Hello all. Voracious reader of the forum, infrequent poster. Was just wanting to get some opinions on the ethicalness (-ality?) of approaching an Ebay seller to inquire about making a deal outside of Ebay. Does anyone do this with any regularity and if so are there any tips I should be made aware of? I've been a seller on Ebay for many years but I've really never explored this. As a seller I've had some quite horrendous scenarios transpire in which I've been straight-out scammed and Ebay has, in its infinite wisdom, sided with the buyer so I have no qualms about "stickin' it to the man". Obviously there are issues with buyer/seller protections while operating outside the auspices of Ebay but has anyone brokered a deal on Ebay behind the scenes to lower costs incurred by Ebay's 10 percent and is this considered "ethical" to do? Thanks.

 

https://omegaforums.net/threads/the-ethics-of-fee-avoidance-using-paypal-and-ebay.36104/

 

Canceling auctions to accept a fee-free Buy it Now offer is against eBay terms of use and will result in a ban if you do it enough/get caught. Not worth it in my opinion.

Plus as a buyer it is very annoying when I watch an auction and plan to bid only for it to end prematurely.

 

As a frequent buyer, it pisses me off to find sellers that consistently end auctions early due to an "error in the listing".

As a seller, I start everything at $.99 whether it is worth $1 or thousands. It's my form of gambling. I love it when I get a story from a buyer: "that was exactly my grandfathers watch that was lost, would you take a buy it now for $x?"

I rarely come across a holy grail watch or parts that I can't live without or find elsewhere. However, when it does happen, I send the seller a note NOT to end the auction early for a "buy it now"...........without contacting me

 

I never really thought about the mechanics of ebay or how it makes money, I have contacted sellers asking if they would accept a certain price for a watch and end an auction early. Some are happy to do that others not. After reading the link added by spacefruit, when it was first posted, I think it is a bit like tax avoidance, something I don't agree with,so I would not do it again.

 

Tax avoidance......I don`t know. Tax should profit our everyday lifes. roads, hospitals and all the other things, we expect. if I have a closer look, how much taxes Ebay and other BIG worldwide private\ listed companies pay worldwide, I rather call that Tax avoidance. for me ebay is a worldwide marketing platform. and I will act accordingly. and in the interest of the buyer, whatever that might be. kind regards. achim.

 

It massively pisses me off when an item I'm watching is ended early. I'm against it but, just like the 2998 last night, if it's a rare item, they often don't make it to the end and its a case of "join them or miss out".
What's most important, your ethics or getting the item?
Of course if it's just to try and swerve the 10% ebay fees, that's different and I wouldn't bother.

 

I think the main point to do it within eBay is a buyer's protection. If you dropped it and do transaction outside, you're pretty much on your own. As a seller, if you got a scam buyer, a lot of things could go wrong.

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as a seller, dealing outside ebay without protection for the buyer, what can go wrong? you have your money upfront. as a seller within the ebay system, you can have massive problems with a scam buyer. they could exchange your vintage dial for a re paint; change bridges in your movement and ebay has no expertise and will rarely be on the side of the seller. there is the real problem. the seller, who creates eBay's massive profits, is disadvantaged; not the buyer. kind regards. achim

 

In my eyes eBay only works well if everyone buyers and sellers commit to the system.

 

I guess you're right . I've never thought about it this way.

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Wait, there was a 2998 listed on eBay last night?!

Edit - found it

 

Ebay was ok as a seller. In the past. Nowadays it's extremely expensive and as stated above with a lot of risks for the seller.

 

Well, they kept increasing the fees...

 

..............but a buyers pool larger than any other for watches

 

True. But what about the seller ?