Ebay question

Earthenrock

Recently bid on something that I lost but was later contacted yesterday that the winner is not responding to e-mails and hasn't paid yet. I let him know that I was interested in a second offer, and as soon as he's ready he can let me know.

Thing is I see he listed the same item again a day after his previous auction ended. Seemed kinda fishy to me or is this some type of strategy to pick the higher bidder or go back to me as a failsafe?

Either way I can still change my mind and not get it, but I'd like to get the item if I have a chance, it just seemed suspicious.

Richard_Dastardly

Unless the seller had more than one of the item, I'd assume that he/she decided not to do the second chance offer and just relist it.

RUNN1NGMAN

Pretty sure there's an official eBay second chance function when the winner of an auction doesn't respond, so if he just contacted you with a side offer via email I wouldn't trust it.

Earthenrock

Richard_Dastardly wrote: »

Unless the seller had more than one of the item, I'd assume that he/she decided not to do the second chance offer and just relist it.

Ya thing is he re-listed it the day after the first auction ended and just now contacted me with the possibility of a second offer two days after he re-listed the item.

Think I'm just gonna bail on this one, go with the gut.

Werewolf Gamer

yeah there's a function you can go to the second person and offer them a second chance. It sets it up just like a normal auction page except it wouldn't be open to the public just you. It also just lasts for 24 or 48 hours for a second chance offer. I wouldn't do it on the side then you lose your safety net for a refund in case he is scamming.

EggyToast

Since eBay allows sellers to recoup their fees from deadbeat bidders, I personally think there's no legit use for the second chance feature. It's really only useful for one-of-a-kind items.

Gabriel_Pitt

Or you want to move the item, don't want to wait through an entire second auction, and the second highest bid is good enough for you.

Szechuanosaurus

Earthenrock wrote: »

Richard_Dastardly wrote: »

Unless the seller had more than one of the item, I'd assume that he/she decided not to do the second chance offer and just relist it.

Ya thing is he re-listed it the day after the first auction ended and just now contacted me with the possibility of a second offer two days after he re-listed the item.

Think I'm just gonna bail on this one, go with the gut.

Yeah, this is a fairly standard scam that I'm certain they warn you about somewhere. In any case, they strongly advise against entering into any deals outside of auctions, because you don't have any protection.

Earthenrock

Yeah, only it's not done outside of the auction, its using ebay's second chance offer. But I don't think he can do that now since he has already re-listed the item? Doesn't matter really since I've already decided I'm not going to purchase it either way, it's just confusing.