Buyer texted me an offer to my listing. Does that constitute making a bid?

[phirich53]

A buyer has texted me an offer to my listing. Does that constitute making a bid? When I view my listing I don't see any bids but maybe I just don't know what to look for. It's a really good bid amount and I just want to make sure it's legit.

TIA, Phil

[dtexley3]

@phirich53 

Is this an Auction listing or a Fixed Price (GTC) Listing?

[alan@ebay]

Hi @phirich53, 

I moved your post to the most appropriate board. You had a question about how to start a topic. If you're on the Selling board, just click this button: 

Thanks and best of luck. 

[soh.maryl]

Is this texted offer ridiculously higher than the price you are asking?

Does this person want your Paypal information and/or phone #?

Here's the deal:  NO legitimate buyer goes about buying on eBay in this manner.

You are looking at a scammer.  Ignore, delete and block.

[bigdeals.etc]

Texted as in thru your cell phone number?? Did you even publicize your phone number on your listing?

[jeannicho22]

Do you possibly mean messaged you?

No, that doesn't constitute a bid.  They need to actually bid on the item.  Sounds hinkey to me

[cereal_shopper]

No, it's not a bid, it's an offer, it does not become valid unless you accept it.  If you do accept it, however, then your item is sold at the offer price.  Be careful however - sometimes new sellers are targeted and taken advantage of.  There may be a note in the offer saying $$$ shipped, which may force you to ship on your dime.  And then - if the offer is unreasonably high there is a probability it is a scam in the making.

[andy6756]

I assume since you are looking for bids that your listing is an auction.  If you have a Buy-it-now price and the offer is less, then you have a choice to make. 

I've had buyers do that in the past to get me to end the listing early and sell to them.   What I told them is to make a bid for the amount they offered.  That way, the bid is within the ebay framework and then I can choose to end the listing and sell to that buyer OR continue the listing and hope for a better price.  

If the buyer is requesting to do the transaction outside of ebay,  just say no, block the buyer and move on.

[bigdeals.etc]

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@jeannicho22 wrote:

Do you possibly mean messaged you?

No, that doesn't constitute a bid.  They need to actually bid on the item.  Sounds hinkey to me

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Yea, sounds like something's afoot.

[yccomo]

My suggestion, never ever accept any communications outside eBay regarding anything eBay related. 

Ever

Insist they use eBay messages and if they squabble, block them. 

Trust me on this 

[phirich53]

I'm so new to EBAY, I don't even know for sure. How can I tell which it is? Could you take a look at it? It's listed as "LG 1.1 cubic foot countertop microwave," seller phirich53 

Thanks. Phil

[southern*sweet*tea]

Text as in text on a cell phone??

How the heck did they get your number, and if it IS an actual text you're being set up to be scammed.

If the amount is unrealistically high, you're being set up to be scammed.

[a_c_green]

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@phirich53 wrote:

A buyer has texted me an offer to my listing. Does that constitute making a bid? When I view my listing I don't see any bids but maybe I just don't know what to look for. It's a really good bid amount and I just want to make sure it's legit.

TIA, Phil

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Phil, please click the Reply link to this thread and fill us in a bit more on the context of this.

Your only listing that I can see is for a 1.1 cubic foot microwave, for sixty bucks plus $28.39 in shipping. You do have a Make Offer button on the listing, so I assume that is how you received the offer...? You can accept it or reply with a counteroffer. The Shipping amount is not considered part of the negotiations, so for example don't agree to a buyer's offer and then find out that he was demanding Free Shipping as part of the deal.

I have to say, a compact microwave isn't really an ideal item to ship. If it arrives damaged, or the buyer claims it was damaged, then you're on the hook for a full refund, regardless of whether you want to pay extra to have it shipped back as well. I would suggest listing something like that as Local Pickup Only (with no Shipping method offered at all). Anyone elsewhere in the country who wants a microwave like that can stop by his local Walmart.

[phirich53]

Yes, it is quite higher. That's what led me to wonder whether it's legit. The only information I've given is my address.  I assure you I won't give financial information. Thanks for the advice.

[a_c_green]

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@phirich53 wrote:

Yes, it is quite higher. That's what led me to wonder whether it's legit. The only information I've given is my address.  I assure you I won't give financial information. Thanks for the advice.

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A Make Offer button on an auction is assumed to be for offers higher than the opening price. If a bid is received, the Make Offer button will go away (with certain exceptions). 

I don't see any reason why you should give out your address, and in fact doing so can lead eBay to believe that you're arranging an offsite sale that won't net them their percentage. They can end up billing you for it anyway if they believe that you did sell offsite.

A buyer does not need your address for anything (neither your street address nor your email address). Payments come to you through eBay/PayPal direct from the buyer; he does not need any personal info from you. In particular, if they get your email address, it opens you up to fake messages supposedly from PayPal, telling you that you have been paid, but you must ship before you will see the funds deposited in your account. That's a scam, and not how real sales work.