Auction Etiquette

sf · 12-03-2005

I don't like asking questions about that site on RFF, but non one is around today, and I need some ethical advice.

Is it unethical for me to post how many people are watching my item? I mean, I have been monitoring the number of people that have marked my listing as "Watch this item", and have decided that letting those watchers know how many others have joined them is a courtesy. I would have wanted to know, since the last item I didn't win was because someone swooped in at the last few seconds and outbid me by $10. But maybe I'm wrong?

See it if you want, 7567424577

thanks for any input

Nick R. · 12-03-2005

Eh, as a buyer, I don't figure that I'm the only one who has an interest in an item. 6 or 60, it only takes one other buyer to be outbid. As far as ethics go, I don't see how it even enters the picture. You're not identifying anyone personally.

daveozzz · 12-03-2005

I don't see that there's anything wrong with it - I suspect it won't make much difference in the bidding though because sniping has pretty much become a fact of life there unfortunately - there's very little reason to getting your bid in early. People leave it till the last minute (well the last seconds often) and try to bag a bargain by virture of speed rather than by being prepared to pay the most.
Crap when you're selling - although now and again people get caught up in the heat of the battle in the dying seconds and get a bit carried away with their bidding. No harm in letting them know they've got competition mind you.
Good listing though - you've got me wanting it and I don't even know what it is.

RJBender · 12-03-2005

George,

Someone might bid $600, the BIN price goes away and you get more than $650 for it. I've seen it happen.

R.J.

CleverName · 12-03-2005

I don't think it would be unethical, but I don't really see the point. It seems like different buyers would have different reactions to the info.
If not many people were watching it, they may think they can get it cheap. If a bunch of people are watching it they may not bother bidding.
Personally, I don't think I'd want to know and I wouldn't want the seller telling anyone I'm watching. I don't know why, I guess I just love the mystery.

Now, if you could come up with a way to eliminate sniping, ethical or not, I would support you wholeheartedly.

Perhaps you could end all auctions 5 minutes early, then offer to sell it to the highest bidder. Probably against eBay rules, definately unethical, but not a bad idea.

daveozzz · 12-03-2005

After having been sniped myself many a time I crumbled and tried it myself on a light meter I really wanted because it didn't come up too often - so I held off bidding and logged on 30 mins before it was due to end.. and the seller had ended the auction a day early!
So there... a lesson duely learnt the hard way - I went back to bidding properly again after that and - shock - paid a fair price for the meter of someone else. Everyone happy.
Moral tale for the day there.

celluloidprop · 12-03-2005

A counter at the bottom gives a very good idea of how popular an item is. Once something is on my watch list, I don't really go back to it until I'm ready to bid anyway, I just track the price in 'My Ebay.'

sf · 12-03-2005

Thanks everyone. I have removed the note from my listing because the response was mostly either for its lack of value or its possible negative effect on the sale.

Thanks for the help.

reagan · 12-03-2005

Ethically, I don't see a problem with it. As long as there's no identity attached (even though you're identified the moment you bid, so...)

Probably best to weigh each case individually but, it's a sellers option, right? If you think you can use it to your advantage, use it. Seeing little interest might encourage some to watch... seeing a lot of interest might discourage others, but hey, you've still got the "lot of interest" without them.

... IMHO

12-03-2005

Maybe someone will use the "buy it now" and your worries will be over. Could happen...if it's not over-priced.

sf · 12-03-2005

I don't think it's overpriced. Relative to the other lenses of similar capabilities (75mm and fast F5.6), it is lower cost - considerably. And totally clean.

I do hope that someone will use the buy it now function.

I basically got rid of this stuff to pay for an RF645 that I just bought from Robert White. SO, I'm not selling it because it is faulty, but only because I have to.

One way or another, it needs to sell before I leave for Europe.

Thanks for all the input.

jan normandale · 12-03-2005

Hi Shutter, as a buyer I always assume there will be last minute bids from previously 'invisible bidders' these bidders are no surprise to me or anyone else. I think they are good for your item. Usually they push prices up in the last moments, as a vendor that has to be good.

Often I watch items not to bid but to get an idea of value before I bid on an item. So sending me a note would be irrelevant. I'm watching not bidding.

If you have a reserve, you don't have to sell. However the market is usually not too far wrong in either direction up or down.

SteveM(PA) · 12-03-2005

I've found that every bit of photo gear I've bid on over the past year involved sniping activity, but I've won out a couple of times. I've decided to employ a "one bid policy:" I decide what I REALLY want, do my research, make peace with myself, take a deep breath, and insert my single, final price, and let it ride. I'll just try again if I lose. I've found the only items I NEVER get sniped on are used harmonicas. NOBODY wants those, except me it seems. Go immune system!

CleverName · 12-03-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by langdon auger

I've decided to employ a "one bid policy:"

That is what I do. I just really hate it when I'm winning an auction for a week then get outbid by a dollar two seconds before it ends.
Oh, well. It sold for $1. more than I wanted to pay...

GeneW · 12-03-2005

I lost two bids yesterday. I was out and unable to be around at the close of the auction, so I calculated what I thought was a reasonable bid, for me, and let them ride. Both were outbid near the end of the auctions by $10 in one case, and $1 in the other. Too bad, but so what? One thing to bear in mind with auction items: there's *always* another and sometimes a reasonable bid takes it. Stay disciplined ...

Gene

LazyHammock · 12-03-2005

I am an auction "sniper" as you put it. I don't make any apologies for it. I input the maximum I am willing to pay but do it 20 seconds or so before the bid ends. If someone has a maximum bid higher than mine and I lose out, tough luck. The reality is you put in what you are willing to pay, if you had the chance to up your bid at the end of the auction and ended up paying over the odds for an item you'd probably kick yourself later. It is easy to get caught up in the heat of the moment and pay too much. Gene gives excellent advice - "there is always another".
At the end of the day someone wanted it more than you, be sure to put in your maximum bid.
That being said, I hope I didn't burn any of you guys in the process!

sf · 12-03-2005

well thanks. As a seller, the issue for me is, well, I just want to sell the item.

Maybe my price is too high. $650 for a 75mm SWD? Too much? I am just trying to fine tune the listing to the thing will sell. ANd I can't afford to relist it because time will not allow that.

As a bidder, I always put in the highest price that I would be willing to pay. But I sometimes have trouble with the fuzzy area - that 10 or 20 bucks extra that would have won it. But not a big deal. If I had won my last auction I would have paid 1500 bucks for an RF645 that I just bought from Robert White for 1100. WHo knows what that bidder was thinking.

This is meant to be my last Ebay sale. From now on, buying only. Selling here, because I won't have anything but RF gear after this sale. Well, except for my D70 but that goes to the DSLR forum. . . if it goes.

if a 75mm SWD seems like something you might like, give it a look. listing # 7567424577. Actually. . . . if anyone is looking for a WA lens, but has no money for it, and has something interesting to trade, I will consider that too.

3 days and 22 hours left.

thanks

Kin Lau · 12-03-2005

Don't forget... just because the winning bid is $1- more than yours, doesn't mean the max bid the guy put in wasn't over $100- more.

What I really hate, is to be outbid, and then see the same item relisted because the high bidder wasn't serious.

Poptart · 12-03-2005

If you have a single bidder and several watchers, you may email the bidder and let him know in case he wants to increase his max bid.

RJBender · 12-04-2005

Congratulations! Someone hit the buy it now button.

R.J.

sf · 12-04-2005

yes they did. They auction has ended, and the buyer seems to have a good feedback history.

thanks to all for the input.