There's definately 2 sides of the coin here. I've struck a deal off ebay
many times (as seller AND buyer) and find it much easier. I've never had
someone turn down something they wanted when offered to them at the bid
price, and my rating shows enough integrity to not screw them. Saving
the ebay commission helps enable me to give it to them at that price, as
ebay's seller services suck. They truly could care less if you get the
item, and do a pretty small effort to work it out. Plus, they keep their
listing fee anyway, so they got paid. If anyone tried to suggest I
sweetly & righteously put it back on ebay, and then they'll bid on it,
to do right by eBay, I'd just contact the bidder below him, and sell it
to that person, or put it on with the same reserve. I gotten screwed
doing it the "right" way for eBay, more than the "wrong" way off
auction. The only thing I lose is a good feedback, but the buyer is
appreciative, and many times comes back and buys from me again because I
made it easy for them. (Same when I'm a buyer)
Larry
NSURIT@xxxxxxx wrote:
> In discussion of this guy it was suggested that he offers the item at
> a high price and then after the auction has closed without his reserve
> being met emails the bidders and offers to sell it at a lower price.
> The problem mentioned, other than the obvious one with integrity, is
> that the buyer doesn't have the protection offered by ebay. The other
> problem I see as a business owner is that ebay gets beaten out of
> their small fee for advertising/helping to sell the item. There have
> been a few times that I have been offered an item at my bid price even
> though it had not met the minimum (never by this guy, because I don't
> like his descriptions and won't bid on his stuff). When that has
> happened I have always emailed the seller back and told them to
> re-list it on ebay with the reserve being what my high bid was and
> that I would purchase it at that price through ebay. That has worked
> for me in the past. &n! bs! p;I got what I wanted and had the benefits
> offered by the not so evil ebay, ebay's part in the deal was honored
> and the seller moved their merchandise. I have used ebay a time or
> two to get a seller to do what was right and was glad they were there
> and have also used feedback in a rather judicious way to warn folks of
> potential problems. IMHO some pull the trigger too quick on negative
> feedback before they have given the deal sometime to work itself out.
> Bill Barber
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