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If you buy or sell items on eBay, you will find tips and advice on this forum.

Original poster

Buyer wants me to sell outright - dodgy?

13 replies

americanexpat · 12/08/2012 10:03

I listed an expensive item yesterday and had a message from a buyer wanting to know if I'd "sell it with Buy It Now price". I'm not exactly sure what this means. I had a BIN price but have already received a bid so it's no longer an option. The buyer has 300+ feedback, 100% positive. Is this dodgy or common? Thanks for any advice, I'm new to eBaying and am having a clear-out.

OP posts:
SayCoolNowSayWhip · 12/08/2012 10:06

If there isn't a BIN price listed on a bidding, it's quite common for a buyer to ask if a seller is willing to put one on. However, if you already had a BIN price but someone has placed a bid, it's no longer relevant. You'll have to email back the person who asked to say that unfortunately you can't hold to a BIN price as bidding has started, but he/she is welcome to bid as well.

Original poster
americanexpat · 12/08/2012 10:11

Wow, quick response! He asked me to name a price I'd be willing to accept, which makes me think he was suggesting I cancel the auction? I'm wary because it's an expensive item (expecting to get £200 or more). Is this a done thing on eBay or is it dodgy?

OP posts:
MirandaWest · 12/08/2012 10:13

People do it - it isn't dodgy. Although as you already have a bid you would have to cancel the auction to do it. Quite often you might end up getting a lower BIN price than you wuld have done with an auction, but you at least know it is sold.

HeffalumpsAndWoozles · 12/08/2012 10:32

I think this kind of thing is a bit dodgy, there's lots of warning on eBay for both buyers and sellers to beware of anyone wanting to compete the transaction outside if eBay. If you cancel the auction and accept an outside offer then you no longer have any protection from eBay, and possibly Paypal, if something goes wrong.

I know someone who got seriously ripped off when buying a £400 item that she then ended up completing outside eBay following an email from the seller, and I imagine it works both ways.

I didn't know that once a bid has been placed the buy it now no longer applies, is that a new thing?

Original poster
americanexpat · 12/08/2012 11:16

Heffalump - that's why I wasn't sure, I don't want to get ripped off!

I have a BIN price on the listing but it's not showing, I assumed it was because it already had a bid. Is that not the case?

Thanks for the responses, I think I should've listed all the 99p stuff first!

OP posts:
bloodyfurious · 12/08/2012 11:20

Ive done it, I have to be honest and say I asked the buyer to bank transfer the money direct to my BANK account and then I ended listing, this way there was no risk to me and I saved 15% fees - paypal and ebay, this was for £300

bloodyfurious · 12/08/2012 11:21

of course ebay warn, they want their money!!

fergoose · 12/08/2012 11:23

Asking for a buy it now price does not have to be dodgy - but conducting an off eBay sale is against the rules.

SayCoolNowSayWhip · 12/08/2012 13:27

Yup, once a bid is placed, the Buy It Now option disappears. So really, if you were to then go ahead and sell to someone else, you'd be breaking ebay rules and also not honouring your auction agreement.

PigletJohn · 12/08/2012 13:37

do you not think that the buyer has an idea of what it will fetch at auction, and may be hoping to buy it for less?

bloodyfurious · 12/08/2012 13:40

The buyer who bought of me was buying a rare item they wouldnt have got elsewhere, I figured by sending direct to my bank they wouldnt have been able to use any paypal scam to get their money back, I may have got more on open market, but would have had to pay almost £45 in fees.

Suited me not to pay fees.

HeffalumpsAndWoozles · 12/08/2012 21:08

There are Paypal scams where they can get their money back?? That's a bit scary too hadn't heard of that.

I get a bit knarked when I've listed an item only to receive twenty emails from people asking if I have a buy it now price or would I accept £xx, I figure if I've chosen to list on eBay then it's fairly obvious that's how I intend to sell, if I had a buy it now price I would have put one on the listing and if I wanted to accept any random offer I'd probably have used the local free ads paper. So even if they're not dodgy which I do think some are they are still pretty daft and very annoying so either way I wouldn't do business with them.

Southwest · 22/08/2012 01:59

I thought sometimes people can get their money back but don't know whether this is only if it is cheques or similar if the money isn't there the bank can do a chargeback and sure enough your bank will give it to them and there is nothing you can do.

Don't mean to scare the OP I'm sure your offer just thought he could get. Good price.

I sometimes ask people to realist if I have missed bidding on something but it's usually a 99p kids item of clothing and only if I have already bought something and want to combine the postage, I think only once did I pay the 99p outside ebay

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