Does anyone know why a bid automatically stops offers & declines existing offers?

[wilful_3042]

I know it's the rules but why? It artificially keeps the price low & seems counterproductive, it's also pretty annoying. 

Why allow offers in the first place...

[john1297576]

Making an offer is like having an Auction with BIN. In both cases the potential buyer can either make an offer or buy using the BIN.

In both cases these are options, as soon as there are bids all offers lapse or in the case of Auction with BIN the BIN disappears. 

You do not seem to understand that with an offer it doesn't have to be a silly offer like 99p it can be any amount, below, equal to or above. If buyer wants an item and does not want to wait they offer a good price that the seller cannot refuse.

With Auction or BIN if buyer wants the item  they can buy at the full price, or go for a bid when they might not win.

Best Offer is one of the few good ideas ebay have had.

[plpmr]

You have a new account and I hope you enjoy your buying/selling.

However it is usually best not to make assumption, for example -

Because a member does not agree with you = “I take it you work for ebay?”. No, we are members just like you but with a wealth of experience and try to help others.

A very flawed assumption = “if you start your auction price at 5 & someone offers 15 but before you can accept someone bids the minimum ie 5 then that automatically keeps the price low”

To say that you must know the auction will end below 15 and many offers are made hoping to get the item cheaper because of the lack of competition.

[wilful_3042]

Hey I made no assumption because a member did not agree with me. No flawed assumption either, the chances of an auction going from 5 to 15 is 27%, allowing offers would increase that to 58% in favour of the seller.
That's a fact...

[pixiesen2012]

where on earth did you get those numbers?

that is no more 'fact' than Elvis is still alive!

[pixiesen2012]

because it would defeat the object of having the item listed as an auction!

when you list in auction format people can make an offer until bids are made, once a bid is placed the listing reverts to being an auction only.

it doesn't keep the price artificially low

as you should always set your start price at the minimum you are willing to sell for and people will bid up to what they think it is worth

or use the fixed price format and set the price you want to sell for

[wilful_3042]

You get charged for fixed price, and yes it does keep the price artificially low. I take it you work for ebay?

You still can't explain why bids take precedent over offers, why have an offers option? Window dressing...

[pixiesen2012]

no you don't, if you list as a fixed price buy it now,


you only get charged if you add a buy it now to an auction style listing


I've always thought adding the make an offer to auction stle listings was a stupid idea.


bids take precedence because it is an auction style listings,

if you just want offers list as a fixed price buy it now.

and NO I don't work for ebay!

[angelah1847]

What makes you think you're charged for fixed price listings?

And how does it keep the price artificially low? You as the seller set the start price and presumably that is the price you would be happy to sell for.

[wilful_3042]

Why have a fixed price if your open to offers, that does not make sense. Why would someone offer more than a fixed price?

Angela hey if you start your auction price at 5 & someone offers 15 but before you can accept someone bids the minimum ie 5 then that automatically keeps the price low. Sorry but that's a fact. The other guy clearly works for ebay...

[angelah1847]

The fact is you as the seller set the start price, not ebay.

And nobody on here works for ebay, they couldn't afford us!

[pixiesen2012]

don't start your listing at £5 if you want £15,

and no, I don't work for ebay,


if you want offers set your fixed price at a high price with offers,

[wilful_3042]

True as the seller you do set the opening auction bid, but that is not the issue. The issue is offers being declined because someone makes a bid, why have offers as an option.
Offers should be allowed upto 24hrs before the auction ends, therefore increasing the opportunity of realising a higher final value....

[wilful_3042]

Hey thanks both of you for the input, for me it's a rule which aids dealers & disadvantages sellers...

[angelah1847]

"Offers should be allowed upto 24hrs before the auction ends, therefore increasing the opportunity of realising a higher final value...."

That would result in a lot of disappointed ebay buyers wondering why they should bother bidding. And ebay really don't like disappointing buyers.

[pixiesen2012]

the whole point of an auction is everyone gets a chance to place their highest offer, as a BID then the highest bid wins the item


if a seller sets their start price at the minimum they are willing to sell for they aren't going to lose out


people only make offers on auctions if they think the auction will go higher than their offer, so they put in an offer hoping the seller will sell it to them before the auction kicks in

[pixiesen2012]

dealers are sellers, so how can it advantage and disadvantage them at the same time?

[wilful_3042]

It's simple if people could offer right upto 24hrs before the auction ends the final value would be higher, for an auction to work you need more than one person to want the item.
The single act of allowing offers to that point would result in higher value for the seller & in turn would increase ebay's final dividend.
Dealers are sellers? Really... Back in the real world the rules here are geared towards buyers not sellers, that's a fact you have to accept if you want to sell on here....

[1902elder]

Amazing how someone with hardly any selling experience on Ebay knows better than members with years of experience, but just does not understand the procedures.

[pixiesen2012]

I've been selling on ebay since the very beginning,


adding make an offer to auction style listings is just a gimick, serious sellers don't bother with it, or price thaeir listings at a price that takes it into account,


people aren't going to make a much higher offer near to the end of a listing, they are just going to bid