Welcome to Ebay...

[M. Valdemar]

Very possible, but a vast number of auctions are won by last minute snipes.

It looks like $1 increments to you, but you have no idea what they really bid.

Hah, just found another interesting Seller, this time of modern pocket watches in Hong Kong. His prices start at $0.01, and he notes that Int. shippping is $9.99. And he accepts PayPal.

Great I think, so I place a bid.

Last minute of the auction a number of 1$ bids and the item is won by a bidder with 0 feedback and who has been a member of ebay since May 2007.

They tempt you with a low starting price, but won't actually sell it to you unless you actually bid over their unknown reserve.

How's that for cheeky?

 

[harry01562]

not picking on Spain

not picking on Spain

I am not picking on the country. From the tone of the emails, and the problems with payment, I am concerned that I may get bogus bids, or chargebacks from the individual, or his friends.
Some people are like that... even if others give them the benefit of the doubt....

Harry

 

[rich815]

He sent a bank money order in US funds, I think it was drawn on a Hong Kong branch of Wells Fargo Bank.

Sounds legit. Just make sure the bank really examined it. I work at Wells Fargo and we see some of the most amazing counterfeit MO's frequently. Even if the bank accepts it at first it may come back days or even weeks later if it's not real and you'll be hit for it by your bank, even if they too thought it was real when deposited.

I guess just like the guy who works in the sausage factory does not eat the sausages I simply will not accept overseas MO's....

 

[Mr_Flibble]

Very possible, but a vast number of auctions are won by last minute snipes.

It looks like $1 increments to you, but you have no idea what they really bid.

Well he's selling the same kind of watch in about 45 minutes time, so I've bid again. Let's see what happens.....

I'm not normally this paranoid though 😉

 

[Mr_Flibble]

Hah, exact same thing, sniped by a guy with no feedback and a member since 2004.


But, the same watch also came up on Ebay with a 'buy it now' tag, from the same seller...for less then $5.
Not sure what the seller's deal is, I guess the $0.01 really are teasers.

Buying a pocket watch for $10.50 including shipping can't be too bad (unless it really is rubbish)

Shill Bidding definitely is prohibited by Ebay, but I guess I can let this guy walk 😉

 

[ChadHahn]

Not sure what the seller's deal is, I guess the $0.01 really are teasers.

Of course it's a teaser. Nobody expects anything to sell on eBay for a penny. I generally list items for .05. Do I think they'll sell for a nickel? No.

I have a Nikkor 50mm 1.4 listed right now. The starting bid was a nickel. It's stuck now at about $30.00 but there are about 20 people watching the auction. I'm sure that by the end of the auction it will sell for what that lens generally sells for.

That's how it is with eBay. People don't want to bid until the end thinking that they'll get a bargain. The only trouble is so are a thousand other people.

 

[Mr_Flibble]

Fair enough with auction snipers and several bidders, but if there was only one person bidding and the bid never went over a nickel, that won person should get it for a nickel. Right? The bidder got a bargain, the Seller presumebly lost some cash because he thought his item would be sold with a higher bid....The seller should've set a reserve is he's not sure his item will be going for at least the wanted price.

The fact that your Nikkor is a much more covetted item amongst photographers accounts for the number of watchers and bids. And I hope you get a nice price for it, but even if it doesn't go up to the amount you expect, you will probably still sell it fair and square to the highest bidder, right?

Geez, I'm starting to go out of control on this subject. Anyway, apart from the fake 'second chance offers' and high international shipping costs. I have had pretty good experiences with ebay so far.

I better go and get my morning coffee now.....

 

[cmogi10]

I stay far away from ebay now, it helped my gas go away.