I had a snipe on an item, and it ended early (I must have an instinct for picking these guys! LOL) so I emailed the seller and asked if he was going to be relisting. He emailed me back and said he might, but he has 2 guys that have offered him over double what the bid was up to, and he was waiting for someone to pay him. To me this sounded really hinky in a few different ways... So I am just not interested, but my question is this...
Is it common for people to do this? To basically use ebay as a glorified free classified ad?
Heya Smee, It does happen quite a bit actually, which is not so pleasant.
It seems that its a bit of fee avoidance for the seller. I am currently selling some Mag Wheels and have had plenty of offers to end the auction early and they all *suggest* that its a great way to get out of paying ebay fees.
I sell quite a bit of stuff and have only ended 1 large auction early, it was a dead laptop and the fella offered me a ridiculous amount of money, it was way more than I expected to get so I jumped at the offer. Also, he couldnt leave me crap feedback if he got the laptop and couldnt fix it (which I carefully explained in the listing).
In fact, it happened so much on Ebay motors that they changed the payment rules! You pay a heap up front and once you have a bid, sale or not, you pay again.
I can understand it in some cases, really, and I have gone ahead before when it was a good enough deal to me, but this particular instance doesn't feel good to me. And if he isn't honest, then it falls through the cracks because of the lack of feedback too. Not that the whole feedback thing is foolproof.
Smee, IMO, I would back off and let him do what he will. Believe me, another will come along to bid on and you'll get it at the right price. I think he was trying to get you to make him a big offer.
...did the buyer of the dead laptop send you irate e-mails about the piece of junk you sold him at such an exorbitant price?
No - actually the lovely fella, who I shared many an email with, emailed me to say it arrived and he was toasting me with an expensive bottle of red as he dismantled it to fix his daughters laptop. He was really really happy.
I've come across sellers ending early too on items that I've been watching, but I've gotten clever. Now if something that I want ends in say 6 days and starts at like 10.00 and I know it'll go much higher than that, I put in a bid of like 10.50 and wait to be outbid (which I usually am) and then put in my snipe.
Once there is a bid, they cannot cancel their listing....
I think this is becoming a common practice as well as sellers ending auctions early just because they don't think it's high enough. Kind of crazy actually since most bidders (not only snipers) wait until the last few hours to bid anyway!....
Oh well, live and learn. The best thing about ebay is if you lose one there will always be another!
I just noticed some details on your good-nite post from Sunday nite! The sleeping smiley in front of the computer is drooling on the desk! LOL! Boy! Is that ever frighteningly accurate for me!
Smee: I have had several cancels but they were individuals - I find that bigger dealers & auction houses & Pawn Shops let it run once it's listed. Recently got a $300 DVD VCR for $40 mixer for $60 and yesterday a $600 Wheelchair for $56. I can't be happier with Auction Sniper. I just sent them another $20 for fees. My problem with E-Bay is they have no way to enforce a sale. If the seller wants to take your money & not ship then your just stuck. I just buy from sellers with high Positive Feedback numbers. They do a lot of repeat business & don't screw you over. For them it's a business and they have too much to lose. ..... mory
I didn't sweat that guy... I know there will be more of the same eventually, but in the short run husband person says he's just going to go ahead and buy pistons retail. Ah well. I can't work miracles, my wand is broke.
I'm having some fun, so thar ya go. I have a few things to sell, a few things to buy, and it's all good.
An interesting experience recently makes me butt in on this one....
I'm not sure that there always will be "another one along soon". I suppose it depends on what you are looking for.
There's a very, very rare Monopoly set based around the Iditarod that's now out of print. The only one I've ever seen on eBay turned up last week but I really had no idea of its worth because I've never seen one for sale before. I decided to "Watch" it and put in a bid once I had an idea where things were going.
Anyway...I went off to Crufts, got back to find the auction finished and was horrified and amazed to see that it had ended at over £50! That's a lot of money for a Monopoly set, but on the other hand if you really want such a rare item (and can afford it!) the price is going to rocket when there are so few available.
I'll be watching with interest to see when another one appears for sale. I suspect I'll be waiting for a while.
Although I doubt that there are now thousands of you busily looking for Iditarod Monopoly, I've made myself look pretty stupid - somebody has obviously got several and has listed them all!
The answer to how long I'd have to wait is....no time at all! (I still can't justify paying that much for one, though.)
However....
Here's a REALLY rare item, as you can see by the current price. There simply aren't many in existence. I WISH I was rich!!! >What I want for Christmas!<
WOAH!! That's expensive! Why is what we really want always soooooo expensive?
I've asked santa for new feet for years but no luck yet. I don't think I've been bad If you find any of those let me know. My tread is shot!! Actually now I may ask for even more the way I've been "breaking down" This year I'll just ask for a new body!! I'd like a newer model too!!
Boy! Is that ever frighteningly accurate for me! 
That's a lot of money for a Monopoly set, but on the other hand if you really want such a rare item (and can afford it!) the price is going to rocket when there are so few available.
"Run, Squeaky, Run!"
If you find any of those let me know. My tread is shot!! Actually now I may ask for even more the way I've been "breaking down" 
The best things in life are furry....and flowers! 
