Purpose of private ebay auctions

[Pmuppet]

Hello, i am wondering why a seller would choose to do private ebay timeshare sales auctions? Is there any reason to do this type of auction?

I am wondering if it is some kind of red flag. Any advise is appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[C30NY]

I have done them to protect bidders from receiving spam emails or other solicitations.

 

[rebrewer]

Hello, i am wondering why a seller would choose to do private ebay timeshare sales auctions? Is there any reason to do this type of auction?

I am wondering if it is some kind of red flag. Any advise is appreciated.

Thanks!

Bidder info isn't available after the auction either, so the only reason I can think of is to disassociate negative feedback for the seller with a particular sale. Check out the recent Westin Ka'anapali sale on eBay. Very unhappy buyer. Slimy seller.

 

[ampaholic]

Bidder info isn't available after the auction either, so the only reason I can think of is to disassociate negative feedback for the seller with a particular sale. Check out the recent Westin Ka'anapali sale on eBay. Very unhappy buyer. Slimy seller.

Please provide a link or an auction # - otherwise you are just talkin smack

 

[gnorth16]

What about shill bids?

On a regular auction, you can click on the bidders (ID still protected) and see how many bids and other products they are bidding on. By this, I can tell if there are some phony bids to drive up the price. Private auctions are more difficult.

In the end, I know what I am willing to pay based on my research and I snipe bid anyway, so it's more of a conspiracy theory than anything else!

Prime example. 27 bids currently $220, private listing....

http://www.ebay.com/itm/WESTIN-KIER...30676201032?pt=Timeshares&hash=item1e6ce89648

 

[tschwa2]

I also think it makes it hard to judge feedback. Were the "Excellent transaction" and "AAA+++ seller" for selling trinkets or TS? You can't tell when it is for private listings. I have completed 32ish ebay transactions and have only received a few follow up emails from sellers never any spam and that is on 30 non-private auctions. I received a magical second chance on one of the two privite auctions. I have bid on at least 30 others that I did not win and again no spam. So the Spam claim seems like BS to me. It makes me feel like the seller is not being open. I still bid on privates sometimes but I feel the potential for mis- deeds on the part of the seller is much higher on private listings.

 

[TheTimeTraveler]

I also think it makes it hard to judge feedback. Were the "Excellent transaction" and "AAA+++ seller" for selling trinkets or TS? You can't tell when it is for private listings. I have completed 32ish ebay transactions and have only received a few follow up emails from sellers never any spam and that is on 30 non-private auctions. I received a magical second chance on one of the two privite auctions. I have bid on at least 30 others that I did not win and again no spam. So the Spam claim seems like BS to me. It makes me feel like the seller is not being open. I still bid on privates sometimes but I feel the potential for mis- deeds on the part of the seller is much higher on private listings.

Years ago anyone could contact any bidder unless the auction was a private auction, but in more recent years it's impossible for anyone to contact any bidder under any circumstance, so the real need for a private auctions no longer seems to have any merit.



.

 

[chriskre]

I buy from many sellers who use private auctions.
Usually they are wholesalers who are protecting the buyers who are then reselling their stuff right there on ebay.

Some sellers also sell adult themed material and use private auctions. :ignore:

I can't really think of a reason why at TS would need a private auction though.
I have received fake second chance offers on timehsares that I won. Not sure how that happens but it has. :annoyed:

 

[Pmuppet]

I can't really think of a reason why at TS would need a private auction though.

Yeah, that is what I was thinking. There might be some slight benefits to your prospective buyers to shield them from spam (although ebay has taken care of that), but the negatived don't appear to outweigh the positives.

Therefore, it is a big red flag, and I will offer less as a result of the riskier nature of the transaction.