Have you ever been in a bidding war while making a Buy it Now offer to a seller?

[Astralav]

Hi,

I guess some of us, when seeing a very interesting lamp, are trying to get it by making a "buy it now" offer to the seller (even if he doesn't offer this option in his listing).

But have you ever been in a bidding war outside ebay?

I mean, you're asking the seller if he would sell it with a "buy it now" price in mind, and his answer would be: yes but I already got the same request from another buyer, so I will sell to the best offer.

It's like having a normal bid auction but outside ebay (not sure if I'm clear here).

It has happen to me the other day. Very strange.

Anyway I got the lamp I wanted, even if it was expensive for me, I think it's still a bargain.

I'll tell you more about it when the lamp will arrive at my home ;-)

[Marley's Ghost]

Yes, you are being perfectly clear, and I have had a similar situation happen to me on ebay, but there were no bids on the item yet.  I would not have asked him about it had there been, since I would not want to be treated that way if I were bidding.  He told me he had another offer and said he'd sell it to me if I offered more.  I told him to sell it to them then.  It was not worth what he told me the other person offered him anyway.

  

I had a bad feeling about that seller, and figured he was not being truthful and had made up the "other offer."   He pulled the item, making it look like he did sell it to that other person, but I went back the next day to look at his items.  What do you know, it was re-listed at the original price.  I didn't buy it out of sheer perversity, since I knew he was surely not an ethical person.  I found another one just like it at half the price that same day from another seller.  I won't even try to buy outside of ebay now, unless I know the seller.  No protection if you run into a crook.

[Astralav]

Yes you're right. It can be risky, but sometimes the item worth the risk.

[Marley's Ghost]

You are also right, a lot of things in life are worth a risk.  LOL   Glad you got your lamp!

[Astralav]

I received it this morning, and yes, it really really worth the risk :-)

I'll post pictures soon.

(by the way, there wasn't either any bids on this lamp when I made the offer, I secured it just a couple of hours after it was listed)

[Marley's Ghost]

Congrats!!!!   I can't wait to see the pictures!   :-)   Good for you that no one had started bidding already.  I did snag something one time on a BIN that had bids on it.  I thought when bidding started, the BIN disappeared. But it didn't.  I sort of felt bad, but it was something my husband really wanted.   Oh well, such is life..... :-)

[Astralav]

Well, do you think this was worth the risk? ;-)

[Marley's Ghost]

(Removing drool from chin).........YES, most definitely worth the risk!   It's awesome, gorgeous, and I am jealous. You did GREAT!!!  :-))   

[Astralav]

Thanks!
I'm pretty happy about this one :-)
(I never thought I would ever find one, and more especialy in France)

[Marley's Ghost]

It is just beautiful.  I'm very happy for you!  I've never been on anything but ebay USA, but have bought many things from the UK on there.  But I don't know how to translate the French.  :-(
 
Astralav said:

Thanks!
I'm pretty happy about this one :-)
(I never thought I would ever find one, and more especialy in France)

[Astralav]

I don't have this problem, as I'm French :-)

Marley's Ghost said:

But I don't know how to translate the French.  :-(
 

[Marley's Ghost]

LOL, then if I ever get on the French site, I'll ask you to translate!   And if you ever come to the mountains of East Tennessee, I'll translate our dialect for you...... :-)
 
Astralav said:

I don't have this problem, as I'm French :-)

Marley's Ghost said:

But I don't know how to translate the French.  :-(
 

[Astralav]

Yes, no problem :-)