New to Selling - Buy It Now Price request - Is it a scam?

Freddy_Frog

Inexperienced eBay seller in need of advice.

I put up a camera for auction last night and have just received this message from an eBay member (who has 100% feedback on 186 transactions).

"Hi have you got buy it now price as i need to pay for the camera until tomorrow as i got redemption code from ebay valid until 02/09/08. "

What do I do? Is this a scam? If not, is there a downside of putting up a "Buy It Now" price? I have a fair idea of what similar items have sold for recently. What affect does posting a buy it now price have on people bidding in the auction, does it put them off do you think?

Thanks

Brooker_Dave

Freddy_Frog wrote: »

Inexperienced eBay seller in need of advice.

I put up a camera for auction last night and have just received this message from an eBay member (who has 100% feedback on 186 transactions).

"Hi have you got buy it now price as i need to pay for the camera until tomorrow as i got redemption code from ebay valid until 02/09/08. "

What do I do? Is this a scam? If not, is there a downside of putting up a "Buy It Now" price? I have a fair idea of what similar items have sold for recently. What affect does posting a buy it now price have on people bidding in the auction, does it put them off do you think?

Thanks

Tell your buyer that they are welcome to buy it now, but they must use a safe payment means such as a cheque, postal order or if they are in a hurry bank transfer.

It could be a genuine offer, it could also be someone selling the same model of camera who wants to get rid of your auction....

soolin

Dave, will you stop trying to get other people banned just because you are. You know that paypal can't be refused but the OP has said they are new to ebay, and might not realise what potential problems they have if they refuse paypal, please be fair to new users.

OP, you can add a BIN if you wish, there will be an additional fee payable and as soon as anyone places a bid the BIN option disappears anyway. However, you might prefer to wait to see what happens to the auction, do you have many watchers yet for instance, is the camera a popular one, have other sold well previously? Just remember as well that you will need safe and secure tracked postage like special delivery.

Brooker_Dave

soolin wrote: »

Dave, will you stop trying to get other people banned just because you are. You know that paypal can't be refused

Of course it can be.

OP is being asked to end the auction and sell the item privatly, he can take payment in whatever form he chooses.

Are you on commission from paypal for endlessly recommending their "service"?

soolin

Where does it mention private sale except in your imagination?

OP refers to adding a BIN price.

appleblossom

If you are happy with the BIN price, I would add it - as stated by soolin, make ure you send it by trackable method (which for something high value you should always do anyway) - there have been a couple of ebay vouchers about recently so in all fairness,he is prob just wanting to use it before it expires - have a look at his feedback too - if he's not had any probs then I would say it is safe to do it.

Brooker_Dave

soolin wrote: »

Where does it mention private sale except in your imagination?

"Hi have you got buy it now price"

soolin

Brooker_Dave wrote: »

"Hi have you got buy it now price"

Goodness you've been away from ebay a long while then if you don't recognise the term BIN (buy it Now).

Rebel

I have to say if there is something I really want I often ask if there is a BIN price, sometimes the seller comes back with a realistic price and I purchase, other times the seller overprices (IMO) and I dont buy, and finally some sellers send snotty replies which ensure I never ever buy from them.

I suggest you can offer a BIN price if it suits YOU, but whatever you decide treat the buyer the way you want to be treated yourself, after all he/she may be prepared to pay more than anyone else.

Freddy_Frog

Thank you all for your advice. Now I have a further problem - I'd like to add a Buy It Now price to my listing which is already up and running, but cannot work out how to.

The listing has a bid against it already, no reserve price and 6 days left to run. Can I add a BIN price at this stage? eBay's help pages have not proved helpful on this matter.

Thanks

soolin

If it has a bid then you can no longer add a BIN option. best to let it run though if you have someone already interested. if however you really wanted to add a BIN you would need to cancel the existing bid and then add the BIN, but again once a bid was entered the bIN would disappear one again.