|
|
Margarette Special user Memphis area 956 Posts |
Is it against e-bay policy for someone to get names of bidders off one auction, then send them a message about the same item being available on their auction?
Margarette
The only stupid question is the one not asked.
|
airship Inner circle In my day, I have driven 1594 Posts |
They do have an 'anti-spam' policy, which reads like this:
Quote:
Spam is not permitted on eBay. Since your email would be 'unsolicited and commercial in nature', I'm guessing it would probably fall under this rule. And they may have other policies that I'm just not finding. You can always ask their customer support people at: http://pages.ebay.com/help/contact_us/_base/index.html Hope this helps!
'The central secret of conjuring is a manipulation of interest.' - Henry Hay
|
Margarette Special user Memphis area 956 Posts |
Thanks!
The only stupid question is the one not asked.
|
RandyStewart Inner circle Texas (USA) 1989 Posts |
Margaretee,
It is against Ebay policy to contact anyone regarding a live auction in order to get them to view a different auction offering the same or similar item. Now, the only way that you'd be reprimanded is if the contacted person forwards the message to Ebay. To make sure we're understanding each other, here's the example. 1, Randy notices Margarette has just bid on an item. 2. Randy contacts Margarette with a message via Ebay or private e-mail to tell her that he has the same or similar item for sale or up for bid. That would violate Ebay rules. However! I was once contacted by someone after I had been outbid on an item and found the 'other guy' had a better deal going on the same item. Did I turn him in? No, I actually bought the item and all were happy. So it depends on the individuals involved I suppose. |
Margarette Special user Memphis area 956 Posts |
Randy, that is exactly what happened. I did report it to ebay. I wasn't sure if what this other seller did was a violation, but I did feel it was highly unethical.
Margarette
The only stupid question is the one not asked.
|
RandyStewart Inner circle Texas (USA) 1989 Posts |
Well feel good knowing you actually did the right thing. This is one of those things that one can agree/disagree with depending on what side of the fence one is on. If I were selling, I'd be upset about anyone stealing bidders or 'watchers' as items can be marked for watching until near the auction close. And as I stated above, as a buyer, I might not complain if someoen else truley had what I sought at a better price.
I recently sold some movie posters for a good price and was contacted by a bidder. The bidder told me he had been contacted by another seller offering similar for a couple of dollars less and wanted to know if I would honor the reduced price. He also offered to tell me who had contacted him. I got back to him and told him I had no interest in knowing who was doing what. I also informed him that the items I had up for auction were great items at a very low starting bid with no reserve. A very fair deal for those wanting to play fair. I told him it was a violation of Ebay rules to contact others as he'd been contacted and that I would not haggle or even discuss a price difference of a couple of dollars. I encouraged him to go to the other buyer. That same bidder came into the auction with just five minutes to auction close and bought the lot afterall. I also notice a lot of newbies getting greedy and often sending me the 'second chance' offers. I respond to all of them with this simple cut and pasted message: "I was there, I offered you more than a reasonable bid, you wanted more, didn't get, and now I"m gone...." I know that some deals do fall through as it's happened to me a couple of times. Some winning bids go unpaid for all sorts of reasons. But you ought to see the incredible number of 'second chance offers' I get and it would make you wonder. |
Chessmann Inner circle 4242 Posts |
I just got a Second Chance offer that I'm curious about.
New, the item (a Palm PDA) goes for $299. The auction had a "....or best offer" component, meaning you can offer someone a lower price which the seller can accept or reject. The auction ended early for some reason. There were 2 others that had bids higher than mine. My bid was for $78.00. Earlier today, I received a Second Chance notice from eBay, saying I could have it for that amount. These items consistently go for around $150-$200, depending on the auction. I can't understand why someone would let it go for that, unless they are just trying to unload some stuff, and price is not too much of an issue. If the person is well-off, that could be the case. Anyone have experience with this type of issue?
My ex-cat was named "Muffin". "Vomit" would be a better name for her. AKA "The Evil Ball of Fur".
|
Al Angello Eternal Order Collegeville, Pa. USA 11045 Posts |
There is a lot of scaming going on using ebay members especially with paypal. I suggest you only buy items you bid on. Every ebay member has a number which indicates the history of their past ebay transactions.
Al Angello
Al Angello The Comic Juggler/Magician
http://www.juggleral.com http://home.comcast.net/~juggleral/ "Footprints on your ceiling are almost gone" |
ClintonMagus Inner circle Southwestern Southeast 3997 Posts |
There have been instances where I have won an item on eBay, seen a similar item for sale later, and notified one or more of the other bidders on the first item about the second item. I have always explained that I had no personal interest in the transaction. I just saw it and thought they might be interested.
I also once found a very desirable magic book listed in some off-the-wall category at a ridiculously low price. I won the book as the only bidder and, because I didn't need another copy, I offered the guy a chance to keep the book and re-list it at a more appropriate price in a more appropriate category. As it turned out, he was selling books from his deceased father's library and he knew nothing about them. He closed the auctions, re-listed the books, and got a lot more money than he would have received otherwise. Everyone is not a scammer. Just exercise caution when you receive notices outside of the auctions.
Things are more like they are today than they've ever been before...
|
The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » Not very magical, still... » » E-Bay question (0 Likes) |
[ Top of Page ] |
All content & postings Copyright © 2001-2024 Steve Brooks. All Rights Reserved. This page was created in 0.03 seconds requiring 5 database queries. |
The views and comments expressed on The Magic Café are not necessarily those of The Magic Café, Steve Brooks, or Steve Brooks Magic. > Privacy Statement < |