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AIBU?

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Original poster

Am I being a CF? Ebay

53 replies

Yex · 26/08/2022 22:19

My 3yo DD has been pleading for a barbie camper van for Christmas. I looked online and they're not cheap (not for my budget anyway) at £70-£100 brand new.

I checked ebay on the off chance and found one going for auction which ends in 6 days or so and can be posted. Bidding starts at £5.99 and I've placed an introductory bid of £15 (well aware the seller will want more than that and I'm going to increase, I just wanted to get ahead of any other interest)

On a whim I decided to message the seller and ask what ballpark figure she was looking for as I really, really want it for my DD and would gladly buy it right away if she'd consider selling it to me directly.

I very rarely use ebay and after sending the message thought shit, they'll think I'm being a CF.

So was this bad etiquette and unreasonable on my part or do you think it doesn't hurt to ask?

OP posts:
chillipenguin · 26/08/2022 22:21

Perfectly acceptable. The only issue now is you've bidded on it so they can't add an offer option I believe.

Lincslady53 · 26/08/2022 22:22

That's fine. The seller may have put a 'buy it now' price akready, but it is always worth asking.

Christonabike37 · 26/08/2022 22:25

Once you've bidded on it there's nothing she can do. There is the option to add an offer option but once the bidding has begun it has to go to the highest bidder.

Original poster
Yex · 26/08/2022 22:28

Oh balls

I didn't know that. I assumed a seller could change the listing as and when they wanted to.

In that case wish me luck with the bidding 🙉

OP posts:
chillipenguin · 26/08/2022 22:29

Yex · 26/08/2022 22:28

Oh balls

I didn't know that. I assumed a seller could change the listing as and when they wanted to.

In that case wish me luck with the bidding 🙉

They can up until some one bids or I think with a few hours to go

chillipenguin · 26/08/2022 22:29

She might be able to cancel it but ebay frown upon this

Toddlerteaplease · 26/08/2022 22:32

EBay will not be happy if she ends the listing early and sells to you privately. Good luck.

Ahwombimbam · 26/08/2022 22:34

I don’t think yabu at all.
If you miss out on this one then try FB market place. There’s loads local to be going for under £15. A couple are even free.

Beachbabe1 · 26/08/2022 22:37

Good luck!! You can get some great bargains for kids toys on ebay ! I have bought so much lego for my son on there. Pre-loved :)

Original poster
Yex · 26/08/2022 22:42

I've just looked on FB marketplace (great suggestion, I didn't think of that before)

There are multiple going for between 10 and 30 within a few miles.

Argggh I should have checked there first.. 🤯

OP posts:
Starstar7 · 26/08/2022 22:44

The best advice for buying on eBay is bid late and bid once.

Bidding early just drives the price up.

Original poster
Yex · 26/08/2022 22:46

If I buy the one for £20 on FB marketplace now I'm going to look like a royal arse aren't I?

Not even sure if you can withdraw a bid on ebay..

What should I do? 😫

OP posts:
FrazzleDazz · 26/08/2022 22:47

Withdraw the bid on eBay! Do the £20 marketplace, you don't owe anyone anything Grin

Alarchbach · 26/08/2022 22:48

Where are you op? Thinking of selling DDs as she doesn’t play with it 🙈

Original poster
Yex · 26/08/2022 22:53

Alarchbach · 26/08/2022 22:48

Where are you op? Thinking of selling DDs as she doesn’t play with it 🙈

I'm in South East London!

Doable?

OP posts:
Original poster
Yex · 26/08/2022 22:54

FrazzleDazz · 26/08/2022 22:47

Withdraw the bid on eBay! Do the £20 marketplace, you don't owe anyone anything Grin

I've just looked on my eBay account and there doesn't seem to be an option to withdraw my bid which is odd, surely they can't tie you down to it?!

The one on fb marketplace for £20 has the swimming pool accessory missing, not the end of the world but DD would definitely prefer it with.

I'm doing my own head in now 😂

OP posts:
SugarNspices · 26/08/2022 22:56

If there are more than 12 hours to go on the auction yes you can retract the bid quite easily. I can't remember how to do it but I googled retract bid and it gave me all the info I needed.

Original poster
Yex · 26/08/2022 23:18

Thank you I'll Google it now

I think what I'll do is hold off on withdrawing until tomorrow which gives the other Facebook seller time to respond, then I'll go with the best option.

The ebay one has all of the accessories with it which is great, but there's 3 people watching and I just know it's going to be a PITA waiting a week to see if I win.

Van 1 on Facebook (£20) has none of the accessories and the swimming pool is missing but they got back to me immediately and said its still available

Van 2 on Facebook (£10) has the swimming pool with it but no other accessories. I've sent them a message and I'm waiting for a reply.

OP posts:
surreygirl1987 · 26/08/2022 23:34

I didn't think you could retract a bid on ebay! I could be wrong but I thought when you bid you are committing to buying? Of course they can't FORCE you to buy, but I didn't think there was an option to remove your bid?

MicksMate · 26/08/2022 23:46

3 watchers is not many, and that will include people with a similar item to sell. You could have 20 watchers and still only one person bids. You never know, you could get it for £15 though bidding last minute would be a better strategy.

Christmas is a long way away. You have time on your side to hold out for either for the eBay one, or one from FB with more accessories.

Wdib78 · 27/08/2022 00:19

I think only the seller can cancel bidding now due to so many buyers cancelling.
I get plenty of buyers asking me to cancel because they accidentally bid and cannot retract it themselves.
You'll probably have to message the seller to retract.

CactusBlossom · 27/08/2022 02:37

@Yex have you checked Gumtree? There seem to be a few on there at various prices

newusernamegladys · 27/08/2022 02:46

I thought that once you bid you have officially agreed to pay that price and can't back out, otherwise they could lose the sale, but I could be wrong.
I always bid in the last minute, sometimes even the last seconds, it really is the best strategy, bidding early drives the price up, unless there isn't really much interest.

Wishyfishy · 27/08/2022 03:11

newusernamegladys · 27/08/2022 02:46

I thought that once you bid you have officially agreed to pay that price and can't back out, otherwise they could lose the sale, but I could be wrong.
I always bid in the last minute, sometimes even the last seconds, it really is the best strategy, bidding early drives the price up, unless there isn't really much interest.

Yes I agree. I’ve mostly stopped using eBay now but when I didn’t I never bid early.

Also look on Vinted, Op?

I’m also not sure what emailing and asking what price she’s looking for does.. because you don’t get the price you’re looking for you get whatever the bidding goes to 🤷‍♀️. It might just be £5 although likely someone will come along and try and gazump you at 20 seconds to go. Different if they set a “Buy It Now” option but they didn’t and even if they did, the amount they set is what they’re after…

I don’t think the seller can cancel an item either once someone has bid as it charges fees?

AlmostAJillSandwich · 27/08/2022 03:11

Yes, you've been a CF. If seller was open to offers, they would have added the make an offer option to their listing. On Ebay it's considered very bad practice to message a seller with an auction running and ask them for a buy it now price. It's not fair to the other watchers who are bidding/waiting til closer to auction end to bid.
Also, your reason for wanting to retract your bid, doesn't fall within the reasons Ebay allow for bid retraction. Once you bid it's a binding agreement to pay if you win.