I'm so darn mad!

[NYRangers]

Re: I'm so darn mad!

Of course, you can do whatever you feel is right but you can't pretend that no bids mean no interest by other collectors. Do you personally wait until the end of an auction to bid rather than run the price up in advance of the auction end? If so, then you must know that your off-line dealings are screwing others who do the same. Do you use auction sniping services on ebay? If so, again, you are screwing others who use these services as a last-second bid. Ebay is not a classified ad. I hope to hear more "bad experience" stories from those who treat it that way.

[bigtruck260]

Re: I'm so darn mad!

I was the high bidder on two items (at different times) from the same seller. The first item had a few bids, the other had only mine. The seller ended both auctions early, one was promised to be relisted later but I never saw it. I no longer bid on that sellers auctions - I don't care how bad I want the item. That seller lost a customer.

This is where I stand as well...

[bigtruck260]

Re: I'm so darn mad!

bigtruck - I think you may have misunderstood. In my example, there was no bid in place. The item had virtually run its course. On the last day of the auction, I contacted the seller and there were still no bids. A few hours after we had an agreement, bids started coming in. If there was already a bid, I wouldnt have bothered contacting the seller and would have placed a bid myself.

Jim

No - I understood you, and don't really have any problem with what you did. I was just chiming in rather than start another thread. If there are no bids, never hurts to make an offer.

Dave

[b.heagy]

Re: I'm so darn mad!

I was the high bidder on two items (at different times) from the same seller. The first item had a few bids, the other had only mine. The seller ended both auctions early, one was promised to be relisted later but I never saw it. I no longer bid on that sellers auctions - I don't care how bad I want the item. That seller lost a customer.

[Vintagedeputy]

Re: I'm so darn mad!

The first bid wasnt placed until a few hours before it ended.

[TFig27]

Re: I'm so darn mad!

here is what ebay says:

Timing Matters
When there are 12 hours or less remaining and the item has a winning bid, including a reserve met bid, sellers cannot make any changes to the listing, including:

• <LI style="MARGIN-TOP: 6px">Ending the item early. Sellers may cancel bids, but not end the item unless the item is being sold to the high bidder.
• Adding to or changing the item description.

did it have a bid on it with 12 hours to go?

[Vintagedeputy]

Re: I'm so darn mad!

I think that you can end an auction anytime by saying that the item is no longer available.

[TFig27]

Re: I'm so darn mad!

can a seller end an auction in the last 24 hours?

[Vintagedeputy]

Re: I'm so darn mad!

bigtruck - I think you may have misunderstood. In my example, there was no bid in place. The item had virtually run its course. On the last day of the auction, I contacted the seller and there were still no bids. A few hours after we had an agreement, bids started coming in. If there was already a bid, I wouldnt have bothered contacting the seller and would have placed a bid myself.

Jim

[bigtruck260]

Re: I'm so darn mad!

Still having issues with this thread. If there seller has set the opening bid on an item, and someone makes an offer to end early, the seller should at LEAST have the courtesy to tell the high bidder and see if he wants to counter. Ebay is not like the classifieds...Classified ads do not charge you after the sale, and bids are usually not made public.

If a buyer places a legit bid on an item and is winning - past the reserve price, then that buyer has staked his claim in that item until he is outbid. If someone sees the item and wants it, they should have to out bid the high bidder in order to win the item. Like I said, the seller who did this to me is blacklisted in my book. I don' care if he is giving stuff away...I will not patronize his stores or his eBay account...and I spend a lot of money.

[bigjimsguitars]

Re: I'm so darn mad!

Bigjim - I wouldnt say that you are a hypocrite. We all have our own moral barometer is to what we feel is right and wrong. I personally see nothing wrong with emailing a seller to try to work out a deal. Others may see differently, and that's their perogative.

Ya know, this hobby can be a true test of your moral standing on various issues. Yesterday, I answered a local ad from a guy selling a Cal Ripken rookie card. He clearly stated in his ad that he wanted $15. I asked for pictures and he sent me pics of the most well centered, sharp cornered Ripken rookie card that I have seen in a long time. I immediately replied back that I wanted it and met him a few hours later. I bought the card and it was every bit as nice as the pics.

Now, if I had that card graded (and I will), its will be worth far more than $15. Did I do anything wrong by only paying $15? Nope. I agreed to his price. Now some people would say that I should tell him its worth at least a hundred and offer him that. I say no. I can live with that.

Your Ripken card story is completely different that the ebay thing.

Look, I get as mad as heck at ebay as a seller, but at the same time it offers me an opportunity to sell things in a global market and for that I pay the price of admission.

Would have you be aware or known of the Trammell Bat if not for ebay? My point is simple, to circumvent ebay to do a deal outside of them is morally and ethically wrong no matter how it is spun.

Yes, I used to send emails on items of interest to see if a deal could be struck at a better price for me. But guess what, I never did actually complete a deal as a buyer and now think better of doing so in the future.

Moreover, is it fair to those who stand by and wait to the last minute to bid and then see some seller pull it to sell to someone off/outside of ebay?

Yes there are legit reasons to end and auction early and in my case it's on items that I have on consignment and the owner gets cold feet on me...it makes me look bad.

Another Trammell Bat will pop up and maybe without a nasty crack as the one in question has.

Peace

[5kRunner]

Re: I'm so darn mad!

5krunner - thank you. If you are ever in Richmond and would like to see the bat in person, please feel free to call on me.

Jim

Thanks Jim!

[Vintagedeputy]

Re: I'm so darn mad!

Vintage,
I was on the fence about bidding on it, so don't feel bad. You are right, there was one crappy picture and not a lot of info.

I had also just bought a Derrek Lee bat and knew my wife would freak if I bought another bat so soon after my first purchase. So I was a little hesitant. It was totally my fault, I should have ask for pics first and then decided if I was going to bid. I'm new, so I'm learning.

Like I said, congrats on getting such a great deal.

5krunner - thank you. If you are ever in Richmond and would like to see the bat in person, please feel free to call on me.

Jim

[Vintagedeputy]

Re: I'm so darn mad!

Fair enough, but just because some do it, doesn't promote it to the right thing to do and it's not the American Way, but it will if more do it....

Yes, it's hard not to give in to temptation when there is something that you really want and I too have been on both sides of it, as I have sent emails to sellers asking for their bottom line and as a seller have received my fair share.

So in a sense I'm a hypocrite!

Bigjim - I wouldnt say that you are a hypocrite. We all have our own moral barometer is to what we feel is right and wrong. I personally see nothing wrong with emailing a seller to try to work out a deal. Others may see differently, and that's their perogative.

Ya know, this hobby can be a true test of your moral standing on various issues. Yesterday, I answered a local ad from a guy selling a Cal Ripken rookie card. He clearly stated in his ad that he wanted $15. I asked for pictures and he sent me pics of the most well centered, sharp cornered Ripken rookie card that I have seen in a long time. I immediately replied back that I wanted it and met him a few hours later. I bought the card and it was every bit as nice as the pics.

Now, if I had that card graded (and I will), its will be worth far more than $15. Did I do anything wrong by only paying $15? Nope. I agreed to his price. Now some people would say that I should tell him its worth at least a hundred and offer him that. I say no. I can live with that.

[5kRunner]

Re: I'm so darn mad!

Vintage,
I was on the fence about bidding on it, so don't feel bad. You are right, there was one crappy picture and not a lot of info.

I had also just bought a Derrek Lee bat and knew my wife would freak if I bought another bat so soon after my first purchase. So I was a little hesitant. It was totally my fault, I should have ask for pics first and then decided if I was going to bid. I'm new, so I'm learning.

Like I said, congrats on getting such a great deal.