Roadsmith
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posted on May 26, 2003 08:06:28 AM new
UPDATE TIME! Do you all remember this Fostoria glass pitcher and my ending an auction and relisting it? You all were soooo helpful to me, and I want to thank you nice people. It closes in a little over an hour and is already up to nearly $200, which makes me very happy. I'm hoping there will be last-moment bids, but even $200 for something I almost gave to the thrift shop makes me very happy.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?MfcISAPICommand=ViewItem&item=2637262084
Hi, everybody: I'm selling an old glass pitcher, very pretty and etched, which belonged to my husband's grandmother (Auction #2636506303). I wasn't sure of the maker but I was sure it was in the "elegant glass" category so listed it there under both Cambridge and Fostoria with question marks and started around $10. Ends June 1st.
Got an email from a collector telling me precise details--Fostoria with the pattern #, ounces it held, pattern name, etc., says its book value is about $400.
I've added a note at the end (there were already two bids, up to $22+) but I'm wondering if I should end the auction and list it correctly in the title line. I don't expect to get anywhere near the $400 but I'd hate to see it tank.
I started it with a low reserve, then chickened out and removed the reserve. Yikes.
[ edited by Roadsmith on May 26, 2003 08:10 AM ]
[ edited by Roadsmith on Jun 2, 2003 06:11 PM ]
[ edited by Roadsmith on Jun 2, 2003 06:14 PM ]
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tomwiii
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posted on May 26, 2003 08:10:05 AM new
END the auction NOW & relist with the appropriate price. 
Ralphie loves Mr Blonde:
"Are you gonna bark all day little doggie, or are you gonna bite?"
http://tinyurl.com/5duz
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kiara
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posted on May 26, 2003 08:58:56 AM new
I think I would be tempted to end the auction and start over. You can use the excuse that a mistake was made in the listing.
The way you have it now, the added info will never get into search so some may pass your auction by and with that kind of potential it isn't worth the risk.
I would contact the two bidders and cancel their bids and let them know you made a mistake and then send them an url to the new auction. If they are serious bidders they will bid again. If they are cheapos hoping to scoop a bargain you have nothing to lose.
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stonecold613
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posted on May 26, 2003 09:21:10 AM new
Your auction is a contract and since you have bidders already, all you can do is hope that others see it and bid it up. If you cancel the bids and relist it, you run the risk of becoming NARU if the previous bidders turn you in to ebay.
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tomwiii
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posted on May 26, 2003 09:24:25 AM new
Horsepucky!
Sellers are allowed to cancel bids & end auctions anytime up to 12hrs prior to EOA for any reason or NO reason what-so-ever!
Ralphie loves Mr Blonde:
"Are you gonna bark all day little doggie, or are you gonna bite?"
http://tinyurl.com/5duz
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kiara
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posted on May 26, 2003 09:33:05 AM new
Here are the facts:
http://pages.ebay.com/help/sell/end_early.html
Reasons for ending listings early include:
The item is no longer available for sale.
There was an error in the starting price or reserve amount.
There was an error in the listing.
The item was lost or broken.
You can use whatever excuse you wish. eBay does not come to your house and check. 
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ohmslucy
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posted on May 26, 2003 09:37:52 AM new
Hi Roadsmith,
I agree with Kiara and Tom. Stonecold is mistaken. You do need to cancel the bids before you end the auction.
Good idea to write the bidders after you've cancelled. Hopefully they'll come back and bid again. I suspect they will - that pitcher is stunning!
Let us know how it turns out.
Lucy
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Libra63
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posted on May 26, 2003 09:45:33 AM new
I would end your auction. If bidders can retract than sellers can end. It's a good thing that you found out what it was before the auction ended. I sure hope you can get at least half or more of the value of your pitcher. Good Luck
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stonecold613
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posted on May 26, 2003 10:12:27 AM new
Nice on Kiara but you left out the special note at the bottom of that page.
Here it is.
NOTE: Sellers are not permitted to cancel bids and end listings early in order to avoid selling an item that did not meet the desired sale price. This is considered to be reserve fee circumvention. Although there are legitimate reasons for ending a listing early, abuse of this option will be investigated.
And this is what the original post is asking to do.
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kiara
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posted on May 26, 2003 10:18:09 AM new
stonecold613, that is not the situation that roadsmith is in at all.
There was an error in the listing because she did not have all the information needed to sell the item.
The auction has over 6 more days to run. Perhaps you should reread what she wrote. I did not add the part that you put on because it does not pertain to this situation and I did not write out the full page from ebay. That's why I put an url to ebay's rules.
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neonmania
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posted on May 26, 2003 10:21:30 AM new
Stone - You seem to be ignoring that the original listing is not correct. It would be against regs if she relisted exactly as is however she will be updating the auction to provide a more accurate description. No one is stuck until the end of the auction.
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trai
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posted on May 26, 2003 10:23:53 AM new
This is considered to be reserve fee circumvention.
And this is what the original post is asking to do.
Wrong! This is just to add more info on the item, not to beat a fee. No one will scroll a mile down on the item page to see if there is an add on.
The seller has every right to cancel this auction and rewrite it with the new info. This is legal with ebay.
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kiara
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posted on May 26, 2003 10:27:44 AM new
If roadsmith decides to end the auction she will have to start a new one. If she just cancels those two bids and then revises the auction I don't think the two bidders will be able to bid again on that one.
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stonecold613
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posted on May 26, 2003 10:32:02 AM new
Just because Roadsmith did not do her homework and listed the item for less than it's real worth is not the fault of either the bidders or ebay. Removing the auction because of price is a violation and will be dealt with accordingly.
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kiara
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posted on May 26, 2003 10:33:22 AM new
Horsepucky!
Do you sell on ebay?
Besides, she's not removing the auction because of price because she doesn't have a clue what the ending price will be and neither do the rest of us as it still has almost a week to go. Get it?
[ edited by kiara on May 26, 2003 10:34 AM ]
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neonmania
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posted on May 26, 2003 10:38:12 AM new
Stone - you have given some of the most arrogant and inaccurate advice I've seen. For awhile I thought you were a parody but I've come to realise you really buy this matter of fact insistance that you spew.
According to ebay....
Reasons for ending listings early include:
* The item is no longer available for sale.
* There was an error in the starting price or reserve amount.
* There was an error in the listing.
* The item was lost or broken.
There was an error in the listing and she can end the auction and relist.
Get over yourself, give advice, give an opinion but tone down your matter of fact delivery because you are frequently wrong or not even addressing the actual issue at hand.
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Damariscotta
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posted on May 26, 2003 11:38:02 AM new
I think anyone looking for this type of item will find it the way it is currently listed, since it is under the correct category (as well as under an incorrect one).
If you search for a pitcher in the Fostoria/engraved category you will only pull up a handful of listings, of which this is one.
Most ebayers are savvy enough to search by keywords, which will also pull this up.
As for what anything "books" for, thanks to ebay that is irrelevant. Maybe I am cynical, but I found it puzzling that someone would let the seller know how much this should (in their opinion) be worth, instead of just bidding on it while it is so cheap.
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dazedandconfused
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posted on May 26, 2003 12:06:50 PM new
As a long time glass collector and dealer, I think you should leave it. I know glass collectors, and they don't leave a stone (bad word!) unturned in their search for special pieces. Stopping auctions with bids, just makes collectors unhappy and suspicious! I think your great pitcher will do well. Also, if one well known collector bids on it, the rest will follow!
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dazedandconfused
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posted on May 26, 2003 12:10:13 PM new
Sorry Stonecold, I meant the word stone, was a bad word, as it relates to glass, not a person!
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Roadsmith
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posted on May 26, 2003 12:18:47 PM new
Thanks, everyone, for your spirited discussion and advice here! I've decided to do what Kiara and others have suggested. I've ended the auction, cancelled the bids, and sent an e-mail to each of the bidders. Here's the text of my message:
"Hello! You four have bid, thus far, on my auction
#2636506303 for the etched glass pitcher. I have just
received word that there was an error in my listing and
in my title, and I find I didn't have all the
information needed to sell this pitcher correctly
I will be making the corrections in the title and
description and relisting this pitcher, beginning this
evening (Monday) about 7:30 p.m., to run for SEVEN
DAYS until Monday evening, June 2nd. I'll send the new
auction to each of you.
I'm very sorry for any inconvenience this has caused
you. I appreciated very much your early bids, and I'll
be glad to answer any questions you may have. Adele"
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captian23
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posted on May 26, 2003 01:08:09 PM new
That was the correct thing to do. It is amazing how people think that buyers have all the rights. You made a mistake, so you have now corrected it. If it was the other way around would the same people tell you not to end the auction then?
___________________________________
If you build it they will come........
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annekila
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posted on May 26, 2003 02:17:11 PM new
Gosh..I hope you cancelled the bids BEFORE you ended it....
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koto1
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posted on May 26, 2003 02:38:35 PM new
Nicely handled Roadsmith.
"Who's tending the bar?  Sniping works up a thirst"
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auctionace
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posted on May 26, 2003 02:52:17 PM new
When a seller cancels an auction any bids are automatically canceled. The ebay software makes the seller select a choice from a short list of reasons of why the auction was canceled.
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neonmania
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posted on May 26, 2003 04:09:07 PM new
Auction - if you already have bidders you have to actually cancel existing bids first or you have sold to the current highest bidder.
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Roadsmith
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posted on May 26, 2003 05:12:04 PM new
These last few posts here are a little confusing. I don't know any other way to end an auction and cancel bids than going to the site map and clicking on end auction early, or whatever the heck the nomenclature is.
Is there another way?
I had to decide whether to cancel bids or sell to the highest bidder at that link BEFORE the auction would be cancelled.
How would someone just end an ebay auction???
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neonmania
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posted on May 26, 2003 05:17:15 PM new
Those are the only two choices.
You either sell it or kill it
If there are no bidders you just kill it.
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kiara
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posted on May 26, 2003 05:47:31 PM new
You cancelled it the right way, roadsmith. It was an excellent letter you wrote to the bidders and hopefully they are understanding.
This is what eBay says:
1. Type your item number into the Ending Your Listing Early form. (You can get this number on your listing, on your confirmation email, or on your My eBay page.)
2. If there are bids on your item, choose between:
Cancel bids and end listing early
or
Sell item to high bidder(s) and end listing early
If your item has no bids, you'll skip this step.
3. Choose the reason you're ending your listing early.
4. Now your listing will end and will no longer be displayed on eBay. If there were bidders, they will be emailed that their bid was canceled and the listing ended early.
-------------------------------------------
There are always differing opinions on how to handle this situation. Anyone who sells antiques and collectibles may eventually have this happen because it's impossible to know each and every item.
Maybe I am cynical, but I found it puzzling that someone would let the seller know how much this should (in their opinion) be worth, instead of just bidding on it while it is so cheap.
I have had sellers/buyers give me information quite willingly as they specialize in the item in question. They aren't interested in buying, they are just pleased to be able to help others perhaps get a better price.
[ edited by kiara on May 26, 2003 06:11 PM ]
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auctionace
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posted on May 26, 2003 07:27:02 PM new
If there were bidders, they will be emailed that their bid was canceled and the listing ended early.
That sounds like automatically canceled bidders by ebay to me.
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kiara
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posted on May 26, 2003 07:34:53 PM new
Yes, ebay sends them an e-mail telling them that the auction has been cancelled and ebay cancels the bids.
[ edited by kiara on May 26, 2003 07:35 PM ]
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