Question:
Waay OT, but since ebay is mentioned here so often, I figure someone will have an answer for me. I’ve just now registered on ebay and have read and re-read their policies. What I don’t see addressed is whether I can privately e-mail the next-highest bidder on a closed auction and offer them my identical item at their last bid. Is this ethical? Does it violate any ebay policies? Didn’t this just get discussed recently? (and if so, send me to dejanews). Thanks for any help! Jill in IL
Response:
I’ve just now registered on ebay and have read and re-read their policies. What I don’t see addressed is whether I can privately e-mail the next-highest bidder on a closed auction and offer them my identical item at their last bid. Is this ethical? Does it violate any ebay policies?
Amending my post above – I guess this might fall under the "Solicitation of business" clause – or would it? I’m not looking to get rich here, just unloading some things on which my tastes have changed, but I’d like to get what I paid for them. Ah well, maybe I’ll just put them up for auction with a reserve price and see what happens… Jill in IL
Response:
Waay OT, but since ebay is mentioned here so often, I figure someone will have an answer for me. I’ve just now registered on ebay and have read and re-read their policies. What I don’t see addressed is whether I can privately e-mail the next-highest bidder on a closed auction and offer them my identical item at their last bid. Is this ethical? Does it violate any ebay policies? Didn’t this just get discussed recently? (and if so, send me to dejanews). Thanks for any help!
Jill, I’ve never done it myself but read up on the Dutch auction information. As I understand it, you offer more than one item and each item sells for the highest and then next highest bids.
Response:
Jill, I’ve never done it myself but read up on the Dutch auction information. As I understand it, you offer more than one item and each item sells for the highest and then next highest bids.
Actually, what I’m asking is if it’s ethical if I e-mail the second-highest bidder on _someone else’s_ _closed_ auction and offer them _my_ identical item for the amount they bid on the _other_ _closed_ auction. Clear as mud? Jill in IL (posted & e-mailed)
Response:
What I don’t see addressed is whether I can privately e-mail the next-highest bidder on a closed auction and offer them my identical item at their last bid. Is this ethical? Does it violate any ebay policies?
Jill, When I have been second, third or fourth highest bidder on an auction I have recieved emails from other people asking if I want to buy their item for a little more than I bid or exactly my highest bid. As of yet, I have not taken anyone up on their offer as none of them seem to give me their user name so I can check feedback, although most say they have a high rating. When I check, their screen names are not valid, so I just leave it at that. I think if it was a serious offer they would have disclosed their user names with the mention of their high rating. I have no idea if it is ethical or if it violates eBays policies. But people are doing it. So if you do contact someone I’d suggest that you leave them your user name (although you have only joined and most probably have no feedback yet so this may have to wait until later) Hope this helps, Sharon P.
Response:
I seriously suggest you email Ebay and ask their permission to do as you plan. If you want to maintain a respected image on Ebay it would be better to find out what they approve. When my kids were small there was a book titled:"If Everybody Did"…I used it to teach ethics to them. Just because "everybody" does something….you get the point! Sorry if this sounds like a lecture, but I buy on Ebay a lot and will only buy from people who play by the rules.It’s my only safety net. R in FL
Response:
but I buy on Ebay a lot and will only buy from people who play by the rules.It’s my only safety net.
Which is exactly why I asked the question in the first place…Guess I’ll just open my own auction and see what happens. Thanks for all the input! Jill in IL
Response:
Yes, but Jill was not the original seller on eBay; she has one just like someone ELSE sold, so it really isn’t the same thing at all.
Yes, I know that. I was just commenting on something that strikes me, personally, as dishonest, since the topic was up for discussion.
Response:
I have had a couple of vendors to email after the end of auctions. Example: My DH got a bid on a drill. A vendor emailed a week after the end of auction to say that he had a simular drill. If I was interested in purchasing more, he would be happy to sell at the same price of the drill I just bought. Nela
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’ve just now registered on ebay and have read and re-read their policies. What I don’t see addressed is whether I can privately e-mail the next-highest bidder on a closed auction and offer them my identical item at their last bid. Is this ethical? Does it violate any ebay policies? Amending my post above – I guess this might fall under the "Solicitation of business" clause – or would it? I’m not looking to get rich here, just unloading some things on which my tastes have changed, but I’d like to get what I paid for them. Ah well, maybe I’ll just put them up for auction with a reserve price and see what happens… Jill in IL
Response:
Jill, I’ve never done it myself but read up on the Dutch auction information. As I understand it, you offer more than one item and each item sells for the highest and then next highest bids. Actually, what I’m asking is if it’s ethical if I e-mail the second-highest bidder on _someone else’s_ _closed_ auction and offer them _my_ identical item for the amount they bid on the _other_ _closed_ auction. Clear as mud?
Yes, I understood your question the first time, and was suggesting an alternative. Basically, the answer is that doing what you suggested is somewhat questionable. If someone has bid on your auction, ebay itself won’t go against you offering a bidder a similar item — however — some bidders get very angry at receiving such unsolicited email. (I’ve seen a number of complaints when reading the Support pages.) If you do this, realize that you open yourself up to possible negative feedback if you ‘intrude’ on the wrong person.
Response:
I’ve had this happen several times. I always decline. What irks me is when a person has 2 of an item but doesn’t disclose that, claims their item is "rare", and the bidding is driven up. Then, they magically produce a second one and offer to sell it to me for my bid price. That may be just fine, but it strikes me wrong. I always decline. Melissa C. Yes, but Jill was not the original seller on eBay; she has one just like someone ELSE sold, so it really isn’t the same thing at all.
If someone has a similar item and noticed that it did sell at what they feel is a reasonable price, then they should put their item up for sale. Jill says she has no feedback, so selling an item that people definitely are bidding on is sure a good way to start.
Response:
I’ve had this happen several times. I always decline. What irks me is when a person has 2 of an item but doesn’t disclose that, claims their item is "rare", and the bidding is driven up. Then, they magically produce a second one and offer to sell it to me for my bid price. That may be just fine, but it strikes me wrong. I always decline. Melissa C.
Yes, but Jill was not the original seller on eBay; she has one just like someone ELSE sold, so it really isn’t the same thing at all.
Response:
I have no idea if it is ethical or if it violates eBays policies. But people are doing it. So if you do contact someone I’d suggest that you leave them your user name (although you have only joined and most probably have no feedback yet so this may have to wait until later)
Hmm, interesting that it’s happening anyway. I guess I’m the only paranoid out here worrying about the ethics of it all. 
Anyway, like you say, I’m new at this and don’t have a feedback rating, so my offer would probably be thought of suspiciously anyway. It just seemed so serendipitous that just as I’d convinced myself I’d never stitch these things and I should sell them, an auction on one of them had just closed – and the bid was for the exact amount I was going to ask! Oh well, thanks for all the advice and opinions, both publicly and via email. I guess I’ll just have to take the plunge and get in on the auction action after all – you’re all making it sound like so much fun! Jill in IL
Response:
I’ve had this happen several times. I always decline. What irks me is when a person has 2 of an item but doesn’t disclose that, claims their item is "rare", and the bidding is driven up. Then, they magically produce a second one and offer to sell it to me for my bid price. That may be just fine, but it strikes me wrong. I always decline. Melissa C.
Response:
Hi Jil Why didn’t you use RCTM to sell your items? It is free. EdithNYC
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