Dear Nic,

The examples you show of kraak are unquestionably correct, so you at least do not have anything to be concerned about when it comes to authenticity, which is often an issue on eBay, for one reason or another.

Your concern, rather, is over the price asked. The fact that the seller is prepared to consider offers on these items suggests he doesn't really imagine that he will achieve his opening asking price, and indeed, I think that the opening price is a little high, given that these are not big pieces. Why not make a substantially lower offer, if you like them? You will be automatically told by eBay if your offer is too low for the seller to accept.

Regards,

Alan

Dear Alan,

Thank you very much for the advice. I've been hovering over the 'Best Offer' button for a couple of days, but I wasn't sure how 'cheeky' I could be because the pieces have already been discounted by 40%. I think I'm afraid of offending the seller, thus ruining my chances of dealing with him in future. But if, like you say, it's all done automatically, then it's not such an issue perhaps.

Thank you

Nic

Hi Nic,

It really is worth a try. For a start, you don't know what the seller paid for it. If I sell something, I look to make a profit, not necessarily get the item's value - as much as anything, that is affected by who is in the market to buy anyway.

If you say you really like it, don't mean to be cheeky but can't afford more, I cannot see how anyone could be offended.  They can always say no.

Good luck!

Julia

Not sure about automatically accepted or decline the offer. If offer 20% or less then yes it is automatic from my experience.

Recently purchased a Cartier pasha pen from a dealer in Germany with whom I made an offer @ 30% below asking price. Received an email stating offer would be sent to seller with my offer and that I would/should receive an answer within 48 hours.

A few hours later I received a counter-offer from seller which I accepted.

I make offers quite a bit on eBay. Most times my offer is rejected with a counter offer. 

Had a look at sellers site. Nice selection, if that's what you like. All with hefty price tags.

All he can say is yes or no with counter offer.

Mark

Hi Julia and Mark,

Thanks for that. It is difficult when you really like something but also know that you're paying a premium simply because of who the seller is. In fairness, I think that antiques in general are pricey in The Netherlands, but if you live somewhere where antiques are in something of a slump, you will judge the value according to your market, not theirs?

I think I will give it a go. But first I have to decide which one to go for! I prefer the central decoration on the first dish, I also think the blue is better on this one? But I like the border on the second, this one is also undamaged.

Decisions!

Nic

Dear Nic,

Some buy-it-now offers, if too low for the seller to accept, are evidently pre-programmed to be automatically rejected, for you will get a notification about unacceptability sent to your email within seconds of making your offer. Other offers that are within the seller's acceptability range, but still below his/her asking price, would appear to be directed to the seller for further consideration, and you will hear back once that consideration has been given. Yet other offers, below the stated asking price but which the seller privately considers acceptable, may evidently be pre-programmed for automatic acceptance. I have not personally sold on eBay using the buy-it-now system so I can't tell you 'from the inside' how the system works, but from my experience of making bids on buy-it-now pieces, this seems to be how it's been set up.

Sometimes in my experience, I've found that the system will only allow me to make three offers in total on an item before declining to accept any further offers from me. I had one experience like that, where I made three offers that weren't accepted, and then system shut me out from making further offers. So I simply contacted the seller directly myself, and negotiated with him outside the context of the eBay buy-it-now system. 

Don't worry about insulting the seller with your offer. Basically, they want to move their item on, and will usually negotiate; indeed, will expect to have to negotiate in many cases. That said, if your offer is too ridiculously low and you've made a super-cheeky bid, don't expect the seller to take you seriously either.

Best wishes,

Alan

Dear Alan,

Thanks again. That is my impression of how BIN works too. I've had bids accepted within seconds of making an offer. It would've been impossible for the seller to accept so quickly?

Thank you for the advice re putting in an offer too. Because the seller has already offered a 40% discount my instinct is that he may go another 10-20%. That's why I think I've avoided putting in an offer because I believe even with another 20% discount I'd potentially still be paying more than I should.

Maybe if I'm patient another will come up for auction on Bidamaount.

I don't mind paying full price for something that has a fair market value, but I know I will resent finding out that I have paid twice or three times what something is worth.

Kind regards

Nic

Hi Nic, 

I sometimes buy from this dealer, they are good and expensive, but they also have many many items so they don’t want them to sit in the shelves endlessly. Usually they try the high price for a while, then they offer a discount for a while, and after that you can offer a price yourself. So it seems the Kraak plates are already in stage 3 and they would like to get rid of them. Try your luck!

Thanks Shinigami, 

any idea which would be the best to go for? They both have pluses and minuses, one has better colour but is chipped, the other is a bit more washed and rustic looking but has only some fritting.

Nic

Sorry Nic, I have only the tiny screen here and can’t really judge the plates. Generally speaking I would always take the one in better condition. 

Hi NicDan,

I have no previous experience with this seller, except that I have noticed on more than one occasion that the info in the listing title is different from what is in the item description, especially when it comes to dimensions of the item for sale. So it might be a good idea to check with the seller, to find out if the size is correct.

Here is an example: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/24-6cm-Antique-Kangxi-Deep-Plate-18C-Floral-decoration-Chinese-porcelain/143049209368?hash=item214e65b618:g:OWUAAOSwvGZcERjn:rk:27:pf:0

Hello Michael.

With a hoofing great crack through the middle this piece has negligable collecting value and is thus well overpriced. If I'm not mistaken this seller are a couple from Holland who sell stacks of things. However, when they "mis-advertise" a piece everyone seems to swarm around in their defense citing all sorts of "over busy", type reasons. That might be all very well but nobody seems to care about the poor innocent soul who in good faith buys something that isn't quite what it should be. I don't know the seller and am unlikely to buy from them because of above reason. And if anyone tries to convince you that the crack is hairline and doesn't matter. Believe me it does and will only get worse. Avoid pieces that have been hung on a wall within a wire metal truss. They are always the worst and always damaged. Wait for something else............! Best wishes

Thanks Supioduo,

they do seem to have a large amount of damaged items. 

Nic

Posted by: Supioduo

Hello Michael.

With a hoofing great crack through the middle this piece has negligable collecting value and is thus well overpriced. If I'm not mistaken this seller are a couple from Holland who sell stacks of things. However, when they "mis-advertise" a piece everyone seems to swarm around in their defense citing all sorts of "over busy", type reasons. That might be all very well but nobody seems to care about the poor innocent soul who in good faith buys something that isn't quite what it should be. I don't know the seller and am unlikely to buy from them because of above reason. And if anyone tries to convince you that the crack is hairline and doesn't matter. Believe me it does and will only get worse. Avoid pieces that have been hung on a wall within a wire metal truss. They are always the worst and always damaged. Wait for something else............! Best wishes

Hi Supioduo!

The dish was just an example of mislabelling, not something I was considering buying! No need to worry my friend! 😀

Best wishes, Michael