Ebayers: Is it acceptable to.....

anonymous278347457 · #1 12-02-2007, 04:06 PM

....intentionally set a high Buy-it-now price to encourage the use of the "Best offer" function?

Tony G · #2 12-02-2007, 04:07 PM

Sure, why not?

i_got_a_mohawk · #3 12-02-2007, 04:18 PM

Of course it is.

Its your item, you choose how much you want to try and sell it for.

Spector_Ray · #4 12-02-2007, 04:47 PM

I don't see a problem with that, but I really hate the excessive shipping and handling some sellers charge.

SundanceChile · #5 12-02-2007, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spector_Ray

I don't see a problem with that, but I really hate the excessive shipping and handling some sellers charge.

+1

markjazzbassist · #6 12-02-2007, 08:33 PM

dude ebay is fair game. TB is the place to be honest and give a good price. When i sell on ebay, i rip people off and have no shame, since after all when i buy stuff on there i get royally ripped as well.

Pilgrim · #7 12-02-2007, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markjazzbassist

dude ebay is fair game. TB is the place to be honest and give a good price. When i sell on ebay, i rip people off and have no shame, since after all when i buy stuff on there i get royally ripped as well.

I think you're only saying this for effect, because it is a completely unethical and dishonest attitude. No way to sugar coat it. One is either an honest person or not.

The only way that Ebay works is that most people ARE honest. When I sell something, of course I do my very best to portray it in a favorable light, but I also note its imperfections. Anything less would be unethical....and therefore unacceptable. Further, if one gets deceived by a dishonest seller, that is absolutely no excuse for being dishonest to others; in fact, it increases your responsibility to be honest so that others don't have the experience you had.

need4mospd · #8 12-03-2007, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thedonutman

....intentionally set a high Buy-it-now price to encourage the use of the "Best offer" function?

An excessively high buy-it-now may scare off some offers. As always, make the buy-it-now as high as you think someone might actually pay for it.

markjazzbassist · #9 12-03-2007, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pilgrim

I think you're only saying this for effect, because it is a completely unethical and dishonest attitude. No way to sugar coat it. One is either an honest person or not.

The only way that Ebay works is that most people ARE honest. When I sell something, of course I do my very best to portray it in a favorable light, but I also note its imperfections. Anything less would be unethical....and therefore unacceptable. Further, if one gets deceived by a dishonest seller, that is absolutely no excuse for being dishonest to others; in fact, it increases your responsibility to be honest so that others don't have the experience you had.

i think you read my post wrong. i'm not dishonest or enethical, i just overcharge or set a price that's more than what I paid. Cause I know that someone will buy it.

I don't lie or say my item is in better condition, heck no. I just charge more.

vbsurfer3001 · #10 12-03-2007, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by need4mospd

An excessively high buy-it-now may scare off some offers. As always, make the buy-it-now as high as you think someone might actually pay for it.

That's usually the best bet. I'll use Buy it Now anytime the price is reasonable for the equipment being sold (including shipping, which is often free w/ BIN) and if I think the price is too high I'll just place a lower bid. I've had BIN items sell within 5 minutes of putting them up. In general too high of a reserve is what slows the bidding. I almost always start everything out at .99 opening bid, no reserve with a BIN of what I think is a reasonable price. More often than not, I'll end up getting more than the BIN when the competitive nature of the bid war kicks in.

BillyB_from_LZ · #11 12-03-2007, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markjazzbassist

...When i sell on ebay, i rip people off and have no shame, since after all when i buy stuff on there i get royally ripped as well.

The only bidding you have control over is yours...if you think the price is too high, don't bid. If you're bidding, there must be "something" about the transaction that has that much value for you. Maybe it's only the buzz of winning followed by buyer's remorse...but at the point in time where you click, it must seem worth it to you.

As for others, the same things apply. No reason to feel like you ripped anyone off as long as you're being honest and providing the best customer service you can.

markjazzbassist · #12 12-03-2007, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BillyB_from_LZ

As for others, the same things apply. No reason to feel like you ripped anyone off as long as you're being honest and providing the best customer service you can.

Exactly. I've had auctions listed a high prices and they actually went. which surprised me, but someone was willing to pay.

On the other hand I've also had auctions where I've had to relist and lower 2 or 3 times since I listed to high, and sometimes end up breaking even or even losing money just to get rid of it.

I guess my use of the word "rip off" has a certain dishonest connotation to it. I can consider a fair deal a rip off if i pay too much (ie buying a new car, its honest but a rip, you pay up the ##%), whereas i think others are thinking that when I "rip off" people I am being dishonest and unethical. Untrue, i'm just charging a lot, sometimes it pays off, sometimes it bites me in the ass.

Pilgrim · #13 12-03-2007, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markjazzbassist

i think you read my post wrong. i'm not dishonest or enethical, i just overcharge or set a price that's more than what I paid. Cause I know that someone will buy it.

I don't lie or say my item is in better condition, heck no. I just charge more.

You're right, I did misinterpret your post. However, I think you can see that others also responded to it strongly. I don't think your wording conveyed your meaning very well. The quote I responded to was:

Quote:

Originally Posted by markjazzbassist

When i sell on ebay, i rip people off and have no shame, since after all when i buy stuff on there i get royally ripped as well.

I don't have any problem with your asking more than you paid; IMO, that is NOT ripping people off, it's letting the market decide what something is worth. If you can get your asking price, then you're in great shape; if not, you'll have to lower your price. nothing even vaguely related to a ripoff there.

Misrepresenting what you're selling would indeed be a ripoff - but asking more than you paid is nothing more than a simple process of buying and selling. You may get it or you may not.