ファブリス
Administrator
From: Belgium
Registered: 2006-06-14
Posts: 4021
Website
I'm seling my old iMac on eBay.
Someone's sending a few questions. One of his questions (roughly translated) is:
"Would you accept a direct offer? To avoid eBay fees?"
He says he lives in the region, and I selected the "direct exchange" option (no delivery).
I'm thinking telling him something like "sure, if the sale doesn't go through", because this doesn't seem fair to other buyers. EDIT: Actually that's not even allowed by eBay it seems. (to cancel an auction earlier to sell off the site).
What do you think?
And what does he mean with the fees anyway, am I not the one to pay the 6-8% fee?
What difference does it make to him if I pay the fees, not sure I understand? ?_?
Thanks
PotbellyPig
Member
From: New York
Registered: 2012-01-29
Posts: 337
There are no fees for buyers. I don't see any reason why he would want to do this. Uusally a buyer would want to end an auction early to avoid other bidders. But then you can add a "Buy it Now" price at the price point negotiated. You are the one who would save on the fees if you did the transaction off ebay. Doesn't sound right to me. And if he is from a foreign country from yours, I would definitely say forget it.
Last edited by PotbellyPig (2012 October 15, 3:49 pm)
ファブリス
Administrator
From: Belgium
Registered: 2006-06-14
Posts: 4021
Website
He says he lives in the area, but yeah, this is odd.
It's odd because I checked his profile which has lots of positive comments, seems fairly active.
Based on his other questions he seems cautious ie. does it have defective pixels, is it used by smokers?, etc; Which seem reasonable to me.
But, apparently eBay allows the seller to end an auction earlier at the request of one of the bidders, which I assume it means one person who *has placed a bid already.
He asks for a photo, a few things which he didn't read my description properly since I spent the time to make more photos and put a link to an additional gallery 
Now it's pretty obvious to me that the buyer should expect to be able to run the computer and test it for a bit before packing it up, or isn't it obvious for most sellers?
Cause I'm thinking maybe he's worried about committing a price to the auction and then finding out the product isnot as described. But then again, surely a buyer can cancel a purchase? Especially when the auction include "payment on location" (ie. from hand to hand).
ファブリス
Administrator
From: Belgium
Registered: 2006-06-14
Posts: 4021
Website
@PotbellyPig
Yeah I don't enjoy selling all that much to be honest, and I don't want the hassle of shipping. I just set "pick up on location/ payment on location" in the auction (translating). It doesn't seem to bother people. I even had a guy come from Brussels ~120 km away who was "going south" during the weekend, to pick up a gaming mouse. I noticed earlier iMac sales starting at 900-ish could get as high as 1200 €, so I didn't set a "insta buy" price on it.
@onafarm
Hmm well not sure which way to take your sarcastic comment :p I mean, eBay isn't exactly cheap here, I think I'll be paying up to 40 € in fees. I don't mind myself, but still. I'm just puzzled as to what difference it makes to the buyer, since he doesn't have to pay the fee.
I'm thinking maybe he hopes to haggle or get a cheaper price.
qwertyytrewq
Member
From: Gall Bladder
Registered: 2011-10-18
Posts: 529
ファブリス wrote:
And what does he mean with the fees anyway, am I not the one to pay the 6-8% fee?
What difference does it make to him if I pay the fees, not sure I understand? ?_?
Thanks
In business, a cost to the seller is also a cost to the buyer.
In theory, if you remove a cost (for example the eBay fee), then a saving for the seller is also a saving for the buyer. Usually, a business would just pocket the extra profit.
You as an eBay seller can decide. Suppose you wanted to sell your iMac for $500. Then the buyer says, $500 is too much for me, how about I give you a quick sale for $450 outside of eBay? Sure, you get less for it ($50 less) but you also avoid the fees and get a quick sale.
It's your choice to make.
prink
Member
From: Minneapolis
Registered: 2010-11-02
Posts: 200
This does seem odd. I've sold hundreds of things on eBay and have not once run into this. One explanation might be that he doesn't want to wait for the auction to end, and maybe the only reason he mentioned the fees was an attempt to talk you into going out of your way to oblige him.
There's also the "buy it now" button, but I don't ever use it. You may or may not be able to activate it mid-auction. For future reference as well, there's also a "buy it now or best offer" button, which would allow you to close an auction early, but it would still go through eBay and take fees.
There's also Craigslist.
Last edited by prink (2012 October 16, 3:09 am)
ファブリス
Administrator
From: Belgium
Registered: 2006-06-14
Posts: 4021
Website
Zarxrax wrote:
So what is his goal? He wants the item, and he probably wants it at a cheaper price. (you don't have to pay the fees, so why not let him off a little cheaper? That's probably his view)
Right, but there isn't a "Buy it now" option. It's an auction. I've set a minimum price which I feel comfortable with, to bid on.
In my mind, here's someone who's already trying to shave off money from what I set as the minimum price/starting price for the auction. I don't really see that as a win win situation.
Mind, he didn't mention a price or get back to me. But then again, if he wasn't looking to shave off the starting price, why even ask to close the deal outside of eBay?
@Hyperborea
Thanks those are some good reminders.
Yes I was surprised the person picking up a Steelseries mouse I sold on eBay thought I was going to give it to them at the door. I invited the guy inside for 5 min to show him it worked. I guess I'm too scrupulous >_>
So even now with this iMac I thought it would be obvious that people could try it before packing it up, but apparently from the questions I get on eBay it's not obvious.
I was wondering if the iMac buyer wants to use PayPal because he hasn't got in touch yet.