E-Bay'ers - Selling a Watch

bobbykokinos · #1 06-22-2008, 04:44 PM

So I have a watch on E-Bay for sale. Its a Breitling Colt.. It has 2 days left but its no where close to where I thought it would be.. Someone offered me a good amount of money via email for it.. He told him that I could cancel the auction by using the "sell to highest bidder option".. First of all, if I do that, dont I have to sell at the high price that its at currently? Second, he isnt the highest bidder, nor has he bid at all on it.. Sound like someone is trying to rip me off?

I still have 2 days left but I'm getting kind of worried.. It has 22 bids and is up to $270.. I think there is about 34 people watching it.. Should I be worried right now or will the bids spike up big time the last day??

As you can see, I dont sell on ebay much.

fourstringdrums · #2 06-22-2008, 04:45 PM

I've only done this once or twice but if the auction really wasn't going the way I wanted it, I'd cancel it with the excuse of that the item was no longer for sale which can be a legit excuse if I also was selling it outside of ebay. Then if you have to relist just put in the auction that a previous buyer backed out.

RWP · #3 06-22-2008, 04:55 PM

I don't believe you can cancel an auction in the last 24 hours, so if you don't have a reserve on it and you are worried, cancel before the 25th hour. However, many time the last few hours is where all the action is.

bobbykokinos · #4 06-22-2008, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fourstringdrums

I've only done this once or twice but if the auction really wasn't going the way I wanted it, I'd cancel it with the excuse of that the item was no longer for sale which can be a legit excuse if I also was selling it outside of ebay. Then if you have to relist just put in the auction that a previous buyer backed out.

I had considered that.. I'm just confused as to why someone would say they are the highest bidder when they havent bid at all.. Seems kind of shady.

bobbykokinos · #5 06-22-2008, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RWP

I don't believe you can cancel an auction in the last 24 hours, so if you don't have a reserve on it and you are worried, cancel before the 25th hour. However, many time the last few hours is where all the action is.

Yeah, I checked that out.. Its 12hrs before the auction is up

bongomania · #6 06-22-2008, 05:01 PM

Too late. You just have to hope that there are some last-minute bidders who drive the price up at the end.

fourstringdrums · #7 06-22-2008, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobbykokinos

I had considered that.. I'm just confused as to why someone would say they are the highest bidder when they havent bid at all.. Seems kind of shady.

Yeah that would be a red flag for me. To be safe I'd require that they PayPal me the money.

iamlowsound · #8 06-22-2008, 07:14 PM

Sounds like a scammer. The last 5 minutes is when most of the action happens.

lowsound

illidian · #9 06-22-2008, 07:26 PM

Tell him to bid and wish him good luck.

As others have said, the last day, and especially the last few minutes, are where all the action is. 34 watchers is pretty good for an item that's still two days off.

Son of Sanford · #10 06-22-2008, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by illidian

Tell him to bid and wish him good luck.

As others have said, the last day, and especially the last few minutes, are where all the action is. 34 watchers is pretty good for an item that's still two days off.

I would agree with this sentiment. When I have bought/sold off ebay, the price has gone through the roof in the last 30 minutes.

Ericman197 · #11 06-22-2008, 07:46 PM

Emails sent outside of ebay are scams. If he wants to buy it, he'll bid on it.

Lalabadie · #12 06-22-2008, 07:50 PM

Keep it on eBay. The price is probably going to more than double in the last hour(s).

Kyon` · #13 06-22-2008, 09:32 PM

Hm usually for me the bids roll up the last 10 minutes or so.

i_got_a_mohawk · #14 06-23-2008, 02:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ericman197

Emails sent outside of ebay are scams. If he wants to buy it, he'll bid on it.

I wouldnt say that is the case at all. Have often emailed people making outside offers on items that they have accepted (that is how I managed to get my SVT-II for £500!). I have also had the same when selling to people.

Granted it does sound fishy that he is saying end it so the highest bidder wins (makes me think he has two accounts going and is trying to get something for less than it is worth!)

As everyone else has said, the action is usually in the last few minutes, so you may be ok. If it helps, look at similar completed items and see how much they went for compared to how much you want

bobbykokinos · #15 06-23-2008, 10:35 AM

Well the guy who emailed me HAS bid on the watch and asking for me to cancel it.. Sound safe?

EBay policy says that I have to sell the auction at the price I close it early at.. Its at $611 now but he has offered $1000.. How can I guarantee that I'll get the $1000 instead of the $611??

disenchant · #16 06-23-2008, 10:47 AM

If he's willing to pay $1000 he'll bid $1000. Making a deal outside of ebay means you lose ebay protection. Sounds like a scammer who wants you to make an outside deal where you have no protection.

If anything I'd be wary of this guy if he does win. Be sure he paypals you the $$!

bobbykokinos · #17 06-23-2008, 10:49 AM

Yeah, he agreed to paypal.. As soon as he send its, I'm withdrawing it to put it into my account. Its not being shipped until the money is actually cleared into my band..