posted on April 11, 2002 04:19:27 PM new
I sell and also buy (occasionally) on Ebay.
A few days ago, I saw an auction for an old
(around 60 years) magazine that I wanted.
The auction had no bids and ended on a Saturday
at 8 AM. I already had a copy of this magazine, but I wanted another and decided I would bid as it was in good condition.
I didn't want to be up when the auction ended
(I sleep later on Saturday) amd decided to use
Esnipe.
Anyway, the auction closed and I was the only bidder. I got the item for $1.00.
The seller replies and thanks me for bidding and says "I guess you got it for $1.00. I guess that's all it was worth."
I know this item is probably valued
between $9-$20+ depending on condition.
The total with shipping was $4.50.
I sent an MO for $5 because I thought I could at least cover his minimal fees for him.
I thought about paying him more, but of course, that would defeat the purpose of getting a good deal.
I also thought about paying a little more, but didn't. If I paid him $10 ijnstead of $5, he still would be losing money and I didn't want him to think I was rubbing it in.
Ever feel a little guilty for getting a good deal on ebay?
I've also lost some $$$ on items as a seller, but I've never had an item close for $1.00.
posted on April 11, 2002 04:40:05 PM new
Never feel bad about getting a good deal!
That's why you buy at auction's to save money.
And when some of your item's close at a dollar will your customer's feel sorry for you?
posted on April 11, 2002 06:03:28 PM new
Don't feel guilty. A thing is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it. I've been selling on eBay for over three years and I have learned that it is extremely rare that anything sells for a price that even begins to approach the so-called "book value". All "book value" means is that one person one time was willing to pay a ridiculous price for something. If it had been worth between $9 and $20, someone else would have paid a price somewhere in the middle. It's worth $1.00.
posted on April 11, 2002 06:50:12 PM new
yes, i feel guilty..but happy..LOL seriously..ok so you knew it was worth more right? & many times people buy on ebay & turn around & sell it later at much more..but you have obviously earned this as you actually have taken to time (probably a lot of time) to research & school yourself in value..& that is the key..your time is worth money..
ebay has had so many troubles this past little while especially the last week..(see ebay announcemnts board whew)this may be why there were no other bids..
but I don't feel sorry for the seller as if they thought it was worth not losing it for 1.00 another 1.00 for reserve in case of ebay problems..would have been their option..They take that chance with a 1.00 nr auction..
I have sent a seller a little extra & it almost makes them mad??
Once i sent a seller the difference on shipping(No one does that for me )it was about 1.75 more than they quoted..they wrote & said oh you shouldn't have done that we don't worry about it..no thanks nothing..
as long as we are honest,hey, it's auctions..rough & tumble..we lose on some win big hopefully on others..that is the fun of it..maybe this person will research or use a reserve now & learned something from this like we all had to.you are a nice person to care..don't worry enjoy i am sure you deserve it..
[ edited by timetravelers on Apr 11, 2002 06:52 PM ]
posted on April 11, 2002 07:04:10 PM new
I don't felt guilty about winning something at a really low price, because that is what keeps you going as a bidder on ebay - The ability to find a really good deal.
As a seller, I have sold items way below value, and things way above value. Most items go in a range that is good.
I had one buyer write me and say they felt bad for winning something at a low price. I wrote back and told them not to feel bad, that is how it went on ebay.
posted on April 11, 2002 07:34:25 PM new
Yes, a little, but then I think about all the times the seller fudged the condition and I got stuck with cracked plates that were listed as mint.
I happened to be browsing eBay a couple of years ago right after a very long outage and a luncheon set in my china pattern came up: 6 luncheon plates, 6 cups/saucers, teapot, milk jug and sugar basin. I got it for $50. The teapot alone (which of course I still have) is worth $500.
I thought the seller would be terribly upset that the auction ended so low, but no, not only was she not upset, she was very courteous and did a beautiful job of packing and shipping. (I was chewing my nails expecting the whole shebang to arrive broken.) And she THANKED me!
I finally concluded that she was not "up" on this particular china pattern and didn't know what it was she had virtually given away.
posted on April 11, 2002 07:58:58 PM new
yES, I just got a good deal, I thought more people would bid but they did not, of course I haven't got the items yet; but I told the seller I thought it would go higher and sorry for her loss, she was so nice I will shop again and hopefully still get a deal but I would have paid more, she left me the best feedback! There aren't many deals out there, If I start my items at the low price no bids, if I start at a high price more bids, I don't get it.
posted on April 11, 2002 08:45:49 PM new
Sometimes you get the bear, sometimes the bear gets you. An old hunters analogy I guess but it fits this sort of situation if it is a situation.
Feel guilty, never.
On the other hand I've learned my lessons well in this regard of starting the bidding too low, at $1.00 so I never list anything for a starting bid less than $5.99. If I cant get at least $5.99 for it then I won't list it, it's too much work otherwise. If I only get one bid i'm happy, heck at least I sold it for all the work I put into it.
posted on April 11, 2002 09:42:54 PM new
If I get that good of deal I'd be second guessing why it got no more bids. The market for that item may be dropping out. That is a huge swing in price. Still, if you just collect for enjoyment you defitnitely got a great deal.
posted on April 13, 2002 09:10:55 AM new
I sniped a really great outfit under my other ID. I did feel a little guilty because it was a great price, but the seller had had plenty of time to end the auction early or revise it to get more hits before my snipe. (The title was just bad.)
She only had estimated shipping in her auctions, so I contacted her immediately. 2 days went by.... I contacted her again, 2 more days went by... Since she wasn't going to contact me, I sent payment with her estimated shipping... 2 days went by... I asked her what day she planned to ship, or had she shipped? No reply... 2 days went by... the item arrived. In it, it had a form letter saying she had already left feedback... she hadn't.
I have been sniped before. I would never so completely shut out a bidder in this manner.
posted on April 13, 2002 11:04:39 AM new
I do feel bad because as you say, the seller might be disappointed. But as a veteran seller myself, I tend to think things even themselves out.
I once put up a software package NIB that originally listed for $2,500. I figured it would tank (molecular modeller for Mac) and the auction ended at $1.50. Ouch! Other times I've made a killing. That's the fun of the auction format.
posted on April 13, 2002 10:03:37 PM new
Once again the FIXED Price saves the day!!No more $1.00 auction to many people listing,to many things going on too take such a foolish chance.If you want $20.00 sell it for $20.00.If someone wants it,heck they will buy.Feel Guilty? hell NO.
posted on April 13, 2002 10:08:13 PM newI once put up a software package NIB that originally listed for $2,500. I figured it would tank (molecular modeller for Mac) and the auction ended at $1.50. Ouch! Other times I've made a killing. That's the fun of the auction format.
Just wondering.....How is selling a $2500 piece of software for $1.50 fun?
posted on April 13, 2002 11:24:14 PM new
--fluffythewondercat--
Did you sell the rest of the tea set (minus the tea pot) for profit? If you don't mind me asking, approximately how much of a return did you get on your $50 investment?
posted on April 14, 2002 12:44:58 AM newJust wondering.....How is selling a $2500 piece of software for $1.50 fun?
Other times I've made a killing. My first eBay sale, paid $30, sold for $450. Best sale, paid $5, sold for $1,050.
That one sale I got hammered, I paid $5 for the thing, so it was no great loss. Though I probably should have given it to my cousin who is a molecular biologist.
I'm a compulsive shopper and have pretty good luck selling on eBay. At least my sales support my packrat habit.
posted on April 14, 2002 06:50:23 AM new
You can always count on tomwiii to step in and give a little humor to your threads. He would be a great one to do stand up at a party. keep them coming......
posted on April 14, 2002 11:17:02 AM new
professorhiggins: No, I didn't sell any of it. This truly is my china pattern and though it sometimes kills me (grin) that I could make a lot of money by selling the pieces, I could never bear to part with it.
Such is the curse of the collector. But if I ever need to put on a formal dinner for 40 or more people, I'm there.
My next-door neighbor here at the office uses his facility strictly for his hobby work, which is restoring Sunbeam cars. He told me he just sold $10k worth of rare parts to another restorer. While he was happy to make the sale, I sure got the impression that parting with the items was going to cause a twinge.
posted on April 14, 2002 11:25:07 AM new
Speaking of the teapot, I did a bit of a nasty once to a fellow bidder who collects the same pattern.
You've probably noticed that if you bid on the same kind of items for any length of time, you start to recognize the names...particularly those who always seem to come out on top when the auction ends. Such was the case with me. I was always getting beat out by this one lady in Central California. I finally concluded that the way she was doing it was not sniping, but simply putting in an extremely high proxy bid to ensure she would come out on top.
So can anyone guess what I did the next time she bid on something I wanted?
Yes, that's right. I ran up the bidding on her. Perfectly legal, maybe not ethical, but immensely satisfying to see the auction end several hundred dollars higher than it reasonably should have...and she was high bidder.
She stopped bidding on eBay completely after that.
Next time I saw her she was trying to unload the pieces (including the run-up item) she had previously bought. I don't know if she ever sold the run-up item or not. It would never meet her reserve.
.