[babak]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=6312&item=2467079559

selling the car outright, not the place, be curious to see what his reserve is?

 

[andykeck]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=6312&item=2467079559

selling the car outright, not the place, be curious to see what his reserve is?

That's not what I saw when I clicked on your link...

THIS AUCTION IS FOR THE RIGHT TO BUY THIS ELISE.

WINNING BIDDER MUST ALSO PAY M.S.R.P. FOR THIS CAR.

AUCTION DOES NOT INCLUDE CAR.

 

[babak]

Huh, it wasn't there when I looked earlier, I must be blind. Sorry.

 

[ivan1]

Thats what happens when you spend too much time looking at CO pics

 

[babak]

Thats what happens when you spend too much time looking at CO pics

That's even funnier considering what I do.

 

[OneFastLotus]

Hang on a minute.....So people are willing to pay $8,000 just for the right to buy the car and then pay for the car on top of the $8,000?

Whomever is selling that car knows enough about it....I think its someone from one of the lists or message boards.

 

[babak]

Whomever is selling that car knows enough about it....I think its someone from one of the lists or message boards.

That was my impression and why it cought my eye initially. It is certainly different that the other doofuses who have been listing things.

 

[jml1952]

Seven people have bid on this, starting at $5,000 and reaching $8,100 and still haven't reached the reserve price!

So why bother starting an auction at a low price that you won't accept?

I know that Ebay claims that bids are binding, but they aren't if you haven't hit the reserve. I think that people are just playing around, i.e., it's amusing to bid $8000 for an item when you don't have to buy it.

I have no experience with Ebay, but I doubt that they can force you to pay for an item even if you participate in and win an auction. Even in the real world, I've seen people win auctions then fail to purchase the item (no doubt, the WTF did we just do reaction).

 

[Randy Chase]

Seven people have bid on this, starting at $5,000 and reaching $8,100 and still haven't reached the reserve price!

So why bother starting an auction at a low price that you won't accept?

Because eBay bidders follow certain traits. If you wanted $10 and asked for $10, you will get fewer bids than starting at $1 and letting people bid it up. The reserve allows the seller to make sure that there is a minimum that he has to sell it for. Silly, but it works.

I know that Ebay claims that bids are binding, but they aren't if you haven't hit the reserve. I think that people are just playing around, i.e., it's amusing to bid $8000 for an item when you don't have to buy it.

If you want to play around, you would not know if your bid was the one that pushed it over the reserve though. To really play around, bid $100,000 then it will hit the reserve, and you will know what it is. Then retract the bid as a typo error or something. Ebay frowns on that, but it's done to figure out the reserve.

I have no experience with Ebay, but I doubt that they can force you to pay for an item even if you participate in and win an auction. Even in the real world, I've seen people win auctions then fail to purchase the item (no doubt, the WTF did we just do reaction).

Right. Ebay can only remove your user name from active membership. After 3 no-pays I think. The seller can come after you, but it's very doubtful that they would.

I spent way too much time selling on ebay at one time.

 

[zvezdah1]

Sold/bought on ebay a lot over the years, Randy'r right. I could put an item with no reserve and minimum bid and not get a single bidder. Same item I could put up with a reserve (same as the previous min.) but starting lower and will get action, it's a psychological thing.
Chris

 

[ivan1]

bidding up to $9100 - still hasn't met reserve..

hey but check out this auction for Ford GT - so far at 60K over MSRP


http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2467387492&category=6057

Being offered by the Ford dealership yet - maybe I have to rethink the ethics of this. If the dealers feel it is okay to do it, how can I fault an individual for doing the same...

 

[jml1952]

Because eBay bidders follow certain traits. If you wanted $10 and asked for $10, you will get fewer bids than starting at $1 and letting people bid it up. The reserve allows the seller to make sure that there is a minimum that he has to sell it for. Silly, but it works.



If you want to play around, you would not know if your bid was the one that pushed it over the reserve though. To really play around, bid $100,000 then it will hit the reserve, and you will know what it is. Then retract the bid as a typo error or something. Ebay frowns on that, but it's done to figure out the reserve.



Right. Ebay can only remove your user name from active membership. After 3 no-pays I think. The seller can come after you, but it's very doubtful that they would.

I spent way too much time selling on ebay at one time. [/B]

Thanks, Randy. Actually, I realized after posting why people start low. My wife and I have purchased a lot of paintings and antiques at auction, and it can work that way. However, most of the good auction houses that we dealt with often sold stuff without a reserve, assuming that the dealers in the audience would bid items up to a reasonable minimum. The really high-end items typically have a reserve though.

I'm thinking about getting a Lotus-only parking sign from E-bay. There are about five different versions available. Haven't decided if I want to pay $20 + shipping to buy it now for the one I like the most (it's a little wierd - one seller has an auction starting at $20, but you can buy it now for $20, so why bid?).

 

[Lotus F1]

Why does everyone list it as a 1900 Lotus year instread of 2005. Is there a limitation on Ebay for listing the Lotus as a 2005?