Buyer asking me for a Buy it Now

SadieO

Hi all, I have not sold much on ebay and would appreciate some advice. I have listed a dress from Coast which always seems a popular make, and dresses seem to go for anything from £10 to £100+. I have put it as used but it is in good condition (I have never actually worn it outside the house, just tried it on) and have put a start price of £9.99. There are no bids yet (ending Sunday) but 25 people are watching it

I have had a (very polite) message asking if I will add a buy it now (no price suggested). Trouble is I have no idea how much it might go for and don't want to over or underprice it. I literally do not know if it will go for a tenner (or at all) or £100 :huh: Is it wiser for me to let it stay as auction? And if so, can I say that to the person who has sent me the message without alienating a potential buyer? I would assume with 25 people watching it that it will sell, but you never know??

martinthebandit

My usual answer to people who ask if I have a buy it now price in mind is to reply;

'No, do you have a maximum price you wish to bid for it?'

If they come up with a good price then I am happy to sell it to them for that price. if they don't then I don't

In your case as you are unsure of how much it would go for, only a broad range of between 10 to 100 quid I would be looking for an offer of around 75 or I would let the auction run.

But its your item and its your choice.


PS I have no idea where the GBP sign is on this laptop

scheming_gypsy

I normally tell them to make me an offer and if i like it i'll do a BIN and send them the auction number... although nobody ever seems to reply.

hermum

I always ask them to make a sensible offer & I will consider it.
I often turn it down based on the amount of watchers, only for the person who's offer I turned down winning it at auction for a lot less as nobody else has bid.
I keep telling myself not to be so darn greedy but I do live in hope.

SadieO

Thank you guys for taking the trouble to reply, I will bear in mind your suggestions. Although the number of watchers has gone up even more so I am thinking (hoping!) there is a good chance of it selling well at auction if I let it run. Thanks again.

scheming_gypsy

My tip for eBay - watchers mean nothing!! i've had auctions with a rake of watchers and ended with no bids.
I quite often watch a number of auctions because the item interests me and i want to see how much it goes for; and a lot of people will watch an item as they're selling / planning to sell the same and want a rough idea of what they go for.

jenpoptrash

as gypsy says watchers mean nothing !
If there is a price you would be happy with then let them know.
Unless they say I usually reply with a cost and that if they are interested ill add the buy it now - if not best of luck with the auction.
I also say once a bid is in I won't add it as it's not fair on other potential buyers

macfly

25+ Watchers means that number of people are interested. Nonsense to say it means nothing.
Anyone thinking of ending a listing early should invoice the interesdted party via paypal before ending the listing or, dafter still, relisting.

mum2one

also take into account if you add a buy it now price that will cost more for you.

I agree that watchers are good, although as my daughter (shes only 8), says its not watchers we want its buyers...

From what you said the bits that jump out to me

No of watchers
from Coast
only been tried on in house

- to me that comes in as a good bargain...

I would look at other similar dresses on ebay to see what they are going for, to give you an idea.

scheming_gypsy

macfly wrote: »

25+ Watchers means that number of people are interested. Nonsense to say it means nothing.
.

errrrr no it isn't.
as i've already said, people watch for a number of reasons. If you have 25 watchers it means 25 people are interested for any number of reasons and not because they want to bid on it. They're interested in seeing how much it goes for, they've got one and want to see how much they can get for it etc etc.