eBay back door dealing

[Prometheus]

In light of a recent thread involving back door dealing on eBay, it made me think about how common place this has become almost to the point of ridiculousness (is that a word ). At the risk of being flamed, I have to confess that if something appears that I really want or have been searching for then I will contact the seller to ask then if they will be letting the auction run it's course or if they will accept an offer to end the auction early. I never used to do this but ultimately I have adopted the "if you can't beat 'em join 'em" attitude as I got so fed up with items disappearing before the end of the auction. I am always 100% happy when a seller states that they will let the auction run it's course, and always reply to let them know this.

Anyway I was curious, is it commonplace here amongst retrobikers or has my perception been distorted and I have just become part of the problem that ironically annoys me :roll: . I put up a poll so if people can vote anonymously.

Also what could ebay do to prevent this from happening?

[/confession]
Dave.

 

[tintin40]

Rarely option for me. Last time i did it was for a 94 Klein. Normally i'm selling on the bay

 

[cannondale king]

i do if its somthing i really really want it normally cost's me a pretty penny as well doing it that way but then its only if i really really really want somthing :shock:

 

[Radar]

I've sold a bit of stuff on fleabay with 'backdoor dealing' as you call it. Don't have a problem with it, unless someone has already placed a bid. If it has been bid on then the auction has to run. If no bids I see it as fair game

 

[T'boo Ted]

I clicked as a matter of course, but its more - more than rarely but not normally. usually just to see if they will, sometimes they will, sometimes not. and as a seller people ask it a fair bit, I don't mind if its easily done. But I do like it when you offer them a large amount, and the don't take it, and the item sells for nothing and you've move onto something else. personally I hate getting into bidding wars, or even having to wait till the end.

 

[perry]

Don't do it myself but I agree with Radar , if there's no bids then there's no harm .

 

[ratch]

Rarely option for me too, but i should point out it's never worked for me!! :roll: :roll:

Maybe my offers are to low

 

[eastcoaststeve]

In light of a recent thread involving back door dealing on eBay, \\quote]

Which thread might you be refering to???



Steve

 

[Easy_Rider]

Never never never. Winds me up when items dissapear. I would contact sellers and ask if they are letting it run until the end, otherwise i wont bother bidding, but this will probably be taken the wrong way.

It's just dishonest in my view. All my auctions have a line saying auction will run to the end and not finished early.

 

[dyna-ti]

I email a seller with a fair price.
But only if it has no bids on it,so i cant see the harm in that :?
If it has bids i wouldnt ask such a thing.
I try to avoid people that state 'advertised elsewhere' ,that to me sounds like a dodgy sell who wont surrender the item if you win,because he thinks it hasnt reached whatever figure he has in his head.
for instance
there was a Kona lavadome with about 4 hours to go,it had about 6 bids or so on it and it was withdrawn
That kind of seller pees me off something awful :evil: .Typically he only has a yellow star :?