I have an auction for makeup and perfume going on ebay. I expected it to sell for maybe $60 or so. Well, overnight, two of the buyers got into a bidding war and it's currently at $350! Even if these buyers went out and bought this stuff at the store, it would only cost them about $150 maximum.
Would you cancel the auction or just say, "tough luck"?
One of the bidders did email me that she is having second thoughts (she's not currently the high bidder, but she's one of two people that bid it up). I told her I would cancel her bids if that's what she wanted, and if that happens, it will solve the problem (the high bid will drop down to a more "normal" $69). But I haven't heard back from her confirming that she does want to cancel.
I'm hoping that she will email me to cancel the bids (there's still 2 days left on the auction), but assuming that she doesn't get back to me, what would you do?
I think I would feel dishonest letting the auction go for that ridiculous amount, and I've pretty much decided that if need be, I will just cancel the whole auction.....but also after thinking about it for a while, a little part of me is thinking not to mess with it and just leave it be.
lauren 1|1|I would leave it be If the highest bidder isn't the one wanting to back out...just leave it. That is the point of ebay....you may make $30....you may make $400....never can tell!! If you have a few extras....maybe include some extras to the winner..they will be excited for the extras and your conscience will be smoothed over.|Barb09|Barb0969@AOL.com|12:41:52|11/20/2008|
I looked and looked and found no coupons for troll food......SO, I don't feed the trolls!! 2|1|I agree with Barb....Just let it be and toss in some extra goodies :)|RebekkaVA|queen_vulture@msn.com|12:46:52|11/20/2008|
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3|2|thanks girls|Beaglesfly|lmllr77@aol.com|12:59:33|11/20/2008|
My first thought was that I just had to cancel because the high bidder wouldn't be getting their money's worth. But then after thinking about it, I also thought, hey, they bid on it, no one was twisting their arm. So I'm a little torn about it.
There's also the fact that the buyer could give me a negative if she's not happy with what she got, and a negative is really bad for ya on ebay these days. And the buyer could just end up not paying for it as there's no real repercussions on ebay these days for winning and then not paying.
Of course, maybe I'm overthinking it because, like I said, if the other bidder retracts her bids, problem solved.
More opinions everyone, the more the better.
lauren 4|3|You didn't do anything wrong..Extra money..woohoo!!|shellysmsmo|jpksms@sbcglobal.net|13:03:46|11/20/2008|
:) 5|1|bump|Beaglesfly|lmllr77@aol.com|14:10:41|11/20/2008|
lauren 6|1|Who says the buyer has to get their money's worth?|sheliar|sandk95@embarqmail.com|15:08:53|11/20/2008|
The buyers on e-bay are bidding on items, and unless you are somehow dishonest about it, they know full well what they are getting. If they let their emotions get the best of them and they bid more than the item is worth, then that's their choice, and their own fault. As the seller, you have no obligation to cancel bids--in fact you should NOT cancel them, especially without the knowledge of the bidders. If you are asked to do so, then explain that the bid is a contract, and they are held to it. Just as with a check--they shouldn't "spend" the money if they don't have it. Even if they don't pay, you will be able to file a non-paying bidder claim and get your relisting for free.
Also if you cancel one bid, will the person want to cancel all of them? How many bids did she place? I don't how many bids you are allowed to cancel.
Shelia
"They say that we are better educated than our parents' generation. What they mean is that we go to school longer. They are not the same thing."---Douglas Yates
7|2|I think Lauren's concern is the buyer won't pay.. then ebay really doesn't penalize them for not paying|Kristy|mi3zons1@yahoo.com|15:26:41|11/20/2008|
"Women should not have children after 35. Thirty-five children are enough." - anonymous (Only 28 to GO!) 8|1|She can "neg" me if she's not happy with what she got|Beaglesfly|lmllr77@aol.com|16:53:54|11/20/2008|
A negative is no small thing these days on ebay. Two negatives for a small-time seller like me can mean suspension from selling. And there is no recourse for a seller if a buyer gives a negative for some baseless or ridiculous reason.
And like Kristy said, the higher the $$, the more likely that someone just won't pay. And ebay does nothing about someone who doesn't pay - the buyer may receive an unpaid strike (if the seller files it), but the buyer can simply ask ebay to remove it with absolutely no explanation at all.
lauren 9|2|Lauren - does the high bidder have good feedback? I had sold an Xbox for my SIL and it was over 800 bucks. I was very nervous, but it turned out ok. Maybe you could insure it and get delivery confirm on it? |Sara_s_Mom|IClipCoupons@gmail.com|17:08:18|11/20/2008|
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10|3|shelia, when you cancel a person's bids|Beaglesfly|lmllr77@aol.com|17:28:36|11/20/2008|
It takes ALL the bids off for that bidder....you don't cancel each bid individually; all of her bids get canceled. The way it stands right now, if the one bidder decides to withdraw all her bids, the bids would drop down to a level of about $69 which would be more of a "normal" level for this auction.
Thanks again everyone. I'm gonna just leave the auction alone and see what happens
l. 11|4|oh, and the high bidder does have good feedback|Beaglesfly|lmllr77@aol.com|17:31:28|11/20/2008|
BUT since ebay stopped allowing sellers to leave negative feedback for buyers anymore, even the most rotten buyer would have positive feedback (how crazy is that?).
Plus, there are no consequences for buyers if they choose to renege on their contract here. It's just downright crazy situation there on ebay now.
l. 12|5|I would leave it be, even though you stated bid is higher than items are worth, perhaps this person does'nt feel like going out and shopping for it all,|HONEY11|HONEY1@AMERITECH.NET|18:00:09|11/20/2008|
And they are willing to pay the extra just to have it all in 1 haul..kinda like paying a personal shopper fee. Some people do have money to burn and it is no biggie to them. You could throw in extra goodies free to the box or offer her free shipping since it is costing her way more than it would if store bought, and even covering her shipping you are still making out way ahead and making a big profit. Again that is a personal decision what you choose to do, but if it was me I would ship it for free. Whatever outcome,you should ship it out with signature required(that way she can't say she never received it as she has to sign for it),insurance, confirmation .
13|6|I'd weigh it too... The box shouldn't weigh much more than the contents, so then someone can't say there wasn't anything in it. |Sara_s_Mom|IClipCoupons@gmail.com|20:09:26|11/20/2008|
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