Question:
Let’s say I offer an entire collection of items, say a batch of coins or stamps, at a set price and also put the collection up for sale in my ebay store. If the auction closes with no bidders and a potential buyer contacts me, can I sell him all or part of the collection directly? (Would it make any difference if he contacts me before the auction closes?) ebay says: "Never respond to an unsolicited email that includes incentives to buy or sell an item off the eBay Marketplace. If you get such an email, please report it to eBay", but it seems as if this restriction is unreasonable and possibly illegal. How can ebay restrict my right to sell items … forever … just because I once put them up for auction, especially if they are no longer for sale in my ebay store? On the other hand, the buyer did find out about the collection on ebay and ebay deserves a fee. So I suppose setting up another ebay auction for the items in question is the ethical thing to do. I’d like to sell all or some of the items, but don’t want to get kicked off ebay or do something unethical. (Of course ebay does a number of unethical things all the time.) Please advise. Thanks.
Response:
"Joe" wrote … If the auction closes with no bidders and a potential buyer contacts me, can I sell him all or part of the collection directly? (Would it make any difference if he contacts me before the auction closes?) How can ebay restrict my right to sell items … forever … just because I once put them up for auction, especially if they are no longer for sale in my ebay store? On the other hand, the buyer did find out about the collection on ebay and ebay deserves a fee. So I suppose setting up another ebay auction for the items in question is the ethical thing to do.
Ethics doesn’t really figure; ebay exists as a business entity; no more, no less. Your agreement to ebay restricting your rights (via terms and conditions) is perfectly legal – and, as you go on to suggest, quite reasonable. If it weren’t for ebay, you’d not be in a position to have this problem. Relist, either privately, or openly. That way you won’t upset ebay, and you (and the buyer) have some protection. If he contacts you before the auction closes, then chances are he’s trying to scam you – most bids appear late, many in the last few seconds (depending what you sell). Someone who approaches you rather than bids is NOT doing it for your financial health. Tell him to bid, ignore him, or report him.
Response:
Joe trolled: I’d like to sell all or some of the items, but don’t want to get kicked off ebay or do something unethical. (Of course ebay does a number of unethical things all the time.)…
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Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Let’s say I offer an entire collection of items, say a batch of coins or stamps, at a set price and also put the collection up for sale in my ebay store. If the auction closes with no bidders and a potential buyer contacts me, can I sell him all or part of the collection directly? (Would it make any difference if he contacts me before the auction closes?) ebay says: "Never respond to an unsolicited email that includes incentives to buy or sell an item off the eBay Marketplace. If you get such an email, please report it to eBay", but it seems as if this restriction is unreasonable and possibly illegal. How can ebay restrict my right to sell items … forever … just because I once put them up for auction, especially if they are no longer for sale in my ebay store? On the other hand, the buyer did find out about the collection on ebay and ebay deserves a fee. So I suppose setting up another ebay auction for the items in question is the ethical thing to do. I’d like to sell all or some of the items, but don’t want to get kicked off ebay or do something unethical. (Of course ebay does a number of unethical things all the time.) Please advise. Thanks.
Once the auction closes without a successful bid, you can sell anything to anybody. So long as the auction listing itself is not in any manner suggesting fee avoidance or otherwise an ad rather than a genuine and reasonable offer to sell. — Many thanks, Don Lancaster Synergetics 3860 West First Street Box 809 Thatcher, AZ 85552 Please visit my GURU’s LAIR web site at http://www.tinaja.com
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