eBay

annewilburn12 · ‎08-22-2021

Hello all

I am new to selling on ebay. I just posted my first listing about a day ago. One person had bid the minimum on it. I have another completely different bidder bid the same amount 9 hours later. How can that be? I thought the second bidder would have to bid a little more to be first for winning the bid. If there are no other bids how would this work? Who would actually win the bid? Sorry, but I am a complete newbie on selling stuff on ebay.

a_c_green · ‎08-22-2021

@annewilburn12 wrote:
I see the winning bidder on my pc now is the first bidder. The second bidder bid the starting bid amount also but hours later of course.

No, the second bidder bid $255, which was the minimum that would be accepted by eBay now that someone had a bid in place for the opening price of $250. As it happened, the second guy's bid of $255 happens to match the first guy's hidden maximum, but a tie goes to the earlier bidder.

@annewilburn12 wrote:
I know the second bidder is interested in the item because they have sent me multiple messages about the item. I don't think they really seem to understand the auction process because they asked my why I said I would sell for 250 and now it is 400.

The second-place bidder must be a newbie (with a feedback count of just 16, he's probably only bought BuyItNow fixed-price listings up to now). They may not understand the auction process, but don't feel like you have to be the one to train them.

@annewilburn12 wrote:
I replied back that it was a auction style sale and the highest bidder will get the item. I also let them know that the 400 was the buy it now price. Should I contact the bidder and let them know they are not winning the bid?

No, let it go. They will figure out that they're outbid soon enough. Note that your BuyItNow price is gone anyway; that would have disappeared when the first bid was received. Let the auction run to the end.

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a_c_green · ‎08-22-2021

@annewilburn12 wrote:
Hello all
I am new to selling on ebay. I just posted my first listing about a day ago. One person had bid the minimum on it. I have another completely different bidder bid the same amount 9 hours later. How can that be?

Your opening price was $250, but your first bidder plugged in $255 anyway. The visible, current price remained at the opening $250, as there was no one bidding against him yet.

Finally another bidder came along and bid the minimum of $255 (the current price plus one bid increment), which happened to tie the first bidder's hidden maximum. A tie always goes to the first bidder, so the later bidder needs to plug in something higher than that if he wants to win.

propsandmore73 · ‎08-22-2021

Or sometimes the original bidder will increase their max bid after bidding and this shows as an additional bid

a_c_green · ‎08-22-2021

@propsandmore73 wrote:
Or sometimes the original bidder will increase their max bid after bidding and this shows as an additional bid

True, but in this case the first bidder made only one bid of $255. Because no one was (yet) bidding against him, the price stayed at its opening number of $250. Now that a bid was in play, the next bid had to be a minimum of the current price ($250) plus one increment ($5), so the second guy bid $255. That happened to match the first bidder's hidden maximum, but a tie always goes to the earlier bidder, so the first guy currently remains in the lead:

https://www.ebay.com/bfl/viewbids/224580617871

annewilburn12 · ‎08-22-2021

I see the winning bidder on my pc now is the first bidder. The second bidder bid the starting bid amount also but hours later of course. I know the second bidder is interested in the item because they have sent me multiple messages about the item. I don't think they really seem to understand the auction process because they asked my why I said I would sell for 250 and now it is 400. I replied back that it was a auction style sale and the highest bidder will get the item. I also let them know that the 400 was the buy it now price. Should I contact the bidder and let them know they are not winning the bid? I don't want them to think I am trying to get more money for the item because they think the item is 250.00. I just don't know what to do. I just want to have a fair sale. What to do?

a_c_green · ‎08-22-2021

@annewilburn12 wrote:
I see the winning bidder on my pc now is the first bidder. The second bidder bid the starting bid amount also but hours later of course.

No, the second bidder bid $255, which was the minimum that would be accepted by eBay now that someone had a bid in place for the opening price of $250. As it happened, the second guy's bid of $255 happens to match the first guy's hidden maximum, but a tie goes to the earlier bidder.

@annewilburn12 wrote:
I know the second bidder is interested in the item because they have sent me multiple messages about the item. I don't think they really seem to understand the auction process because they asked my why I said I would sell for 250 and now it is 400.

The second-place bidder must be a newbie (with a feedback count of just 16, he's probably only bought BuyItNow fixed-price listings up to now). They may not understand the auction process, but don't feel like you have to be the one to train them.

@annewilburn12 wrote:
I replied back that it was a auction style sale and the highest bidder will get the item. I also let them know that the 400 was the buy it now price. Should I contact the bidder and let them know they are not winning the bid?

No, let it go. They will figure out that they're outbid soon enough. Note that your BuyItNow price is gone anyway; that would have disappeared when the first bid was received. Let the auction run to the end.

annewilburn12 · ‎08-22-2021

Ok. Thanks to all you for the help. I am just learning how all this selling works. Thanks again. You all heave been a huge help!

annewilburn12 · ‎08-22-2021

I should add that the 2nd bidder did message me 25 different times. I don't know if that is a lot but I was beginning to think maybe I should have never got in the selling part. I just hope it all works out in the end!

a_c_green · ‎08-23-2021

@annewilburn12 wrote:
I should add that the 2nd bidder did message me 25 different times. I don't know if that is a lot but I was beginning to think maybe I should have never got in the selling part. I just hope it all works out in the end!

This might be a good time to put that guy on your Blocked Bidder List. 25 messages is over the top.

https://www.ebay.com/bmgt/BuyerBlock?

Ignore any further messages from him.

I have to add here that I own a DVD recorder very similar to what you're selling here, and the learning curve for those devices can be pretty steep. If that guy can't even figure out an auction, I shudder to think of how it will go if he actually gets his hands on a DVD recorder. You'll have no end of questions from him after the sale, and probably end up having to take it back for a refund. Leave his existing bid in place but just quietly add him to your BBL.

The other bidder (with feedback of 15792) can see his current status already, and might add another bid or three to ensure his leading spot. With two bidders already, there is a good chance that you will see even more before the end of the auction. Let us know if there are any further developments either before or after the end of the auction.

annewilburn12 · ‎08-23-2021

Thank so much for your help! I was telling my husband about this buyer and how they keep messaging me about it. I just had to laugh every time I would get a new message. You are right on the learning curve for the DVD recorder too. I have only used the HDD part to record live TV. I never tried to use the record to disc part. I assume that part works. I am actually glad someone else bid on it. I can just imagine what it would be like after the sale if the second bidder got it I probably would end up getting the item back. Thanks so much for everyone that has helped!