Ebay auction. Offered cash?

vertical_fool

Hi all.

I've tried to incorporate this question into my previous thread but it's been overlooked or maybe people don't want to post about this issue.

So I'm selling my Dyson DC21 on Ebay it's upto around £70 at the moment ending Sunday evening. I've been offered £200 cash for it through an Ebay seller with feedback of 18 all positive. They've bought mainly childrens clothes since being registered in May 2007 but all the feedback is from the last two weeks. They've bought and sold mainly childs clothes and toys with one sale of a mitre saw for over £100.

As the DC21 in the completed listings has sold for as little as £206 + £10 postage I'm tempted by this offer.

So what are my options in regards of accepting this offer? Is it wise? Is it morale? How does Ebay/Ebayers look on it?

Thanks

Vertical

smartie1976

Morale wise I guess no issues.
It's the same as if you offer local collection.
If your item had no current bids you could tell them you'll add a BIN for £200 for the buyer, and they can do local collection.

Your options really are to end the listing early and relist with a BIN.
This way you'll get to send an invoice and it'll all be legit as far as Ebay is concerned.
Otherwise let it run it's course.

StaffsSW

The only way that you could do this without stitching yourself up is to ask the buyer to collect ASAP, but do not end the auction until they are on your doorstep with a wodge of notes. As it has bids, you can not add a BIN price at this stage.

Absolutely nothing stopping you from doing this, many listings state "advertised elsewhere", so if it was sold off-ebay, just end the listing early with the reason "no longer available for sale". Morally it depends on the individual - the existing bidders may think it is immoral, but most people have a degree of "moral slippage" when said wodge of notes is presented!

If the highest a similar item has ended is £206, then £200 cash is a good offer, especially as there would be no paypal or Final Value fees applicable.

Alternatively, you could ask the offer-maker to place a bid for £200, and see how it goes for them...

vertical_fool

Thanks for the replies.

I'm got to tell the seller I'll accept his offer if they can complete the deal before the auction ends. If they can't then I'll let the auction run to the end.

Thanks again

Vertical

mattogier

What are his given reasons for buying cash (and make sure it IS cash if you go ahead)

jan03

If I were you I would do as previously said in another post, get them to come with the cash then end auction clicking on the no longer for sale box, will save you the sellers fees as well and paypal fees should anyone who isn't collecting wish to pay though it.

vertical_fool

Hi.

Well thanks for bidding on it (I think!). I sent a message to the seller saying I'd accept his offer if he could complete the deal before the auction ended but so far I haven't received a reply. So it looks like the auction will run to it's natural end.

With you saying you bid on it got me thinking. I've got 9 watchers, I hope their all not Mse'rs watching how it goes with none actually intending on bidding!

Thanks

Vertical

getting-sorted-sarah

Ermmm, I'm not so sure that there is "absolutely nothing" stopping you selling for cash - eBay is very specific about agreeing a price outside - what you are doing is circumventing fees, which is strictly against the rules, and a pretty bad show as far as I am concerned because it makes a mockery of the whole system. (Not that I think they don't charge too much and blah blah blah.)
This is not the same as being advertised elsewhere - you and the potential buyer only got in contact through eBay. I imagine they contacted you through the "message to seller"? Thats the one with the message next to it about how you must ignore offers to trade outside eBay??
Not that I am a goody two shoes, and certainly not trying to have a go at an individual, who after all is justtrying to get the best deal like we all are - but I think you either do eBay or you don't.

jan03

vertical_fool wrote: »

Hi.

Well thanks for bidding on it (I think!). I sent a message to the seller saying I'd accept his offer if he could complete the deal before the auction ended but so far I haven't received a reply. So it looks like the auction will run to it's natural end.

With you saying you bid on it got me thinking. I've got 9 watchers, I hope their all not Mse'rs watching how it goes with none actually intending on bidding!

Thanks

Vertical

thanks for the thanks:) i would love one of these hoovers, just don't have the money to buy one at the price they are worth:(.
i'm not watching it so hopefully it is nine people who are waiting till the last minute or two before bidding.
I personally don't think that if you do take the cash offer you are doing anything wrong, after all people sell things on ebay to make money and if you can get as much as you can without paying the fees then go for it, after all you have paid to list it.

mike230652

jan03 wrote: »

I personally don't think that if you do take the cash offer you are doing anything wrong, after all people sell things on ebay to make money and if you can get as much as you can without paying the fees then go for it, after all you have paid to list it.

The fact that you don't believe the seller is doing anything wrong by trying to use eBay to sell the item and then avoid paying fees for using eBay's services gives us an idea of your moral values....as per the OP's original post ........

If you have kids is this what you teach them about moral values?????

soolin

Can we please just clarify ebay terms and conditions here please as per the OPs original request.

Receiving an offer through ebay and selling 'off ebay' breaks several ebay rules and I would caution about doing that. Firstly ebay if they bothered to check, or if anyone complained, would have a copy of the original mail sent to the seller via their messaging services offering to deal off ebay. So even assuming the seller replies using email and not by going through the email message received it will look suspicious when the item disappears from ebay with the excuse that it has been broken or lost or whatever false statement is made.

Secondly each of the current bidders would need to have their bids cancelled..and they may well wonder what is going on and send a question to ebay. That in itself is not a problem except that all complaints etc submitted to ebay are marked on sellers files and if that pushes the seller into the bottom percentage of sellers based on complaints and feedback then the account will be suspended. Another reason not to suddenly pull an item at last minutes (and of course you can only pull an item if there is more than 12 hours to go) is that potential future bidders on the auctions will see that an auction was pulled by the seller. That may well put people off if the seller is new as they may feel that bidding is a waste of time if seller just pulls bids if he doesn't get enough.

It really does pay to know and understand what you agree to when you sign up to use ebay.