Disappearing "Buy-It-Now" Option - Very Irritating.

[62caddy]

First off, this is not a thread intended to trash eBay in any way, however there is a "hybrid" listing format that eBay offers that I find extremely irritating: It is the Buy-It-Now with bidding format.

This format has two versions:

Version 1: BIN option remains active at all times and visible with bidding.

Version 2: BIN option disappears when a the seller's set reserve amount has been met - after which the listing continues in the regular auction format.

Maybe it's me what what is the point of having the latter? If the seller is happy to accept x amount at a BIN price what it the point of removing it? Would it not make more sense to simply keep the BIN option alive which is what the seller wanted in the first place?

Reason I ask is because yesterday there was an item listed with a $300 BIN and a minimum starting bid of $100. The item was inop and I needed to do some quick homework to get some range of cost to get the unit working again. Once I had my answer (approximately within an hour or so) I was ready to execute and pay for the purchase @ $300

but by that time, some chowderhead hit the thing at $100, killing the BIN option, needlessly tying the item up in a 7 day listing and best of all $100 was all he bid - no more so he wasn't even a serious buyer in the first place.

So in effect he accomplished exactly zero.

And what exactly is the hurry to get a bid up when at the beginning of a 7/10 day listing anyway? That never made any sense to me whatsoever.

Anyway, when the item was still at $100 I tried contacting the seller to say I was interested in purchasing for the original $300 figure, but that chowderhead (chowderhead #2) doesn't even have the damn courtesy to respond. In any case, it's up to $227 now so any chance of buying for $300 is gone out the window.

I have been earning a living my entire life dealing with auctions. An auction is one of the simplest concepts ever invented by man - yet exactly what some people are thinking when they participate in auction activity is utterly baffling. That applies both to buyers and sellers alike - not to mention eBay.

End of rant.

 

[sol7]

I don't think any of them are "chowderheads". I'm sure the first bidder jumped on it hoping to get a good deal. I've done it, and it usually sells for more than the BIN. That auction/BIN combo thing is kinda screwy though.

 

[Blue Shadow]

There are quite a few people that use ebay and some like chocolate some like vanilla. Then ebay added strawberry, choc mint and a few other flavors for those that want that. Anything to get a seller to make a listing and then the bay hopes it sells so they can cash in. Buyers have the ability to engage in whatever listing they want and avoid the ones they don't like.

 

[62caddy]

Update: Chowderhead#2 is a chowderhead no more - as he did at least respond: I'm just gonna let it ride now. Thanks.

"Yea, you do that buddy. I'm out." (I didn't say that to him)

Pardon if I sound like sour grapes because that's precisely what I am at the moment. I'll get over it...

In any case, the least that eBay can do is annotate such listings with an asterisk* with the notice, "BIN Option May Be Removed At Any Time Upon Bid(s) Being Placed"

Thus at least giving fair warning of this goofy format.

 

[DRecovery]

I bid on good deals early because if I don't, I will often forget about them. I just won a reel to reel tape that I bid on last week and forgot about until eBay told me I had won.

 

[hjames]

I dunno, I haven't done much with ebay lately, so I may be wrong,
but my experience was that the BIN option went away after the first actual bid was entered ...

 

[62caddy]

I bid on good deals early because if I don't, I will often forget about them. I just won a reel to reel tape that I bid on last week and forgot about until eBay told me I had won.

Understood but that may encourage other buyers and/or provide opportunity to being outbid. Inexperienced bidders seem to think that being high money at some point in time somehow "puts them more in the running" somehow, so to speak. At least that's the impression it gives.

Also, another buyer can poke in an absurdly high amount just to flush out a standing bid and then retract it. I've seen it done before.

I have won many auctions - and never bid more than once. And always in the last couple seconds.

 

[62caddy]

I dunno, I haven't done much with ebay lately, so I may be wrong,
but my experience was that the BIN option went away after the first actual bid was entered ...

Not invariably.

 

[fleksta]

I dunno, I haven't done much with ebay lately, so I may be wrong,
but my experience was that the BIN option went away after the first actual bid was entered ...

Sounds fine to me. I've set auctions with a BIN option in the past that have ended above that amount.

On all of mine, the BIN went away with the first bid...perhaps it only stays if a reserve is set?

 

[Kneedeepinit]

when I sell on the bay, I list it this way. I prefer an auction but set a BIN at a price that I would accpet. Sometimes, the final price is higher than the original BIN, sometimes not

To the OP, don't lose patience. keep watching and bid at the end. You will probably end up saving money and get the item anyways.

 

[HyKlas]

I do a few auctions like that with the least I'd take as the starting point and the normal sale price as the BIN. That way I never get screwed by starting a $.99 auction that goes way too cheap (I have less than 100 feedback so I don't get a lot of bidders) as someone is pretty much guaranteed to place that first bid quickly to remove the BIN option.

Then since there's already one committed bidder, others get the feeling of security and bid it up more. It's a psychological game... Like others have said, sometimes it goes above the BIN, sometimes not. But at least I got the minimun I would accept easily, without hassle...

 

[tyella]

I dunno, I haven't done much with ebay lately, so I may be wrong,
but my experience was that the BIN option went away after the first actual bid was entered ...

That's always been my experience, but I haven't listed anything in a looong while.

 

[Snow]

Update: Chowderhead#2 is a chowderhead no more - as he did at least respond: I'm just gonna let it ride now. Thanks.

"Yea, you do that buddy. I'm out." (I didn't say that to him)

Pardon if I sound like sour grapes because that's precisely what I am at the moment. I'll get over it...

In any case, the least that eBay can do is annotate such listings with an asterisk* with the notice, "BIN Option May Be Removed At Any Time Upon Bid(s) Being Placed"

Thus at least giving fair warning of this goofy format.

The seller has an obligation to the previous bidders once a bid has been placed to sell to whoever the highest bidder is, he is not allowed to add a BIN option once a bid is in place. The only time a BIN option stays up is when the reserve price has not been met once it is met the BIN goes away and if there is no reserve it goes away when the first bid is placed.



Regards Snow

 

[62caddy]

The seller has an obligation to the previous bidders once a bid has been placed to sell to whoever the highest bidder is, he is not allowed to add a BIN option once a bid is in place. The only time a BIN option stays up is when the reserve price has not been met once it is met the BIN goes away and if there is no reserve it goes away when the first bid is placed.



Regards Snow

Thanks for the clarification.

 

[sKiZo]

Maybe it's me what what is the point of having the latter? If the seller is happy to accept x amount at a BIN price what it the point of removing it? Would it not make more sense to simply keep the BIN option alive which is what the seller wanted in the first place?

I imagine if you were to poll all sellers (which I'd like to every now and then, making it as painful as possible - can I borrow your pole?) you'd find that the seller might be happy to accept x amount, but will be MUCH happier to accept more. Wouldn't be a whole lotta arm twisting involved either.

If you're even aware that there was a BIN pricing at one point, let's face it ... you had your chance!

 

[Snow]

Thanks for the clarification.

Thanks for the clarification.

Your welcome. I do feel your pain I have had it happen to me before also but to be fair what if you had been one of the earlier bidders and the seller ended the auction then put up a BIN auction for X amount you would be pissed then that he had basically sold it out from under you and you might have even been willing to bid more then the new BIN listing was for.

I would as a seller love to be able to see snipe bids



Regards Snow

 

[62caddy]

Your welcome. I do feel your pain I have had it happen to me before also but to be fair what if you had been one of the earlier bidders and the seller ended the auction then put up a BIN auction for X amount you would be pissed then that he had basically sold it out from under you.



Regards Snow

Going forward, I suppose the best policy is to assume the option to execute a BIN offer can expire at any time whenever the "floor" is open to bids.

 

[Snow]

Going forward, I suppose the best policy is to assume the option to execute a BIN offer can expire at any time whenever the "floor" is open to bids.

Absolutely if you want something pull the trigger then and there otherwise you may well miss out on another opportunity to get a kill shot, you can always back out later if you wish even though it will count as a mark against you it provides the time needed to do your research.

The ones I hate are the ones that have a BIN of $500.00 or more then an opening bid of 99 cents invaribly some knucklehead will bid the 99 cents if you do not act instantly Lmao. And let's not forget the asshats who state NO RESERVE in Bold in the title but start the auction at 70% of their BIN price






Regards Snow

 

[Andyman]

Yep, Snow nailed it. Unless there is a reserve, BINs disappear at the first bid, and if there is a reserve, at the first bid that exceeds the reserve. Been that way for years.

I used to use reserves, but stopped years ago. Now I set my auction prices with the BIN as a bit of a blue sky bid and the open just a bit below what used to be my reserve. That way an interested party can either bid and be the high bidder in a live auction, hit the BIN and pay a bit more, or hit the open to kill the BIN so someone doesn't steal it away on them while they ponder it.

A recent change though was where eBay required the BIN to be at least 30% greater than the open, which has caused me to lower my opens a bit to fit.

That being said, my favorite BIN move is when someone either hits the BIN hours before it closes, or buys it the day after a relist for the BIN. In both cases there's a strong chance they could have won the item the buy simply bidding the lower open the day prior. But I'm fine with getting paid more

 

[Snow]

I never use a reserve anymore either mainly because the fees are so damn high. Ebay hates people putting reserves on items because they know an item that starts at 99 cents is far more likely to sell then one that has a reserve price of 2k but what Ebay fails to realize is that most people will not put a reserve on something unless it is something of high dollar value.

I do not like starting my auctions high either but at times you have too or face the risk of losing your ass if it is not a hot item that everyone wants. On a 7 day auction I will pull the auction if it does not have a bid on it before 24 hours is left.



Regards Snow