Does This 2nd Chance Offer Pass The Smell Test ?

[442RCT]

I left my bid on an item 4 hrs before it closed. Another bidder, kept nipping at my bid until he "won".
There were no other bidders trying to snipe the auction.
Now the seller (who has only 1 history with eBay as a buyer) has sent me an e-mail offering me a second chance, in his e-mail he states the winner of the auction was someone local who he didn't want to deal with and offered me the item for $ 205.00

I'm having a problem because there were no other bidders other than this guy since my last bid, in effect this other buyer has bid the auction up. I feel like I was "played". Here is a copy of the bid history.

Is $ 205 a decent price for this item. Yup. But if 5***m hadn't bid at all, it wouldn't have gone past $ 185.00. So what's your opinion...walk away or take the 2nd chance offer ? :roll:

5***m( 45Feedback score is 10 to 49) US $210.00
Dec-23-09 09:02:24 PST

442 RCT ( 226Feedback score is 100 to 499) US $207.77
Dec-23-09 03:54:57 PST

5***m( 45Feedback score is 10 to 49) US $205.00
Dec-23-09 09:01:54 PST

5***m( 45Feedback score is 10 to 49) US $200.00
Dec-23-09 09:01:16 PST

5***m( 45Feedback score is 10 to 49) US $195.00
Dec-23-09 09:00:40 PST

5***m( 45Feedback score is 10 to 49) US $190.00
Dec-23-09 09:00:08 PST

5***m( 45Feedback score is 10 to 49) US $185.00
Dec-23-09 08:59:31 PST

 

[deeb7]

... So what's your opinion...walk away or take the 2nd chance offer ? :roll:

... I would walk away.

 

[deand]

I had that happen to me once on a D-1A cap, unissued XL size. I passed on the offer. Seemed fishy, so when in doubt: don't. FWIW.






dean

 

[Weasel_Loader]

That local bidder was more likely a friend or family member shilling his bid for him. I'd walk away just the same. :|

 

[jack aranda]

Walk and don't look back.

 

[dujardin]

run Forest , runnnnnnnnnnnn (just jokin')

i meannnn walk away

 

[ausreenactor]

G'day...

If you LOVE the item and it is essential to your wellbeing, offer him the start bid. As without the under bidder that is where
it would have stayed. Other than that, wise heads have already spoken. Walk away...or click the back arrow and scroll down!!

Couchy

Merry Christmas!!

 

[Steve27752]

Leave it.

 

[better duck]

I'd say: let him choke on it, unless it is, as Couchy said, more or less essential to your wellbeing. In that case offer the starting bid. If he doesn't accept that: back to plan A (the choking part)

 

[Tim P]

Another one along soon..
Our man seemed quite determined to have it and the seller should embrace that if the auction is all legit.
I am with the camp that says a low offer ( your highest bid before matey boy appears, just to keep it reasonable) before walking away. No sense in cutting off your nose to spite your face but make it what it always was, a buyers market. He can relist if your terms don't appeal.



Sir, I have considered your offer and I am grateful for it. You will understand that with a natural human desire to win an auction that I have been bidding on since quite early on, I have ended up bidding beyond what I would realistically want to pay for this item. I do know when to quit however which is why I let the auction run immediately I realised I had bid beyond my maximum. I am somewhat disturbed that this late bidder, being someone you will not deal with, should bid so frantically in the closing stages of the auction. If he is aware of this, it seems as if he has set about sabotaging it and for that reason I could see why you have such ill feeling towards him.
I cannot be held responsible for that however and am reluctant in the extreme to get involved in it.
What I propose in response to your considered offer is that I would happily offer you the sum of $.......... for this item. I believe this to be a reasonable offer that guarantees you a sale. If you do not find that acceptable then I am sure the option to reconsider dealing with the other party still exists as his bidding activity shows that he clearly wants it badly. I naturally wish you well with whatever decision you make.

 

[Tim P]

Oh, and make DAMN sure that stuff heads your way at auctions end.

and dont do it unless you really want it. I rarely ever do the second chance thing. There is nothing I have seen on ebay that I didnt see again in identical form sooner or later.

 

[442RCT]

Thanks to all for the advice. I walked away without looking back. The item is something that's regularly listed on eBay, I'm guessing the reason he didn't have any more bidders than he did was due to him being a new seller with only one transaction as a buyer in his eBay history.
That may have yellow flagged any other potential bidders. He did send me an e-mail and asked me to make an offer, but I will decline since I don't know if the item will be sent, or even be usable when received. :roll:

 

[Roughwear]

Sounds as if you are doing absolutely the right thing here. I'm always suspicious about second chance offers.

 

[Atticus]

Walk away and then go download a good snipe program.

AF

 

[SuinBruin]

go download a good snipe program.

Very sound advice. I resisted using sniping software for years and now regret it keenly. It makes life so much easier for bidding on eBay auctions. I use www.ezsniper.com and have had no problems with it thus far.