#419807 - 07/07/0808:42 AMRe: Buying a vehicle on Ebay has become useless
[Re: BillyB]
WaterMutt
Bilge Rat
Admiral
Registered: 01/14/04
Posts: 10236
Loc: Massachusetts
Originally Posted By: BillyB
Originally Posted By: WaterMutt
I've never liked the whole "Reserve" auction format. If you have a minimum price, that should be the starting bid. Why keep it a secret what you really want for the item?
Because people won't bid if the intial bid is too high. You ever been to a farm or other "real" auction? When the Ford 8N tractor that you are willing to pay $2500 comes up and the auctioneer trys to start the bid at $2000, noone bids, until he starts at $500, then the bids come and it bids all the way to $2750. It's all about not wanting to be the "fool" that started out bidding too high.
I understand your point, but I still don't like the reserve auction. Most things that have a reserve never reach the reserve price from what I've seen. Anymore when I see a reserve auction, I don't waste my time as the person is either baiting to see what it is worth, or it is overpriced. Unless it is a rare item, if you can't get what you want for it locally, you won't get it on ebay.
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"That's my boat..." -Forest Gump
And I look at an item with a reserve as a built in safety bid for me. If I bid on it, and I don't exceed the reserve, I don't have to buy it. Then the lister can send me a second chance offer at no more than his/her reserve and you can counter offer from there. I guess if you don't use EBay a lot, or use all of its features you are missing out on that one.
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I'm just happy to be here!
I do agree with you however that for the most part you won't get more on Ebay. Most people on there are looking for a steal. It's hard to sell a car/boat/truck without someone actually seeing it in person or driving it.
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I'm just happy to be here!
Registered: 11/13/07
Posts: 245
Loc: huntingdon, pa
The boat I have now I got on ebay. Reserve was 19900, I was high bidder at 15000. Got a "second chance" at 17500 and we agreed to 16500. Boat came with a trailer (worth about 3000). My insurance co. will not insure the boat for less than 21500 (without the trailer). I've had the boat out 10+ times, and 12 hours of run time-no issues. Hows that for a deal?
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