Ebay BINs

ChiSoxCardboard · #1 06-30-2013, 07:56 PM

I don't think making offers is against the rules...but offering to deal off of eBay is against the rules. Some sellers don't care, but most medium- to high-volume sellers won't entertain such offers because they don't want eBay to ding them.

If I were you, I'd just drop him a note that says if he dropped the price on eBay to such and such a price, you'd hit the BIN immediately. Only risk for you is that you don't hit it in time and someone else gets it. No risk to the seller if he's willing to part with the card at that price.

auggiedoggy · #2 07-01-2013, 12:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChiSoxCardboard

I don't think making offers is against the rules...but offering to deal off of eBay is against the rules. Some sellers don't care, but most medium- to high-volume sellers won't entertain such offers because they don't want eBay to ding them.

If I were you, I'd just drop him a note that says if he dropped the price on eBay to such and such a price, you'd hit the BIN immediately. Only risk for you is that you don't hit it in time and someone else gets it. No risk to the seller if he's willing to part with the card at that price.

I did something similar to that once. The seller had a card listed with a BIN price but no Best Offer so I sent a message suggesting that if they relisted with a Best Offer I would offer $x for the card. I never suggest off-line transactions. The seller messaged me back and shortly thereafter the item was relisted, I made my offer and it was accepted. The card had been listed for quite some time at $1400.00 with no takers. My offer was $1000.00.

As far as sellers that continually list items at high BIN prices, I've found that it helps if you know the seller's tendencies. There is one seller on eBay that lists items at high BINs. I've purchased many cards from him because he periodically discounts his items 20%. Even with the discount his stuff is a bit pricey. When a sale is on, I offer him 80% of his asking price because I know that is his comfort zone. A few times I've offered 75% of his asking price but they are typically rejected with a few exceptions.

bobbyw8469 · #3 07-01-2013, 12:22 AM

Quote:

Definitely! He responded to my messages within minutes and shipped the very next day. I believe a model for all eBay sellers.

Thank you! I try to be one of the best!

Theoldprofessor · #4 07-01-2013, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChiSoxCardboard

I don't think making offers is against the rules...but offering to deal off of eBay is against the rules. Some sellers don't care, but most medium- to high-volume sellers won't entertain such offers because they don't want eBay to ding them.

If I were you, I'd just drop him a note that says if he dropped the price on eBay to such and such a price, you'd hit the BIN immediately. Only risk for you is that you don't hit it in time and someone else gets it. No risk to the seller if he's willing to part with the card at that price.

I did exactly this on a card I'd been watching for over a year. Month after month -- same card, same inflated price. In my note I told the seller I'd had an eye on the card, that it seemed apparent that it wasn't going to sell at that price, and that would buy it if he'd lower the price to &%*$&&!!!! I even suggested a time when he might do that, after which I'd jump on it. (Enlightened self interest) He agreed, I got my card, he got about as much loot as he would ever get for it, and eBay rang up another sale.

Not illegal, not even cheating. Just a good deal for everybody.

thecatspajamas · #5 07-01-2013, 02:19 PM

I really don't think anybody is going to get offended by an offer of 10-15% below their asking price. It's the offers of 85-90% below asking that tick sellers off. It sounds ridiculous, but as a seller with Best Offer enabled on practically everything I list, I can tell you I get at least one or two of those a day. And as a result, my blocked bidders list grows almost daily...

frankbmd · #6 07-01-2013, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thecatspajamas

I really don't think anybody is going to get offended by an offer of 10-15% below their asking price. It's the offers of 85-90% below asking that tick sellers off. It sounds ridiculous, but as a seller with Best Offer enabled on practically everything I list, I can tell you I get at least one or two of those a day. And as a result, my blocked bidders list grows almost daily...

Lance, your point is well taken but,

if a seller has a $150 card listed with a $900 BIN and his other listings have comparably marked up asking prices, I have no hesitation in making an offer of $150. If he blocks me, I could care less and he keeps his inventory forever. I think it depends on who is being unreasonable. I know that I wont be blocked at his estate sale.

4815162342 · #7 07-01-2013, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frankbmd

... I know that I wont be blocked at his estate sale.

Ouch!

pawpawdiv9 · #8 07-01-2013, 03:40 PM

Yep- i recently just dropped my items 10%. A fellow board memeber told me they were reasonable prices...and he told me to drop it 10% the other day, since i was not getting offers.
I do set a minimum offer requirement on Ebay..so i dont get low-ball offers, some still slip thru. SO then, I even suggest paypal gift..which cuts a good bit off it more.

thecatspajamas · #9 07-01-2013, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frankbmd

Lance, your point is well taken but,

if a seller has a $150 card listed with a $900 BIN and his other listings have comparably marked up asking prices, I have no hesitation in making an offer of $150. If he blocks me, I could care less and he keeps his inventory forever. I think it depends on who is being unreasonable. I know that I wont be blocked at his estate sale.

Ha! Okay, fair enough. I was thinking more of my own case, where I price things at something resembling fair market value: maybe not bargain basement prices, but certainly not 6x-10x what an item is worth. Bottom line though is that, whether it's the buyer or the seller who is being unreasonable, if there is that much disparity in the perceived value of the item, I think both parties are better off moving on to the next deal.

And just for the record, I've been selling on eBay for a looong time, and haven't always had the "block the bottom-feeders" policy. Even when I used to at least counter every offer I received though, no matter how ridiculous the initial offer, I can't recall a single instance where someone started out at 10-15% of my asking price and we finally settled somewhere in the middle.

HOF Yankees · #10 07-01-2013, 04:40 PM

I had a similar experience. I was after a card on ebay that was xx amount and I forgot to make an offer cause I wanted the item, but then a few weeks later I asked if the item would be back up, seller responds that it would be. He sends me a message saying the amount he would accept is xx dollars. The buy it now was what he was asking, and in the end I bought the item. I never have had a seller tell me what he would accept.

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