Ebay "best offer" auctions?

James Higby

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Apr 6, 2005, 8:07:26 PM4/6/05

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I have encountered an eBay auction with a Buy It Now, but also a "Submit
Best Offer" option. Does anyone know how these work? If I indeed submit
the best offer, is the seller obligated to sell the item to me? If I submit
any offer at all, will I know the status of my offer relative to those of
others?

James

Cliff

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Apr 6, 2005, 8:31:00 PM4/6/05

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James,
To the best of my knowledge (limited), the buyer is not forced to sell
to you. I think if the item doesn't meet reserve and you make an
offer close enough to what he wants he can sell it to you after the
auction closes. It'll show up in your "my ebay" along with items I'm
bidding on and items won.
I don't think you get to see what anyone else has offered either.
It's more like a blind bid to see if the seller will take your offer.
I've seen it offered a few times but have yet to try it.
Cliff

Jack

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Apr 6, 2005, 9:04:43 PM4/6/05

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He doesn't have to sell if you made him an offer,but, he has to sell if
you give him the "Buy it Now" price.

Jack

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Apr 6, 2005, 9:04:47 PM4/6/05

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CaptainDave

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Apr 7, 2005, 12:06:46 AM4/7/05

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He doesn't have to sell if you made him an offer, but I'd bet you have to
buy
if he accepts your offer.

-Dave

Jonathan_ATC

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Apr 7, 2005, 8:48:35 AM4/7/05

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"James Higby" <heezerbumfrool[at]hotmail[dot]com> wrote in message
news:d31tj...@enews1.newsguy.com...

I recently participated in a "Best Offer" for some software. I suppose if
several people gave their best offers, the seller would choose the best
offer from the group IF it was as much as s/he wanted to get. But it is up
to the seller whether or not they accept the "Best Offer" you submit.

But, if they do accept your "Best Offer," you are obligated to buy.
--
Jonathan

Bob Flaminio

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Apr 7, 2005, 2:26:06 PM4/7/05

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CaptainDave wrote:
> James Higby wrote:
>> I have encountered an eBay auction with a Buy It Now, but also a
>> "Submit Best Offer" option. Does anyone know how these work? If I
>> indeed submit the best offer, is the seller obligated to sell the
>> item to me? If I submit any offer at all, will I know the status of
>> my offer relative to those of others?
>

> He doesn't have to sell if you made him an offer, but I'd bet you
> have to buy if he accepts your offer.

Yes, that's exactly right. The one "Best Offer" I made didn't get
accepted :-(.

--
Bob

James Higby

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Apr 7, 2005, 2:40:44 PM4/7/05

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"Bob Flaminio" <b...@flaminio.com> wrote in message
news:3blca1F...@individual.net...

How soon after the auction close did you find that out? Is there a
timeframe during which the seller has to say yea or nay?

James

Bob Flaminio

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Apr 7, 2005, 3:06:06 PM4/7/05

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James Higby wrote:
>> Yes, that's exactly right. The one "Best Offer" I made didn't get
>> accepted :-(.
>

> How soon after the auction close did you find that out? Is there a
> timeframe during which the seller has to say yea or nay?

If memory serves, it was like one day. But once the seller tells you
"no" you're off the hook -- he can't come back later and compel you to
take the offer.

--
Bob

jim menning

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Apr 7, 2005, 3:41:45 PM4/7/05

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"James Higby" <heezerbumfrool[at]hotmail[dot]com> wrote in message

news:d33ur...@enews3.newsguy.com...

You submit the offer anytime during the auction, and the seller can
accept it before the scheduled end of the auction.

http://pages.ebay.com/bestoffer/?ssPageName=CMDV:AB

> Is there a timeframe during which the seller has to say yea or nay?
>

48 hours.

http://pages.ebay.com/help/sell/best-offer.html

jim menning

James Higby

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Apr 7, 2005, 4:22:36 PM4/7/05

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"jim menning" <jmenni...@new.rr.com> wrote in message
news:Z1g5e.10600$215....@tornado.rdc-kc.rr.com...

Thanks, Jim. This is the page I tried to find from the Site Map, but
couldn't.

James