Got to love some buyers

soolin

I’m still sorting out some old family bits to sell on eBay. I rarely do auctions so when I found a set of things with very little sales history I had no real idea of value, so put them up at a price that seemed a little high to me, but meant I could accept offers.

Started to get offers almost immediately on one of the items, some were very low so I countered the same offer to all the potential buyers. One came back offering me a low amount again with a message saying my price was a little high for the item, (I had no idea of price on this one item) . Before I could send a counter offer the item was so.d at full price.

I’ve now had an email from the potential buyer who told me my price was too high saying he really wants the item and feels he might have matched the start price if I had allowed more time, and has cheekily suggested that I cancel the sale, and sell to him instead as he is a proper collector and will value this item. Obviously I will be honouring the sale.

baser999

If he wanted the item as much as he’s suggested he should have put in a higher bid. When I’ve used eBay, which is occasionally, I usually show a starting price being an amount that I’d like to think I’d achieve. Whether this is the right strategy I don’t know. Recently I had someone offer that figure but as it was only the first day of listing I let it go. Five days later there’d been a flurry of bidding and my little item went up by £35!

GDB2222

I recently listed an item with a £1 start price, and that’s what it sold for. 

Emmia

Ebay is an odd place. A few years ago I won a (nice quality)  paper diary in a christmas raffle (20p ticket) but I already had a diary so I decided to list it on ebay... it eventually sold for 3x the normal retail price, which absolutely astonished me.

vacheron

Nothing to me is more satisfying than having a conversation with a tyre kicking buyer giving you all the spiel about how you'll never sell your item at asking price, and then them coming back asking where it has gone a few hours later after someone has bought it at full price! 

forgotmyname

I would respond that the buyer initially offered double the listed value thinking that was the start price and bought it
instantly when you replied that is the buy it now price not an auction.

Ask them is they are willing to match their offer of double the start price, if they do then you will contact the buyer and
see how much they really want the item.

tightauldgit

Ebay pricing seems to be an art rather than a science and yeah some buyers do seem to love trying to get a bargain but never heard of one objecting to you selling at the final value! 

Most of the stuff I sell seems to go to the one and only bidder so it's always a bit of cat and mouse trying to price it right. I've experimented with 99p auctions ... and it sold for 99p. 

Other times I've relisted things at higher prices and got a bidder that apparently wasn't interested when it was cheaper. Sometimes I sell things dearer than they can be bought new and other times I've sold things things that don't even cover the postage. 

There's at least 3 or 4 PhD theses to be written about the psychology of Ebay buyers

diystarter7

GDB2222 said:

I recently listed an item with a £1 start price, and that’s what it sold for. 

You reminded me about a remove controlled, ore-owned car i bid 99p on, free collection and it was in the area i covered in my 
work role. I won and arranged a collection. This was around 2007/8 judging by the car I had. As I rolled up outside the gates in my 
car, I felt a bit embarrassed as an adult buy a remote car/4x4. The house was a mini-mansion and pillars - I knocked on the door at the agreed time the lady, well dressed/elegant came to the door - I said "hi, her for the car" she handed me the car and did not look me in the eye when I gave her the one pound coin. As I left I thought that was tight as she never offered to return the one penny.

Great deal as the car was like new and cost about 50 quid and as it was collection only, I guess I got lucky. But that handing of the one pound coin and lady in nice big house sticks in my mind.

Sorry re slight OT

Thanks

Spoonie_Turtle

My friend once bid on a piece of furniture that went for 99p, she felt so guilty she offered a lot more on collection (the seller refused, thankfully)!

Pollycat

forgotmyname said:

I would respond that the buyer initially offered double the listed value thinking that was the start price and bought it
instantly when you replied that is the buy it now price not an auction.

Ask them is they are willing to match their offer of double the start price, if they do then you will contact the buyer and
see how much they really want the item.

I think this is morally wrong - if you are really suggesting that the OP contacts the buyer after the sale is completed.

The successful buyer bought in good faith.

I probably wouldn't even reply to the email.
Or if I did, I'd just say the item has been sold at a price acceptable to both buyer and seller.
And maybe cheekily wish him luck in finding a similar item at a price he's happy with.

rollingmoon

I would not reply and simply block them. I probably lose a few genuine bidders by blocking people at the first sign of weirdness/stupidity (e.g. cretinous questions that would be answered by reading the listing, use of TXT SPK, anyone making a 2nd lowball offer after being told you're not after offers of less than the starting price thank you etc. etc.) but life's too short.

I can just about stand selling on eBay every now and again when I'm having a weed of my record collection etc.; I'm so glad I don't have to depend on that circus for my living.