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eBay

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

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Original poster

Keep getting asked "do you have a Buy it Now price" Why?

17 replies

WillPenn · 09/02/2015 14:37

I have a sought after designer bag on eBay at the moment. It is for sale with an auction-style format, starting price £50 and I put a £200 reserve on it as I really can't bear to part with it for peanuts.

Within a few hours of putting it on I had three people message me to say "what would you take for a buy it now price"? As far as I am aware I cannot change an auction to BIN after starting it. I also imagined I would be a total idiot to end the listing and accept money from them in a private deal as I would have little comeback if things went wrong.

Am I being terribly naive? Are there others out there that have done this?

OP posts:

seaoflove · 09/02/2015 14:50

Don't. They're hoping for a bargain, basically. They don't want to end up bidding against other people.

It always happens to me too. I just tell them I would prefer it to stay as an auction.

sleepwhenidie · 09/02/2015 14:55

I've approached sellers for a BIN when I have wanted their item quickly (for a fancy dress party). I am always prepared to pay more than the reserve in this case. You don't have to take it off and sell off ebay, you can go back in and put it as BIN at the price you have agreed with the person asking. It means you get your money faster from someone who is most likely serious about wanting the item and they don't have to go through the auction process or wait around for it if they are in a rush. You are perfectly within your rights to politely decline, or add a BIN. No biggie....

sleepwhenidie · 09/02/2015 14:56

And you can add a BIN if there are no bids on the item

dotsanddashes · 09/02/2015 15:05

It's annoying to get lots of BIN requests but really common. I've asked for a BIN price myself occasionally if I want something quickly. I'm never cheeky and offer a really low price, and have more than once been accepted. So I guess it pays to ask. On the reverse though if I get requests for my sales I just don't reply, you don't have to answer every message you get.

What does annoy me though is when I do list things as BIN, then get requests to take a lower price. I had one recently where the buyer wanted me to lower the price due to the clearly stated and photographed marks on some shoes. erm no, I did take those marks into consideration when I set the price, it was an RRP!

Anyway, good luck, and whatever you do for the price you're after i.e. over £200, don't take it off eBay, you won't have a leg to stand on if it all goes wrong.

dotsanddashes · 09/02/2015 15:06

wasn't an RRP I should have said!

Original poster

WillPenn · 09/02/2015 20:40

Thanks everyone - I didn't realize you could add BIN after you listed and also that it was usual for people to ask. I should be less suspicious....

OP posts:

glammanana · 15/02/2015 10:22

WillPenn Always remember too that any BIN price must be 40% more than your original price so if you are having a reserve of £200 you should list BIN as no less than £275 approx.Always state also that with BIN you expect immediate payment as I had one person wait 3 days before payment and she had me worried she was not going to pay.

Shonajay · 18/02/2015 08:03

I often ask for a BIN, if there are no bids. They may be having trouble selling it and are pleased. In fact, I recently offered £70 for a nearly new pair of Kensington Uggs which were listed at £110 with free postage, which was accepted, and he honoured the free postage too. I emailed him saying I was delighted and that it was so kind of him and gave excellent feedback.

Shonajay · 18/02/2015 08:05

Sea love, I used to say no too until I had a spate of no watchers, then out of the blue got a great offer for a handbag. Why turn down free money? On moral grounds I don't if someone has already bid, but otherwise it's perfectly fair.

Original poster

WillPenn · 18/02/2015 10:11

Well, I held out - I had almost 100 watchers. And I got £400 for the bag, so pleased I did. I was amazed I got that much, but as I said it is one of those bags that everyone looks for on eBay. DH very chuffed as we had a big bill to pay this month and were struggling for money....Now I just have to resist going out and spending it all on a new bag!

OP posts:

seaoflove · 18/02/2015 10:59

Excellent! This is why I think it often pays to hold out for the auction. In my experience, getting a lot of BIN requests is a really good sign that it's a sought after item and will sell at a good price at auction

nauticant · 18/02/2015 15:14

Well done. Make sure you send it tracked. You might want to consider insured as well. I'd make sure I had a fair few photos of it before I sent it off.

seaoflove · 18/02/2015 15:25

If you send by Special Delivery you get insurance. There are about three levels of insurance, up to a couple of thousand I think. The Post Office can advise.

What was the bag btw? (Handbag addict here)

Original poster

WillPenn · 19/02/2015 10:20

Don't worry! I sent it Special Delivery. Buyer now received and left me lovely feedback (phew). Seaoflove - it was a Mulberry Bayswater in oak leather. About 7 years old - and I may be wrong but I think the quality back then was better.

OP posts:

seaoflove · 19/02/2015 20:48

How funny, I have a seven year old Bayswater in black. £400 is an excellent price, they were £495 back then

Original poster

WillPenn · 20/02/2015 09:26

It had occurred to me that I might have got almost as much for it as it was new back in the day before they jacked the price up. I know eBay can be a hassle but sometimes it's great. I also sold two pairs of boots that I got more than I paid for them, having worn them!!

OP posts:

Shonajay · 24/03/2015 08:30

I got a nie bargain the other day on a buy it now, a particular dress I'd been after. It wasn't listed as BIN but she has no bids and five hours to go, and sounded very pleased.

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