Ebay Buyers - <sigh>

I've been an ebay seller for a long time - but what I just can't figure is this:

1. Why does nobody understand "Fixed price - make an offer"? If I list at $100 and invite offers, buyers can offer 25 cents. But they don't. So this function appears to be 95% of no use. The "fixed price" function is to give an idea of the item's worth - not to set a price.

2. Why do 8 of 10 people offered a "second chance" not take it up? If you were wiling to bid $10 on an item and it went for $50 and the seller - who has a dozen of the things - offers a second chance at $10 - why would you not grab it??

Shaking head.

Lack of education by the buyer in using the ebay system.
There is no tutorial for buyer that I've seen.
If there is one, then I need a tutorial to find it!

Exception to the [Moonbird] rule here !
I have been offered 'second chance' items and taken them.
Also made offers when applicable...and both accepted and not !

But the truth is, you don't see them too often.

Londonbus1...at least I don't.

Warrehouse. I had a 4-part series of articles on ebay buying and selling published in Canadian Stamp News. Maybe I should put it in here somewhere.

Perhaps because it is confusing. As a buyer I am not really sure what you want. If you wanted to haggle over the price then oughtn't it have been sold through an auction and if you want your fixed price, then why isn't it just a BIN? Remember as an ebay buyer, I ain't too smart. Plus, your putting out your price at $100 inhibits me from making a low ball offer.




Maybe I bought it elsewhere in the meantime?

Just my two cents.

Never understood the whole best offer thing. Thought is was dumb when ebay even offered it. If you want the best offer, run an auction starting at the lowest you will accept and you'll get the best offer for it won't you? And you'll get it without wasting everyone's time.

Second chance offers have been completely ruined by the scammers. Let me google it for you.

I agree...When I see a "fixed price" I feel that's what the seller wants, no less!
Allan

Thanks for the views........that sorta explains the problem with it from a couple of perspectives.

From a seller standpoint Best offer is leagues ahead of reserve price which CAN really waste your time.

I buy and sell on ebay and I take advantage of the best offer option quite frequently.

That being said, I have received replies from seller telling me what a horrible and unfair person I am to offer such a low price. I always offer low, hope to get it, but expect if that seller is not happy with my offer, to send me a counter-offer.

Some sellers do that, others reject, others send a nasty-gram. I think the sellers who have sent the nasty-grams have ruined the best offer option for a lot of people due to over-sensitivity on the buyers part. Those buyers need to put their big girl panties on and ignore the nasty-gram, learning a lesson on who not to buy from.

You may try adding something to the effect of "My buy it now price is my ideal price, but I am flexible! If I do not agree with your best offer I will send you a counter offer. Willing to haggle!". A blurb likje this in the item description shows people that you are friendly and flexible. It may get you quite a few offers that you have to counter, but it is a starting place to get some activity on your auctions.

As far as the second chance offer goes I have accepted a few of those, but usually by the time I receive the offer I have already found what I was looking for at an equal or better price.

Then there is that whole scam problem with the second chance offers too.

Thank you for those views. I have no problem with making a low offer however theer is some rhyme and reason I should think.


I just had a lot on ebay for $100 or best offer. Had one offer. $8.00. I counteroffered at $75 and didn't hear from them again.

I think I can put your answer in just a few words.

Most people (except SCF members) are stupid and/or unreasonable!

And I say that sitting here with my big girl panties on!

Welllllllllllllll - I was being as diplomatic as I could. *)

Well now fair being fair, when I say lowball offer, I did not mean a rude offer!

For example, one of the nasty-grams I got was on an item where it was $45 OBO for some jeans. I sent an offer of $34 hoping to luck out for that price or get a counter offer. I got a message chewing me out that I would offer such a low price and that how did I expect them to make any money and that I was trying to steal from them. I could somewhat understand if I had offered them like 20 bucks or something.

This is not the only time that I sent a proposal that would be fair and/or a good starting point and got chewed out for it.

What I was saying earlier is that (Read in the ebay forums) a lot of people quit submitting best offers because they were getting chewed out by the seller. Those are the people who need hike up the undies and not assume all sellers are going to be mean. There is a delete button for a reason.

$8 on a 100 dollar item is rediculous, but you sent a counter-offer not a nasty-gram. If they do not accept the counter-offer it is their loss.

Sellers sending "nasty-grams' should be complained about to the ebay high echeelon. There is no need for that.

and please see my previous post!

Boy, they must know who to pick on..i know one person in my household that would cut that person down to size