What would you do?

patchwork_cat

Hi
I need your knowledgeable advice on a problem.

My main competitor has just emailed me to say that he is out of stock of a product and wants to do a deal where I send 3 out direct to his customers. I always felt that he sold things he didn't have.

I could report him, but ebay probably wouldn't do anything and although he is my competitor we do discuss things ,sometimes, quite amicably.

Do I supply him or not - am I breaking any ebay rules?

Our supplier is out of stock.

slowen

Myself I would not bother as he is obviously selling stock without having it but you could make some profit from the sale

baffcat

patchwork_cat wrote:

Hi
I need your knowledgeable advice on a problem.

My main competitor has just emailed me to say that he is out of stock of a product and wants to do a deal where I send 3 out direct to his customers. I always felt that he sold things he didn't have.

I could report him, but ebay probably wouldn't do anything and although he is my competitor we do discuss things ,sometimes, quite amicably.

Do I supply him or not - am I breaking any ebay rules?

Our supplier is out of stock.

LMAO

Cheeky so and so!

Okay firstly, no, you wouldn't be breaking ebay rules. They'll have got their listing & Final Value Fees, and that's all they're realling concerned about.

Do you really want to help him out? Do you both sell the same or simimlar items for the same price? If so, would customers stop buying from him and switch to you if they don't receive their items speedily? Would you still make the same money as usual out of sending the three items out to his winners? Would you be prepared to send more out if he keeps listing with no stock? Is it likely your supplier will have more stock available soon? Have you got a lot of these items in stock? Will he stop listing until new stocks arrive? Is this an opportunity for you to list/sell more whilst he's in difficulties? Would he help you out if the situation were reversed?

All these questions are business questions, not ebay Qs, and really it's down to you.

Regards

Baff

Sugar_Coated_Owl

If you can make a decent profit then I would probably supply him. If he has 3 customers waiting for these products then you have a good chance of doing a good deal here.

How do you feel about the situation?

Outtathaway

Another suggestion, though I'm not sure if it fits in with Ebay rules or is morally right is that if you do post items direct to his buyers, you could always includes a business card or something similar with YOUR ebay ID on it or a link to your store so they know you sent it and may switch to you in future

bleugh

go for it,

provided you get the cash first in a non-bouncable form, then help the guy out!

and do what outtathaway said, bung your own business card in there with something like 'helping out a fellow seller in time of need ....your ID.....'

angelcake

That is cheeky but I think the advise on here is spot on! I think I would do it this way! the buyer could have just bought the items waited for you to send then sent them on but he/she is being lazy! I probably would go for it keeps the stock turning over! As Long as you are selling them for equal amount as you would put them on ebay for!

mishkanorman

If I had asked someone to help me out, they agreed, and then took advantage and made it into a way of promoting themselves, I would be seriously miffed.

If you are in the same sort of 'trade' you might need help in the future, or he might turn nasty and sabotage your sales.

(Make sure you get a good deal though as a bit of a lesson to him !!)

mishka

Contains_Mild_Peril

I'd agree to supply the items direct to his customers as requested, but at an inflated price. Keep communications friendly and don't do anything underhand, but take advantage of the opportunity for a little extra profit!
I remember my uncle's small taxi firm would occasionally asked a rival firm to cover one of their bookings if they were stuck, and the rivals were happy to do so - it was another fare for them.