topic Re: Someone is asking 'how much are you expecting'? in Selling

Someone is asking 'how much are you expecting'?

jmbau — Wed, 26 Nov 2014 07:28:33 GMT

I've listed a second hand item for sale and just got a query from someone 'wondering how much you are expecting to get?' Which I find kind of weird - it's an auction, after all.

How would you respond?

(I wrote back and said Why do you ask?)

Re: Someone is asking 'how much are you expecting'?

kopenhagen5 — Wed, 26 Nov 2014 07:30:07 GMT

I would say -

I am sorry this item is not open to offers, it is being auctioned.

Feel free to place bids if you like. Regards,

Re: Someone is asking 'how much are you expecting'?

collect247 — Wed, 26 Nov 2014 07:32:35 GMT

Well they just want to know what their up against price wise and if you let them know and they offer you a price your willing to accept then you can always change it to BIN and this buyer can then purchase it,this sought of thing happens all the time,but the transaction must be made within ebay and not outside of ebay.

Re: Someone is asking 'how much are you expecting'?

i-love-my-sheep — Wed, 26 Nov 2014 07:37:13 GMT

@collective05 wrote:
Well they just want to know what their up against price wise and if you let them know and they offer you a price your willing to accept then you can always change it to BIN and this buyer can then purchase it,this sought of thing happens all the time,but the transaction must be made within ebay and not outside of ebay.

Really? All the time? I've never been sent a message asking what I am expecting for an auction. I would be surprised if many sellers on this forum get these messages 'all the time' either.

I have been asked if I could list as a BIN, but never been asked what I am expecting for an auction.

Re: Someone is asking 'how much are you expecting'?

collect247 — Wed, 26 Nov 2014 07:42:01 GMT

Yep this happens all the time when your selling collectables as I do

Re: Someone is asking 'how much are you expecting'?

digital*ghost — Wed, 26 Nov 2014 08:09:41 GMT

@jmbau wrote:
I've listed a second hand item for sale and just got a query from someone 'wondering how much you are expecting to get?' Which I find kind of weird - it's an auction, after all.
How would you respond?
(I wrote back and said Why do you ask?)

"Dear [interested member],

As the final price is determined by the price bidders are willing to pay, which will be unknown to me until the listing ends, I have no expectations other than the minimum, which I have set as the starting price, should that indeed receive a bid.

I hope that helps answer your question.

Kind regards,

[Bemused Seller?]

Re: Someone is asking 'how much are you expecting'?

aps1080 — Wed, 26 Nov 2014 08:37:06 GMT

Collective

I think you might find a lot of business is done outside of ebay as well.
Ebay does not have a monopoly, especially after the first purchase.

Re: Someone is asking 'how much are you expecting'?

collect247 — Wed, 26 Nov 2014 09:05:59 GMT

I know that alot of business is done outside of ebay but if either the seller or buyer decide to tell ebay that one of them is trying to do this then the other person will be sanctioned for it if you know what I'm saying

Re: Someone is asking 'how much are you expecting'?

khani808 — Wed, 26 Nov 2014 11:17:19 GMT

I have been asked this for anything retro/vintage industrial that I sell- I'm guessing people want a ballpark figure to see if they stand a chance in the auction, or in the hopes they can BIN. When I tell them what these have sold for previously/in stores, they always offer me significantly less.

Re: Someone is asking 'how much are you expecting'?

aps1080 — Wed, 26 Nov 2014 11:21:35 GMT

Collective

Yes, agree.

Re: Someone is asking 'how much are you expecting'?

garrcc — Wed, 26 Nov 2014 11:50:55 GMT

I would respond by saying - "Oh about 6 million dollars" - .

We all know that auctions are not predictable....who knows what an item is worth? It is the bidders who determine the value of an item at the time an auction ends.

I have had high quality items ...heaps of watchers & no bids...then i have had what I would could consider as a junky item and the bidders have gone into a frenzy and the item has sold for a silly amount.

To answer your question - I always respond. "Just leave a bid that you are comfortable with"

Re: Someone is asking 'how much are you expecting'?

cherry*135 — Wed, 26 Nov 2014 12:24:14 GMT

If it is an item that you have no idea how much it might sell for, then there isn't much you can say to the person asking. Just say as mentioned above, that you prefer to let the auction run.

If it is an item, that you do have a $ amount you hope to sell it for, you could tell the buyer the amount, up to you though, you don't have to respond with an amount.

Re: Someone is asking 'how much are you expecting'?

treasuress.4207 — Wed, 26 Nov 2014 21:06:48 GMT

Some people just need a smack up the side of the head......

with a brick.

It's a rude question imho, and I've never had one like it.

Re: Someone is asking 'how much are you expecting'?

joxamara — Wed, 26 Nov 2014 22:18:17 GMT

Whatever the market is prepared to pay...how much are you offering?

Re: Someone is asking 'how much are you expecting'?

jmbau — Thu, 27 Nov 2014 03:04:23 GMT

Thanks a lot for all your answers - you pretty much covered all my reactions. I'm just a private seller, nothing else. And no, I'm not interested in doing stuff outside eBay. I think it's the tone of the queries that bothers me - it's somewhat rude and disparaging (s/he wrote back and said they were asking because 'I can't imagine anyone wanting to buy a second hand X but if your price is reasonable I may buy it now') . I figure, the point of an auction is to find a price!

Re: Someone is asking 'how much are you expecting'?

collect247 — Thu, 27 Nov 2014 03:29:59 GMT

Well good luck in selling your vacuum and I hope you get a good price for it,it's funny though when I first glanced at it I thought it was a golf bag lol.

Re: Someone is asking 'how much are you expecting'?

2106greencat — Thu, 27 Nov 2014 03:40:26 GMT

@treasuress.4207 wrote:
Some people just need a smack up the side of the head......
with a brick.
It's a rude question imho, and I've never had one like it.

Oh, if only.............

how many sellers would just love to reply in just that fashion to some wanna-be-wheelerdealers

Re: Someone is asking 'how much are you expecting'?

treasuress.4207 — Fri, 28 Nov 2014 14:33:31 GMT

I think it every day at some point.....

my all-time favourites are the ones who message you specifically to let you know that they can buy it cheaper somewhere else....

my answer to that (not the one that pops into my head) is usually... 'well I suggest you do that then'....

The one in my head would get me in trouble AGAIN on the boards.

Re: Someone is asking 'how much are you expecting'?

digital*ghost — Fri, 28 Nov 2014 15:30:13 GMT

@jmbau wrote:
'I can't imagine anyone wanting to buy a second hand X but if your price is reasonable I may buy it now')

Sorry, just saw this and was highly amused by it. Must be some kind of bargaining tactic - in one sentence, try to convince a selller no one will be interested in their item, that way when you tell them that you are, they will be surprised and ready to offload it quickly.