TradeMe Seller Question: Providing contact details to view item before bidding

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grant_k

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#679725 31-Aug-2012 13:30

ajobbins:
grant_k: In many cases, it's very hard to describe something accurately enough simply with words and two dimensional photos. People want to eyeball it before committing to buying.

In a couple of cases like that where people have come to inspect the goods, and decided to buy on the spot, I have waited until they got home and then put up a Buy Now at the agreed price. The buyer clicks on it, Trade Me get their commission and everybody is happy.

In that case, an Internet auction probably isn't the right forum to sell the item.

Even if you do as you mention above, it's not fair on other bidders who haven't had the opportunity to view the item. They then complain (and rightly so). It's in order to create a level playing field for all parties.

That may be, but would you like to suggest a better alternative?

I have tried Sella, but hardly anybody uses it compared to Trade Me, so IMO, it is a waste of time. Trade & Exchange's website has suffered a similar fate.

Trade Me is pretty much the only game in town for selling stuff online, unless it's the sort of thing that would sell at a Garage Sale, in which case there are various community Facebook pages that can do the job for free. I agree that what I have done technically violates the T&C's of Trade Me, but so long as they get their commission, I don't imagine they will be too unhappy about it.

Regarding the point about it being unfair "on other bidders who haven't had the opportunity to view the item", it's the old story of the earlybird getting the worm. There are plenty of other auctions to choose from if they miss out on a particular one.

NonprayingMantis

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#679749 31-Aug-2012 14:33

ajobbins:
grant_k: In many cases, it's very hard to describe something accurately enough simply with words and two dimensional photos. People want to eyeball it before committing to buying.

In a couple of cases like that where people have come to inspect the goods, and decided to buy on the spot, I have waited until they got home and then put up a Buy Now at the agreed price. The buyer clicks on it, Trade Me get their commission and everybody is happy.

In that case, an Internet auction probably isn't the right forum to sell the item.

Even if you do as you mention above, it's not fair on other bidders who haven't had the opportunity to view the item. They then complain (and rightly so). It's in order to create a level playing field for all parties.

Also, there are a lot of people who will simply withdraw the action and not pay the fee (Instead paying a much lower withdrawal fee). Sadly, the 'honesty' system around that approach doesn't work in the majority of instances.

More likely is that they increase the reserve up to some ridiculously high level and that way they can avoid paying the success fee and the withdrawal fee.

mattwnz

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#679771 31-Aug-2012 16:28

NonprayingMantis: More likely is that they increase the reserve up to some ridiculously high level and that way they can avoid paying the success fee and the withdrawal fee.

Yeap, another 'loophole'.

However I have asked trademe to remove an auction before that I sold privately without a withdrawal fee, and then paid trademe the commission. Their staff are generally quite good and helpful I have found, apart from dealing with retaliatory feedback.

Kyanar

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#679827 31-Aug-2012 17:37

grant_k: In many cases, it's very hard to describe something accurately enough simply with words and two dimensional photos. People want to eyeball it before committing to buying.

In a couple of cases like that where people have come to inspect the goods, and decided to buy on the spot, I have waited until they got home and then put up a Buy Now at the agreed price. The buyer clicks on it, Trade Me get their commission and everybody is happy.

Here's an interesting anecdote for you- did you know that what you did no longer counts as an auction and may actually bind you to such laws as the Consumer Guarantees Act and the Fair Trading Act? You should be careful that you either make it clear to the purchaser once they've seen it that the sale is "as-is" or make sure you do not qualify under the law as a "professional trader" (which is unfortunately not defined).

This actually has pretty serious implications for people who routinely sell stuff and can't allow the purchaser to view prior to the sale. Fun!

networkn

Networkn
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#679842 31-Aug-2012 18:10

mattwnz:
NonprayingMantis: More likely is that they increase the reserve up to some ridiculously high level and that way they can avoid paying the success fee and the withdrawal fee.

Yeap, another 'loophole'.

However I have asked trademe to remove an auction before that I sold privately without a withdrawal fee, and then paid trademe the commission. Their staff are generally quite good and helpful I have found, apart from dealing with retaliatory feedback.

Yah the whole retaliatory feedback thing is such a pain. Last week I filled out a form, they said they still wouldn't, I insisted, they refused, I insisted and asked for a manager to call, they offered to remove both feedbacks, I refused and asked for a manager to call me, they eventually agreed! What a nightmare. All for a clearly outlined position.

grant_k

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#679850 31-Aug-2012 18:31

Kyanar:
grant_k: In many cases, it's very hard to describe something accurately enough simply with words and two dimensional photos. People want to eyeball it before committing to buying.

In a couple of cases like that where people have come to inspect the goods, and decided to buy on the spot, I have waited until they got home and then put up a Buy Now at the agreed price. The buyer clicks on it, Trade Me get their commission and everybody is happy.

Here's an interesting anecdote for you- did you know that what you did no longer counts as an auction and may actually bind you to such laws as the Consumer Guarantees Act and the Fair Trading Act? You should be careful that you either make it clear to the purchaser once they've seen it that the sale is "as-is" or make sure you do not qualify under the law as a "professional trader" (which is unfortunately not defined).

This actually has pretty serious implications for people who routinely sell stuff and can't allow the purchaser to view prior to the sale. Fun!

Ummmm ... I sold one thing so far this year, and 2 last year, so I don't think I would be in anybody's sights as a "Professional Trader" :P

I don't see how I could run foul of the CGA either. It's exactly the same as when you advertise something secondhand in a local newspaper, and somebody comes to look and either buys it, or not. Just because it's on Trade Me doesn't change anything for private sellers of secondhand goods.

mattwnz

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#679862 31-Aug-2012 19:02

networkn:
mattwnz:
NonprayingMantis: More likely is that they increase the reserve up to some ridiculously high level and that way they can avoid paying the success fee and the withdrawal fee.

Yeap, another 'loophole'.

However I have asked trademe to remove an auction before that I sold privately without a withdrawal fee, and then paid trademe the commission. Their staff are generally quite good and helpful I have found, apart from dealing with retaliatory feedback.

Yah the whole retaliatory feedback thing is such a pain. Last week I filled out a form, they said they still wouldn't, I insisted, they refused, I insisted and asked for a manager to call, they offered to remove both feedbacks, I refused and asked for a manager to call me, they eventually agreed! What a nightmare. All for a clearly outlined position.

They have been a lot better about it since it was on Fair Go. I initially asked them to remove retaliatory feedback a few years ago, as I only had one negative rating out of hundreds of trades. I got it after I posted negative feedback when someone sent me something faulty and wouldn't take it back or refund. If I hadn't placed a negative feedback the other trader wouldn't have changed their feedback from positive to negative. Trademe refused to remove it at the time saying they didn't get involved with traders feedback. However after the fairgo story I emailed them again, and they said they didn't consider what the other trader did as retaliatory, which is rubbish. But they removed it saying that the other trader is no longer an active user.In a way it didn't really matter, but just goes to show that it isn't worth posting negative feedback about anyone for a bad trade, unless you expect to get a negative one back. They perhaps need to incorporate social media into the feedback system.

Sharesies kids

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timmmay

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#679868 31-Aug-2012 19:08

"Buy now" doesn't count as an auction sale. Not sure if that was said above.

mattwnz

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#679876 31-Aug-2012 19:16

Kyanar: Here's an interesting anecdote for you- did you know that what you did no longer counts as an auction and may actually bind you to such laws as the Consumer Guarantees Act and the Fair Trading Act?? You should be careful that you either make it clear to the purchaser once they've seen it that the sale is "as-is" or make sure you do not qualify under the law as a "professional trader" (which is unfortunately not defined).

This actually has pretty serious implications for people who routinely sell stuff and can't allow the purchaser to view prior to the sale.? Fun!

I don't believe the CGA applies for private sellers. eg you are disposing of something where you don't expect to make a profit on. Not sure on the FTA though. But if you are selling lots of items for the purpose of making money, then you would be a professional trader. Also you have to pay tax on any profit.

stevenz

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#680797 3-Sep-2012 12:54

Are TradeMe even registered auctioneers?

@KnightNZ

John2010

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#680830 3-Sep-2012 13:37

stevenz: Are TradeMe even registered auctioneers?

As far as I know they are not covered by the Act. That because they broker tenders between parties rather than run auctions.

As I see that to be in action, in an auction the auctioneer deals with the bidders himself and will accept or not the highest conforming bid. For example, an auctioneer may decline to sell if he thinks the highest bid is inappropriate, but an organisation brokering tenders such decisions are entirely between the seller and the bidders.

qwerty7

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#680903 3-Sep-2012 15:27

stevenz: People need to remember, Trade Me is an auction site, not a buy/swap & sell site. So many people can't grasp this simple auction, as noted by the fact that damn near every auction for an even remotely popular item will have muppets asking "Buy Now?" on things, usually after reserve has been met.

nothing wrong with asking for buy now in my opinion (apart from after reserve is met). Where kiwis buy and sell what is the harm in asking for a buy now if both buyer and seller are happy with price?

stevenz

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#680986 3-Sep-2012 17:56

qwerty7:
stevenz: People need to remember, Trade Me is an auction site, not a buy/swap & sell site. So many people can't grasp this simple auction, as noted by the fact that damn near every auction for an even remotely popular item will have muppets asking "Buy Now?" on things, usually after reserve has been met.

nothing wrong with asking for buy now in my opinion (apart from after reserve is met). Where kiwis buy and sell what is the harm in asking for a buy now if both buyer and seller are happy with price?

Because If I wanted to offer a Buy Now, I would've put one on there in the first place and asking after reserve is met is pointless, especially as it often sees to be people with substantial feedback who ask this.

Just to avoid people asking, I do sometimes put a Buy Now well above reserve on there. I usually end up having to answer questions, the answers of which are contained within the auction. People can't be bothered reading, an extra 5 seconds reading would save them 20 seconds of asking the question, and they wouldn't have to wait for me to get around to seeing the question, logging on, and cutting+pasting the answer from the description for them.

Same as when people ask a simple question that Google would answer for them.

@KnightNZ

qwerty7

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#680989 3-Sep-2012 18:07

stevenz:
Because If I wanted to offer a Buy Now, I would've put one on there in the first place and asking after reserve is met is pointless, especially as it often sees to be people with substantial feedback who ask this.

Just to avoid people asking, I do sometimes put a Buy Now well above reserve on there. I usually end up having to answer questions, the answers of which are contained within the auction. People can't be bothered reading, an extra 5 seconds reading would save them 20 seconds of asking the question, and they wouldn't have to wait for me to get around to seeing the question, logging on, and cutting+pasting the answer from the description for them.

Same as when people ask a simple question that Google would answer for them.

I have successfully bought several things in the past by offering a buy now. I think maybe some people do not care / think when they list things they just 'chuck it on'. Or you know what the item is worth and offer them the market value rather than waiting a week for the auction process.

Although I have wondered why people ask things which are listed in the auction I have also asked questions a couple of times when the answer has been in the auction description. Usually when the description resembles an essay.

Chainsaw

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#681779 5-Sep-2012 13:29

I just saw an auction and the photo had a bit of paper with their contact number on it! So if TM search the text of the auction and its Q&As it won't find that - sneaky.

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