Ending Ebay listings early

[Jayworld]

eBay states that a seller may end a listing early for the following reasons:
1. The item is broken, lost, or otherwise no longer available for sale
2. You made a mistake in creating the listing

Further, eBay states that if you end an auction within 12 hours or less of the auction ending, your only option is to sell the item to the highest bidder if the item has bids. If over 12 hours, you can end the auction and either do nothing or sell to the highest bidder.

Also states, which I find interesting:
Sellers are not allowed to cancel bids and end listings early in order to avoid selling an item that did not meet the desired sale price. This is considered to be a violation of our reserve price policy. Although there are legitimate reasons for ending a listing early, abuse of this option will be investigated.

I have bought and sold on eBay for 14 years, although hardly at all in the past two years. During that time, I have been asked twice to end an auction early, and both times I politely declined and stated that the auction would run until the end.

[rainier2004]

I see your point Zach and also agree with most of what you said and usually say - I have this story for you.

Im looking for 1915 CJ per norm, notice an HOFer for sale advertised as a 1915 but was really a 1914 with a starting price of 99 cents...informed seller who told me I was wrong, sent another email explaining my logic and reasoning. He ignored me, and I bought the card for about 40-50% of it worth. I felt he needed to know the truth and never understood his defensiveness. I would have thought making him an offer to end early would have been deceptive but we each are responsible for ourselves and actions and this guy obviously didnt know what he had, but nor did he care.
Where is the moral line here? I think we as collectors make our own rules...

[D. Bergin]

I will also say, there have been a few occasions I have continued an auction after getting an offer I believe is probably better then I will ever see by the end of the auction.

Usually on cheaper items. A relative of a subject wants me to end an auction early and offers me more then I expect to get. Generally there's already a bid on the item and I wish them luck in the bidding and tell them there's a good chance they may be able to get it for cheaper then they offered.

[drc]

Several years back I got an offer for a football trophy, told him I didn't end auctions early but if he bid he'd more than probably win it for less than his offer, and he did.

I'm not into hassles, so if something involves end this, do that, jump through hoop, I'll often pass. On a convenience level, it was easer to just let auctions run as planned.

A common phrase of mine in real life is, "If it's going to be a hassle, I'm not going to do it." Personality defect or strength, I don't know.

[Runscott]

Straight auctions run to the end. I used to end them early if there were no other bidders, but my thinking now is that doing that hurts my credibility with bidders in other straight auctions.

[Gradedcardman]

I can tell you that I have been "late" to the party many times on cards I wanted. There were a few auctions running there course a few months ago and after 3 days the auction was ended. There were numerous bids on each so I naturally thought the auction would run its course. I was wrong. Now I will ask if I feel strongly about a lot. If someone takes offense to this they can either not respond to the inquiry or tell me to go jump off a building. If you don't ask you don't get.

I have done this many times. It never hurts to ask and I wouldn't blame them for doing it to an auction I was bidding on either. I made an offer once during an auction and the seller accepted. I thought I paid a fair amount just to get an email a few days later telling me he got a better offer and took that. Part of the game we play

[freakhappy]

I don't believe there is anything unethical about asking a seller to end their auction early. I can see where it may frustrate people, but in no way is it unethical. You are not taking advantage of anyone by emailing them, but rather just asking them if they would take your offer on a particular item. If an item has a bid on it, I don't ask to end it early, but that's just me. Usually I email a seller if they have a BIN that I don't quite like the price of and see if they will drop it somewhat. If they don't, I move on with life...it's as simple as that. People that have a problem with this type of activity simply do not have to participate...it hurts no one.

I think David was correct in his assessment and the example he gave.

[steve B]

Originally Posted by freakhappy

People that have a problem with this type of activity simply do not have to participate...it hurts no one.

The same could be said for taking steroids.
Or cheating on someone
Or doing drugs
Or robbing banks.

Wrong is wrong.

Steve B

[zljones]

Originally Posted by rainier2004

I see your point Zach and also agree with most of what you said and usually say - I have this story for you.

Im looking for 1915 CJ per norm, notice an HOFer for sale advertised as a 1915 starting at 99 cents...informed seller who told me I was wrong, sent another email explaining my logic and reasoning. He ignored me, and I bought the card for about 40-50% of it worth. I felt he needed to know the truth and never understood his defensiveness. I would have thought making him an offer to end early would have been deceptive but we each are responsible for ourselves and actions and this guy obviously didnt know what he had, but nor did he care.
Where is the moral line here? I think we as collectors make our own rules...

Yup we should not be accountable, unless someone maybe mislabels an auction then emails saying they accidentally priced it wrong then I can see helping them cancel it. But if someone is just ignorant then they deserve what's coming. We all want to save money and collect at the same time and if we can get a deal, why think you are doing a terrible thing? The person selling it obviously will be much happier having "X" amount of money instead of the card.