Selling on Ebay - I need to vent - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Zach Maggio · #1 01-06-2003, 07:31 PM

I need to rant and rave about some people who don't take online auctions seriously enough. Anyone who has ever sold something on Ebay will know what I'm talking about.

So, I'm trying to sell this item on Ebay -a rather big ticket item at that, my Buy It Now price is $2300. Someone goes ahead and buys it, I'm thrilled, and start to prepare the invoice. Less than *five minutes* after legally contracting themsleves to buy it, said person emails me and says this:

HI ,
I JUST BOUGHT YOUR FRESCO FRAGMENT, BUT I JUST REALIZED THAT I NEED TO ASK YOU A QUESTION.... DO YOU GUARANTEE THE PIECE TO BE ANCIENT? ALSO, DO YOU GUARANTEE THAT THE FRESCO HAS NOT BEEN SIGNIFICANTLY RE-PAINTED IN MODERN TIMES? (OBVIOUSLY I AM NOT CONCERNED WITH REPAINTING OF THE SURROUNDING PLASTER AREAS.
THANKS,
--name omitted to protect stupid person's privacy-

Wow, don't you think those are questions you should ask *before* you stop my auction and enter into a binding contract to purchase something? Now, no other people who aren't deadbeats have the chance to bid, and if I have to relist because of this guy I'm out 40 bucks! ARRRRGGGGHHHH, why don't people just think before they do this kind of stuff??? If you DON'T want to BUY, then don't click the BUY IT NOW button, stupid!!!!

Thank you for listening.

Zach
1992 300CE

drbrandini · #2 01-06-2003, 09:50 PM

I feel your pain. I sold a radio not long ago and the high bidder is yet to reply to my emails. I notice he had and AOL address so I added him to my instant messenger list. I have IM'ed him twice with no response.. Why in the world do you bid on something not once but several times that you dont intend on buying? woo thanks for posting this topic I needed that too..

BTW.... There is a link on ebay to notify them of non-paying bidders and reclaim fees.

I wish you luck,

#3 01-06-2003, 11:21 PM

Sounds to me the buyer's one of those typical people that goes through life looking out for "number one" without regards for anyone else. CAN'T STAND those types. Good luck dealing with this loser!

Kuan · #4 01-07-2003, 07:49 AM

Why don't you post some negative feedback on this buyer? Does it help at all?

Kuan

Potomac Pat · #5 01-07-2003, 09:47 AM

Ah the good old Ebay scenario.

Too many times have I wanted to strangle some of the ppl I have dealt with.

I always include a statement at the end of my selling page in bold, colored & italicized !!!

"serious bidders only. Please ask any & all questions prior to bidding on this item." "Your bid constitutes a a legal binding contract !!!!"

:p

jsmith · #6 01-07-2003, 10:16 AM

as many have pointed out, there is not much recourse on EBAY. feedback is about the only thing you can do. i've done maybe 60 transactions - one of which went bad with a seller sending me a non-working piece of equipment...

need2speed · #7 01-07-2003, 10:25 AM

I gather you couldn't "guarantee" to the buyer's satisfaction, so the sale didn't go through? Or did he/she flake anyways? In all fairness, at the price asked, was it reasonable that a guarantee could not be given? I know you are mad but we are at "arms length" from this issue.

By all means, file a non-paying bidder report and your fees will be credited. If that buyer keeps it up, they will be suspended. Don't forget negative feedback. Requiring new bidders (less than 5 transactions) or those with negative feedback to contact you first is also a good move BUT that may not stop them from hitting the "Buy It Now" button.

BTW, my experience buying and selling on eBay has been very favorable. On expensive items, I often allow return and refund within 3 days...that really reassures buyers.

Zach Maggio · #8 01-07-2003, 11:45 AM

Hey guys, thanks for all the sympathetic responses.

I'll tell you, it's not so much that he wanted a guarantee that
bothers me - 2 grand is a lot of money after all - but that Tank is
dead on right when he says that this guy is just stopping the
auction so he can reserve the right to decide whether or not he wants it after grilling me with questions. This totally violates the spirit of the auction and deprives other bidders of the chance to fairly buy the item. I really hate those kinds of tactics.

Anyway, I swallowed my pride and anger and emailed the guy
to let him know that I will personally guarantee the authenticity of the item (but NOT that it hasn't been restored, I'm no expert) and that seemed to satisfy him. The money order is in the mail. So, in this case, I was lucky - but a lot of times sellers are left out in the cold by deadbeats like this.

So, a successful conclusion, luckily....

Zach
1992 300CE

Ashman · #9 01-07-2003, 02:04 PM

Ebay even syas the the bid is a binding contract if y ou win the auction.

Glad you got it worked out.

If he had decided not to buy the item, I would have informed him that he is liable for the $40 fees you paid to ebay for listing the item and selling it.

Alon

engatwork · #10 01-07-2003, 05:49 PM

I have been successful buying and selling on ebay. People can and will "swoop"in at the last minute and purchase an item. Try to be there with at least a DSL connection in the closing minutes.
good luck

MTI · #11 01-07-2003, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by engatwork
I have been successful buying and selling on ebay. People can and will "swoop"in at the last minute and purchase an item. Try to be there with at least a DSL connection in the closing minutes.
good luck

You're probably seeing a "sniper" program at work. There's software that you can purchase or shareware/freeware that will sync up your computer's clock with E-Bay's system clock and send in your highest bid at the exact time you designate (like 10 seconds before close). Usually it's part of an "auction management" package that keeps track of your bids and sales.

jjrodger · #12 01-07-2003, 06:54 PM

I'm new to e-bay and have just bid in my first auction. I'm really keen to get the item I'm bidding on (a collection of motoring magazines) and would pay handsomely to get them. I'm presently only at 60% of my maximum bid, but there has been no new bidding activity for several days now. What is the forum's experience with rival bidders swooping in at the last minute? Do you think I should put in a new, ridiculously high bid? This would move the price up to my current maximum bid, but is likely to beat anyone else.

Also, should I contact the seller (to discuss postage/collection, on which I am flexible and willing to pay) before or after the auction closes (assuming I win)?

Do sellers register under other names and then bid up their item?

Also, I'm watching a couple of items (Becker stereos for my C-Class). Thinking about a Becker Traffic Pro, a Mercedes Audio 10, or a Mercedes Audio 30.

As I say, I've never done e-bay before, so I'm learning.

jsmith · #13 01-07-2003, 07:00 PM

jjrodger,

by all means ask all your questions before the auction completes. you don't want any unpleasant surprises and neither does the seller.

the practice of bidding near the end of the auction, aka "sniping" has gotten fairly sophisticated. i use a free service at www.auctionstealer.com, it works well - the only time i get outbid is when the bidding goes beyond my max, which is how it's supposed to work anyway. i don't have to be at my computer at all, their servers do all the work

BTW, my one problem transaction just got resolved, i got my money back! i just went through all the complaint resolution procedures with Ebay/Paypal. it's a hassle but i'm pleasantly surprised that it worked...

engatwork · #14 01-07-2003, 07:02 PM

thanks Joe - I'll take a look at it and try to get set up with it later on this week.

glenmore · #15 01-07-2003, 07:23 PM

jjrodger,

Most bidding is done at the last minute, particularly the last 30 seconds. That's when I do my bidding! (g) I don't want to get into a bidding war with someone. I bid as much as I want to pay and sometimes I win, sometimes I get outbid. Your chances of encountering last minute bidders is much higher if the auction ends at a popular time, i.e. 6-8pm PST. Your odds will be better if the seller shortsightedly listed it to close at an odd time.

Do not bid more than you want to pay.

If no one bids against you in the mean while and you want to raise your ultimate bid, you can bid again, but you may tip off someone watching the auction closely.

If terms are not in the auction description, by all means contact seller and confirm before bidding.

Do sellers register under other names and then bid up their item?

Yes, it does happen, so don't let on to the seller that you "gotta" have it.