Ebay question

Is it acceptable for me to contact people who are currently bidding on an item to let them know that if they don't win the item, I have a similar one if they are intrested?

I just don't feel like putting it on Ebay, but I figure it's a good way to find people who are actually interested in buying the item.

I wouldn't say to someone, hey don't but his, buy mine. What I want to say is "If you don't win, check out mine - here's my #"

What do you think?


Steve

 

It's fine as long as no one reports you to eBay. That's against their rules, especially if you're contacting people who are bidding on an item from another seller.

 

Personally, I'd be hesitant to deal with anyone who contacts me that way, seems too suspicious to me. Also, I'm not sure that you'd even really be able to contact them unless their user name is their email address. Ebay will "forward" an email to a seller for you, but you are going through their system, and don't know the person's email address until they answer you.

If people are willing to pay a decent price, put up the listing. Ebay had really simplified the process. It's way easier than it was a few years ago when I first started dealing with them, and I think their listing fees are really reasonable.

 

Good point. I guess any unsolicited "Ebay email" seems suspicious nowadays.

I don't really want to bother putting it up on ebay. I was just curious as to how much similar items were going for, and I was actually suprised that people are bidding as much as they are.

I would never try to "steal" bidders from someone else. Just looking for an inexpensive (free) way to sell something. Seems like all of the online classifieds cost a lot to place an ad.

Maybe I will put it on ebay.


Thanks,

Steve

 

Hope that I didn't come across harsh, I sure didn't mean that you are suspicious or that I thought you would try to "steal" bidders. Obviously since you are asking advice, you were just looking for what other people thought about it to decide what to do. Besides, I know you're a good guy, you're from my home town

Good luck selling your stuff

Cindy

 

what you trying to sell? lol maybe someone here will want it

 

Post it in the Buy/Sell/Trade forum right here at MG. Read the posting rules at the top of the forum first, but it's free.

 

Got it! Thanks everyone.

It's actually my waverunner that I'm trying to sell. I'm just a little leery about selling something like that on Ebay. I've never bought/sold anything quite that big. Scares me a little.

I just figured that watching similar items would be a good way to find interested parties. I'd figured I'd wait until the bidding was over and then try to contact the non-winning bidders. But you guys are right, I guess that would seem shady.

I just don't want to spend $40 a pop to list it on every boat trader type website, and then not have even sold it! That could get expensive.

Has anyone sold or bought a "big ticket" item on Ebay before, like a car or boat for instance? If so, how did it go?


Thanks,

Steve