Ticked

[Drewk86a]

If there is a card I want I always contact the seller and ask if there is a price they will accept off line... If I get it offline YAY for me, but if I know they are keeping it online until the end I know I have a fair shot like everyone else.

Maybe I'm misinterpreting this, but are you saying that:
1) You're OK with having a "fair shot like everyone else" at the auction, if the seller will not deal outside eBay, BUT
2) You would prefer to have an unfair advantage, by stiking an outside deal?

If you believe that waiting for the auction to end gives everybody a "fair shot", then it would follow that making outside deals is unfair.

[centrehice]

You can't do a damn thing. You're going way overboard, it's not your property, and it's not incumbent upon him to furnish you with a reply. Grab a Scotch and put your feet up.

[Gallinator]

I just had this happen with one of the few Decades autos I have been hunting - many bids (I was high bidder at $77+) and with two days to go the card got pulled. I e-mailed the seller, with whom I've had dozens of purchases, and she told me that she was consigning the card and the owner told her after it went up for auction that he had made a side deal. She apologized and I have no reason not to believe her, but it is incredibly annoying.

The ethics of this type of thing should be clear: If the auction has begun and there is even one bid on the item, it should be allowed to run its course. If there are no bids, there is not yet an expectation of a purchase (and no claim to a contract) and the item should be able to be pulled.

I take it a little further - if I see an auction for a card I like, I'll either "watch" it and send a message to the seller after it ends with no bids, or if I really want it but don't like the min bid, I'll send a note to the seller before it ends offering a price IF the auction ends with no bids.

Making an offer on a live auction item with bids on it just doesn't feel right to me and I hope I'm in the majority on that one.

[Drewk86a]

The ethics of this type of thing should be clear: If the auction has begun and there is even one bid on the item, it should be allowed to run its course. Making an offer on a live auction item with bids on it just doesn't feel right to me and I hope I'm in the majority on that one.

I agree 100%

[centrehice]

There are no "Ethics" on eBay. How can you preach ethics?

The rule is that you can end your auction at any time. I'm certain in the future when you do this and there is a bid, eBay will charge you commission on whatever the last bid was, but right now, it's buyer beware.

[Gallinator]

Who I am, centerhice, is an eBay user since 1997 who's bid on, bought and sold thousands of items during that time. It should hardly need to be pointed out that just because you are allowed to do something, that doesn't mean it's the right thing to do. I boycott sellers who end their auctions early (with bids on them) and I let them know about it. I actively spread the word about that seller's activity. Every bad seller who alienates a user with his/her shoddy, unethical business practices is my sworn enemy, because s/he makes it harder for us all to bid, buy and sell securely.

THAT'S who I am, sir, and not only is ethical behavior to be encouraged on eBay and other non-person-to-person venues, it is absolutely REQUIRED in order for that venue to succeed. The fact that you even pose the question raises giant red flags about how you do business. You may just be seeking to poke at me, but you end up looking like a fool. Caveat emptor is wise for a buyer to keep in mind, but a stupid and indifferent thing for a seller to state.

[centrehice]

Boycott all you like. Auction ends on something I want to bid on, or had already bid on, no big deal to me. I've been at this 50 years, they are just cards.

It says nothing about how I do my business. I am fair and honest, not agreeing with you has nothing to do with my integrity.

Raises red flags about how I do business? You need to go get a drink and not get yourself so wound up.

I have never ended an eBay auction in my life, that's not who I am. But because some sellers do, it is not an offense to eBay at this particular time.

The fact that you've assumed that I am shady because I am bringing FACT into an argument, the fact being that this is an eBay practice and not a personal choice, is something you should really think about when making accusations.

You want to attack me further, then have the fortitude to take it off a public forum like a proper business person would do. This is not Rome.

[flopfish]

I've ended 1 on ebay for a simple reason: The offer was too good to refuse. You know it's what you are going to get for the card, no guess work, no ebay fees.

As far as everyone calling it unethical, realistically it's just a bid. They didn't put their bid in on ebay because they really wanted the card. Any one of you can do that, and it's been done for awhile. The person wanted the card badly and put up an offer the seller can't refuse, I did it on some cards before that I wanted as well. If you don't like the tactic, so be it, but if you use it you could wind up with said cards.

As far as me taking mine off, I was expecting $50 on the card via bids, but got an offer of $80 off of ebay. With no completed listings for it, I happily took the $80, more money in my pocket.

[Drewk86a]

There are no "Ethics" on eBay. How can you preach ethics?

The rule is that you can end your auction at any time. I'm certain in the future when you do this and there is a bid, eBay will charge you commission on whatever the last bid was, but right now, it's buyer beware.

The tough thing about ethics is that absent a rule or law it is up to each individual to determine what is right or wrong.

You are absolutely correct. There is no rule against ending auctions early. However, it is against eBay policy to make side deals outside of eBay once you have posted an auction and that is the reason many auction end early.

Maybe instead of saying it is "unethical", I should say that it is "unsportsman like" or "ungentlemanly" to make side deals. Whatever you call it, there are some (most) people who bid on an auction, follow the guidelines of that auction, and hope that, at the end, they will prevail. And there are others who engagge in a practice that is prohibited by the host site which subverts the chances of those who followed the rules.

If a selleris willing to entertain side deals after posting an auction which result in autcions ending early I would suggest they not post auctions anymore. Instead, they should post Buy It Now / Make An Offer listings which would make all of this irrelevant.

[centrehice]

Unsportsmanlike is a fine word, but as long as it's not breaking eBay rules, it's not unethical. Whether you get sniped, the seller decides not to sell the card, or ends the auction early for whatever reason, nobody on the bidding end has lost anything.

They have lost no money, they perhaps have lost a few seconds clicking on the auction, but that's about it. Acting entitled on eBay will only give you an ulcer. You as an eBay bidder are entitled to exactly........Nothing.