First time seller - bidder wanting Buy It Now

claire07

Following suggestions from here I've put my first items on Ebay. One is a recent fridge/freezer in good condition so I put a reserve on it. However someone now wants to know if I've got a Buy It Now price.

On looking in Ebay T&Cs it seems I can't do this once the auction has started. What do you suggest?

Also another bidder wants to know what I would accept as a cash offer. I presume I also can't do this as it would end the auction early.

Sorry if these are basic questions but as these are my first items I don't want to do the wrong thing and upset either the bidders or Ebay!

ballisticbrian

However someone now wants to know if I've got a Buy It Now price.

When I get such messages, I feel like saying, if I had a buy it now price, I would have put it in when I setthe ad up.

soolin

Fridge freezer, so I am assuming you are wanting cash on collection?

I think as a new seller who may be more likely to be seen as a target for a scammer I might risk playing away on this one. Tell cash buyer to turn up this week before auction ends with cash and you'll let him have the item. Make sure you the. Cancel the listing on eBay which you can only do up to 12 hours before it ends.

If he doesn't show up, leave auction running. If he says anything about PayPal or sending a courier, refuse his offer and block him.

You must do everything in your power here to get cash on collection only, unless of course you are using your own courier.

sham63

Soolin's advice is spot-on.

I've sold a fridge/freezer and a cooker on Ebay - I was surprised at how much they eventually sold for (much more than I expected).

Generally, if it's a popular item that will attract lots of bids, it's usually worth letting the auction run and politely declining such offers. Whenever I've had cash/BIN offers (which I've declined) the items have always ended up selling for more.

I think I was expecting about £100 for my fridge/freezer and got somthing like £220! So have a good think before you accept an early offer - My response is always "many thanks for your offer but I'd prefer to let the auction run"

Remember; cash on collection only - no PayPal - buyer to collect in person (no courier collections)

Good luck!

Brooker_Dave

claire07 wrote: »

Following suggestions from here I've put my first items on Ebay. One is a recent fridge/freezer in good condition so I put a reserve on it. However someone now wants to know if I've got a Buy It Now price.

Also another bidder wants to know what I would accept as a cash offer. I presume I also can't do this as it would end the auction early.

You can end the auction if you wish, it's your freezer.

Ask them what figure they have in mind, and if it's acceptable, end the auction and arrange for them to collect and pay cash for your freezer.

No fees, no risk and quick and easy.

Goldiegirl

On auctions where there's a lot of early interest with people making offers, I tend to decline the offers and let the auction run.

The interest suggests that there will be a lot of bidders - in this situation I've found the auction ends at a far higher price than the offers, and higher than I'd hoped for in the first place.

soolin

Goldiegirl wrote: »

On auctions where there's a lot of early interest with people making offers, I tend to decline the offers and let the auction run.

The interest suggests that there will be a lot of bidders - in this situation I've found the auction ends at a far higher price than the offers, and higher than I'd hoped for in the first place.

Usually I would agree, but this is a delicate situation as OP will obviously be wanting cash.

Accepting cash now saves any problem with the people who either insist on paying paypal, or suddenly announce they are sending a courier.

If auction runs to end, buyer could send payment via paypal. This is a new seller, so refunding and holding out for cash could be expensive. FVFs to pay, a high listing fee (remember how expensive reserves are) and still stuck with the item which they then have to pay to relist- and posisbly a neg on their shiny new selling account.

ebay have had a lot of fees on this sale already, that reserve is an expensive way to list anything.Take the cash before they change their mind.

sham63

The way I read it is that neither 'offers' have stated a price,
they're the 'how much do you want for it?' type - which are generally from chancers wanting a bargain.

Claire, have you looked at 'completed' listings to see how much your type of fridge/freezer usually sells for? You say it's a 'recent' model - if it's a premium brand then you might get alot more than you think it's worth.

If you do decide to end the auction early, don't give it away for the sake of an 'easy' transaction. It's easy to get carried away worrying about scammers and problem buyers - on the balance of probabilities it is more likely that your transaction will turn out OK than go wrong.

claire07

Thanks for all the responses. Neither of the potential bidders who asked how much I would sell it for immediately have actually bid so I am dubious.

As I know the items are in good condition and full working order I put a reserve on and stipulated cash on collection, so I think I will just let the auction run till Sunday. I think I'd prefer to do that rather than run the risk of problems due to being naïve.