posted on February 4, 2001 06:00:24 PM new
I just got the following email regarding a widget I had for sale that the auction just ended on.
Hello -
I'm sorry I accidentally bid $100. on this item when I meant to bid $10. Could you possibly contact the next higher bidder to see if they are still interested in the item? I am really sorry for such a careless mistake - their bid was very close to what it actually went for it looks like.
I would rather not purchase it at such a high price, but if the next highest bidder does not want it, I will honor the bid.
Thank you,
This auction went for $40 ~ should have gone for about $10.00 ~ but the next highest bidder had a top bid of $38.00 ~ but it would have only gone for about $10.00 if this person would not have bid ~ because the 3rd highest bidder was $9.50.
I have a few questions here:
First, is it within Ebay guidelines to even offer it to the second highest bidder? (I tried to look and see, but did not find it.)
Second, should I offer it to the second highest bidder? ~ and at what price ~ his top bid or the $10.00 it would have gone for? Help!!!!!!!Thank you.
posted on February 4, 2001 07:04:10 PM new
Ebay has always stated in the past, that you can always offer to the 2nd highest bidder if your highest backs out........... but with their new spam rules.. I've known 4 sellers to get warnings for doing so.
posted on February 4, 2001 07:23:06 PM new
It it were me I'd tell the high bidder I will be going through the non paying bidder routine to get credit but will not bother with feedback. I'd wait for a response. If none, I'd offer it to the 2nd bidder at $20. If he accepted I'd notify eBay that I had received $20 for it. If not I'd try my luck and relist.
Tom
posted on February 4, 2001 07:40:02 PM new
Good evening! I can relate to your bidder- I work at an accountant's office and crunch numbers all day with the decimal point that is automatically put in for me. One evening after a LONG day of work, and maybe one too many martinis, I accidently bid $300 when I meant to bid $3.00, and didn't realize it until the auction ended. Lucky for me, it only went for $12, so I had no problem paying it.
I know that eBay used to have it written in their help section that it was perfectly OK to offer the item to the next highest bidder, but I can't find that in there anywhere now, either.
I might offer it to the next highest bidder at a price around $20.00 (although you are perfectly within your rights to ask him for his highest bid price- but chances are they won't be interested), just like surrrfurtom suggested, although in the 3 years I have been selling, never has anyone taken me up on my offer. Actually, I think I might just request my FVF back from eBay and relist. Good luck!!!
posted on February 6, 2001 10:36:13 AM new
I have offered items to the second bidder, only had one take me up on it. I offer to sell the item for what the price would have been if the highest bidder hadn't been in the auction (since that's what the auction would have actually closed at).
