Ending Ebay listings early

[Nashvol]

What is the protocol in asking Sellers to close their listing? It has happened to me on several items I have watched and then the items disappear. Is it ok to ask or should buyers even ask at all? It gets frustrating when one looks forward to bidding on an item and I know there is some offer that would cause a Seller to close the item. How do I proceed? Thanks for any suggestions! Nashvol

[glchen]

If it's something that doesn't come around often and you think it might get offers, ask early. I've had the same thing happen to me so many times, I end up having to "pre-empt" by giving the seller my own offer.

[vintagetoppsguy]

Skip,

Welcome to the boards. You'll probably get a many different answers regarding this subject. Like Gary, I feel it is okay to ask the seller to end an auction early. Others feel differently.

[rainier2004]

Ive become much more aggressive since joining this board and it seems that it generally never hurts to ask. I believe its within ebays rules as long as the checkout is thru ebay. Some dealers do not resond to them though.

[Leon]

For me personally I won't usually ask a seller to end an auction early if there are bids on the item. That being said it's the wild wild west so .........

Also, if I am not mistaking a seller can legitimately (within ebay rules ) accept an offer on a card, at any time, and put a BIN for the buyer to buy, bids or no bids. I think that is the rule, though not positive and too lazy to search.

And welcome to the board.....!!

[D. Bergin]

I generally get annoyed when I'm asked by a buyer to end an auction early.

I usually answer back politely that the auction will continue to the end. The inquirer rarely even bothers to put a bid in.

Only times I've ended early are on re-lists with no bids and none or very few watchers.

[Runscott]

Originally Posted by D. Bergin

I generally get annoyed when I'm asked by a buyer to end an auction early.

I usually answer back politely that the auction will continue to the end. The inquirer rarely even bothers to put a bid in.

Only times I've ended early are on re-lists with no bids and none or very few watchers.

I can't remember the last time I ended a true AUCTION early. I do have most of my cards listed on ebay, on my website and some here, so obviously I have to end an ebay listing if the card sells elsewhere.

Ending an AUCTION early is bad for business.

[bobbyw8469]

Ending an AUCTION early is bad for business.

It's a catch 22. Ending auctions early drives bidders away, and the lower prices due to less bidders causes sellers to end item early. Bottom line, it drives small sellers away from Ebay.

[spec]

This question comes up periodically and it always reminds me of the Golden Rule I learned as a child: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Asking to end an auction early seems intent on cheating the seller out of a potential windfall as well as denying others the opportunity to bid.

[michael3322]

I generally agree that it never hurts to ask the seller if he would consider taking an offer and ending the auction early.

On one occasion, I emailed an offer to a seller and he respond by telling me that I was violating eBay's rules and that he would get in serious trouble if he ended the auction early. He then blocked me from bidding on his auctions.

I guess sometimes you never know!

[rainier2004]

Originally Posted by spec

Asking to end an auction early seems intent on cheating the seller out of a potential windfall as well as denying others the opportunity to bid.

How is that an intent to cheat anybody? If I make an offer you have the right to accept, decline or do nothing. The purpose of the offer is to deny the others the opportunity to bid. This isnt little league teeball where eveyone gets a turn. Usually my offers are with no bids on an item and usually a relisted one as well though.

[rainier2004]

Originally Posted by spec

This question comes up periodically and it always reminds me of the Golden Rule I learned as a child: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

I enjoy offers made on my cards...I'd love to have MORE offers made and let the buyers compete that way as well. Offering more than the card would receive at auction DOES happen sometimes so who is this screwing?

[Bicem]

I once made an offer and the Seller just raised the opening bid to my offer.

well-played.

[steve B]

When I was actively selling I never saw that. Every offer I got was at least 1/4 of what the item ended up selling for.

So put me in the camp of those who feel offers are simply lowball offers intended to get the item at a very low price from a seller who may not know what their item is worth.

Adding a BIN is probably within the rules, but my impression from items I'm watching that end early is that they are ended early and sold outside Ebay which isn't within the rules.

Steve B

Originally Posted by rainier2004

I enjoy offers made on my cards...I'd love to have MORE offers made and let the buyers compete that way as well. Offering more than the card would receive at auction DOES happen sometimes so who is this screwing?

[zljones]

The only time I think it is suitable to make a offer to end a listing is if you are going to offer a strong amount just to obtain a card because it is hard to find, not to get a special deal on it and pay the seller a fraction of the value. If I forecast a card will sell for 700 I will offer 750 to close it down, just so I do not risk stupid things like my computer crashing or freezing in the last few seconds, or ebay freezing in "Myebay" in the last few seconds, or someone outbidding me by a few cents. All these weird scenarios have happened to me believe it or not! And I swear by being a sniper bidder to prevent other bidders from overbidding. In order to prevent worries, an offer might be a good thing to do as long as your offering a decent amount.

[rainier2004]

I dont know guys, I didnt realize how bad this is. Ill admit I am wrong.

Whenever I make an offer to end an auction, and it is rare, I am offering what I think the card is worth and am trying to avoid a pissing match at the end, compter glitches, etc and zach said. Ive also made the offer if I find another of the same card and want to see if I can get one of the sellers to go lower than the other. I dont think its morally correct to try and lowball an unknowing owner though...this seems in the same category as finding a box of pre-war cards in a garage sale and spending $10 on them and calling it good.
I have received offers to end an auction early that was more than I had hoped to receive in the end. I wasn't aware of the problem being as bad as it is though. I feel it comes down to intentions and it is NEVER alright to take advantage of someone, but I feel its perfectly legit to try and buy the card before my compitetion realizes its out there and make a fair offer. Early bird and the worm story?

Jeff - I guess it can hurt just to make an offer....and I agree "well-played".

[atx840]

I see you are still upset about those American Beauties Steve. I rarely make offers but the few times I have it's before people bid, if the sellers accepts but people have bid since my offer then I'm still likely going to take the card.

[Deertick]

"Ending Auction-style listings early. Ending an Auction-style listing once it has a bid leads to disappointed shoppers who may be less inclined to bid on auctions the next time around. Starting October 1, a fee will be charged for ending an Auction-style listing early."

[bobbyw8469]

Fee Schmee.....I don't know of anyone who wants to sell their $300 item for $50.

PS - if buyers would bid on auctions like normal instead of waiting until the last 10 seconds to place a bid, maybe sellers wouldn't get cold feet when they see their valuable item selling for pennies on the dollar.

[Jaybird]

The tradeoff for lower prices is that the seller gets their money quicker. If they wanted full value for any item, they would consign to an auction house and wait it out. I believe that many people sell on ebay for convenience and quick turnaround of cash.

The auctions seem to be going away a bit with only established sellers or newbies holding them. In the case of the newbie, I would guess the majority do not reach full value on the item. In the case of the established seller, their name and reputation brings back buyers and the items probably reach full value.

The middle of the road seller/collector is putting their items up as BIN or consigning to an auction house.

[pgellis]

Originally Posted by Deertick

"Ending Auction-style listings early. Ending an Auction-style listing once it has a bid leads to disappointed shoppers who may be less inclined to bid on auctions the next time around. Starting October 1, a fee will be charged for ending an Auction-style listing early."

How is that going to prevent ending an auction early? They won't have to pay a seller's fee for taking it off line and selling it to someone off of eBay, so they are saving that fee. 6 of one, half dozen of the other......this won't deter sellers from ending auctions early.