Hi.. I've sold a couple dozen items on GB over the years. I just botched an important listing. I had a Buy It Now for $900 for a custom Browning BT-99 skeet gun with a 16" pull (for a tall shooter). But I forgot to put any starting price at all! I didn't realize until several bids had been made. It's a few days from ending. It's at $250 right now. I'm not selling it for that. I didn't set up the listing to try to create any crazy bidding fever. I don't even really want to sell the gun, so I'll need a higher not lower price. I've sold cheap items before. (I might modify the gun back to normal at some point myself. So I can shoot it some before selling it. It was my favorite uncle's gun and I'd like to experience it.) I figure I should just cancel the auction. But I've never done that on GB before. I asked the GB Support people and they didn't even mention the cancel option but I now see it there. So I've asked them again, reminding them of that function that they offer. (Odd.) But, who knows, maybe the price will go up to the neighborhood of my BIN? The Support ppl did say that I could cancel AFTER the auction but that seems WORSE to me than canceling right now. I don't want to dawdle. I don't want to get people's hopes up. Since I haven't canceled before I don't know if a "explain reason why" box pops up that will go to ppl who have bid already. Thanks for your thoughts. JP
GB: I forgot a starting price! ...Cancel auction?
- Status
stonebuster
Member
Deleted
.455_Hunter
Member
I would say end it now, much better than after somebody "won". Nobody has to know why. I also would wait awhile before re-listing.
Yes, end it before someone wins the auction. If that happens, you're on a straight track to someone complaining, either to GB or to the internet generally, about you.
Legionnaire
Contributing Member
I'll be the odd man out. You offered it for sale at auction; if you cancel the auction after you receive a bid, you are reneging on a commitment to sell. Might be what you choose to do, but it's not cool. I do agree that if you're going to end the auction, end it early.
Valid reasons for doing so (other than "I made a mistake")? Discovered a major flaw, gun is not as advertised, incorrect product description, etc.
Welcome to THR.
Valid reasons for doing so (other than "I made a mistake")? Discovered a major flaw, gun is not as advertised, incorrect product description, etc.
Welcome to THR.
Hi... Thanks all. Well, I clicked on the 'end item early' button that was 'hot' and it led me to a message that said I couldn't do that! Ha. Button should be grey/dead if I can't use it. Oh well! Now I know why GB didn't mention it as an option. But they did say I didn't have to sell. That sounds very disappointing! I'm going to ADD TO THE DESCRIPTION and explain my error. This also seems awkward but at least I'm doing something. ?? (I think I've been a member here at THR for years but haven't posted in forever.)
Last edited:
IJ1981
Member
Most GB Buyers/Sellers are understanding in my 15 year experience. . Hopefully you manage to avoid financial damage in this unfortunate situation.
Legionnaire
Contributing Member
I see that now; I was going by your post count. My apologies.
Alternately, you might just let the auction run. If your BIN price is reasonable given the market, you might get close to or even more than that. Things tend to bid up near the end, especially penny auctions.
Good luck however you decide to proceed.
Scooter22
Member
Sorry you made a mistake but you decided to start a auction and you have bidders. I have had two auctions I won similar to yours. One was a "Buy Now" that I did and the other ended with me being the high bidder when it ended. The sellers came back with your reasons on not wanting to complete the auction. Tuff Crap!. You decided to list the gun. You should have figured out your personal attachments before listing it. I,ve seen plenty of trolling for a high price with it ending in " I made a mistake" to stop the sale. Sounds like BS to me. I,ve been on the receiving end twice. Sorry but thats my experiences.
Last edited:
crestoncowboy
Member
- Joined
- Feb 22, 2011
- Messages
- 3,307
Not the odd man out. I agree completely. I've lost money due to a screw up of my own more than once. I take my loss and move on.
It's not my attachments that are messing me up. I'm happy to sell the gun. It's the error in the listing.
If someone had a million$ item they accidentally listed for a penny as Buy It Now, should they be forced to sell for that?
This is a case where GB doesn't have as many tools as ebay for fixing mistakes, is all.
At least I've explained it now in a Added Description. It's my only option at this point. I don't want to disappoint bargain hunters. It's good fun and often people list with that in mind. But that's not how I'm selling this gun.
earlthegoat2
Member
You have stated you don’t really “want“ to sell it.
That unfortunately implies you actually do want to sell it....for the right price.
Do you want to sell it for market value? Well then, you are on the right track by letting it ride. This implies you don’t want to sell it for market value since you indicate you don’t really “want” to sell it which is an interesting way to sell things.
I have noticed that of identical items listed, ones with a BIN or high minimum bid tend to go for less money on average than penny starts. That low opening price increases the amount of watchers and increases the likelihood of bidding wars whether the listing was intended to do so or not. Sometimes an item is what it is based on its own merits and pictures.
Maybe you should take many detailed pictures and add them to the listing. Maybe add some thrilling description to increase the bidding action.
You never know what you might get for it.
What will you do if it gets bid up to 100 less than your BIN price? I would be selling that thing to the high bidder just to avoid trouble. Probably of it goes for 2-300 less as well.
Lessons are rarely free.
That unfortunately implies you actually do want to sell it....for the right price.
Do you want to sell it for market value? Well then, you are on the right track by letting it ride. This implies you don’t want to sell it for market value since you indicate you don’t really “want” to sell it which is an interesting way to sell things.
I have noticed that of identical items listed, ones with a BIN or high minimum bid tend to go for less money on average than penny starts. That low opening price increases the amount of watchers and increases the likelihood of bidding wars whether the listing was intended to do so or not. Sometimes an item is what it is based on its own merits and pictures.
Maybe you should take many detailed pictures and add them to the listing. Maybe add some thrilling description to increase the bidding action.
You never know what you might get for it.
What will you do if it gets bid up to 100 less than your BIN price? I would be selling that thing to the high bidder just to avoid trouble. Probably of it goes for 2-300 less as well.
Lessons are rarely free.
crestoncowboy
Member
- Joined
- Feb 22, 2011
- Messages
- 3,307
That's been my experience as well. Ive seen penny starts go far beyond what they should. Higher than just ordering the gun or a buy it now listing that was running at the same time. When I bought my 4 inch 617 I bid more than I could have just ordered it for and still lost so I just ordered it.
bearman49709
Member
You created a contract to sell to the highest bidder, fail to fulfill your end of the contract will more than likely get you a E feedback and possibly banned from Gunbroker.
As others have said starting at a penny with no reserve is how you get the most for you item.
I have no idea what your shotgun is worth but you may end up getting more than your $900.00 BIN.
As others have said starting at a penny with no reserve is how you get the most for you item.
I have no idea what your shotgun is worth but you may end up getting more than your $900.00 BIN.
redneck2
Member
Years ago I went to a local household type auction. The guy had plastered the area with signs. So, day of the auction I went. This jerk was trying to be his own auctioneer. He put up two items in a row that didn’t bring what he wanted, so he refused to sell. People were pissed and left.
My point, you made the deal to sell, and you set the terms. I’d let it run. If you don’t get your high price, consider it “stupid tax” and move on. I was brought up that a deal is a deal.
My point, you made the deal to sell, and you set the terms. I’d let it run. If you don’t get your high price, consider it “stupid tax” and move on. I was brought up that a deal is a deal.
earlthegoat2
Member
May have shot yourself in the foot by adding the part about making the mistake.
That will definitely scare off a few bidders/watchers.
That will definitely scare off a few bidders/watchers.
CoalTrain49
Member
Most people are going to think it's a penny auction with no reserve. If it isn't, it is now. I've found when you change the conditions of a sale people get a little cranky and I can't really blame them. I don't think you can legitimately change it now without some bad feedback, just roll with it.
Virginia Jim
Member
- Joined
- Oct 24, 2017
- Messages
- 359
Yes, this killed any chance of additional bidders.
earlthegoat2
Member
someone may try to become the winning bidder with no intention of making purchase JUST so they can be the ones to ding you for negative feedback.
You have inadvertently set up a No Reserve auction with a Buy It Now price. That is a perfectly normal kind of auction. The honorable thing to do is ride it out and hope for the best.
Now , if you had accidentally left a zero off of the BIN that would be a different situation. (Even then you would have made a contractual offering...)
If you try to welsh on the deal you will get a real bad rap in feedback , and it would be justified.
Now , if you had accidentally left a zero off of the BIN that would be a different situation. (Even then you would have made a contractual offering...)
If you try to welsh on the deal you will get a real bad rap in feedback , and it would be justified.
Scooter22
Member
Well yes. YOU set up the auction. BUY NOW is just that. Highest bidder is the winner. You need to read the rules of the platform you are selling on and check out your auction. The auction as listed should sell to the winner unless you cancelled it before bids. Its up to you to make sure YOUR auction is what you want before bids. You did look at it after you posted it right? Your auction ran even though it wasn,t right according to you. Thats not the bidders problem.
It is your firearm and you cannot be made to sell it - forced to do any sale. I would notify any interested parties that you made a mistake and/ or you changed your mind on the terms. No harm yet as a winner has not yet been awarded. Now wait too long and renig on a legitimate high bid winner, shame on you. Until there is a winner, no harm, no foul.
- Status
