|
|
Joined:
May 2002
Posts: 1026
Location: Back in the Valley of the Sun Mesa Az. | I tried buying this guitar with the Buy It Now feature this morning (about ten-fifteen times). For whatever reason Paypal was down and would not complete the transaction (as it required immediate payment). Anyway, I contacted the seller and explained the situation to her... she responded that she couldn't tell if there were any bids or buy it now actions... So she would know that I wanted the guitar, I told her that I would bid the entire $625.00 amount and asked that she close the auction and sell it for her but-it-now price of $625.00.
Like a dummy, I went ahead and bid the amount. I re-emailed the owner explaining what I did, and asked if we could close the auction. She wrote back explaining that unfortunately, she was BOUND to let the auction continue as an "ethical" seller, and that I would have to wait until the end of auction to see if I win. She said "by the way" that she has received much interest through the auction, and offers to buy the guitar OUTSIDE of ebay (ethical?!).
What a joke...so she can use my bid to drive the price up, knowing that the worst she can do is take ol Norseman's Buy It Now bid price. I can pull my bid, but doesn't that affect your ebay bidding status?!
Waskel is one of the other people interested...John, be careful.
It's frustrating because if Paypal was up and running earlier today, I would own this guitar without any hassle. Now I feel I'm being taken advantage of due to my lack of ebay saavy, and genuine honesty.
Perhaps there is a reason for this...but DANG it's frustrasting!!!!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320004869291 |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 1421
Location: Orange County, California | Norsey,
Cancel your bid and see if the BIN comes back. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2003
Posts: 4619
Location: SoCal | My experience with the seller - good disclosure, no games. I don't believe there is any problem with the auction.
Reason I contacted the seller (Vicki) was to see if she would accept the $625; if so, then ship it to you. Hopefully, you will get it at your bid.
This is the problem when a seller has a BIN but no reserve...first bid, BIN gone. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | It does seem a bit tacky to offer a BIN, then when (through no fault of the buyer) it doesn't work, retract it.
Scott, if you can get it, it's yours. You would have had it had the BIN been working. I'll just have to wait my turn. I need to find my Viper, anyway... |
|
| |
|
Joined:
May 2002
Posts: 1026
Location: Back in the Valley of the Sun Mesa Az. | well, I tried retracting the bid, and I cannot under the rules (unless I "unethically" said I bid the wrong price).
I have been on this computer all day over this thing and I'm sick of it. I believe she is holding back now, due to the interest you guys (and potentially others) have given.
So, if no one does bid in four days of waiting, she knows she can simply bid $625.00 herself and kick it up another $50.00. I guess it's a little like having your cake and eating it too.
She can keep the d*mn thing...and if you guys want it take it...whatever...I guess I don't need it THAT bad! Someone PLEEEEZE bid $626.00 and be happy with the thing. YUK!
I'm out of here. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | No sweat, Norsey. If it's still below $625 in 4 days, I'll take it off your hands.
What are friends for? |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2004
Posts: 1673
Location: SoCal | The Seller can close the auction and sell to their highest bidder.
A Buyer is allowed to ask the Seller for a buy-it-now price.
Just cancel your bid. You have your communication with the Seller to back you up. You did bid the wrong price... you were going for the buy-it-now! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
July 2002
Posts: 1900
| I don't imagine it would do any good to complain to ebay, seems like they always want it both ways..they make their rules to be 'seller-friendly'. I was high-bidder on an auction until the last day, then the seller cancelled the auction and relisted it at a higher price, and told me to take a hike if I didn't like it. Then I bit the bullet and bid on the second auction and once again became the high-bidder, then the seller copped an attitude and cancelled my bids all over again...seems like ebay has to draw the line somewhere...it's extremely unreasonable to allow their sellers to 'bait and switch' on a regular basis. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | I have also dealt with the seller...always up front and tries to do the right thing.
Norsey, just cancel your bids and don't lose any sleep over it. Then when the BIN comes back, place the BIN and take it home.
If the BIN doesn't come back, then wait it out and let it run its course.
The quicker you cancel, the more legit it will be. Wait too long and then it will look bad. For a reason, just state you thought you were doing the BIN and accidently screwed up. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
May 2002
Posts: 1026
Location: Back in the Valley of the Sun Mesa Az. | If she is trying to do the right thing...what is she doing to me?!
Obviously I want the guitar (even though my ranting out of frustration earlier says differently). I just don't see how it is unethical for her to stop the auction and sell me the guitar through ebay as the high bidder...heck, I'm the only bidder?!
According to rules, I cannot retract my bid anyway.
Somehow I'm left with the impression that "money" may have to do more with this situation than "ethics"...your past dealings with Vicki not withstanding. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | Norsey, if she doesn't end it now and give it to you for your current bid (the BIN!), it's not about ethics. Sorry this is taking such a toll on you - remember, I offered to relieve you of this burden... |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2004
Posts: 1673
Location: SoCal | "I have also dealt with the seller...always up front and tries to do the right thing."
That's been my take on the Seller too.
The first time the auction was up, there was no bidding war and Norseman stayed ahead of the pack. Relisting with a $625 BIN and Norseman immediately trying to meet it, probably gave the Seller thoughts that a higher amount could be had. Maybe someone will come along and throw a few more dollars on the table, but in the long run, I see it as a shameful day for vickiandsheri.
The Seller obviously was reading the two threads about their auction... check out the Bidder that bumped Norseman up to $625 also assuring that even if he did retract his bid, the BIN would not be exposed. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2005
Posts: 167
Location: Waxahachie, Tx | She obviously understood what you were trying to do in the first communication, She realized she can get more than 625.00. I say retract your bid because she did not complete her verbal agreement with you. Done. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
May 2002
Posts: 1026
Location: Back in the Valley of the Sun Mesa Az. | o.k.,I can't find the bid retraction section on ebay...anyone help with this? I had it earlier, but now I cannot find it.
Funny, I emailed Vicki that it was suggested to me that I retract my bid for the BIN...it was in a matter of seconds/minutes before suddenly the second bid occurred.
I've had enough and want out. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2003
Posts: 4619
Location: SoCal | looks like your bid was withdrawn and since we know the other bid was $625...I bid $626.
If I win, man from the North will have the option of getting it :)
Personally, I don't think the seller is doing anything unethical. Tried to find out the procedure for a single bid (at the time he wanted to rescind the bid), with a BIN and no reserve, and the single bidder wants the BIN restored. I think she is right, only other option would have been to cancel the auction and relist. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2003
Posts: 4619
Location: SoCal | I don't understand...never saw a reserve on this guitar; thought that is why the BIN disappeared.
Now with my bid, it says the reserve price has been met. :confused: :confused: :confused: |
|
| |
|
Joined:
May 2002
Posts: 1026
Location: Back in the Valley of the Sun Mesa Az. | O.K.,
I found the retract bid option... did so, and also sent a note to customer service.
I know it's a great deal, but I would hate to see another OFC'er bail her out, as it's pretty obvious to me what she was doing.
Anyway, to bad (for me anyway)...looks like a great guitar. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
May 2002
Posts: 1026
Location: Back in the Valley of the Sun Mesa Az. | o.k.
Didn't know you were bidding Tony, I wouldn't have had to retract my bid. By the way, the superglue remover worked great! I thought I'd try the "Duro" brand that I could get local, and it is working very well...I am taking a little at a time, as I don't want to actually take out the glue that is holding the crack shut (just the slop around it).
Peace |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2003
Posts: 4619
Location: SoCal | but then I would have had to bid $635 since it goes in increments of $10.
if it goes for my bid of $626, it is a super deal...and, will be up for adoption - Norseman 1st, Waskel 2nd; no one wants it, then I'll keep it. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
May 2002
Posts: 1026
Location: Back in the Valley of the Sun Mesa Az. | I just got a nasty email from Vicki, thanking me for retracting my bid, and playing off something I said that this whole transaction went from something exciting to becoming a real nightmare. She also said I made several accusational and inappropriate emails to her... I think it is all posturing, as I did send an email to customer service. Funny how things can get twisted and distorted...oh and my email is blocked, and I am no longer welcome to bid on anything she sells in the future.
What a crock!
If you win Tony...best of luck with it...I'm afraid it may have somekinda voodoo hex on it anyway...funny on how everything was honky-dory until I retracted my bid...then the fangs came out.
Glad I missed out on this "deal". |
|
| |
|
Joined:
May 2002
Posts: 1026
Location: Back in the Valley of the Sun Mesa Az. | ...by the way, I'm pretty sure she comes to the OFC board and checks it out... I mentioned that I knew of a few ovation fans that might be interested as well...man, it's a good thing I don't play poker...I'd go home broke and naked everytime! Nice to be honest and upfront...and get lubed for doing so!
That's one of the great things about this board...people who are real, say what they mean...and mean what they say! I somehow tried to transfer that same logic to cyberspace in general...and grew a little wiser on "the bay".
Norse(you learn something new everyday...sometimes things you knew and forgot!)man1 |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2004
Posts: 1673
Location: SoCal | Tony, I would have let Norseman retract his bid and let that other Bidder sit there with it. Looking at that other bidder's purchases, I wonder why they would be bidding on a 1537. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2003
Posts: 4619
Location: SoCal | Bruce, true-better to snipe at the end...other bidder was at $625. However, this way I could make a statement with one dollar extra.
Initially, I wrote the seller whether there was any way to work this out so that Norseman would get it at $625. As I mentioned earlier, my dealings with her have always been excellent...a good eBay'er to work with. After doing some reading, only way that I could see it happen would have been for seller to make a false reason and close the auction, then relist. The seller is a good one and she has the right to follow the rules. This got screwed up by the eBay problems - screwed up even more once there was more than one bid. Unfortunately, we don't have control over the monster that eBay has become.
Bruce, as we know, it is not uncommon for a seller to cancel an auction but it isn't the right thing to do. I have been in a number of auctions where someone bid and wiped out the BIN.
I understand Norseman's frustration - I have been unable to place a bid on a guitar I really wanted due to eBay's problem. If it stays low, adoption is a possibility, higher - I will drop out or keep it.
Not sure why there are several 1537's selling for less than they are worth. This one is well worth a decent bid.
We'll just have to see what happens. I have no problem working with this seller now or in the future. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2003
Posts: 1498
Location: San Bernardino, California | 1-800-717-ebay |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2004
Posts: 1673
Location: SoCal | The following is from eBay's rules: "It is acceptable for sellers to end a listing early in order to sell an item at the current bid price to the high bidder. Bidders are permitted to contact sellers with requests to end a listing early;"
If eBay Rules sanction the solution to Norseman's unsavory experience yesterday morning, how can the Seller claim that it would have been unethical? Norseman was their only bidder at the time... then that other bidder jumped in after some of us suggested to retract the bid and recapture the BIN :rolleyes:
Numerous guitar and amp auctions have "ethically" gone my way when the seller decided to end-it-early and sell to their highest bidder :D
It really gets me when a person uses "ethics and some of the rules" to justify one agenda, but has "justified" ignoring the rules at other times to achieve a different agenda (i.e., selling a guitar out of eBay after their reserve was not met).
As far as the low selling prices, summer usually is a buyer's market. |
|
| |
Bidder Beware!
The Ovation Fan Club -> For Sale
