Help! I am confused about dealing on E Bay!

[frank mccune]

       Hi All:

       Now I ain't too smart when it comes to bidding on E Bay but something has come up that I can not fathom.  Perhaps some of you smart guys can help me.

       I saw an engine that was listed for buy it now for $60.00 or best offer.  I placed what I thought was a fair offer of $35.01.  The next day, I was notified that the seller had made a counter offer of $46.00.  If I wished, I could bid against the seller.  I thought how can he be both a seller and a bidder.

     Today the buy it now price is $41.00 with one day to go until the end of the auction.

      I have not seen this happen before on any auction site where the seller becomes an active bidder.  Did I just fall off of the turnip truck or what? Thus far, I am the only bidder.

      I guess that there is no law in having the seller drive up the price by becoming a bidder.  It seems to stink to me.

      Any comments?

                                                                                           Tia,

                                                                                           Frank

     

[De Hill]

I think the seller made you a counter offer. It's common.

[Tim Wescott]

It's not uncommon for an item to have a reserve bid by the seller, which is basically the minimum price that the seller wants to get.

It's also not uncommon for the reserve bid to be confidential, in which case at the end of the bidding the auctioneer just says "sorry, no one bid enough".

It's downright odd that the minimum price can vary over the duration of the auction, but hey -- this is eBay we're talking about.  If you don't like how a seller is behaving, walk away.

[Douglas Ames]

The Seller is NOT bidding, he has made you a counter-offer and you didn't bite so he reduced the BIN to $41.00.
If you think that's a fair price - Pull the trigger before someone else does.

ALWAYS look at the total price when bidding or doing a Buy-It-Now. eBays been good over the last several years policing marked up shipping costs. Some Sellers think they're fooling the Buyer into a low sale price with an exorbitant shipping cost to make up the difference.

ps- I have 1,206 + Feedbacks

[Phil Krankowski]

That is a "buy it now or best offer" sale, something relatively new that is not an auction.

Yes, watch shipping, sometimes the money is made in crazy shipping costs, so look at the entire deal.  I have paid $30 shipping on a $10 winning bid, and thought it fair (65# blacksmith's post vice, arrived in a plywood box).  I have also bought stuff that ended with $30 shipping arriving in a flat rate postal box for $11 with advertizing as packing...

Phil

[Dan Berry]

" Or best offer" doesn't usually actually mean what it says.

[Mike Callas]

Also check his rating on ebay. How many transactions has he completed, % positive feedback etc.

[Douglas Ames]

" Or best offer" doesn't usually actually mean what it says.

Yes it does. It's the Seller's decision to agree on the final price (best offer).
Chances are your not the only one interested or who have made an offer.

Learn to play the game.

[Dan Berry]

If the best offer is a dollar and he wants 100 dollars, he is obligated to sell it for the dollar.
IF he really means "or best offer".

[Bud Morrison]

http://pages.ebay.com/bestoffer/buyer/

[frank mccune]

      Hi Bud:

      Thanks for the reply! I learn something new everyday!

                                                                                                            Stay well my friend,


                                                                                                            Frank

[Gerald Arana]

If the best offer is a dollar and he wants 100 dollars, he is obligated to sell it for the dollar.
IF he really means "or best offer".

Dan, I don't think that is correct. I made a guy an offer and he countered me with a higher offer. I refused.........

So what it boils down to is; you as the seller have the final say no matter what the "Best offer" is. IMHO

I sell too...........

Cheers, Jerry

PS: But not for "best offer"