Contacting bidders

[tony41]

I have received bids from two different buyers. I would like to contact them before the auctions close but it seems that eBid does not allow this. I can see the point of not being able to contact a member with who you have no dealings but I think that sellers should be able to contact bidders in the same way as can be done as soon as a bid becomes a sale. A bid placed is a promise to buy unless outbid.

Unless anyone knows different, it appears that the only way to contact a bidder is via the question facility which is part of an individual listing. This is surely intended as a means of a buyer questioning a seller and receiving a reply (it does say ask question of buyer). In any case this correspondence is open to anyone to read. Not good if you are trying a bidder.

Gazza, can we change this please? It must be better if a seller can contact a bidder.

[sidthelamp]

I have received bids from two different buyers. I would like to contact them before the auctions close but it seems that eBid does not allow this. I can see the point of not being able to contact a member with who you have no dealings but I think that sellers should be able to contact bidders in the same way as can be done as soon as a bid becomes a sale. A bid placed is a promise to buy unless outbid.

Unless anyone knows different, it appears that the only way to contact a bidder is via the question facility which is part of an individual listing. This is surely intended as a means of a buyer questioning a seller and receiving a reply (it does say ask question of buyer). In any case this correspondence is open to anyone to read. Not good if you are trying a bidder.

Gazza, can we change this please? It must be better if a seller can contact a bidder.

sightly frustrating, but better than a dishonest seller farming away a buyer for off site sales

[JanetB]

sightly frustrating, but better than a dishonest seller farming away a buyer for off site sales

I agree.

[JaBek1]

While I'm a great believer in communications between buyers and sellers, I must admit that I don't see why a seller would need to contact a bidder while the bidding was in progress unless it was to answer a question posed by the bidder. During a live auction it is not uncommon for the auctioneer to banter back and forth with bidders in order to keep the bidding progressing, but I don't see the same thing happening during internet auctions. What sort of questions would a seller need to ask a bidder?

[tony41]

While I'm a great believer in communications between buyers and sellers, I must admit that I don't see why a seller would need to contact a bidder while the bidding was in progress unless it was to answer a question posed by the bidder. During a live auction it is not uncommon for the auctioneer to banter back and forth with bidders in order to keep the bidding progressing, but I don't see the same thing happening during internet auctions. What sort of questions would a seller need to ask a bidder?

The reason I wanted to contact the bidder was that he had placed bids on a number of auctions which end on different days. I wanted to offer him the option to wait until all the auctions had finished before paying so that all purchases could be sent in one envelope. This would avoid refunds of overpaid postage if he wanted everything sent together. Or alternatively to ask if he wanted items sent as soon as the auction finished. I was only trying to provide a good service.

[sidthelamp]

The reason I wanted to contact the bidder was that he had placed bids on a number of auctions which end on different days. I wanted to offer him the option to wait until all the auctions had finished before paying so that all purchases could be sent in one envelope. This would avoid refunds of overpaid postage if he wanted everything sent together. Or alternatively to ask if he wanted items sent as soon as the auction finished. I was only trying to provide a good service.

then you can offer the collective postage option after the first auction ends , as youknow you have there contacts details at that point

[tony41]

then you can offer the collective postage option after the first auction ends , as youknow you have there contacts details at that point

Thanks. I've already done that. Was just trying to communicate this before the first auction ends. Some buyers are very fast off the mark as soon as an auction ends.

[sidthelamp]

Thanks. I've already done that. Was just trying to communicate this before the first auction ends. Some buyers are very fast off the mark as soon as an auction ends.

wasjust thinking yours wont be the first case were a buyer needs contacting to wait for a invoice , as its probably very common in the stamp collecting world, maybe we could have a wait for invoice button, which you can click when you see a buyer bidding on several auctions over several days, a predetermined message sent by ebid to remind the buyer they can have combined shipping on there purchases , the buyers not spammed by dishonest sellers, and the buyer can look forward to a combined invoice, a seller need not use it if they dont want too, i dont know of another site that uses this type of message/ invoice alert, could be a first for ebid , just a idea.

[JanetB]

wasjust thinking yours wont be the first case were a buyer needs contacting to wait for a invoice , as its probably very common in the stamp collecting world, maybe we could have a wait for invoice button, which you can click when you see a buyer bidding on several auctions over several days, a predetermined message sent by ebid to remind the buyer they can have combined shipping on there purchases , the buyers not spammed by dishonest sellers, and the buyer can look forward to a combined invoice, a seller need not use it if they dont want too, i dont know of another site that uses this type of message/ invoice alert, could be a first for ebid , just a idea.

I actually like that idea

[RameRetro]

wasjust thinking yours wont be the first case were a buyer needs contacting to wait for a invoice , as its probably very common in the stamp collecting world, maybe we could have a wait for invoice button, which you can click when you see a buyer bidding on several auctions over several days, a predetermined message sent by ebid to remind the buyer they can have combined shipping on there purchases , the buyers not spammed by dishonest sellers, and the buyer can look forward to a combined invoice, a seller need not use it if they dont want too, i dont know of another site that uses this type of message/ invoice alert, could be a first for ebid , just a idea.

Sounds like a good idea to me, too.