EBay Rolls Out Fixed-Price Format

The New York Times ^ | July 22, 2002 | The Associated Press

[PJ-Comix]

$49

[Diverdogz]

So are you trying to tell us that you have a large stash of Superfly memorabilia tucked away?

Ummmm Hmmm. Interesting. Very interesting.

[Sir Gawain]

I rarely bid on reserve items. It's like a trick. Why not just set the starting price for the minimum you'll take?

[LowOiL]

I rarely bid on reserve items. It's like a trick. Why not just set the starting price for the minimum you'll take?

I like reserves because if you start your auction low you can get a few bids. People often will hunt through items and only stop on ones with bids. (I know I do that). I want an early bid to attract viewers. I will often take a good auction down and not relist it if it does not recieve a bid after 4-5 days (I usually sell on 10 day period for the extra 10 cent cost).

[PJ-Comix]

I rarely bid on reserve items. It's like a trick. Why not just set the starting price for the minimum you'll take?

SIGH! I've been through this explanation before. Reverve pricing is NOT a trick. The fact of the matter is, many/most folks won't initially place a bid if you set the starting price at the minimum you will accept. Let me give you a solid example:

Several years ago I was selling lots of digital cameras on eBay. I wanted at least $400 dollars for the Sony Mavicas. The time I set the bidding at $400, guess what? NO BIDS. But when I started the bidding out at $2 or $5 dollars and set the reserve at $399, I almost always got $400 or more. Why? Because the bidding is like a ladder. Most people feel better if they slowly move up the bidding ladder by small increments rather than toss in the whole wad at a large inititial price. Is this rational? Perhaps not but that IS the way it is. And when I use this strategy, it works most of the time.

No tricks. It just makes the bidders feel more comfortable when I allow them to bid in increments.

[PJ-Comix]

I rarely bid on reserve items. It's like a trick. Why not just set the starting price for the minimum you'll take?

SIGH! I've been through this explanation before. Reverve pricing is NOT a trick. The fact of the matter is, many/most folks won't initially place a bid if you set the starting price at the minimum you will accept. Let me give you a solid example:

Several years ago I was selling lots of digital cameras on eBay. I wanted at least $400 dollars for the Sony Mavicas. The time I set the bidding at $400, guess what? NO BIDS. But when I started the bidding out at $2 or $5 dollars and set the reserve at $399, I almost always got $400 or more. Why? Because the bidding is like a ladder. Most people feel better if they slowly move up the bidding ladder by small increments rather than toss in the whole wad at a large inititial price. Is this rational? Perhaps not but that IS the way it is. And when I use this strategy, it works most of the time.

No tricks. It just makes the bidders feel more comfortable when I allow them to bid in increments.

[LowOiL]

I go on it and find old car parts all the time.

You need to get a few old mopars to fix up so I can sell ya some NOS parts.

[JoeSixPack1]

Totally rational! People that bid low and bid their way up to a reserve are looking for moral support that the item is truely worth the reserve price. Consquently relying on the other bidders to affirm the item's value.

[goodieD]

LOL!

[Bogey78O]

Sweet! What they put in the 2 ton? Did they keep it inline with a 235 or did they go bigger?

[Bogey78O]

Sorry. I have a chevy my girl has a ford flathead. No mopars in the family. It's tough enough being in a mixed relationship. ;-)

[Ragin1]

ROTFLMAO!!

post #10, priceless.

[nanny]

You are right about Paypal, but I heard Ebay was buying Paypal. Did that go through?

[andysandmikesmom]

I love ebay....I am a dedicated doll collector....I get the best deals ever on ebay...just last week, I received two new mint dolls, that I know cost $150 apiece...I got one doll for $25 and the other one for $15....what a deal...

Certain brands of dolls, like Madame Alexander, that are sold at stores, gift shops and museums, mark those dolls up big time...by buying them from vendors at ebay, I can save big bucks, because those vendors dont have such a big markup, and yet the dolls are brand new and mint...I have bought almost no dolls anyplace except ebay....by shopping on ebay, I can have more dolls, than if I was paying retail...

I have also bought brand new material for sewing, mint new teddy bears, got my husband a wonderful wolf ring, got numerous basset hound collectibles...

It is true as one poster formerly said, having ebay, is like going to a huge yard sale, without having to leave home...

I like the different options offered...I have often used the 'buy it now' option, because often the buy it now price is just about the same as the original price asked....if its an item I really want, I will even go a few dollars higher, if that is what the buy it now price is...sometimes I am willing to pay those extra few dollars, rather than lose the item...other times, I enjoy the flurry of the last minute auctioneering....

Any new options want to install are fine with me...

[montag813]

eBay and Amazon are two reasons why we will enter a global depression which will last for nearly 10 years. Many people I know buy no new items, only those on eBay, uBid or Amazon, used or bought out of bankruptcy. There are apparently sellers on eBay who have larger inventories of certain company's products (particularly hi-tech) than do the companies themselves, due to recent inventory reductions. This will make for a much more efficient economy, but will drastically decrease traditonal employment and, due to sales tax non-reporting, massively strain already deficient state tax revenues.

The S&P 500 Index will be at 600 by Christmas and 450 by next Easter, and the Dow will stay below 10000 for perhaps the next 10-12 years.

[Bogey78O]

yes....it seems as if it's proceeding.

[snowtigger]

Well, I don't think it's such a great Idea. I spend way too much money on e-freaking bay now. And you people have the nerve to talk about something as insidious as this!!LOL

[PoisedWoman]

Along comes an enterprising fellow sometime around 2 A.M. and does some dumpster diving. A few days later, that merchandise shows up on eBay.

Bless that enterprising fellah! Dumpster diving is not for moi. I won my new Qi gong tape for $11 delivered, would have paid more than $35 for it at amazon.com plus tax and shipping. I read sellers' feedback reports carefully. Without extra good ratings, I'd never risk a dime.