What's up with the classified forum? I placed the offer for the exact amount the seller was asking and said I'll take it, now I see someone is offering him more than he wanted for it??? Is this an auction or a fixed price forum? I'll not waste my time if it is an auction style setup.

I have forwarded your question on to our Marketplace Moderator (JWN) to answer.

Ken

A higher offer would be acceptable IMO IF he stated a price OBO. If he stated only a fixed price then he should have sold it to you IMO. Not knowing the item or how it was posted that is all I can say.

Auction style ads are not permitted. Ads that state a price and OBO should mean they want the full price, or the highest offer if all offers are below the asking price. It is not permissable for sellers to use OBO to indicate they are open to allowing their ad to be run as an auction in hopes of selling for higher than their asking price.

Reviewing the ad in question. The offer accepted by the seller was for the full asking price + a stated shipping cost. I note the offer posted by gregoryda states only the asking price + shipping. The seller and the person whose offer was accepted are both in the same state. This may have been another factor in why the seller chose to accept this offer.

The other buyers offer may have been "including shipping" as well. I have done this to make people who see my offer feel they are being "out bid" on the item. What you do not see is the text we send to the seller who is asking $50 for something plus $10 shipping and I offer a visible $55 but state that that includes shipping. Not really a big secret... Or is ir

JWN, thanks for responding, it's not a big deal but I wanted to know how they were suppose to run. I was the first to make an offer and at the asking price $10 + shipping, and then another posted a higher offer $15 + shipping. Shipping was a fixed cost of $3. I'm not sure what you mean by full asking price vs. asking price, arn't they the same.

Thanks, DG

The accepted offer was actually $15.00 shipped instead of + shipping.

Yes, you are right. Asking price and full asking price are the same thing. My previous post was the result of poor proof reading on my part. Sorry about that.

You could ask the seller why he chose the other offer instead of yours, but my guess would be location of the other buyer. I know it may not sound right all of the time, but the seller does have the right to choose which ever offer he wishes, and for what ever reason he wishes, instead of being required to accept the first offer that meets his asking price.

"The other buyers offer may have been "including shipping" as well. I have done this to make people who see my offer feel they are being "out bid" on the item. What you do not see is the text we send to the seller who is asking $50 for something plus $10 shipping and I offer a visible $55 but state that that includes shipping. Not really a big secret... Or is ir"

To me that would be ok, but if someone offered a full price offer of $50+shipping, why would he take your lower offer of $55 including shipping? Hummmm, maybe I'm missing something, or in my case, maybe the guy really offered $5 more and the seller took the opportunity to make a few more bucks..but then it would be sold to the highest bidder. Doesn't really matter it was only a couple of servos.

John, thanks for the clarification. I did email him before posting here, but havn't heard from him. Thanks again for letting me know how things work on the classified ads.