eBay

everythingemporium24 · ‎10-23-2023

I'm selling a bracelet at auction that's very difficult to accurately price since it's value is fluid and only really determined by the highest bidder. I listed it with a best offer option and the offers I've received are much higher than expected and I'm curious if it would be rude, distasteful or against the rules to inform buyer who've made offers where the highest offer currently sits? I expected to sell between $200-$300, it's at $398 with 3 days to go and I've gotten an offer for $600 and just got an offer for $1,200! I'm lost, in shock, and don't want to miss out on a possible higher auction price at close. Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thanks guys!

ckimodog · ‎10-23-2023

@everythingemporium24

Gorgeous bracelets! However, I would be extra cautious with big bids like those ones you posted. They may be trying to scam you. They'll ask you to text them and take the sale off of eBay. Then they'll ask for your Paypal account number. In turn you will get a fake invoice and wind up loosing the bracelet and the money. Tread lightly ok? Sadly nice items like ones you have listed can be risky to sell here on eBay. Scammers are everywhere.

PS I don't think it would be rude to discuss the price, just make sure if they are serious that they pay you thru eBay's payment methods that are set up for buyers.

Happy Selling

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4pawsup* · ‎10-23-2023

You already made your choice. It is an auction and highest bid will win. As for offers once a bid was placed that option is gone. You need to stay the course high bid wins. Anyone sending a message trying to get you to end the auction for any amount you cannot trust. You do that and you end up with a defect.

ckimodog · ‎10-23-2023

@everythingemporium24

Gorgeous bracelets! However, I would be extra cautious with big bids like those ones you posted. They may be trying to scam you. They'll ask you to text them and take the sale off of eBay. Then they'll ask for your Paypal account number. In turn you will get a fake invoice and wind up loosing the bracelet and the money. Tread lightly ok? Sadly nice items like ones you have listed can be risky to sell here on eBay. Scammers are everywhere.

PS I don't think it would be rude to discuss the price, just make sure if they are serious that they pay you thru eBay's payment methods that are set up for buyers.

Happy Selling

4pawsup* · ‎10-23-2023

@ckimodog You realy think it is ok to accept offers after the auction has started?

soh.maryl · ‎10-23-2023

Don't understand why you want to contact buyers and "discuss where the highest offer currently sits"?

What will that accomplish? Plus it might sound to eBay like you're trying to take the transaction off eBay. JMHO.

ckimodog · ‎10-23-2023

@4pawsup*

No, that's not what I said. I said it wouldn't be rude. Perhaps the seller needs the money for an emergency, I don't know. It's up to them what they want to do. I personally would let it run it's course, but I don't use auction style listings anymore. I don't have the time or patience to put up with the non payers who exist on eBay in droves. Just my opinion.

Happy Sales!

fern*wood · ‎10-23-2023

Your bids are there on the item for anyone to see. I wouldn't be discussing anything like that with buyers. They need to bid if they want to win. You do not have it set up to accept offers.

deltilogical · ‎10-23-2023

Why don't the big offer people just bid their big amounts? I believe with "real" auctions what you suggest might be unethical or even illegal - its like insider trading.

bill.purvis2012 · ‎10-23-2023

If you would use the new tool Ebay offers to clear up background, your bids will go up. I'm not sure Ebay will let us revise it while there are bids, but I would try. It's a great tool. Beautiful piece.

soh.maryl · ‎10-23-2023

Somehow I thought that my hidden bid would not be available for other buyers to see. Was I wrong?

If I had bid $3,000 on that item, wouldn't eBay only use enough of my nuclear bid to make me ahead of the other bidders? And, in the bid history, isn't that what the other bidders would see?

soh.maryl · ‎10-23-2023

The OP is concerned about bids going higher than he anticipated. Pretty sure the background is not hindering his auction.

fern*wood · ‎10-23-2023

@soh.maryl wrote:
Somehow I thought that my hidden bid would not be available for other buyers to see. Was I wrong?
If I had bid $3,000 on that item, wouldn't eBay only use enough of my nuclear bid to make me ahead of the other bidders? And, in the bid history, isn't that what the other bidders would see?

Oh no, I didn't mean they could see that. I just meant they can see what the bids are currently and if they need to bid themselves---not email the seller with a potential bid/offer.

everythingemporium24 · ‎10-23-2023

I haven't sold on ebay in a while. As I'm setting up the auction I'm given the option to "receive offers". I figured "why not?" Now, I've gotten offer A then offer B. Just curious if I should give offer A a chance to beat B before potentially accepting offer B?

soh.maryl · ‎10-23-2023

One of your listings has 6 days to run yet.

The other has 3 days to run yet.

So why are you in a hurry to accept any offer when both items have awhile yet and the potential to receive more offers? You are aware that there is no rule that a seller is required to ACCEPT any offer, right?

everythingemporium24 · ‎10-23-2023

Update: I thought I clicked the allow offers option. I was confused as to why they were offering in messages. Thanks to those whose responses were respectful and helpful in guiding me to understand where I was mistaken. Not all of us are very experienced sellers and it looks like some people may have been trying to break ebay guidelines and/or scam me. Grateful for this community!