posted on September 18, 2000 05:44:09 AM
I've often wondered why bidders email right after the auction has closed (and I mean within seconds), inquiring on whether the item is available, since reserve wasn't met? Duh, it was up for auction 2 seconds ago! Why don't they just bid? It doesn't cost them anything to bid. Do you think it's because they don't want anyone to know they are interested in it? One more thing, this seems to happen alot on items of higher dollar amounts and good quality.
[ edited by flynn on Sep 18, 2000 05:45 AM ]
posted on September 18, 2000 05:54:58 AM
Thanks to ebay's rather laid-back approach to updating its ending-today adn going-going-gone pages and my unwillingness to scrollllll through the "current" listings, I sometimes find items I'd really like BUT the auction has juuuuust closed (grr). In that case, if there's been no bids, I'll email the seller asking if they'll sell for the opening bid or if they'll notify me when they relist the item.
That doesn't by any means explain all your barely-post-auction emails, but it might justify a few.
posted on September 18, 2000 06:02:17 AM
There are many last-second bidders who try and snipe any good auctions closing. I had this a couple of times where they managed to bid on some of my things, but missed one because I had bulk loaded listings and there simply wasn't time.
OTOH there are people looking to buy off eBay for a variety of reasons. Depending on what the item is and who they are, you are welcome to sell to them if so inclined. The problem is that if something goes wrong, you have no recourse through eBay.
My suggestion is that you only accept a money order for off eBay items if it is expensive, don't ever sell to anyone who doesn't have good feedback and make sure that if they haven't paid in 10 days all bets are off and you will relist. Also NO REFUNDS of any kind on anything off eBay. This will get rid of the scammers.
posted on September 18, 2000 06:09:13 AM
Perhaps these bidders are asking themselves, "Why doesn't this seller just list the item with a minimum bid of the least amount that they will accept instead of using a reserve price?"
An equally valid question, I think.
Personlly, I never bid on reserve price auctions unless the reserve has already been met. To me, it's like walking in to a store where there are no price tags. You ask how much an item is, and the clerk says, "Guess."
I think your bidders may be saying, "Look, I don't want to guess. Just tell me how much you will sell it to me for."
Sure, I know that are all kinds of reasons for running reserve auctions, but, as a buyer, I really don't care. And I think a lot of bidders feel the same way.
[ edited by amalgamated2000 on Sep 18, 2000 06:10 AM ]
posted on September 18, 2000 07:21:39 AM
I agree about reserves. I would bid reserves if 1) I had enough expertise to have the foggiest idea what the item was worth. 2) All sellers were reasonable people who did not think their chipped/stained/ dodad is similar to the one in the book for $1,000 so it must be worth that also.
I never sell at reserve but get calls that someone missed the end of my auction and will I sell it?
Some are just bargin hunters - "I saw your mic set for $112.00 closed with no bidders.
Will you take $30.00 for it?" I mail back-
posted on September 18, 2000 08:49:12 AMI have purposely waited for these type auctions (with no bids) to end. I will stand-by, ready to snipe if another bids last second. But, if no other bids are made, I will e-mail the seller and offer a lower amount to buy it directly. I'd say about 75% of the time it works and I get the item cheaper than what the starting bid was. Reserves require a bit more negotiation.
But again, take it from one who does this often, bidders wait and e-mail immediately to get a deal, PERIOD.
posted on September 18, 2000 11:52:15 AMPersonlly, I never bid on reserve price auctions unless the reserve has already been met. To me, it's like walking in to a store where there are no price tags. You ask how much an item is, and the clerk says, "Guess." I think your bidders may be saying, "Look, I don't want to guess. Just tell me how much you will sell it to me for."
I've heard plenty of people say this, but I don't understand how it is significantly different from bidding in a non-reserve auction.
If I see an auction with a $10 starting price and is says 'Reserve not met', I don't know what the reserve is. It could be $50 or $500.
Likewise, if I see a non-reserve auction and a high bidder sitting at the $10 starting bid, I don't know what his max is. It could be $50 or $500.
I just don't see any significant difference in those 2 cases.
What's this need to "guess" the reserve? Bid what it's worth to you. If it says 'Reserve not met', you won't win it. If it says 'Reserve has been met' then you still have a chance. It's the same in the case of the non-reserve auction. If after you place your bid, the current high bidder is still the high bidder, then you won't win it. If you're now the high bidder, then you still have a chance.
Editted for UBB
[ edited by bkmunroe on Sep 18, 2000 12:17 PM ]
posted on September 18, 2000 12:03:14 PM
bkmunroe:
Well this discussion turned into more than I expected, but you pointed out something very important. Regardless of whether there is a reserve and you bid, you may or may not get the item.
Originally, I wanted to know about my reserve not met auctions where there was plenty of action and lots of bids, just not high enough for me.
I've bid alot as well and if I don't hit the reserve, I leave the auction thinking that the seller wants more than I'm willing to spend. Period. Nothing more, nothing else. I'm never offended by reserve auctions. I realize that sometimes people need to protect what they have in an item.
posted on September 18, 2000 12:07:52 PM
Because, when you see an opening bid (what the seller starts it at), it gives you an IDEA what the item is worth. Sometimes, I want something and have no CLUE what to bid for it, if it's something I've never bid on before and I'm new to the category. The opening bid amount (vs. a reserve) at least clues me in a bit.
I don't run reserve auctions, and I very rarely bid on them. I did sell something for a friend once, though, and she wanted to get a minimum amount for her item. I didn't use a reserve, but instead listed it with an opening bid that was the least she'd take. It closed with only one bid, and I imagine the high opening bid scared bidders away, even though it was still a GOOD price on the item. With my own items, since I buy cheap, I can take the risk.. with a consigned item it becomes more sticky.
posted on September 18, 2000 01:00:48 PM
I am very new at selling, only about 6 weeks and 50 auctions. I have had someone email me at the end of 3 of my reserve auctions. 2 out of the 3 went ahead and paid me the reserve price. I relisted the 3rd with no reserve and got more than the previous reserve was. When I bid, I bid what the most I will pay is, reserve or not. What's the difference?
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