Role of the Ebay auction forum?

[ChrisL]

Hi all:

I'd like to get feedback on the following with the goal of bringing out a generally accepted consensus as to this practice:

Is there any problem with posting auction links for items that someone is selling personally on Ebay? Shameless promotion? Maybe. Runs the risk of driving up the price by increasing demand? Arguably that could be true. Beneficial to SRP members interested in something they may not otherwise know about? I believe so.

Here's why I ask:

I have some items (stones, razors), not many but some items that I'll be selling on the Bay because I want to have potential of receiving the highest price I can get for these items. That's why I'd never consider selling said items on the BST because my belief is: Ebay from the seller's perspective is to potentially receive the highest price someone is willing to pay whereas BST is meant to offer the occasional affordable quality items to other members that can appreciate and benefit from the items.

I have an item on Ebay now for example where I've mentioned that if the item sells for above a certain price, I will provide free worldwide shipping for any current SRP member who's been a member longer than three months.

I'd like to make fellow SRP members aware of some of these items and benefits as mentioned above if they would win the items and thought the Ebay/auction forum would of course be the place to do that. I would NOT do anything of this sort unless the consensus, and a ruling from the Moderator would support such a practice. I reviewed the sticky from the Mod and saw nothing for or against this type of posting. To be clear, I have no problem either way and most importantly I wish to conduct myself within the accepted rules of conduct. Keep in mind, for me, I would not/am not a "powerseller" on Ebay and normally only sell a few items per month there.

This has been forefront in my mind because I may be able to purchase a small lot of vintage high end razors (approx 20) that the seller says are in absolute mint condition (yeah, I'll be the judge if/when I see them). My imagination is running wild already, but IF this was true and IF I was able to purchase the lot, I would most likely keep some razors and undoubtedly sell the rest on the Bay and they would not go on BST.

Please weigh in on your thoughts. Thanks.

Chris L

[CactusBob]

I don't see why that would be an issue. Sooner or later one of us may see it and post it any way.
At least knowing it comes from one of the members lets us know a little more about the quality of the item. If you said a razor was shave ready I would expect to take it out of the package and shave with it, most other ebay sellers I would expect to de-rust , de-tarnish, hone it and strop it before shaving.
As far as driving up the price, maybe but if I bid my max price through bid or snipe and won I couldn't complain about it anyway. If I lost because it went way over, hey to me that means one of our members did good.

My two pennies, I say go for it

Bob

[hoglahoo]

My own opinion has been that the little ad that appears next to the forum with ebay listings is enough. There's also the vendor thread - it would make sense to me to post a listing here in the ebay thread or in the vendor thread.

I understand my opinion has no special weight, but 'tis a voice just the same!

[SteveS]

My view is: if one is selling on ebay because he wants to get the highest price, he shouldn't use this forum as free advertising.

[Makar]

I think it's fine personally. Particularly noteworthy that folks like Tony, Portal 5, promotes SRP on his auctions and offers members discounts on postage etc. Lets members check what the market is like for a half decent razor instead of having to trawl through lots of dross - there is no compulsion to buy of course. I will get round to selling some things on eBay when I get round to sorting them out! I also plan to put some in BST but only when my honing gets to the shave ready stage - and I find some time.

[ChrisL]

My own opinion has been that the little ad that appears next to the forum with ebay listings is enough. There's also the vendor thread - it would make sense to me to post a listing here in the ebay thread or in the vendor thread.

I understand my opinion has no special weight, but 'tis a voice just the same!

Could you clarify, Lee; are you saying you're for or against the proposed practice I'm wondering about?

Chris L

[hoglahoo]

" I'd like to get feedback on the following with the goal of bringing out a generally accepted consensus as to this practice:

Is there any problem with posting auction links for items that someone is selling personally on Ebay?"

I like the links to be somewhere that I won't ever see them unless I am looking for them. Seems like a fine idea to have them confined to a specific sub-forum or category. Mere links to auctions will probably grow into full fledged ads as people ask questions, get answers, reviews etc in subsequent posts which to me necessitates distance from the rest of the forum.

To answer the Q: I'm for the idea but I'm undecided on the implementation.

[portal5]

I was encouraged to join the SRP by Ilija & he suggested that I post my razor sales for the members to see.
I had a post moved by a moderator from BST to the Auction thread to me that shows that the moderator thought that it was ok to post your ebay sales in the Auction thread.
I have been posting my sales for over 2 years & no one has complained about the ethics.
I of course would like the best price but I like to see a SRP member win just as much hence the postage discount.
I think it its fine & a benefit to the SRP members.
Tony H
Taylors1000

[Jimbo]

Personally I don't see the issue with it. We all post links to interesting (for a variety of reasons...) ebay auctions anyway, why not to one of our own? Particularly when one of our own is offering a postage or other type of deal to the members here. It's basically a public service announcement

You're not forcing anyone to bid, you're letting people know about something that might otherwise slip under their radar, and you're being open and transparent about your ebay listings (ie you're actively opening up yourself to the intense scrutiny we place ebay auctions under in these forums). No problem in my book.

James.

[Wildtim]

I was encouraged to join the SRP by Ilija & he suggested that I post my razor sales for the members to see.
I had a post moved by a moderator from BST to the Auction thread to me that shows that the moderator thought that it was ok to post your ebay sales in the Auction thread.
I have been posting my sales for over 2 years & no one has complained about the ethics.
I of course would like the best price but I like to see a SRP member win just as much hence the postage discount.
I think it its fine & a benefit to the SRP members.
Tony H
Taylors1000

Sounds like and answer to me. To me it would be part of what the auction thread is for. Members discussing auctions of interest to them, and it sounds like these auctions would be of interest to at least one member in good standing