Please explain why people aren't bidding but are asking for direct sales!

[StealthPolarBear]

I am selling a bathroom shelving unit on ebay, and have put it on at a low starting price with a reserve. I've listed it twice now (both finishd). First time I had loads of watchers and a couple of questions but no bids. I also had a question near the beginning asking for a BIN price - I replied that the item had a reserve and so I wasn't selling it BIN. She replied to say no problem, I wil bid.
Same the next time, which finished yesterday. I had 8 watchers and loads of questions, including more details about the size and asking me to investigate courier costs, which I did. Again, the listing ended with no bidders. This morning I have received a message asking for a total price to sell, inc P&P.
What is going on? Why won't people just bid? If I do agree to sell it I will do it through ebay as a BIN but I am irritated by this.
Is there a valid reason for doing this? Am I missing something?

SOme people don't like bidding. Try it with a BIN as wel as the autcion, it might sell.

Many are too impatient and just want to BIN.

Put in a BIN price just above what you are hoping to get for it.

But why do people not like bidding? Why did 8 people watch it and then not even 1 bid? I have a feeling I'm missing something!

Well it sounds like that is the reason! Thank you both. Surely by asking them to bid I'm asking them to say what it;s worth rather than me telling them??
Very odd

They just try it on. I just send a message back saying that I am leaving it to highest bidder. I hate BIN-I see it as an auction site.

yes it irritates me too pm, but I don't know if IABU :)

YANBU. I don't put a reserve and I do a low starting price-I am gambling on a much higher end price -if I wanted BIN I would have chosen that option in the first place!

I prefer BIN cause I am an impatient woman who needs instant gratification. But if I really wanted something I would bid.

Strange that you had no bids though.

so what do I do - email him back saying I'll put BIN up for a much higher price (including my listing price as it was free listings when I first put it on) or cut off my nose to spite my face and relist as an auction? I wish people would just BID!!

Sometimes I watch something because I'm selling the same thing and want to know how much it's going for.

ah good point, thanks - a veteran ebayer, obviously :o

I often put a BIN price on s well when I list something for auction. I feel it forces people to decide whether they want it at that price, or to start bidding so that no-one else will take advantage of the BIN.

I would email him with your BIN price and see if he goes for it. If not put it back on, with new photos.

"start bidding so that no-one else will take advantage of the BIN."
What do you mean? If the auction has started can people not use the BIN?

yeah once you have your first bid in, the BIN option disappears

I normally put things on at BIN with a Best Offer option so people can make you a lower offer if they want and you can choose to accept it.

ahh i didn't know that bh, thanks! I suppose you'd be annoyed if you had bid and it vanished though

What thumbwar said... I watch loads of things, but mainly to get a feel of what is selling and for how much.