Newbie ebay seller question - been asked to "sell now"??

MrsCautious

Hi, apologies if this is something that crops up a lot, I have done a search but I think as it's such common words, I can't find anything just now.

I'm new to ebay and have listed 10 items after buying a few and getting a tiny bit of positive feedback. I have watchers on most items and they are due to end at the end of this week. I have started them all at 99p to see how they go and have just the one low bid so far, as I would have expected.

I was contacted in the early hours of this morning by an ebayer with 100 per cent positive feedback asking if I want to "sell now" on a Disney Blu Ray.

Am I doing the right thing in either ignoring it or sending a short message back saying no thanks? Is this the sort of message ebay mean when they say don't reply to correspondence about doing deals 'outside of ebay'?

Thanks so much, it must seem a very simple thing x

elver_man

It depends on what you want to do,

If you want the auction to run the corse then just drop a polite reply back saying sorry no BIN your letting the auction run to the end.

If however you are happy to sell the item now then reply stating you will sell for x amount (the price you are happy with)

I wouldn't ignore the message, and I dont think this is a request to do deal outside of ebay.

I quite often get requests for BIN when I have auctions running and treat each request on their own merit.

MrsCautious

Thank you, that's really helpful and much appreciated. I have a lot to learn x

melliott1963

This seems to be coming more and more common in my experience. I personally don't sell many items, but out of the few I have, the majority have had people asking for BINs on them. I think people hope to be able to bypass the auction system and get a bargain in the process. I've always let the auctions run and in all cases bar one I've got more that I was offered for the BIN, and in the other case, I got more or less the same (within a couple of pounds).

But it's really up to you. Check completed listings and if they are offering around about the same amount (or more) then by all means go for it. However, I you will only be able to amend the listing to a BIN if no one has placed any bids on it.

Oh, and ignore the fact that they've got a 100% positive record. If they only buy then they can only be given positives.

Goldiegirl

I get requests like this from time to time.

My response depends on how much interest I've had in the item that I'm selling.

If I've got several watchers and / or other people have enquired about the item, then I normally respond by saying that I'll let the auction run to the end. Generally, the end auction price ends up at more that the BIN offer.

However, if it's something that doesn't have many watchers or something I've listed before without much interest, I'll amend the listing to include the BIN figure, so that the buyer can make the purchase.

MrsCautious

Thank you, all this information is really useful and to see different approaches. I'm looking forward to my first ever eBay sales, and then cracking on with more. I sent a very polite message saying I wanted to let it run its course, there are a few watchers so fingers crossed x

melliott1963

Of course, the question now is, should you block them from bidding on the item?

I turned down one buyer who wanted a BIN but then went on to win the auction. They then started laying down the law as to what postage method I should use (didn't want to pay for 1st class, only 2nd class) etc. etc. I just got the impression that they were deliberately being a PITA just because I'd rejected their offer. I must confess that I did 'bottle it' and complied with their requests and, as it turned out, all was OK in the end.

vacheron

I usually send a message along the lines of :

"Dear .....
Thank you for your interest in my auction. Unfortunately I don't tend to end auctions early as I don't think it is fair on other bidders. However I wish you the best of luck if you do decide to place a bid."

I've had quite a few go on to bid and win the auction, and have never had any problems.

However I have had problems the other way round when I have offered to buy an item early, had my offer roundly (and often derisively) rejected and have then gone on to win the item at way below my original offer price! The buyers then seem to think you have somehow cheated them and I have actually been asked to pay the amount of my original offer as "I was prepared to pay that anyway""

MrsCautious

Thank you melliott and vacheron, really like the wording, as someone so very new to eBay, it's so very helpful to read about the way things can work out, it hadn't occurred to me that the fact I'd said I wanted the auction to continue would pee someone off to the extent they would be awkward should they end up buying it.

I was so very polite and wished them well, will be interesting to see what happens on all the items, there are 2 days left and a few bids have been made on most of them.

Thanks for all the replies x

techspec

Nearly every item i listed had a BIN - until Ebays messing meant the BIN price had to be 40% higher.

Who's going to pay 40% more - just to get it early.

Now i never put a BIN - but keep getting asked for one. I agree to raise the start price to the agreed price - they bid - and i end early.

harleq1962

i normally just send back a polite " i let my auctions run to the end, thanks for the offer " then add it to the listing so others can see it,
but dont be surprised if people keep asking after youve posted "i dont end auctions early " .