People making offers during an auction..

9 replies

TheReluctantBride · 15/04/2015 18:52

So how does that work? I had someone ask if they could buy an item I had on a Â£1.20. I told them they were the highest bidder, auction ended tomorrow good luck. The item sold to someone else for Â£2.70 and they emailed me to say they would have paid me Â£50. (So why didn't they bid higher than Â£2.70?).
Now I have 3 items on and someone has emailed me to ask to buy them all -
Thing is that first day they say want them for their nan, then a second identical email says it's for their gran - if she existed wouldn't you get the name right? Is this a scam? Items are at 0.99 but other seem to sell on eBay for Â£100+
Can I just make a ridiculous price up? Is that allowed?

OP posts:

ragged · 15/04/2015 19:00

You can make up any ridiculous price (counter-offer) you like.
Why do you care if they want it for Gran or Nan or Barak Obama?

Original poster

TheReluctantBride · 15/04/2015 22:02

Oh sorry the only reason I mentioned nan and gran was that I thought it was a lie (wouldn't you call your Nan nan or gran gran not both?) and therefore if it is a lie is this a scam. To be honest I thought it was against eBay rules to sell to someone else during an auction.

OP posts:

ragged · 15/04/2015 22:08

Apparently you can end an auction at any time before the last 12 hours(?) for mutually agreed BIN price. As long as Ebay gets their cut Ebay doesn't mind, but must admit I don't know how and sellers are usually advised against; Bidders wouldn't be offering BIN if it wasn't a good item likely to fetch a high price. Bidder is just hoping you want the money fast.

Cherryapple1 · 15/04/2015 22:32

don't start at 99p is my advice. And why don't you start at a higher price if they are worth more.

You can cancel bids and end an auction if you want to.

Original poster

TheReluctantBride · 16/04/2015 06:30

It's a good point Cherrypie
But I'm selling old stuff (toys, clothes etc) to clear the house I want it gone and frankly it's only worth as much as someone will pay for it - hence starting at 99p.

OP posts:

Cherryapple1 · 16/04/2015 06:42

selling at 99p after fees is not worth it at all. You will hardly make pence.

glammanana · 16/04/2015 17:53

I always start my auctions at a price very near to what I would be happy with,as Cherry says if you get 1 bid at 99p you have to sell at that and you end up out of pocket by the time you have factured in fee's and packing costs,plus your time so not worthwhile.
I don't accept offers unless they are OTT and buyers agrees to pay straight away,do you disable the box asking for best offers when you list your items I do (its just under the price box) that way I get very few offers.

Mehitabel6 · 16/04/2015 17:57

I start low, it gets the interest. Just refuse to sell it before the end- they just hope to get it cheap.

Cherryapple1 · 16/04/2015 18:16

There is no point starting at 99p since free listing is now at any price. It may have been worth the gamble when that was what you had to start at to qualify, but only 1 bidder and you are scuppered.

Flip