Selling dilemma

[MissPollysTrolleyed]

I've listed some pieces of highly coveted vintage furniture - bought for £2k a couple of years ago and now being sold in perfect condition. My DH wants a minimum of £500 for the lot.

I didn't put on a reserve as I was too stingy confident they would achieve a good price. They are ending today and only have low bids on so far but have 30 -40 watchers. That bodes well for a last minute flurry of activity, doesn't it?

I'm inclined to leave it to fate but what if they sell for £100 in total? My DH will kill me and I will be sorely disappointed and not have very much money for replacement furniture.

Well I find you normally get bids in the last seconds, but if you really want more then cancel the auction and re-list with a reserve on it. But watchers doesn't always mean bidders, I have had an item with over 20 watchers and it has ended with only 1 bid - there is really no way of telling. But then they do say an item will find its own price, and also a reserve may put people off.

Just make sure you only take cash for collection, never Paypal.

Ooh, why do you say cash for collection and not Paypal?

You can't do anything if they already have bids on. Most people don't Bid until the end anyway.

because they can collect then claim not to have received and claw all their money back via Paypal and you will have no item and no money and no recourse - never, ever take anything but cash for a collection item. Plus no Paypal fees for you.

You can cancel bids and end the auction and then re-list with a reserve if you want.

We had 85 watchers last week on an item but it came down to two bidders at the end. The last minute was frantic as the bids were raised again and again. We did put a reserve on it and although it went above that it did give us peace of mind that it wouldn't sell for silly money.

Oh, thanks Fergoose but I've already listed Paypal as an option for buyers. It sounds like I should cancel and put it back on as a cash purchase with a reserve. Only thing is that we are starting building works next week and need shot of the furniture. Oh, this ebay business is terribly complicated.

just add to the listing 'cash only on collection' - paypal will automatically be added so you can't remove it.

Thanks Fergoose. I already have bids so hoping I can still change the listing but will try as soon as I get home from work (ebay is a barred site at work).

when the auction ends just send the winner an invoice and state cash on collection only, and if they do pay via paypal just refund them and ask for cash.

Recently I bid on something that jumped £260 (price increase of 130%) in the last 10 seconds.
I didn't think one could cancel or change a listing in the last 12 hours?

no but you can cancel bids.