Purchasing Etiquette ?

If I am an ebay seller, and receive an offer I like on something, I simply LOWER the opening bid. The buyer then can bid, and everyone is still protected. 

What you don' seem to understand is that I'm not asking for an outside deal, I simply ask if it doesn't sell contact me because I will buy it. There is nothing in the rules against it, if you can turn down a sale then business must be booming or you don't understand how business works.

 

Jerry

@ Martin H.   Read the Ebay guidelines. Maybe they will help you understand the rules and answer your questions.

Just make and offer, but don't be insulting with it.

Often a seller will refuse a low offer, but many forget that an offer is a conversation starter.  Instead of being offended, counteroffer.  A counter offer is a continuation of the conversation many miss by just declining.  So if you sell, use the counteroffer function!  That way a reasonable price can be agreed upon by both parties.  It's better to have a sale and a Win-Win.

I am in the process of trying to sell some trains and accessories through the forum.  Some items are selling quickly, others not so fast.  I have received offers that were just too low to accept and made counter offers.  No counter offers were accepted.  Some replies to counter offers were along the lines of "contact me when you decide to sell at my price."  I believe I am a reasonable person and will work with a potential buyer, just don't try to force a one sided deal.

 

A comment regarding leaving the items in the closet.  That's what I plan to do.  I don't need to sell these trains I just don't have that much interest anymore and if they can be enjoyed by someone else I am all for it.  I won't sell them to a reseller for peanuts just to get rid of them.  If my heirs sell them for next to nothing, won't matter to me.

 

And a separate but related comment.  I monitor tracking information to know when packages are delivered.  I have sent follow up email asking if the package arrived in good condition.  I don't want anyone to be disappointed because of packing issues.  Is it too much to ask that the buyer respond to the follow up email?  

 

 

Greg:  I don't think it's too much to ask.  Most folks, however, just don't bother.  I sometimes sell stuff at a big loss just to be rid of it.  I won't be badgered into selling at ridiculous price, however.

To make a long story Short, I usually reply to a Seller via Email, by simply asking what their best price is delivered to my place of work. This allows the Seller to see my zip code and think about his best price and figure the cost of shipping. If I like their pricing, I move forward, if not, I say thank you and move on. Today, there are More Toy Train and Related items on the Market than ever before. Its a Buyers Market, and its  true in Automobile sales, Realestate Sales, even at Grocery Stores.

Great Question, Happy Railroading

I have seen in some cases that the price to begin with was so low, that dickering never even entered my mind. On the other hand, Ive seen some items priced so far out in space that I don't even make the effort,(ie:$20 item listed for $100).

My late father-in-law and I got kicked outta train store in Albany New York area years ago. He carried only pre and post war stuff. Guy made him and offer, $8 on a $12 item. the dealer said no, in fact its NOT for sale. and he put the item under the counter. I later made an offer of $20 for about $25 bucks worth of stuff. he again said NO in fact nothings for sale. everybody get out of the store. we all retreated to the parking lot and had a good laugh at what just happened.

You can say that again.

 

I won a bid for a 3 Car GGD Head-end from a MAJOR "used" model train dealer. They canceled the listing after I had paid for it. They refunded my money saying that due to a "computer glitch" they didn't actually have the items in their inventory. 

 

Lie #1 was when they almost immediately relisted these cars separately the next week. I notified them and told them I still wanted the cars.

 

Lie #2, I was notified that it was impossible for them to cancel the auction despite the fact that there were zero bids.

 

Check the negative feedback before you bid even from the largest of dealers. No reserve? True. But if they don't get what they want, they just cancel the auction and relist and see if they can make more money next time around.

 

Gilly 

There is a brick and mortar dealer I know,  who also has an eBay Store,  who has over 50 MTH premier ps1 engines NIB that he's lugged around through at least 2 store moves.   He STILL is asking msrp for these.   There's a perfect example of a dealer who does not understand that unsold inventory is costing him money!

It certainly is. He may never sell those things and has probably already lost way more than their MSRP's on them.

All I can say is "WOW!"