Now that I have introduced my friend Linda (HGTV/RMS's Mom of a German Shorthair) to Ebay, it is only proper that I offer her some bidding advice...but the trouble is, I am a loser at Ebay.
A few years ago, my ID was stolen, and I closed my account. No lasting harm--and Dr. Gollum was tickled to death. He hates those horrid styrofoam peanuts that go hand-in-hand with fragile items. But all of this tablescaping has reawakened my Dish Beast. I tried to resist; but it wasn't long before I found myself skulking around the “pottery and glass” halls of Ebay.
I saw some deep, frilled soup bowls like Susan’s at Between Naps on the Porch. Three bowls were available. So, when I went to bid, I saw a box for “quantity.” Naturally I wanted all three bowls. So, I placed my maximum bid for all three. The seller assumed the bid was for each bowl. After a bit of a kerfuffle, it was sorted out (I’m picking up the Britishspeak, Kathy!). But I am now horribly daunted by this episode.
Because, right before Christmas, on a “Buy Now” item, the seller had a box titled “Make An Offer.” So I did. The offer was my maximum price (a bottom-feeding offer, to be sure) for two plates. Again, the seller assumed that the offer was per plate. Well, I got out of that one...but now I'm skerrit, as Young Bandwith Gollum used to say, to make any offers, or to bid on multiple items.
Dr. G is rolling his eyes as I type.
So, I wanted to open a discussion about Ebay. How do you navigate the murky waters? Have you ever encountered “shilling?”*
How do you detect shilling? Does it even exist?
Here's an example:
What happens if you’ve bid on an item, and you are outbid by an Ebayer without a star? True, there are scads of new Ebayers, and it takes time to build those stars...but what if the new Ebayer who is outbidding you (again and again) only has a history with one seller?
That said, there are bargains to be found. My mother didn't feel up to shopping last Christmas, so we bid on a silk Tabasco tie for Brother Gollum--99 cents. And just the other day I scored 4 teacups/saucers for $1 each. The shipping killed me...but still. These cups are listed for 20 times that at Replacements.com.
I also have a habit of watching many auctions and then totally forgetting about them. Linda says she has the opposite problem: She can't forget. :-) When I'm writing (and cooking), I keep an egg timer next to my laptop, or I set the alarm on my cell phone...I suppose I will have to buy another timer just for Ebay....
Finally, what is the secret to finding a true bargain? I try to cross-check prices at places like Replacements Ltd (but, as Susan says, they can be outrageously high). I Google the item and try to find a median price. But there's got to be a better way.
So, let's talk--pull up a chair, and let's puzzle it out. The coffee is fresh, and I have eclairs from the Publix bakery.
Shilling: An illegal practice where a seller’s friend (or the seller) creates an Ebay ID with the purpose of skewing the bidding.
Try...
ReplyDeletewww.auctionsniper.com
:) :) :)
It helps you win!
Dear me! I had never considered the possibility of someone "shilling" on Ebay. And in my limited buying experience (two items,) I haven't noticed (or researched) the star thing. Looks like I have more studying to do. Have a sparkling weekend in TN!
ReplyDeleteI received a notice the other day, I now have star status at E-bay..I think it's yellow, can't remember. I haven't bought many things and almost always use buy it now. My children are expert e-bayer's. One even bought a motorcycle, on e-bay..kept it awhile, then sold it, on e-bay!!
ReplyDeleteI'm afraid I wouldn't have great self control on the bidding thing. It happens to me, all the time at auctions...I get caught up in the moment.
Have a wonderful weekend. We're enjoying a beautiful snowfall, here at the lake.
You know, I never experienced it, but I have thought about it happening - okay, I take that back. I was bidding on a Coach locket accessory for my cell phone (a red heart locket for Jacob's sweet little face) and I think that I put the decimal point in the wrong spot and I had a heck-of-a-time correcting that situation. I told the seller come on be reasonable I wouldn't spend 175.00 for a 17.50 item and neither would you....I think that I had to involve ebay in the correction process....that was a few years back (during the hysterectomy years....you know what I mean) The seller had a good rating but was a power seller. So I think that one or two complaints at that time didn't really affect their rating very much.
ReplyDeleteYes, shilling does happen; and it usually happens when the colored stars show a big bidder. I can't prove it but when I bid I know what I am will to pay and I don't go over it. If I am looking for an item I always think it will be avaible again. I took shop comparison with Replacement Ltd. and have bought from them on items that I have looked for and never found for the odd china I have.
ReplyDeleteGood dish bidding.
Blossom
I have bought quite a lot of dishes and silverware on ebay...haven't had any trouble with someone trying to "stick it to me"...but I know I overpaid on some things. I am fearful of bidding as I tend to go over my limit because I get caught up in the moment..I have learned to stop and ask myself if I would pay that much at a store for the same item and that usually stops me from goin' crazy ! But, now that we are talking about it, I am just dieing to go over THERE and check things out. Oh, no...wonder if it is like a gambling addition??
ReplyDeleteInteresting post, Mizz Gollum....
xo bj
Thanks for the eclair Gollum and I am enjoying Joss Stone etc in the background but as far as ebay is concerned I have never bought or sold anything. I have looked around and even found some things I would dearly have loved to have owned, but as you say it all seems like a lot of kerfuffle to me (smiles). My kids however talk about how they sold all their old stuff and made a profit and how they got this and that for next to nothing, I have never heard them talk about shilling, the only shilling I know is the old British coins. My son did have a seller disappear on him (after he had taken his money), ebay sorted it out eventually, so be careful, I guess there are good and bad elements. I think I prefer your little antique shop where you can see the goods, pay your money and walk out with your prize :). well that's my tuppence worth, have a blast :), hugs, Kathy.
ReplyDeleteI'm not huge on Ebay, but I do float around once in a while. I'm just happy to say that it hasn't gotten so bad that I have to set multiple timers throughout my house! Now that is stinkin' funny.
ReplyDeleteJustine :o )
I really don't worry too much about shilling. I know what my maximum price that I am willing to pay is & if I get it for that "fine" & if not, well then it wasn't meant to be. I know it happens but I'm too cheap to be cheated out of my auctions. ;o)
ReplyDeleteI'm what you call a sniper. People sometimes say it like it's a bad name or something but that's by people who don't understand the basics of eBay. eBay isn't like a live aution where you bid in increments. On Ebay, you place your maximum bid.... it may be $25 & you win the auction for $3. Ebay will only use as much of your bid money as is necessary to win.
The problem w/ setting your maximum bid ahead of time is that it gives those, who don't understand eBay's system, a chance to outbid you. I snipe (which means I come in at the very last second w/ my maximum bid) & I use an automated sniper...... http://www.snipeswipe.com/
You enter your auction # & bid ahead of time, & snipeswipe places the bid for you at the very last second. It's $5 for $500 worth of wins. There are other free sites but you can only do one auction at a time. On snipeswipe you can schedule multiple snipes. I have done hundreds of auctions this way & only one time did my bid not go through. It happened to me many times when I was doing it manually.
Sniping is the best way to get the best deal on what you want & automtated sniping is the only way to go...unless you like heart-racing adrenaline rushes. In which case, do it manually.
I owe ebay big time. I very unfortunately sold a set of china in a yard sale and regretted it the second I put it in the ladies car. The very next day I started searching for them on the internet. I knew I had to have it back! Anyway, for years I kept looking for it and wahla one day on ebay I put in the right spelling of poinsettia. I had been spelling it wrong! I bought it all back a few plates at a time. I love them back in my pantry and no more yard sales for me. Other than that I've made about 60-70 transactions on ebay over the years. I like buying on ebay because you can find things quickly that you can't go out and buy. I have a real love for vintage tablecloths and vintage embroidered pillowcases, linens. When summer comes around I can't wait to post some tablescapes on Tuesday with my vintage collection.
ReplyDeletePS I know I've been shilled!
I usually research whatever I'm interested in & I try to not get caught up in the "Igottahavenow" syndrome. I look at completed auctions for the item to get a feel for a good price.
ReplyDeleteI ALWAYS check feedback. If the seller has negative feedback I track it down to see what the buyer wrote. Sometimes I even go so far as to see the buyers feedback to determine whether they have a pattern. If their feedback rating is low, I won't buy an expensive item. If I have a bad feeling, I don't buy from the seller regardless of how badly I want the item.
If you feel the shipping is too high, ask the seller to recheck it. EBay doesn't "allow" exorbitant shipping charges anymore. A seller should charge enough to recoup their costs & should be willing to tell you their breakdown. You can file a complaint. I've had problems with Ebay's shipping calculator & lost some buyers over it. I finally gave up & calculate my own shipping.
BUY INSURANCE IF IT'S NOT OFFERED! I bought a pair of yellow McCoy vases a few years & they were both broken when they arrived. The seller shipped them with UPS & they cover insurance up to $100 without additional charge. I got my money back, but I'd rather have had the vases.
I've bought A LOT of Ralph Lauren bedding on eBay. I can find the most amazing deals on it... (I need to list the Cossette bedding bought several years ago. I was planning to re-do the bedroom then reality hit. What was I thinking? black background with blond dogs?)
My usrid is fourpawsandco on eBay too & my feedback is up to 346 now. Send me an e-mail if you have more questions. ☺ Diane
Hi!
ReplyDeleteI've been selling fulltime on ebay as a PowerSeller for over 8 years and I also teach ebay classes. I'll be happy to answer ant questions any of you have. Just email me at darlene@learningfromapro.com
The first time I went to ebay (just to browse), I browsed for 5 hrs. I was too afraid to bid on anything, but after turning my computer off at 4:00 a.m., I decided I'd better stay clear of Ebay. I KNEW it would become a time-consuming, money-consuming addition for me, and I haven't browsed ebay since. All of you bloggers sure make me want to though. laurie
ReplyDeleteI have some good, and some bad experiences buying on ebay.
ReplyDeleteYou really have to know the value, and do your research!
I bought a Farberware coffee urn which arrived after a month, broken, with parts missing.
By the time I got the pot, he was no longer a seller...
So, you definitely take your chances..
I saw someone trying to sell napkin rings from the Dollar Tree for 5 dollars plus shipping!
The shipping is the killer for me, so most of the time, I look but don't bid.
Replacements is crazy with their prices. And when you sell to them, they offer pennies..
But if it is something you have been looking for for years, I guess for that person , it is worth it..
Definitely check the feedback to see what people say! Even some negative feedback can be explained in some cases.
ReplyDeleteI use the "Watch this auction" if there is something I'm interested in but don't want to bid at that moment. You get an email when the ending is getting close to remind you.
It sounds like you know what to look for in shilling..if you suspect it, bid the high of what you want and no more..at times I get an email saying the winner backed out and they offer it to me as the second bidder.. sometimes at that point you can negotiate the price and/or shipping.
Something else I check is the past auctions as to what something has sold for..it also tells you if somehing didn't sell and will probably be relisted at some point so you have a second chance!
Luckily I've never had a bad transaction in buying or selling and have a feedback creeping to 500! Email the seller on any questions or to clarify the bid is for one or all..they would rather have the question asked up front..
Good Luck... The hunt is fun!!
The first thing I bought was a car. My brother has bought all their cars on there. I looked up and emailed the people this person had done business with . Did a search on the title then started 1/2 hr before it closed out. I got my Extera for 5 thousand less than I would have gotten it here. Kathy
ReplyDeleteI both Buy and Sell on ebay. I have 100% Feedback which I am proud of... problem is now you can't leave negative feedback so now you have to read the feedback to see if there are any negative comments.
ReplyDeleteI did notice that if you bid an amount and then ebay asks you if you want to raise your maximum it lists you twice once right after the other. To me that is a dead giveaway to the seller that you are willing to pay more and he may up the bid himself.
I've also had sellers email me that the person who outbid me has since withdrawn their bid and would I like to have the item at my highest bid? I always say No. I find it suspicious and assume they upped the bid themself and went too far or expected me to bid more.
So my tip is never up your max unless someone else bids agains you. In fact I don't put a max. I do the last minute Snipe. If I don't win... I don't win.
My big tip is if you are listing items under different catagories that you recheck your subcategories... sometimes you forget to change them and can have clothing listed under household items. They won't come up if someone does a category search. I have many times emailed a seller to tell them they had a vase listed under children's shoes, etc. I try to be nice. Yes, me. Nice. lol.
Hi Gollum,
ReplyDeleteIt's my first visit to your blog but I am really enjoying it. The subject of "ebay" caught my attention. I don't really know how many years I have been using it..but yes, it can, if you let it, become an addiction. Blogging can become an addiction too. I enjoy ebay and have my favorite sellers that I return to.
I had never heard of "shilling" on ebay before. Things can happen though and I just had some money returned to me through ebay. Early on I bid on a doll and the seller took my money and never sent the doll. It was over a hundred dollars with the shipping. I didn't bid again for a year. Ebay does better to protect their seller now I think. As one of your readers wrote..read the feedback. I read the feedback..sometimes on both sides.
Actually, I am not at all hot on bidding with any seller that has anything less than 100% feedback. I have gone against that rule and been sorry. There is one or two..but only if the volume of the seller is very high and it is just one or two negitives. Even then BE CAREFUL and check out your seller carefully. 100% feedback is best. Be cautious with new sellers and communicate with them if you have even one single question. Then..keep those emails.
Ebay could ask for them if there is a problem. Shake anything breakable before you accept it. Your UPS man will open it for you if there is doubt. And..DO NOT OPEN it if you can hear a rattle at all. You will have to pay postage to return it if you do. I am sure you probably know all of these things..
I don't use a snipper thing..I do it my self. If you want the item bad enough you will earmark it within 20 minutes or so..and wait.
KNOW YOUR LIMIT. Don't go over it as there will always be another.
Sorry to have made this so long..
Have fun. There are those that know much more than I, I'm sure.
Mona
I can't really offer any advice about bidding and such. My first experience was 2 years ago. My grandson wanted a playstation2 so badly he could taste it. Well.. not enough funds for a new one, so I thought why not try ebay. I got on found one, bid on it and won.. Paid $42.00 for that and 3 games. Then I began to worry. Will it even come? It did come and I wrapped it up so proud of myself. Wise child that I have, asked, "mother did you bother to see if it works?" Well, of course I hadn't. I had to unwrap the silly thing and then try to figure out how to hook it up and try it out..that was a total waste of time. SO, I wrapped it back up and prayed that it would work and the grandson not be disappointed. Thank the Lord and all the Saints because it works, is still working and he's just the happiest little camper. That was my first and last adventure bidding and winning on ebay. So, all the best to those that try and win.. hugs ~lynne~
ReplyDeleteOh.. forgot my biggest tip. I pay for everything via PayPal backed up by my American Express card, not my bank account.
ReplyDeleteAny problem I encounter I dispute the charge on my Amex card. I tried doing it through PayPal first but they are not very helpful.
Amex always takes me side and I get my money back. They rock! Just have enough info to back-up your claim.
I do not know a thing about the process. I bought some books on dolls houses a few years ago, and someone else handled the whole transaction for me - I did not even have a computer at home at that time. :) I have heard stories about some bad experiences. I am one of these people who likes to see the item in person before I buy. Sorr, no help.
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend.
Glenda
I meant Sorry, no help - Not Sorr
ReplyDelete:-) Glenda
I had to check out our ebay profile before I commented - we have been members since Jan. 1999 with 120 transactions, both buying & selling, with a 100% rating. So, I guess we have had some experience without any problems. When buying, we are very disciplined, set our limits and stick to it. We really factor in the cost of shipping - that can wreck a bargain very fast!! We also use ebay to check on the going prices for the things we buy locally. I've purchased some wonderful dishes on ebay over the years, but have managed to stay reasonable in my purchases. Sally
ReplyDeletei had identity theft the MINUTE i signed up to ebay the year they started, cc snatched and they were charging in london before i hit the complete button... needless to say i dumped ebay instantly to never return, well until this summer...
ReplyDeletei grow bearded iris and wanted to sell, not buy, and braved my first transaction. umm, once you get paypal, it gets a wee bit too easy to shop...
me, i never bid, i think what i look at is grossly overpriced. sadly i shop enough in real life that when i see things at ebay they are often times 100% inflated, BEFORE bidding takes place. unless you are SITTING WITH THE EGG TIMER, all the bids happen the last 15 seconds as the sharks hit the live wire~ a wee bit to stressful shopping for me. and lets not forget the additional price gouging on shipping~ i only do buy it nows and contact the seller BEFORE with a firm shipping price, as you can imagine my shopping is very minimal at ebay if i only want a deal and fair pricing.
now if you want to talk amazon and their blue light specials and 70% off deals, thats where i collect fantastic deals, with free shipping to boot, and dishes, as we all know, are killers in that dept~
I have been a member on ebay since 1997 and have a 100% positive feedback rating of 842 so I've been around a while. I've both bought and sold and the only problem I've had is when I stupidly trusted that someone's check would be good and it bounced; and I'd already sent the items. That was my fault for not waiting but still I think that is pretty good luck for all these years. I hate 'sniping' or last minute bidding but with the automatic snipers now it happens a bit. I try to find more 'buy it now' items to purchase but will bid if I can't find what I want. Lately I've been on a 'dish' binge thanks you your blog as well as "Between Naps on the Porch". It allows me to purchase things I can't find around the local shops so I love using it for that. I just set my max and bid and if I don't win, I don't win. I don't go back and look until the auction is over so I won't be tempted to increase my max. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteHi Michael,
ReplyDeleteHere's my take on eBay...
Be a sniper...no shame in it. It's called using the intelligence God gave you. If you bid "along the way", all you do is run up the price of the item and alert all the other "watchers" out there that YOU want that item, too. Then they will just "wait in the weeds" (love that expression) and snipe at the end, too. I almost always do an "advanced search" choosing "completed" auctions to see what the item I want has been selling for in the last month. I then decide how much it's worth to me. I wait until around 20 seconds before the auction is going to end and then I put in my "top" price that I'd be willing to pay. As others have expained, eBay will only bid the highest it needs to, so you may get the item for a lot less than the highest price you put in. I didn't know about Snipe Swipe...thanks Cami...I'll definitely check them out. Wonder what Snipe Swipe does if two people both "employ" them to snipe the same eBay item. Ummmmm...conflict of interest.
Number one rule...don't get so caught up in the item that you pay more than you planned. Most likely, you will see that item on there again one day.
Susan
This is an awakening...an Ebay awakening. I have so much trouble with the pages loading, I don't know if I could get a bid in during the final seconds.
ReplyDeleteJain, I want to know more about your shopping techniques at Amazon.What are the blue light specials?
Hi Dear Gollum. Well, I've had some good experiences with Ebay and some not so good. I bid on some crystal dessert dishes and got 2 for .99! Well, the seller never sent them to me! I knew nothing about Ebay and my son told me to look at the sellers bio. Everyone one who had commented said 'don't buy from this idiot'. Now guess who was the idiot? I have always thought the seller would go and bid against me at times. I didn't know there was a name for it! My daughter and son-in-law shop on Ebay all the time and they wait until the last minute and usually get what they want! I still don't know a lot, but I certainly like to browse!
ReplyDeleteBe a sweetie,
Shelia ;)
WOWEEE, this has been a fantastic LEARNING EXPERIENCE & what gr888 gals to share your experience(s)! Yes, our dearest Gollum "INTRODUCED" me to E-Bay~ (I guess, in all fairness tho, I can't BLAME her that I became "addicted"~ that's MY fault! But it's so FUN & so EASY!!!). I do the same as Schmeckygirl re AE, & I DO, if possible, "hang around" near "end time" to hopefully "win" something I'd really like~~~ didn't KNOW about this sniper thing, & MUST try it/join it! (And YESTERDAY!). Sooo much to learn! Things have stated coming in since I got "involved" a week ago ~~~ bought SOOO much I think I'll have to open a china/ pitcher/ napkin ring shop!!! Oh and yes! I KNOW (now) what happened~~~ I WAS "sniped" on some dessert dishes~ the ones I reeeally wanted for Easter! SOOOO, am going to get "SNIPER", for sure! It's all very fun, I must admit, but also VERY $$$... gotta STOP, or at least "slow down" (slappping my hand "no!" now!)... THANKS EVERYONE for sharing! (May I assume you don't mind being contacted for a little quick "schooling"?)~~~ Hugs, Linda (Note: Got most of my Spode from The Bowl Company, Replacements & on E-Bay "from a guy named Mick"... sounds like I bought it in a back alley, huh? Chuckles!)~~~ Linda
ReplyDeleteGollum, "Mona, Susan and Becky appear to have it down to 'a Science', so therefore the only advice I can give you is "heed their wisdom and words". :)
ReplyDeleteI browse E-Bay but don't shop it.
Linda, you are hilarious! Girl, you've had me laughing in emails for days, and now my giggle box has turned over again.
ReplyDeleteI think the self-imposed rules are best... know your seller, know your product & it's value, don't get caught up in a bidding war. Set limits for yourself.
ReplyDeleteI've been trying to buy a Lladro piece on ebay for 3-months. I'm not going to pay more than a certain amount for it, and if the bidding goes more than $5 of my price (I include shipping in the total that I am willing to pay), I dquit bidding... period. Example, my Uggs.. I paid $76 which included shipping. My max was $95. They sell for much more on average, but I was willing to wait for the right deal.
I've gotten many great buys on ebay, and a couple of stinkers. I always check the sellers feedback if it isn't 100% positive. I use
http://toolhaus.org/cgi-bin/negs which will give you a list of the negs and neturals of a buyers feedback. If there are too many issues, I just won't bid on that sellers auctions.
I like ebay, but it's definately a buyer beware buying site... and I always use PayPal to pay for my auction. If you don't take paypal, you don't get my business. Paypal is the best buyer's safety net on ebay.
Good luck, have fun and do you homework! Dixie
When you ask for input, Ms. Gollum, you certainly get it. I have learned two months worth of tips in one day. I also love Amazon and want to learn more about Blue Light Special shopping.
ReplyDeleteWow, I have never bought from Ebay BUT my DH has bought TONS of things from them and never has had a problem. Linda, if you want any advice from him just e-mail me:) G, hope you are able to navigate your way aroung Ebay. My sisters daughter-in-law sells ALL her childrens clothing on ebay. I guess I am just not computer "savvy" enough, and also spend too much time on these blogs:):) Pinky Ps, I guess he is a "sniper" cause he does watch what he wants and bids at the last minute....that I do know:)
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year, Gollum! LOVE the new look! I go back to 1998 on eBay (mkayreagan, 160,100% positive, blue star) when I sold my DH's BMW - before I had a digital camera - I shot video and captured 5 stills from it. Ah, the good old days!
ReplyDeleteOver 10 years, I've sold a few items a year, mostly used electronics when I feed my habit with new ones. It's not the same now, really few bargains. My favorite eBay tales...skipping church one Sunday to bid at the close on a Louis Vuitton bag auction (I won, but still feel guilty!) and selling off my Dell laptop, part by part (yuck!). But it's still great entertainment for both buyers and sellers...the thrill of the hunt, I think they call it!
I am a painter, selling my small paintings on Ebay and larger ones in galleries as many other artists do. No one has mentioned art, but if you do love to have original art in your home, ebay is a wonderful way to start a collection for very little money. Just beware of all the foreign art copies. These are not original, but produced over and over again in a factory and the painters are paid by the hour. Gollum, I really enjoy your blog.
ReplyDeleteGollum, I remember you from RMS, I was mammawags62 over there, not sure if you remember me or not? I have just started my blog and love yours! I am having a luncheon for my girlfriends on Feb. 12 and was wondering if you have a unique idea for a table scape/theme for me?? This was a thought I had, but dont know where to go with it...You are invited to a ... howmuchlongertilwecanwearcaprisopenwindowsplantgardensworkontansgoonvacation, IS it summer yet? PArty, lol. Or I thought a Souper tired of Winter Party and serve several different kinds of soup and sanwiches? I totally appreciate any ideas you may have! Sue
ReplyDelete