[Pretz]

Hi,

I'd really appreciate some advice.

For the first time, I have put my items up for sale on ebay as an auction.

I didn't select a buy it now option.

There is just over a week remaining but I have just had someone email me asking me if I can put a buy it now option.


a) Is it fair to other people who are watching the item?
Especially since I have offered to combine postage to those who buy multiple items.

b) would you just reduce the remaining time?

I want to do the right thing for everyone who isinterested in the item.

I'd also find it hard to pick a price. ALso, if I did this for one auction, I wonder if other people would do the same thing....


Any helpful suggestions would be appreciated.

[House.of.blue]

When I change from an auction to a buy it now price it is generally because someone has offered me an amount I am happy with. I don't pick a random number. Maybe you could ask your interested party how much they are willing to buy X item for and if your happy list at that price.

[Pretz]

When I change from an auction to a buy it now price it is generally because someone has offered me an amount I am happy with. I don't pick a random number. Maybe you could ask your interested party how much they are willing to buy X item for and if your happy list at that price.

Thankyou. That is a good idea.
I was surprised that she didnlt indicate what she'd be willing to pay in her mail.

Do you think it is fair to the other people who are watching the item?

I'm just curious, because I don't want to put anyone out.

[lsolaBella]

I will sometimes watch an item just to see what it went for. I have also listed items with 15 watchers, but no one bid so item didn't sell.

[Pretz]

I will sometimes watch an item just to see what it went for. I have also listed items with 15 watchers, but no one bid so item didn't sell.

Thankyou.
TBH that hadnt occured to me ...

I now wish I had done that myself so I could know what a reasonable price is for this.

[CallMeProtart]

Thankyou.
TBH that hadnt occured to me ...

I now wish I had done that myself so I could know what a reasonable price is for this.

You can do a search for items similar, and then click 'completed listings' as a filter, and it will show you any that have completed in the last few weeks and what they went for, if they sold or not, etc.

I would not put a buy it now unless you're very sure what price you would be happy to sell it for. Or set a really high/optimistic buy-it-now price.

I wouldn't reduce the auction time, people watching it might not get a chance to bid if they had in their head that it was ending much later.

[House.of.blue]

Thankyou. That is a good idea.
I was surprised that she didnlt indicate what she'd be willing to pay in her mail.

Do you think it is fair to the other people who are watching the item?

I'm just curious, because I don't want to put anyone out.

Like a pp stated just because people are watching your item doesn't mean anyone is going to bid so no I wouldn't feel I am being unfair in offering it to someone who is interested in buying it rather than leaving it open and no one buying it.

[CallMeProtart]

Like a pp stated just because people are watching your item doesn't mean anyone is going to bid so no I wouldn't feel I am being unfair in offering it to someone who is interested in buying it rather than leaving it open and no one buying it.

It is possible though that you could miss out on people who are going to bid.
There was an expandable clothes rack I needed urgently but the ebay auction was a week away so I contacted the guy with a price in case he would consider ending it early because I was going to buy a different one that day if not, but he didn't want to (fair enough). It ended up selling for twice the price I offered, so he made the right decision.

(Note to self - next time aldi has the expandable clothes dryers, pick up a few and sell them on ebay - they'll go for double what you bought them for!)

[Holidayromp]

How about an 'or best offer' option rather than a buy it now that way you have the option of whether or not to accept the offer. Usually people put a high amount on the item but put a 'or best offer' amount underneath it. That way people can see you are open to offers and then you could end up getting more for the item that you first thought.

[Pretz]

Thankyou so much everybody.

These are some fantastic suggestions!

I hadn't realised that I could check completed auctions. D'oh!

I'm a complete novice when it comes to selling.