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 Replies: 14 / Views: 474 |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
1502 Posts |
I would love to pull the plug on ebay one day but not likely to happen anytime soon. - Unsolicited lowball offers - I just don't respond and I block the offer initiator. All my listings are Buy It Now - offers not accepted. Just yesterday, had a message with an offer around 40% of BIN. Ignored and 8 hours later, sold at BIN. - Complaints in reviews about shipping costs...AFTER they purchased and paid said shipping cost. I ship GA and charge roughly a $1.00 higher than the shipping cost to cover box, coin protection, tape, labels, etc... Don't buy it if you think shipping is too high - I don't make any $$$ on shipping. Rant done, thanks for listening. @DOCC Edited by DOCC
03/06/2026 09:08 am
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Valued Member
United States
465 Posts |
I get low-ball offers as well. It is annoying but I can't blame someone for wanting a better price. If they are egregious I will ban them. Shipping is a topic that could go for days. Everyone has an opinion on the cost. I don't think buyers who don't ship have a clue as what the cost is. No one understands the cost of extraneous materials or labor. I find it better to include those cost into the value of the item. If you add to the shipping cost people have a fit. My Two Cents worth. Bill |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
2115 Posts |
To continue the "rant", I agree 100% with you... They also need to understand that 13.25% plus 40 cents per order is taken off the top by ebay (Shipping included)... Yes, packaging materials and a trip to the post office are additional costs for the sellers... |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6451 Posts |
For more expensive items, I add shipping directly to the price and offer Free Shipping. It really punishes people who buy multiple coins, because I would prefer to offer flat rate shipping with free additional items.
I have never received an unsolicited offer. If you don't have buyer offers enabled, they can't send a formal offer, correct? They should only be able to send messages.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
19112 Posts |
It's a marketplace--warts and all. I'm okay with ebay, both as a buyer and a small-volume seller. Speaking only for myself, I've had far, far more positive experiences than negative. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2213 Posts |
I've sent ebay sellers messages asking if they would consider a lower price than their fixed price without best offer option. Some will, some won't. When a listing has been there for weeks/months they tend to be more willing to accept a lower offer. But I do it in a nice way and don't low ball them. I usually offer 10%-20% less. There are some sellers listing their products at outragiously high prices. Listing a $20 coin at $200 or more. They either don't know a real world value, wrongly think they have a rare error coin or are charlatans trying to cheat somebody. Sometimes I've contacted them asking them to look at ebay sold prices for a more fair value. Some thank me, some ignore me, some get upset telling me to mind my own business. Buyer beware. Edited by livingwater
03/06/2026 11:38 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6451 Posts |
Quote:
Speaking only for myself, I've had far, far more positive experiences than negative. I would echo that sentiment. With very few exceptions, coin collectors are a pretty chill bunch. Quote:
There are some sellers listing their products at outragiously high prices. Listing a $20 coin at $200 or more. They either don't know a real world value, wrongly think they have a rare error coin or are charlatans trying to cheat somebody. I regard it as pointless to engage with those sellers. You aren't going to get them down to 10% of their asking price. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2213 Posts |
Brandmeister, most of the time pointless but is occasionally gratifying when I help someone understand and they appreciate it.
Edited by livingwater
03/06/2026 12:47 pm
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
1502 Posts |
Quote:
they can't send a formal offer, correct? They should only be able to send messages. Yes B, just thru a private message. Quote:
I've had far, far more positive experiences than negative. Me too, by far. But every once in a while you get one that comes in and lowballs a half dozen listings and it rapidly makes you forget about all the good ones. Quote:
some get upset telling me to mind my own business. It is an open marketplace, I could easily see how that might offend someone. I swing a metal detector and have a knack for finding dirty old coins. Dirt coin restoration projects - https://www.prodetecting.com/restorationsDirt coin restoration blog - https://www.prodetecting.com/blog/ccawDirt coin dig videos - https://www.youtube.com/@prodetecting |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2213 Posts |
DOCC, yes it's an open market place, sellers can ask whatever they want. I also should be able to ask them in a respectful way to consider a lower price and why. I've been on ebay since 1998, have never been blocked by a seller, at least not yet. Edited by livingwater
03/06/2026 12:57 pm
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Valued Member
United States
292 Posts |
I have noticed that the low ballers generate more views for me not sure how or if ebay promotes it more because of the interest , but almost always it sell quickly at almost full price after their interest. I hate the guys who I counter they then go even lower on the next bid! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2213 Posts |
Allow me to add I sympathize with sellers who have to deal with way too low bids, those difficult to communicate with or falsely claim the package never arrived or was damaged.
Some years ago I started using my cell phone to film opening packages so I have proof if something is wrong. Thankfully 99% of the time all is good.
Edited by livingwater
03/06/2026 6:56 pm
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10472 Posts |
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If you don't have buyer offers enabled, they can't send a formal offer, correct? That's what I thought - just click the box no where it asks: "Offers accepted". |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2213 Posts |
A buyer cannot send a formal offer if there's no offer option but they can still contact the buyer and ask. Some buyers have come down in price for me this way especially if an item has been listed for a while or I've offered to buy more than one item from them.
Edited by livingwater
03/07/2026 08:30 am
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Valued Member
United States
108 Posts |
In 2005 I put a antique car for sale on e bay. I received many offers for it from buyers that insisted they were serious buyers. But none of the serious buyers showed up to look at it. Then one day a buyer that not claim to be a serious buyer said that he wanted to see the car and flew from Michigan to Denver then a rental car 200 miles to my location to look at the car. We made a deal and the buyer had the car shipped to Michigan. Now that is my idea of a serious buyer.
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Replies: 14 / Views: 474 |
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Posted 03/06/2026 10:03 am
