posted on July 8, 2005 07:17:57 AM new
I'm embarassed to be asking this, but also pissed that eBay's help function isn't better.
In the past, when someone makes an emailed offer that I will accept, I've created a separate BIN auction private to them; after they hit the bid I cancel the original auction.
Now, a bidder tells me that he can make his bid on the original auction, and that I can accept his bid... doesn't that just get the second-place bid plus increment? I've never heard of this. Anyone know?
posted on July 8, 2005 06:16:31 PM new
"In the past, when someone makes an emailed offer that I will accept, I've created a separate BIN auction private to them; after they hit the bid I cancel the original auction.
Now, a bidder tells me that he can make his bid on the original auction, and that I can accept his bid... doesn't that just get the second-place bid plus increment? I've never heard of this. Anyone know? "
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Is his bid on the original auction not the first bid on 'it'? ... whatever, if he is the 'high bidder' presently, on an existing auction, you can 'end the auction early' and keep his bid on there in order to sell it to him ...
That part I knew. I don't remember the exact numbers, but the bidding is currently at $100 or so; he makes offer for $375.
I asked him about this, and he said that he would enter $375, and have a friend enter a bid for enough to have the increment push him to $375. It might not be dishonest in intent, but I don't think Trust and Safety would like the "sound" of it. It might be well-intentioned collusion, but it's still collusion.
I guess I have to go back to the old BIN. For what it's worth, I'm inclined to not accept his offer anyway; take my chances on the bidding, as eBay bids seem to have come alive again in the past week or so.
posted on July 8, 2005 09:08:51 PM new
Claude...What he is proposing is either shilling or shielding, depending on his final action. Don't wade off into this murky swamp. The safeharbour alligators will get you. You are the seller. You set the conditions. He either does it your way, or it doesn't get done. Besides, odds are that it will close higher with an honest bidder than what he offered.
A $75.00 solid state device will always blow first to protect a 25 cent fuse ~ Murphy's Law
posted on July 9, 2005 02:43:57 AM new
Claude ... also, isn't your consignor expecting an 'auction' format for their item? ... that would be another good reason to not stray from your original listing setup.
posted on July 9, 2005 05:17:08 AM new
Sparkz, it sounded wrong to me after he indicated how he would do it. He originally made it sound as though there was a new eBay feature that would get around the issue of having to start another auction (the mythical "high bid" process). Seems like I would be vulnerable to extortion and/or safeharbor problems.
EstateSaleStuff, I would never do it without getting an okay from my customer first. I have 2 frequent consignors who have explicitly given me their approval to approve offers in their absence, knowing that 99% of the time I let auctions run to completion, that I wouldn't misrepresent the offer, and that I want items to sell for as much as possible.
posted on July 9, 2005 05:27:18 AM new
I wonder if he is thinking of the 'make an offer" feature? I haven't used it (and don't intend to) but with that feature can't you end an existing listing when you get an offer you accept? Don't understand why the guy is opposed to you making a BIN in the amount he is willing to pay. If you end the current auction without cancelling bids then the current high bidder wins at the current high bid.
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Those "make an offers" are, as far as I know, only for fixed price auctions where the offer is less than the asking price.
I thought he was thinking of something like that until I asked him explicitly, and then he mentioned the bid rigging idea. He probably is an honest guy who doesn't realize I could get into trouble for going along with it.
In any case, I'll take my chances. He offered $375, and I've already got 4 bids to $202.50 with 8 1/2 days left, so ... If it goes for less than $375: unlucky. I think it's more likely that it will go higher; it's an ATMOS clock with a so-so case, but the innards are fine (except for a crack) and it is a very early ATMOS II model. We'll see.
posted on July 9, 2005 06:24:17 AM new
Good plan Claude. With all you have at stake I wouldn't get within 10 feet of a bid rigging scheme - no matter how innocent. I think you are right in taking your chances. I have one of those ATMOS clocks on my mantel and it's only about 3 hours off That's what I get for being married to the only Swiss on the planet to whom timeliness means diddly squat THANK GOD!! The other Swiss are just TOO efficient! (Hey! I just realized it's our 22nd anniversary and DH is on the other side of the pond)
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posted on July 9, 2005 11:05:21 AM new
Personally at this point since he made the bid on the original auction, I would let it run its course. Then I would change the other listing to something else that I have.
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Alive in 2005
That was decided. I was only partially considering recommending that the buyer accept the offer; usually it's best to let it run. My main interest was in whether eBay had a new mechanism for accepting bids, but I should have realized that since they would lose a BIN listing fee, they won't do it (of course, they reduce the chances of off-eBay agreements, too).
Anyway, onwards and upwards. It's at $255 now, 8 days 7 hours to go.
That's what I get for being married to the only Swiss on the planet to whom timeliness means diddly squat