Do buyers not "recognize" an auction when they see it?

[pvcliff]

This is the second time in about six weeks I have someone inquiring about, or making an offer on, an item that is set up as an auction. I rarely do auctions, but might if I think I could have a "something" instead of a "nothing". A few weeks ago it was a travel purse that I found no other listings for, and know that 12 years ago when I wanted an identical replacement they were no longer made. I got several messages from the same person "it seems to be in good shape, I'll give you $xxx for it" (I ignored this), several days later "I'll give you $xxx for this" (that one I responded that I'd let the auction run its course, good luck bidding, and got back "bidding? I didn't bid! Look at your listing!"). Today I'm getting "what is the least you'll take for this?" Um, the minimum amount my auction closing in a couple hours is shown at? (ignoring this question).  Are auctions so rare that buyers simply don't recognize them? Are they looking at their phones and the fact that the item is up for auction rather than fixed price not discernible?

[forward-motion]

My opinion is that auctions are a thing of the past. It is what ebay was founded on, but now people want to buy it now. Not only do they want to buy it now, but they like the make an offer feature. Just like a reserve you can set the bounties of the make an offer so you are not bugged by low ballers. I only use auctions now if it something that I don't care what it sells for and I don't really know what it is worth. 

Hope this helps.  

[Anonymous]

Agreed @forward-motion 

Buy it Now has literally dominated eBay for many years and it's not even close (I believe the figure is something like 85% of auctions are BIN)

Let your inquisitive "buyers" put their money where their mouth is. Setup BIN w IPR and put the ball in their court.

[2013grotz]

Unfortunately, ebay has conditioned buyers to want everything instantly and to be able to low-ball offer the price.  Buyers are exposed to a lot of "Buy It Now" stuff, and assume that everything is under that condition, even if the seller doesn't set things up that way.  Any listing, auctions included, are an invitation to make a "Best Offer", even if this is not set up within the listing (and yes you can set offers on auctions, which are idiotic on the face of it, if one wanted to do it that way they wouldn't have auctioned the item in the first place!).

Sadly, just chalk this up to another one of the major long line of disservices that ebay does to its sellers on this site.

[forward-motion]

Unfortunately, ebay has conditioned buyers to want everything instantly

Really, ebay did that? No that would be Amazon, or any other online sales. Ebay started the whole online auction thing and it worked back then. But when the other boys came to the field they had to change it up.

Furthermore, this is human nature not to want to wait. Look at credit card debt, buy now pay later everything. Ebay is keeping up with the time, Thank goodness they are!! 

[maxine*j]

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@forward-motion wrote:

My opinion is that auctions are a thing of the past. It is what ebay was founded on, but now people want to buy it now. Not only do they want to buy it now, but they like the make an offer feature. Just like a reserve you can set the bounties of the make an offer so you are not bugged by low ballers. I only use auctions now if it something that I don't care what it sells for and I don't really know what it is worth. 

Hope this helps.  

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I agree with this, and I think OP would, too, because of OP's 139 listings, only 7 are auctions.  They're items that are scarce, difficult to put a price on, and could go fairly high if the right two persons see it at the same time. 

What I don't get are people who run auctions with Best Offer.  That, to me, seems strange, but WDIK?

=

[forward-motion]

When I run an auction again it's because I don't care what it goes for. I start it out at .99 no buy it now no reserve. It gets a lot of attention right out of the gate. 

[gracieallen01]

Among the other things that have been noted, I do believe that many just ignore the fact that it is an auction and feel entitled to just be able to buy for the price they want to pay - then and there.  Or fain ignorance, take your pick.

[katzrul15]

I usually wonder it is a litmus test to see if you know the real value and can they get it on the cheap before folks become interested.

We don't do auctions really at all - and if we did, would not add or entertain a BIN.  If they've emailed you, you could always reply after indicating it has relisted and to advise if still interested, etc.  Realize your goal is to sell the wigdit, but think the emails you describe are "baiters" not buyers.

[wastingtime101]

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@maxine*j wrote:
What I don't get are people who run auctions with Best Offer.  That, to me, seems strange, but WDIK?

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There are different reasons for it. Not a comprehensive list, but ...

• Sellers with stores get extra auction style listings in specific categories. Some use them because they're out of fixed price free insertions and they add the best offer option to move the auction quick as if it were a BIN.
• Sellers that know low start auctions will bring traffic to their store, but they add the offer option for buyers who want to buy quick and feel like they won. Auctions start at $5-10 to draw eyes, seller expects it to go for the market ASP of around $80 +/-. The first person that offers something in that range (before bidding starts) means a quick sale for buyer and seller. In the meantime, the listing gathered a few watchers that were drawn in by the low auction starting prices, and those watchers may have explored the seller's other low auction starting prices, resulting in more traffic and sales. It's a marketing tactic that can work in some categories.
• eBay forcing offers on listings even when sellers don't want it there.
• New sellers that don't understand much about auctions, fixed price or offers. Ever wonder why so many new sellers list everything at auction? Because that's the default listing style on the app. eBay's always suggesting adding the offer option to listings and a lot of new sellers do it. The result: auctions with offers.

To the OP: What you're experiencing has absolutely nothing to do with the auction format. The same messages come through on fixed price listings. Can't even tell you how many times a week I get messages saying, "what's the lowest you'll take" or "I'll give you  $X for it." 99% of my listings do not have Offers enabled. It's part of the eBay culture that you'll get inundated with requests for lower prices. I sell on other venues, too. Not once have I ever received a message asking for a lower price on Amazon. Different site, different culture. I sell on eBay knowing that I'll get those messages. I use a copy/pasted response to save time.