Question:
Guilty until proven innocent We need all the buyers we can attract to Ebay without insulting them before they even win an auction. Their first experience should be as pleasant as possible, My opinion John Sounds like the voice of one who has NOT been dicked around by this type of dimwit . Better to have no sale at all than one that results in a bunch of headaches. We need GOOD buyers
In over 1000 auctions I have had a few that has "dicked" me around. It comes with the territory. I have also made quite a few completed sales to people with 0 or even minus feedback. When I get smart enough to figure out, in advance, who will pay and who won’t then I’ll start cancelling bids. We do need GOOD buyers but with them come a few BAD buyers – just the way it works. John
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Guilty until proven innocent. What would you say if the grocery store manager followed you and ask if you were going to pay for what you put in your basket???? Would you go back to the store again???? We need all the buyers we can attract to Ebay without insulting them before they even win an auction. Their first experience should be as pleasant as possible, My opinion John Sounds like the voice of one who has NOT been dicked around by this type of dimwit. Look at his track record, one transaction resulting in a negative. Not good. He had his chance at a "first transaction" and blew it. I wouldn’t even bother trying to contact them, I’d just delete their bid and move on. Better to have no sale at all than one that results in a bunch of headaches. We need GOOD buyers. TS
OTOH, what headaches other than the ones we allow ourselves to be talked into? If the high bidder doesn’t pay, do the paper work for warnings and FVF refund, neg him, and move on. All you lose is some time and 25 cents. Sellers shouldn’t allow themselves to be drawn into the games that some bidders play. If the bidder makes promises but doesn’t pay, it’s the same as those who make no promises and don’t pay. It is not the seller’s responsibility to allow the buyer to wait until payday, or wait until the buyer’s IRS refund arrives, or wait until their turtle returns, or any other stalling tactic. If payment isn’t received in a timely fashion, carry on. In this particular case, if the bidder has bids in on several other camera, he may well not *NEED* this one, and questions accusing him of being a future deadbeat may well result in a lost sale. Maybe we let our fears dictate our actions to frequently, especially considering the possible consequences. — Bill Funk bfunk1 on Ebay
Response:
You should contact him. Ask him why he is bidding on so many cameras? If you still have a bad feeling afterwards, cancel his bid before the last 12 hrs. You could be losing potential bidders who only want to pay your opening bid. On the flip side, his bid could help you get a higher bid if someone else bids against him. 
Mary Ellen
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – That’s kind of what I’ve been thinking…a very bad gut feeling. I always like to give the benefit of the doubt, but HATE to be taken! Some of the auctions he’s bid on didn’t meet the reserve, so I can understand trying for another without a reserve. But, he is high bidder on several similar non-reserve cameras. I’ve got a little over a day left, so I’m going to sit on it and see if he’s outbid, I think. — SEC A -1 bidder, with bids on 11 similar current auctions, sounds like a problem to me. I’d email him and just comment that you find it interesting that he needs so many camera – and ask if he intends to go through with this auction, if he indeed wins. Kris Aghh. I just searched his user id and found he is high bidder on a total of 11 digital cameras! I wonder what the odds are that he will win more than one, but only intends to actually send payment for 1. Or, he could be having fun with all of us 
— SEC – – "Teamwork is essential: it gives the enemy other people to shoot at." – – I have had the same situation for a much lesser priced item. I did contact the high bidder before the auction ended. I said that I was concerned about his feedback and if he did win the auction, did he intend to honor it. I said that I needed to know before the auction ended. The bidder did reply that he intended to honor the auction, I trusted him and he did honor it. I had no problems. So I would contact the bidder. See what he says. And then I guess go with your gut instinct. Mary Ellen If I emailed the (only) high bidder on an item I have up right now? Details: I’ve got a digital camera up, starting at @250 with just the one guy’s bid. Unfortunately he’s got a -1 feedback. He has just the one negative comment, left in 1999, indicating no contact/no payment. I’d just like to email the guy, mention the negative, and basically feel him out. I don’t want to just cancel his bid, on the off chance I’ll be able to actually sell this camera! Just looking for advice/comments from those with more experience! No link to auction, didn’t think it mattered, but can provide if needed! Thanks, — SEC – — – "Star trekkin’ across the Universe, boldly going forward; ‘cuz we can’t find reverse!" – — –
Response:
Guilty until proven innocent. What would you say if the grocery store manager followed you and ask if you were going to pay for what you put in your basket???? Would you go back to the store again???? We need all the buyers we can attract to Ebay without insulting them before they even win an auction. Their first experience should be as pleasant as possible, My opinion John
Sounds like the voice of one who has NOT been dicked around by this type of dimwit. Look at his track record, one transaction resulting in a negative. Not good. He had his chance at a "first transaction" and blew it. I wouldn’t even bother trying to contact them, I’d just delete their bid and move on. Better to have no sale at all than one that results in a bunch of headaches. We need GOOD buyers. TS I’ve suffered from lots of women turning me down based on looks. Eric Sansoni You are attractive in a kind of "Hillary Swank as Brandon Teena" in "Boys Don’t Cry" way.
Response:
Whatever the situation, ebay or otherwise, trying to open a dialogue is always good. At worst it either confirms your worst suspicions or at least you know you tried and gave somebody the benefit of the doubt without detriment to yourself. Sometimes it helps you follow through on what your instincts told you was the thing to do in the first place. Other times you find you that you were way off base.
Response:
That’s kind of what I’ve been thinking…a very bad gut feeling. I always like to give the benefit of the doubt, but HATE to be taken! Some of the auctions he’s bid on didn’t meet the reserve, so I can understand trying for another without a reserve. But, he is high bidder on several similar non-reserve cameras. I’ve got a little over a day left, so I’m going to sit on it and see if he’s outbid, I think. — SEC
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – A -1 bidder, with bids on 11 similar current auctions, sounds like a problem to me. I’d email him and just comment that you find it interesting that he needs so many camera – and ask if he intends to go through with this auction, if he indeed wins. Kris Aghh. I just searched his user id and found he is high bidder on a total of 11 digital cameras! I wonder what the odds are that he will win more than one, but only intends to actually send payment for 1. Or, he could be having fun with all of us — SEC – – "Teamwork is essential: it gives the enemy other people to shoot at." – – I have had the same situation for a much lesser priced item. I did contact the high bidder before the auction ended. I said that I was concerned about his feedback and if he did win the auction, did he intend to honor it. I said that I needed to know before the auction ended. The bidder did reply that he intended to honor the auction, I trusted him and he did honor it. I had no problems. So I would contact the bidder. See what he says. And then I guess go with your gut instinct. Mary Ellen If I emailed the (only) high bidder on an item I have up right now? Details: I’ve got a digital camera up, starting at @250 with just the one guy’s bid. Unfortunately he’s got a -1 feedback. He has just the one negative comment, left in 1999, indicating no contact/no payment. I’d just like to email the guy, mention the negative, and basically feel him out. I don’t want to just cancel his bid, on the off chance I’ll be able to actually sell this camera! Just looking for advice/comments from those with more experience! No link to auction, didn’t think it mattered, but can provide if needed! Thanks, — SEC – — – "Star trekkin’ across the Universe, boldly going forward; ‘cuz we can’t find reverse!" – — –
Response:
A -1 bidder, with bids on 11 similar current auctions, sounds like a problem to me. I’d email him and just comment that you find it interesting that he needs so many camera – and ask if he intends to go through with this auction, if he indeed wins. Kris – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Aghh. I just searched his user id and found he is high bidder on a total of 11 digital cameras! I wonder what the odds are that he will win more than one, but only intends to actually send payment for 1. Or, he could be having fun with all of us — SEC – – "Teamwork is essential: it gives the enemy other people to shoot at." – – I have had the same situation for a much lesser priced item. I did contact the high bidder before the auction ended. I said that I was concerned about his feedback and if he did win the auction, did he intend to honor it. I said that I needed to know before the auction ended. The bidder did reply that he intended to honor the auction, I trusted him and he did honor it. I had no problems. So I would contact the bidder. See what he says. And then I guess go with your gut instinct. Mary Ellen If I emailed the (only) high bidder on an item I have up right now? Details: I’ve got a digital camera up, starting at @250 with just the one guy’s bid. Unfortunately he’s got a -1 feedback. He has just the one negative comment, left in 1999, indicating no contact/no payment. I’d just like to email the guy, mention the negative, and basically feel him out. I don’t want to just cancel his bid, on the off chance I’ll be able to actually sell this camera! Just looking for advice/comments from those with more experience! No link to auction, didn’t think it mattered, but can provide if needed! Thanks, — SEC – — – "Star trekkin’ across the Universe, boldly going forward; ‘cuz we can’t find reverse!" – — –
Response:
I have had the same situation for a much lesser priced item. I did contact the high bidder before the auction ended. I said that I was concerned about his feedback and if he did win the auction, did he intend to honor it. I said that I needed to know before the auction ended.
Guilty until proven innocent. What would you say if the grocery store manager followed you and ask if you were going to pay for what you put in your basket???? Would you go back to the store again???? We need all the buyers we can attract to Ebay without insulting them before they even win an auction. Their first experience should be as pleasant as possible, My opinion John
Response:
Aghh. I just searched his user id and found he is high bidder on a total of 11 digital cameras! I wonder what the odds are that he will win more than one, but only intends to actually send payment for 1. Or, he could be having fun with all of us — SEC – "Teamwork is essential: it gives the enemy other people to shoot at." –
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I have had the same situation for a much lesser priced item. I did contact the high bidder before the auction ended. I said that I was concerned about his feedback and if he did win the auction, did he intend to honor it. I said that I needed to know before the auction ended. The bidder did reply that he intended to honor the auction, I trusted him and he did honor it. I had no problems. So I would contact the bidder. See what he says. And then I guess go with your gut instinct. Mary Ellen If I emailed the (only) high bidder on an item I have up right now? Details: I’ve got a digital camera up, starting at @250 with just the one guy’s bid. Unfortunately he’s got a -1 feedback. He has just the one negative comment, left in 1999, indicating no contact/no payment. I’d just like to email the guy, mention the negative, and basically feel him out. I don’t want to just cancel his bid, on the off chance I’ll be able to actually sell this camera! Just looking for advice/comments from those with more experience! No link to auction, didn’t think it mattered, but can provide if needed! Thanks, — SEC — – "Star trekkin’ across the Universe, boldly going forward; ‘cuz we can’t find reverse!" — –
Response:
If I emailed the (only) high bidder on an item I have up right now? Details: I’ve got a digital camera up, starting at @250 with just the one guy’s bid. Unfortunately he’s got a -1 feedback. He has just the one negative comment, left in 1999, indicating no contact/no payment. I’d just like to email the guy, mention the negative, and basically feel him out. I don’t want to just cancel his bid, on the off chance I’ll be able to actually sell this camera! Just looking for advice/comments from those with more experience! No link to auction, didn’t think it mattered, but can provide if needed! Thanks, — SEC
Personal opinion… if you do email him, will his answer mean anything? Do you expect him to say, "Oh, well, I just bid for the heck of it!"? In most cases, the bidder will either ignore your post (which means nothing, since he is under no obligation to answer any email about this), or give you what you want to hear. (Yes, I realize there are some who will take offence and reply badly) IOW, I wouldn’t bother emailing. The bidder will either follow through, or he won’t. The actions you take in either case are well established. Why take the risk of offending a good bidder? — Bill Funk bfunk1 on Ebay
Response:
I have had the same situation for a much lesser priced item. I did contact the high bidder before the auction ended. I said that I was concerned about his feedback and if he did win the auction, did he intend to honor it. I said that I needed to know before the auction ended. The bidder did reply that he intended to honor the auction, I trusted him and he did honor it. I had no problems. So I would contact the bidder. See what he says. And then I guess go with your gut instinct. Mary Ellen
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – If I emailed the (only) high bidder on an item I have up right now? Details: I’ve got a digital camera up, starting at @250 with just the one guy’s bid. Unfortunately he’s got a -1 feedback. He has just the one negative comment, left in 1999, indicating no contact/no payment. I’d just like to email the guy, mention the negative, and basically feel him out. I don’t want to just cancel his bid, on the off chance I’ll be able to actually sell this camera! Just looking for advice/comments from those with more experience! No link to auction, didn’t think it mattered, but can provide if needed! Thanks, — SEC — – "Star trekkin’ across the Universe, boldly going forward; ‘cuz we can’t find reverse!" — –
Response:
If I emailed the (only) high bidder on an item I have up right now? Details: I’ve got a digital camera up, starting at @250 with just the one guy’s bid. Unfortunately he’s got a -1 feedback. He has just the one negative comment, left in 1999, indicating no contact/no payment. I’d just like to email the guy, mention the negative, and basically feel him out. I don’t want to just cancel his bid, on the off chance I’ll be able to actually sell this camera! Just looking for advice/comments from those with more experience! No link to auction, didn’t think it mattered, but can provide if needed! Thanks, — SEC – "Star trekkin’ across the Universe, boldly going forward; ‘cuz we can’t find reverse!" –
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