posted
What is with this last minute bidding thing?
I had 2 tickets to a concert on there for a week, with 10 people watching it the whole time, but nobody bidding. I was not trying to make a profit on them, in fact they were on there for well under what I paid for them. The bidding ended, THEN 3 people emailed me saying they missed the deadline and wanted to know if they could still get them for the starting price. I told them all to try their luck on stub hub.
Posts: 3134 | Registered: Mar 2005
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posted
I guess the short answer is that people are cheap, and will do pretty much whatever they can to try and spend as little as possible, even if it is a little sleazy.
Posts: 2437 | Registered: Apr 2005
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posted
So basically all the users have an unwritten rule to wait until the last minute to bid? I still don't really understand it, it is an auction, you don't have to pay more then you are willing to.
Posts: 3134 | Registered: Mar 2005
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quote:Originally posted by ricree101: I guess the short answer is that people are cheap, and will do pretty much whatever they can to try and spend as little as possible, even if it is a little sleazy.
Wanting to get the lowest price is not "cheap," any more than it's greedy for the seller to want the highest price someone is willing to pay.
They need to change the auctions from expiring after a set time limit to expiring after a set amount of time since the last bid, with the seller able to accept a bid immediately after a certain time period.
Posts: 26071 | Registered: Oct 2003
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They need to change the auctions from expiring after a set time limit to expiring after a set amount of time since the last bid, with the seller able to accept a bid immediately after a certain time period.
Not a bad idea. I also like how stub hub works, it gives the option to decrease the selling price every day until a few days before the concert. I start with what I want, and it will go down to the minimum I would accept.
Posts: 3134 | Registered: Mar 2005
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quote:Originally posted by ricree101: I guess the short answer is that people are cheap, and will do pretty much whatever they can to try and spend as little as possible, even if it is a little sleazy.
Wanting to get the lowest price is not "cheap," any more than it's greedy for the seller to want the highest price someone is willing to pay.
They need to change the auctions from expiring after a set time limit to expiring after a set amount of time since the last bid, with the seller able to accept a bid immediately after a certain time period.
In general, I agree with you. And in the case of last minute bidders, I definitely think it is a problem with the way the site works rather than a fault of the people bigging. However, it does seem a little lame to wait until after the bidding is over to express interest.
Posts: 2437 | Registered: Apr 2005
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posted
I am not sure that people who write to you to purchase the product afterwards are actually abiding by the rules of eBay. (In fact, I think this may be explicitly prohibited.)
However, bidding at the last moment you can is well within the rules and seems to be perfectly rational, especially when other people may not be bidding rationally. If you know what the maximum amount you would pay is, then there is nothing to gain by entering it sooner than need be.
It is a strategy I have used, and I find it far from sleazy. It is perfectly within the rules, is a well-known strategy, and is the best way (if all involved were to adopt this strategy) for everyone to pay no more than they can afford and still have the purchase go to the person who is willing to pay the most.
That strikes me as the most ethical of situaitons given the current setup, actually.
Posts: 14017 | Registered: May 2000
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quote:Originally posted by ClaudiaTherese: I am not sure that people who write to you to purchase the product afterwards are actually abiding by the rules of eBay. (In fact, I think this may be explicitly prohibited.)
However, bidding at the last moment you can is well within the rules and seems to be perfectly rational, especially when other people may not be bidding rationally. If you know what the maximum amount you would pay is, then there is nothing to gain by entering it sooner than need be.
It is a strategy I have used, and I find it far from sleazy. It is perfectly within the rules, is a well-known strategy, and is the best way (if all involved were to adopt this strategy) for everyone to pay no more than they can afford and still have the purchase go to the person who is willing to pay the most.
That strikes me as the most ethical of situaitons given the current setup, actually.
Ok, you have convinced me that there is nothing wrong with it. That still doesn't mean I can't be angry at the 3 people trying to get me to sell them the tickets AFTER none of them placed a bid. That is not sniping, that is just being stupid.
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quote:Originally posted by ClaudiaTherese: It is a strategy I have used, and I find it far from sleazy. It is perfectly within the rules, is a well-known strategy, and is the best way (if all involved were to adopt this strategy) for everyone to pay no more than they can afford and still have the purchase go to the person who is willing to pay the most.
That strikes me as the most ethical of situaitons given the current setup, actually.
Like I said, I'm sorry that I was unclear on what I meant in my post. I was mostly complaining about the people contacting after.
I still find the last minute bidding a bit annoying, but that's something that I feel is an indication of problems with the system itself. I don't think that the people who actually engage in it are doing anything dishonest, and I apologize if this is the impression I gave.
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I'm not sure if these people are violating rules or not. It says that items listed cannot be sold outside of ebay. I wonder if that includes unsold items after the listing expired.
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I think it has to be done under the auspices of an actual ongoing auction in order to be in accordance with the rules. eBay has to be able to track the purchase to guarantee their fees are paid appropriately, and there must be opportunity for others to bid concurrently.
I think eBay has a webpage on this, although I don't have time to track it down right now. I read up on it very thoroughly before I started any bidding, just out of interest.
Posts: 14017 | Registered: May 2000
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quote:Originally posted by ricree101: Like I said, I'm sorry that I was unclear on what I meant in my post. I was mostly complaining about the people contacting after.
I still find the last minute bidding a bit annoying, but that's something that I feel is an indication of problems with the system itself. I don't think that the people who actually engage in it are doing anything dishonest, and I apologize if this is the impression I gave.
No worries. Sometime maybe we could talk about why you find it annoying -- I'd be interested, but not in a challenging way. Just interested in your thoughts.
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posted
I found it obviously annoying because my item did not get sold. 2 of the 3 people that contacted me afterwards actually contacted me 3 days ago with questions. I know they were interested, and I know they were watching it. They held off bidding, and then forgot and missed their chances. Resulting in me not selling my tickets.
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posted
Is it too late to relist and point those people to your relist auction? I know there are some relist fees but that EBay waives certain of the charges involved if it's within a certain number of days.
Posts: 4515 | Registered: Jul 2004
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posted
In my last couple ebay experiences, this same type of thing happened. I think to some extent, ebay is broken, as people are not just working within the system to try and get the best possible price, but ignoring the system, or going completely outside it.
A few times I've bid on something, the person has taken down the item before the time expired, and then contacted me and asked to do the transaction outside ebay.
I've also had Stephan's experience, where I've gotten no bids, but minutes after the auction, had several emails trying to buy it.
I believe these are outright scam attempts, or at best people trying to get around ebays fees and protections or negotiate the price down, rather than bidding it up.
If I wanted that, I'd use Craigslist (which I often do). I hope ebay figures out how to deal with these kinds of things, among the many other shady dealings, ripoffs and scams that run through their site.
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quote:Originally posted by Stephan: I found it obviously annoying because my item did not get sold. 2 of the 3 people that contacted me afterwards actually contacted me 3 days ago with questions. I know they were interested, and I know they were watching it. They held off bidding, and then forgot and missed their chances. Resulting in me not selling my tickets.
Ah. So it isn't so much the last-minute bidding, but more the after-the-end bidding? That I can surely understand. You have my sympathy.
Posts: 14017 | Registered: May 2000
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quote:Originally posted by Goody Scrivener: Is it too late to relist and point those people to your relist auction? I know there are some relist fees but that EBay waives certain of the charges involved if it's within a certain number of days.
I thought of that, but decided to switch the tickets over to stubhub.
Posts: 3134 | Registered: Mar 2005
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I'm restoring an old computer to operational status, and I needed memory. Where else to buy antiquated computer equipment is there? (I guess I'm about to go looking.) I was delivered four memory modules wrapped in typing paper. For the love of ...
Three of the modules lit up Memtest like a Christmas tree. One of the modules wouldn't even pass POST.
Here's hoping the seller is honorable.
Posts: 1813 | Registered: Apr 2001
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posted
I'm sorry that happened. It's kind of funny in a not-laughing-at-your-misfortune kind of way.
FWIW, I've purchased a number of used computer parts on eBay and usually the sellers pack them appropriately in an anti-static bag. I think anyone who has purchased used computer equipment over the internet is probably roughly acquainted with the proper way to pack the equipment for shipping.
Hope it wasn't too expensive. I know if you buy obsolete memory from a memory retailer you'll probably pay a lot. Posts: 4287 | Registered: Mar 2005
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Nah, I didn't pay much, but I'm still going to take advantage of his DOA claim. You're right, it was pretty funny; it would have been even funnier if the memory had worked.
Posts: 1813 | Registered: Apr 2001
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posted
Bought a used DVD burner on eBay once. Seller wrapped it in a styrafoam sheet, nestled in a box of packing peanuts. Yeah, no surprise when it was DOA.
Posts: 1805 | Registered: Jun 1999
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quote:Originally posted by xnera: Bought a used DVD burner on eBay once. Seller wrapped it in a styrafoam sheet, nestled in a box of packing peanuts. Yeah, no surprise when it was DOA.
Seller didn't respond to my initial message. I emailed again, rather curtly, stating the problem and my intention to return the product for either a refund or exchange.
Seller responded, "These are New simms. Wondering why they are DOA. Please Send them back and I will exchange upon confirming they are DOA or refund you ($19.99) if they are tested good. Thanks"
New or not, shipping memory wrapped in paper is a bad idea. The fact that they weren't sealed in original packaging makes me think the seller is lying through his teeth.
Posts: 1813 | Registered: Apr 2001
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I don't suppose you happened to have taken pictures of them in their shipping packaging at the time you opened the box? I can pretty much guarantee that he's going to try and claim that they were DOA when HE received them due to your improper packing.
Posts: 4515 | Registered: Jul 2004
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His improper packing, not mine. I'm the buyer, he was the seller. I can pretty much guarantee he's going to claim they test out fine when I send them back. Posts: 1813 | Registered: Apr 2001
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My mom saves lots of money by shopping bargains, and so do I. But this is the first time I've ended up paying someone else to bargain shop for me!
I bought this a few days ago. I had been looking for it for a while, and most places were out (it was discontinued a few months back), or were $50 plus almost $20 shipping. So when I saw it for about list after shipping, I was excited and ordered it.
It came from eToys -- and a Google product search brings them up now, but did not a week ago.
I haven't decided what to do about feedback. The item was on time, and exactly as claimed. Caveat emptor, etc. But . . . Posts: 32919 | Registered: Mar 2003
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I never understood why people were so in love with e-bay. Almost everything I ever want to buy I can find cheaper somewhere else. Well, I do find good deals on used toys (baby hates stuffed animals and plastic toys are pretty easy to thoroughly clean), but other then that, I rarely see a great bargain.
Posts: 2223 | Registered: Mar 2008
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quote:I never understood why people were so in love with e-bay.
Prior to about 2002, it was pretty useful. It's still a good way to buy certain things, like oil paintings being sold by unknown artists.
Posts: 37449 | Registered: May 1999
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rivka, you should leave positive feedback. Nearly every time you buy an item, the seller bought it somewhere else for cheaper. Not much fundamentally different about your transaction. And drop shipping is pretty common and I don't think its unethical.
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quote:Originally posted by scifibum: rivka, you should leave positive feedback.
That's what I have decided. She lived up to her side of the bargain.
However, I disagree with you on the ethical issue, and plan to leave a comment explaining why I personally will avoid the seller in the future. There is a fundamental difference between buying an item and reselling it and charging me $5 to place an order on my behalf. Starting with the complete lack of financial risk on the part of the "seller."
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quote:I never understood why people were so in love with e-bay.
Prior to about 2002, it was pretty useful. It's still a good way to buy certain things, like oil paintings being sold by unknown artists.
And fiction in whatever foreign language you happen to be studying. And discontinued items. And odd little things you'll never find anywhere else.
Although I certainly check ebay for things I can get elsewhere, I make sure I know typical prices so I can be sure that "good deals" really are. Sometimes, if you pay very good attention, you can get things for a significant discount.
posted
rivka, I'm not a big fan of drop shippers either.
I am getting a Maclaren double stroller on eBay for cheaper than anywhere else I can find it. There are certainly good discounts here and there-- just have to know, as Mel said, what "typical" is.
Posts: 21182 | Registered: Sep 2004
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I just discovered e-bay, actually. (Yeah, I'm a bit slow on these things.) I just bought 3 lots of clothes for my new baby and for my son but my best buy -- 7 new in the box Thomas and Friends trains for $50 (including shipping)...retail for over $125. (My son loves Thomas. He sleeps with a train, actually....most toddlers go for teddy bears but whatever. )
My only complaint is that some of the sellers don't seem to be in a big hurry to ship. Everywhere I go I see these huge, sometimes mean warnings about people not paying right away and in all cases I paid within minutes of the auction ending. You'd think they could be as courteous.
A bunch of infant sleepers I won and paid for on Tuesday still haven't shipped out. Are there any rules on when they need to ship these things because I'm starting to get annoyed. I mean, even if they do only go to the post office on Saturday or something, they could e-mail me and tell me when to expect it so I don't start to wonder if my money went into a huge black hole somewhere.
Posts: 2392 | Registered: Sep 2005
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I bought a nice new sewing machine on ebay. It was shipped before I could pay for it. From Circuit City. Where the seller used a stolen credit card to pay for it.
I had questioned the address to which the seller's payment was to be sent. The seller wouldn't tell me until several days had passed, and then it was vastly different from the original location stated in the listing. He also refused to let me use paypal.
I forwarded the seller's correspondence to ebay, and they said not to pay, they had closed the seller's account and I was under no obligation to complete the contract.
So I bought another machine from a different seller. It arrived very quickly. But a couple of days later, another box showed up on my porch. Another sewing machine.
It took me a couple of weeks to investigate, but I found out that the first machine was "hot", but that they didn't want it back as it had been opened, which meant that they'd have to sell it "refurbished". They didn't want payment, but finally agreed to accept the amount of my ebay bid. It really messed up their documentation for insurance.
It caused me to buy two machines when I only wanted one, and took hours of phone calls to make it right.
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Sometime maybe we could talk about why you find it annoying -- I'd be interested, but not in a challenging way. Just interested in your thoughts.
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Yeah, no surprise when it was DOA.
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