Coins · August 11, 2002 12:47PM

I agree with Placid - don't worry about this guy, he probably doesn't even know what sniping is.

Regards,

Frank

mdwoods · August 11, 2002 12:48PM

Well, you just don't understand him. He doesn't want to snipe, he just wants to jump in at the last second and bid hoping to get it real cheap, which is call uh, um, er, nevermind

Dog97 · August 11, 2002 12:49PM

What a weirdo-he needs to get a life!! Sniping is allowed by eBay so there's nothing to worry about. Avoid further contact with this guy because he might be a serial killer or something.

ClarkOfKent · August 11, 2002 12:53PM

Since eBay doesn't bust it's butt to take care of truly fraudulent sellers, I don't know that I'd worry too much about them paying any attention to this guy.

"I DONT USE THAT I THINK ITS A LOUSY THING TO DO AND IT ONLY HELPS THE SELLER NOT THE BIDDER. THANKS FOR SETTING ME STRAIGHT ON YOU HOW YOU WORK "

His original suggestion to you leads me to believe that he wants a better opportunity to snipe your auctions. Isn't that the way you took it? So, he obviously doesn't have any problem with sniping. Otherwise, he would just enter his maximum bid and let it play out. How close together your auctions end would not be an issue for him. If he thinks sniping helps the seller, and not the bidder, then why does he do it? And, it has nothing to do with the way YOU work. A seller cannot control the sniping of his auctions.

"I HAVE LET EBAY KNOW OF YOUR TELLING ME TO USE A SNIPER PROGRAM AND I SEE SOME STRANGE GOINGS ON IN SOME OF YOUR BIDDERS."

Does eBay have a policy against sniper programs? All they do is place bids for you. If anyone knows of any policies against sniping, I'd love to know about it. Sniping is sniping... doesn't matter where the snipe is coming from.

"AND THERE IS ONE BIDDER THAT I SEE WINS OR BIDS AT THE LAST MINUTE ON YOUR ITEMS AND SOON AFTER WARDS IS LISTING THE SAME COIN."

So, he's figured out the way it works. People snipe in to get a good deal on an item that, for whatever reason, isn't bid up to it's potential. Then, they resell it... hoping to get the higher bidding that the original owner had hoped for. Give this brainiac a brownie pin.

I, personally, wouldn't worry about it. I don't think you've done anything wrong. If you gave this guy a million dollars in hundreds, he'd probably want to know why he couldn't have it in twenties.

Just my two cents worth.

Clark

Russ · August 11, 2002 12:54PM

Wait a minute. He whines because your auctions end too close together, and then slams you for suggesting using a sniping program? If he doesn't snipe, what the hell is he complaining about? Friggin' moron. I'll bet he has an @AOL.com address, doesn't he?

Russ, NCNE

supercoin · August 11, 2002 12:56PM

Here's what you do:

1. Go to an insane asylum
2. Ask some really wacky looking guy for advice
3. Write down what he says
4. Type it in to your computer (use all capital letters, abbreviate and/or misspell some words)
5. Send it to that bidder

That should clear things up. As well as anything else will, anyway.

Tonelover · August 11, 2002 12:57PM

Survey says: Ignore!

The guy's turning you in to ebay for making a legitimate suggestion? He sees strange goings on in your bidders?

Let the net-kook fight with someone else, you sure don't need the headache.

Bustman · August 11, 2002 1:02PM

I wouldn't worry about this guy. I sell a fair amount on ebay, and it seems that every so often you will run into someone who feels like he needs to teach you a lesson. my guess is that he or she has a little too much time on his hands, and loves to get into an email spat now and then. If you email hime back and get into it, you will only be encouraging him further. If you let it go, he will crawl back into his hole and forget about it. I do agree that you should block him from bidding on your auctions.

Russ · August 11, 2002 1:02PM

Oh, BTW, Frank, if you're going to be listing any proof JFKs, I'd appreciated if you could space the endings at least a couple minutes apart. I don't use that wussy software approach.

Russ, NCNE

FrankinWI · August 11, 2002 1:05PM

Thanks everyone for your advice. I've blocked him from bidding on any of my further auctions.

I was going to block his email address as well but after giving that idea some thought his emails are at least worth the entertainment value!

Frank

postman · August 11, 2002 1:18PM

Sniping by another name is still sniping. I snipe, just didn't know the term until I started reading the boards. Hey anyone remenber snipe hunts in scouts? Bob

ARCO · August 11, 2002 1:21PM

If he is against sniping why did he tell you to space the auctions out more? What a king turd. If he is against sniping, your auction endings should be irrelevant because he could have placed his maximum bid days before it ends.

Like another said, Block his email and his bids.

Tyler

Clankeye · August 11, 2002 1:25PM

....."Friggin' moron. I'll bet he has an @AOL.com address, doesn't he?......"

Oh, brother. I don't even have the energy.

DrawTwo · August 11, 2002 2:09PM

Franklin - don't lose any sleep over it. There's all kinds out there.

I once had a bidder win an low price auction from me, @$35.00. He sent me a money order for $31.00. When I called him on it (still sent the coin, just asked him to send the $4.00 when he could), he got all huffy about how he didn't like e-bay because the seller knew what the bidder had bid! Duh!!!

I have no idea what he was talking about. He sent the $4.00 and I never responded. Never heard from him again. There's some strange ones out there! Just ignore it.

gemseeker · August 11, 2002 2:49PM

Nothing that I would concerned about. He is only expressing his opinion. I doubt ebay will do anything about his complaint to them.

BBN · August 11, 2002 2:59PM

Sounds like a real douchebag to me.

medicain19 · August 11, 2002 9:26PM

Ebay won't do anything. The complaint is not big enough for them to worry over. You did the right thing by blocking this person. But watck out for alias'

UncleJoe · August 11, 2002 9:54PM

I agree with all to ignore him and that sniping is just fine, but he was making a valid point.

For example, if you are selling similar or like items I may want to purchase one and one only. If your ending times are the same or close I do not want to take the chance on being the high bidder in more than one auction so I must choose which one to bid on.
If I wasn't the high bidder in the first auction if there was time I could bid in the next auction. Sniping doesn't necessarily help this person as apparently he must be placing his highest bid earlier in the auction and/or may not be at the computer when the auction closes.
Joe.

coinfinder · August 12, 2002 1:36AM

Don't worry about it. I have dealt with people like this before. Makse sure that you block him from bidding on your auctions though.

You said the right things in your e-mail he is being a real jerk. Nevermind him.

Michael

RLinn · August 12, 2002 2:40AM

Yeah, and to think I used to get frosted when I was the fourth caller on a third caller dial in radio give away. Seriously, what snipper software would you recommend? I am a little tired of missing out on good opportunities.

Conder101 · August 12, 2002 8:23AM

I have a question. On these sniping programs, are they programs that reside on my machine or an on-line program that will bid for me even if I am not on-line? (A program that is on my machine would not do me any good. The clock time on my machine drifts so it would not know when to connect.)

Russ · August 12, 2002 8:30AM

Conder101,

From what I understand, they are available both online and local disk. Also, the one that I took a look at (a local drive version) has an auto time synch feature.

Russ, NCNE

FrankinWI · August 12, 2002 8:32AM

The auction sniping service I use is at Auctionsniper.com. They do charge a fee if you win but I think your first 3 snipes are free of charge.

The software does not reside on your computer and is not dependent on your hardware running.

I've used it several times and it works without fail.

Wait a minute....why am I telling you all this!???? I want you to put in your highest bid and drive up the price of my auctions, not snipe them at the last second.
Frank

Ebay sellers, did I handle this ok

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