Merkava_4
Banned
I just now lost an auction and the seller sent me a PM offering me to buy the item at Buy It Now. What about the dude that sniped me, how's he gonna get the wrench if I buy it? Why am I being offered to buy it if I lost the auction? 
Second Chance Offer? - eBay
- Thread starter Merkava_4
- Start date
davestlouis
Well-known member
Sounds like the seller's shill wound up winning accidentally.
Junkman
Well-known member
He might have a duplicate of the item... I know that many times, I have duplicate items and offer them in a second chance auction, since I don't have to pay a listing fee, but only the final value fee. Makes sense to take a few cents or dollars less to get rid of the item... especially if it is an expensive item that might not bring as much the second time around..
SocketDeviler
Well-known member
A duplicate is very possible as is a shill. I've sold many items via second chance. Be sure that the offer is from the seller. We have had many people tell us they were sent a second chance offer from an outside source.
SocketDeviler
Well-known member
It's got to be one or the other I suppose.
Well, if whatever you bid on went for what it normally goes for a shill probably was not involved (though still possible) so the seller is just trying to get top dollar and making it easier on himself in the process.
I just now lost an auction and the seller sent me a PM offering me to buy the item at Buy It Now. What about the dude that sniped me, how's he gonna get the wrench if I buy it? Why am I being offered to buy it if I lost the auction?
Offer him 20% less than buy it now if not, tell him to sell it to his shill bidder.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/e...ame=STRK:MEWNX:IT&viewitem=&item=220297398818
I went ahead and bought it screw it. The price is not too bad and the shipping to me is only $2.02. I'm a sucker for extra long wrenches.
I went ahead and bought it screw it. The price is not too bad and the shipping to me is only $2.02. I'm a sucker for extra long wrenches.
SocketDeviler
Well-known member
This might not be the case but I can't tell you how many people over the years have won auctions then sent us emails claiming their kid did it, someone else did it, their cat did it, they can't afford it, they thought it was something else, etc... Some of our second chance offers stemmed from that.
SocketDeviler
Well-known member
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/e...ame=STRK:MEWNX:IT&viewitem=&item=220297398818
I went ahead and bought it screw it. The price is not too bad and the shipping to me is only $2.02. I'm a sucker for extra long wrenches.
Hmm, I'm wary of the no feedback but your wrench price is covered by Paypal.
And your ebay ID is a Snap-On wrench? You wacko!
SocketDeviler
Well-known member
I don't have PayPal.
As a new seller he can only accept Paypal, at least officially. Though I see he was allowed to offer a money order option. I was under the impression new sellers weren't allowed to do that. By the end of the month no sellers will be able to offer that.
EDIT: Perhaps it was that new sellers had to at least offer Paypal. Sorry, so many new rules.
Got a friend that will pay via Paypal for you?
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Diesel-Mech
Well-known member
Buying from a brand new seller is quite ballsy especially with out paypal.
SocketDeviler
Well-known member
You're right, but these extra long wrenches usually go for $20+ and $5.95 shipping. I guess I have my head on the chopping block.
I assumed you were comfortable with the seller's feedback before asking advice. Sorry, I should have asked. The deal might be legit but I would only pay via Paypal. That said, if it's a scam you won't lose your shirt.
SocketDeviler
Well-known member
I'm embarrassed to admit that I didn't even notice the (0) feedback; I just saw the 100% and thought I was safe.
It's a strong habit of mine to always check feedback prior to bidding. I've skipped many auctions due to poor or zero feedback. In the case of negatives a seller's response (professional or crybaby) lets me know who I'm dealing with.
Fedwrench
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Did the second chance offer appear in the your message section of my ebay?
Is the items won section of my ebay showing that you accepted the second chance offer?
If the answer is no, you may have been contacted by someone posing as the original seller, or you bought the wrench under the table saving the seller ebay fees but, leaving you unprotected. I hope the sale goes well for you
Is the items won section of my ebay showing that you accepted the second chance offer?
If the answer is no, you may have been contacted by someone posing as the original seller, or you bought the wrench under the table saving the seller ebay fees but, leaving you unprotected. I hope the sale goes well for you
Junkman
Well-known member
I just put the auction number 220297398818 into the ebay search engine, and it comes up as a good auction number. I know that the offer did come from ebay, but if the seller is legit, is another question. Just remember, that we all started out with 0 feedback.......
Bolster
Well-known member
Ditto that good advice. I start worrying at feedback positives of 98% and less, although with the new rules (where sellers can't leave neg feedback for buyers) I suspect it will be normal to see lower numbers as a result.
The other thing to watch out for, is sellers who have low feedback numbers, but who are using software to do their listings (ie, not the eBay form, but software designed to automate the process...those auctions have a pro layout, a decidedly 'non-standard-ebay' look to them, generally using lots of HTML formatting). The use of listing software indicates someone who does a lot of sales (who buys listing software for their first 10 sales???) so you gotta ask, why are their feedback numbers so low? My suspicion: they are reappearing under a 'new name' after getting banned for abusing their old one.
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Stuey
Well-known member
First thing I noticed was the 0 feedback thing as well.
Merkava, do NOT send a money order - that's only asking for trouble!! I mean, seriously. In the amount of time it takes to buy a money order, mail it out, and then wait for the seller to receive it, you can walk over to any bank, say Washington Mutual which still offers free checking under Chase's management and open an account with $20. Then, once it's established, sign up for paypal, damnit. You can also fund paypal with a credit card.
I mean, c'mon! There are enough scams involving money order purchases, but couple it with a 0 feedback seller? Take better precautions!
Merkava, do NOT send a money order - that's only asking for trouble!! I mean, seriously. In the amount of time it takes to buy a money order, mail it out, and then wait for the seller to receive it, you can walk over to any bank, say Washington Mutual which still offers free checking under Chase's management and open an account with $20. Then, once it's established, sign up for paypal, damnit. You can also fund paypal with a credit card.
I mean, c'mon! There are enough scams involving money order purchases, but couple it with a 0 feedback seller? Take better precautions!
I got a offer from ebay last year that looked 100% legit, correct heading, legal disclaimer, all the right print and it was bogus, they wanted to renew my credit card and needed the number and I know from ebay that they never ask for numbers, that was the tipoff
dwilliams35
Well-known member
If it's a "real" second chance offer, through Ebay, then it's just as valid as the original auction: you bid on that one, didn't you? If it's just somebody sending you an E-mail, it's probably not: In fact, as I remember, that's a violation of Ebay rules. I've sent a couple of second-chance offers myself, and accepted some as well: got stiffed by buyers and it's easier just to try to sell it to the #2 bidder rather than jack with relisting. I've never had a problem, but just how the offer was sent would be pretty telling to me.