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Hi everyone,
A few days ago, I made an offer on a BIN bronze vase on eBay. The item is priced at $1300 and I made an offer of $1000. I immediately got an automatic response that it had been declined. I think we’ve discussed this (briefly) before, but I was interested in knowing what others thought about the automatic decline function.
Firstly, I’d like to acknowledge that I know this offer was a bit on the cheeky side. Secondly, I also understand that many sellers have 100s of BIN items, so replying to each and every offer could be onerous.
BUT!
I do think that that perhaps it would be better if sellers didn’t use this eBay function on their higher priced items in particular? As a buyer, it feels like a very perfunctory response for what is a fairly large sum of money. I know it’s nothing compared to items worth many 1000s of dollars/pounds/euros, but it’s not insignificant.
I was quite surprised at my own reaction. I immediately felt at a disadvantage. That I would have to keep making ‘guess offers’ until I managed to please an algorithm! I think sellers miss an opportunity by using this function, they miss an opportunity to get to know and build a relationship with buyers who may, over time, spend many thousands of pounds with them. It just feels a bit discourteous.
It just so happens that I purchased a different bronze vase a few days later, one that I prefer and it only cost me £600. So I no longer have an interest in the said item - it all worked out for the best in the end!
But I was wondering what you all thought about the use of automatic decline, in theory, as it were.
Nic
Hi Nic, I hate this hidden minimum price function and avoid to bid where they use it.
Birgit
Hi Birgit, I find it very dismissive and a little bit arrogant. I know that is not the seller’s intention, to them it is a great time-saving tool. But from a buyer’s perspective it doesn’t encourage friendly relations!
Nic
Dear Nic,
In a perfect world I would agree with you. I sell a bit on Ebay mostly low value items so I don't use the buy it now or make an offer as a rule.
However I am thing of starting to think I will change and use make an offer. I have in the last month had buyers send me a message offering very small amounts on low priced items and even adding if that is if you pay the postage. Ebays system discredits me if i don't reply to buyers messages no matter how stupid or rude the message is. If I can cut down the amount of messages I get the less I have to worry about with my Ebay seller ratting.
Regards
Michael
Hi Michael,
Thats terrible. I remember some of Giovanni’s tales of awful buyers, there are some shocking practices out there. Truly dishonourable. There’s no doubt that sellers have a rough time on eBay. But there are some excellent buyers out there too, buyers worth engaging with.
I’m wondering if there’s a middle ground? Say you have something for sale at $100, and you’d happily accept $80. If you set the bar at $70 it allows for negotiation with a buyer that isn’t that far off what you’d be happy with? I don’t know if this function exists on BIN, but it is a better reflection on how deals are done person to person. Ultimately, buyers know sellers will move a bit on the price, but they don’t know how much. So it’s a game of cat and mouse!
I also don’t think I would’ve had the same impression if this had been a low-value item. I think it’s all relative? I think as soon as you’re on or around the 1000 mark the game changes a little? It doesn’t mean that sellers have to seriously consider ridiculous offers, but I currently have items for sale in my store for £2000 and I would happily engage with anyone making offers of £1500 or more, although I would ideally like to get £1800.
Nic
I suppose it cuts out a lot of time wasters making silly offers , chancers so to speak , I do not think your offer was cheeky however .
For example - I listed a gold bracelet one time weighing 25 grams in 9ct gold , i was inundated with offers as soon as listed for £10 £15 £40 , The scrap value of 25 grams of 9ct gold is approx £250.
You could always contact them through messages.
I sell BIN or best offer on most of my items.
Sometimes the figure for declining an offer is automatically filled in without the seller actually doing it.
$1000 offer on a $1300 item would have me snapping your hand off to complete such a fair offer.
Vic
Hi Carl,
I agree with you. And I can absolutely see the benefit of having automatic decline in order to weed out ridiculous offers. But it’s a very crude tool if it rejects an offer of £1000 just the same as an offer of £100?
Hi Vic,
thanks, I didn’t know that the automatic decline field was sometimes done without the selker’s Knowledge. That’s very interesting!
Nic
This is a good question.
I have a number of buy it now or make an offer listings on ebay.
I buy all my stock in person (ie not online from pictures). However every now and then I need something personal, and buy it on ebay. The last time it was a part for one of my cars. There were several on ebay, and they all seemed what I needed.
The first was a buy it now or make an offer. I can't remember what I offered, but it was automatically rejected, and I remember my reaction was not positive. On the one hand, I remember thinking I wanted to pay about 90% of the asking price, and thought I'd offer something less, thinking the buyer would counter, and we'd end up where I wanted to be. Looking back, all that overthinking, got me rejected - and it didn't feel good - so I didn't make another offer.
All of which takes me to my own items. Generally I list items with the expectation of giving 10% off (which is the standard trade discount, so I'm happy to offer it to everyone). Its amazing how many people offer me half of my asking price. Regardless of what the asking price is. As a seller, I don't like this. It makes me feel like they think I'm trying to rip them off by asking twice what its worth. Depending on how I'm feeling, I typically just decline those offers and won't bother countering. If its less than 50% sometimes I'll just ignore it, other times I'll decline and block the bidder from ever trying again.
Occasionally I will accept a 50% offer on something I've had for a long time, and typically I bought with other things that have already been sold so I have already recouped my costs. The irony here, is these buyers are often very slow to pay, or don't pay!
I suspect there are lots of resellers trolling ebay for deals, and more or less just making low (50% or less) offers all over the place.
There is no good answer for everyone. My advice is to list items at a low wholesale price and be willing to offer a 10% discount. If a knowledgeable collector or dealer finds your item, and wants to purchase, they will know what its worth. If they want to pay less, then they can spend the rest of their life looking for another somewhere else.
If you find buyers that do typically accept 50% offers (or even less), then you may be dealing with someone who is selling low priced fakes, and offering them at 10X or more, their cost.
Although it doesn't feel good, in retrospect, if your 50% offer gets rejected outright, its probably a good sign that the item is legit, and fairly priced!
I sometimes accept offers 50% below the price listed and don't sell fakes.
It simply depends if I've had a good week/month selling or indeed if I am in a more receptive mood.
Vic
Hi Avion, that all sounds very reasonable to me. The only thing that may cause a misunderstanding is that in many places, the standard trade discount is 20% whilst the regular discount is 10%, so dealers that are offering 20% under the asking price are, in their own minds, acting in good faith.
Hi Vic, even though I rarely sell online, I tend to have the same philosophy as you. If I’ve had a great month, a very slow month or want to get rid of something, I will move substantially on the price. Of course, I also hold my ground when necessary!
Nic
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