Okay, here's what happened, my son was selling his Playstation Portable on Ebay, here's the item number 150009458696, it went for $112.50, he had a reserve price set for $140, I was thinking about contacting the guy who bid the highest and telling him that I'll sell it to him for $140 OBO, the only thing that's stopping me is that the guy has not bought anything, he has been a member since October '05 though. So, what should we do? Would this violate any Ebay rules, and if so is there a way around it so Ebay's happy and we get to sell it?

 

I believe that would violate Ebays rules. Also he did not bid it to $140 so he probably does not want to pay that much for it..

You could relist it with a buy it now for $140 and it would probably go.

If you do it legal you would have to use the second chance offer, but that would mean you would have to sell at $112.50

Good luck.

 

I am pretty sure that, if he did not meet your reserve price, there is no sale.
You should relist and add the buy it now option. To get the best price, give a clear accurate descritpion of the PSP. Did you check what others are selling for?
Some might be sold at a cheaper price, people will bid actively on the same item just $2.00 cheaper.
just my $0.02, see ya!

 

the guy wont pay 140 for it, and now theres no auction, so you have zero protection (and neither does the buyer, ) I'd relist with buy it now, but first search completed auction and see what theyre selling for

 

Another suggestion might be to block zero feedback bidders. If I'm selling something cheap, I don't really care, but if its over about $50, I get picky about who I let bid on things.

 

Yea, I think relisting it at a lower price is probably the best. So, I could offer it to the highest bidder for what he was willing to spend($112.50) through the second chance offer and that wouldn't violate any ebay rules?

 

next time don't set a reserve price. Start it at $140, and you're golden....

I always hate reserve prices...

Ryan

 

RHW.
Doing that wouldn't sit well.

If someone did that to me I would laugh at them for that.

If I wanted to pay $30.00+ more than I bid.....I would have bid more.
I thought the idea is to get things as cheap as possible

 

Correct, use the second chance offer, and DO NOT SHIP till payment clears

 

i would just relist it.
buy it now at what you want, start it low. people start bidding on things like that like pirana's feeding.


But for researching, search for them, and then tick the "completed items" box on the left hand side. the ones in red did not sell....the ones in green did. that can give you a good indication of where they normally go at


when i list something on ebay, i know there is a possibility i will lose on it, but there is also a possible bid war on your item too....which can result in some good change coming in for it. I never set a reserve on anything. I took my chances. usually did ok with it.

 

It's amazing what people will pay for some things on ebay. A set of NOS exhaust pipes for a Honda CB450 went for 1800 dollars......they were still in the box!

If the item does not fetch your reserve price....you keep it.
Like suggested above, relist the item, set a reserve price if you want 140 for it.

 

> that's stopping me is that the guy has not bought anything, he has been a
> member since October '05 though

Probably an account (shill) used to bid up auctions (most likely) or used to harvest names for PayPal spam.

> I was thinking about contacting the guy who bid the highest and telling him that I'll sell
> it to him for $140 OBO

Against EBAY rules and most likely you will come across as a scammer.

Besides, why would he want to pay $30 more when he was the highest bidder anyways? Leave him the second chance offer, maybe you will be lucky and he will accept it. Obviously, what you thought it was worth and what other people think it is worth are two different things.

It might be worth more, I know I never bid on reserve auctions if the reserve price is not clearly stated. Many of the EBAY fanatics will not do reserve auctions out of principle, even if it is stated in the auction.

In their opinion, you either want to sell it or not. So don't play around, start it at the lowest you are willing to let it go. If it does not sell at $140 then be happy playing with it. That is the attitude and I agree with for the most part except on very high dollar items.

> Another suggestion might be to block zero feedback bidders

No way to do that. Why? Everyone starts with zero feedback.

 

You can't block the zero feedback bidders, but you can cancel their bids.

My auctions state that if you have less than 5 feedbacks or a history of non-payment, you must e-mail me prior to bidding. Failure to do so will result in me cancelling your bid. I also reserve the right to cancel any bid.

This way you're covered.

 

Sure there is, State in your TOS that you do not accept bids from zero feedback bidders

 

He maybe willing to the money. He can't bid higher if no one is bidding against him. Ebay rules are if reserve not met you keep it. If you come up with a buyer (even if it is the same one) that is your business. But certainly don't ship until payment clears. Be a little wary of Paypal or credit cards because he can say he did not get it and they (from you) will refund his money. Good Luck and God Bless,