interesting new Trainz marketing

[E7]

If you list stuff on eBay "Best Offer", are you required to take the highest offer?

In a word: No

The seller generally has 48 hrs. to consider the offer. They can accept, make a counter offer, reject the offer, or just let the offer expire.

Ebay is always tweaking things, so there may be other bells and whistles by now. There is a lot of psychology involved. The buyer might think the seller is advertising that they will take less, but the seller may jack up his buy it now figure to sell his item quicker, enticing the buyer by making them think they are getting a bargain when they make an offer. Can you say cyber haggling?

example: If I have a boat I want to sell for $500, I offer to to you for $1000. You offer me $750. I accept and make an extra $250, and you are happy thinking you have beat me down $250.

We'll call it "Flea Market Roulette"

[healey36]

Thanks Rich.

I’ve made a few offers on items - some were immediately accepted, some were countered or I received a note from the seller. Some I never got any sort of response from, and the item ran to its expiration and dropped off, unsold. I realize now this isn’t “best offer wins”, it’s simply “make an offer”.

Paul

[G3750]

3rd Rail was smart to buy out ERR. They are making a butt load of money selling kits to upgrade all of the MTH junk being dumped on ebay.

I think they lucked into that aspect of it, John. Or maybe Scott Mann was smart enough to foresee MTH's departure. He sure didn't sound very happy about taking over ERR when it happened. I believe he thought it would be short-lived. However, if you want to upgrade any other locomotive, e.g. Williams, there's no other path. Lionel would be very foolish to kill the TMCC upgrade path, especially when they won't sell upgrades to Legacy.

George

I can only assume he bought the rights to ERR for the cruise commander boards and maintain TMCC capacity in his new offerings. His latest engines are listed as "ERR CRUISE in 3 Rail TMCC/ New OEM Railsounds" for whatever that means. He must be selling the cruise commander boards to Atlas O because Atlas is advertising engines with "Electric Railroad Co. “Cruise Commander” Technology" It's nice he is selling the boards separately. I think his ERR line has a long future ahead of it as a good majority of command control folks want it sweet and simple without the added expense of frill like features and elaborate operating systems. The old Cab 1's and command bases are rather robust and many are still in use. I've been using mine for 23 years without a hitch. And Lionel is still offering an improved version of cab1 and base (cab1L) for nearly half the price of a Legacy base and controller for those who want it sweet and simple. I understand someone is taking over the manufacture of PS-3 boards. That doesn't help the guy with cab 1, cab 1L or Legacy base who got a PS-1 deal on ebay. The purchase of the rights should also help bolster Scott through recessionary times where people spend their reduced dollars servicing what they already own or upgrade bargains.

John, I think that is an excellent and accurate analysis. Per the original TMCC licensing agreement with 3rd parties (K-Line, Atlas, Weaver, 3rd Rail), I think Lionel produced and sold them all the boards. Add-on boards (features) were provided by others (TrainAmerica, Digital Dynamics, ERR). Someone correct me if I mis-remembered.

And yes, I agree that the TMCC technology, while old, is extremely robust. The TMCC market is alive and well, and Lionel messes with it at their own peril.

George

[E7]

Thanks Rich.

I’ve made a few offers on items - some were immediately accepted, some were countered or I received a note from the seller. Some I never got any sort of response from, and the item ran to its expiration and dropped off, unsold. I realize now this isn’t “best offer wins”, it’s simply “make an offer”.

Paul

Paul,

You have gotten most, if not all of the permutations. My only suggestions would be to read the auction page carefully, and ALWAYS look to see if there is a return option. That might save you from something you may have overlooked or stuff not seen in the images.

Rich

[Rufus T. Firefly]

..........read the auction page carefully.............

An elusive concept at best for too many.

Fold in also that you can always ask the seller questions; a failure to get answers might be informative.

[v8vega]

I'm a experienced eBay buyer and know to read the ad carefully. I bought a slot car the ad pictures showed a complete car and I forgot how the ad was worded but it did say body only but not in so many words. It was easy to think your getting a complete car with one of the best chassis. When the body only arrived I wrote to him asking for permission to return it. He was kind of a wise acre but did give me permission in kind of a round about way.
EBay generally favors the buyer I have read. If you click return it gives you a postage paid return address label but I don't have a printer so I had to go to the post office and pay postage. He didn't refund so ebay gives you the run around designed to make it near impossible to get ahold of them. Finally I found customer service, told them my story with the return tracking showing that he got it and eBay refunded my money.

[E7]

Fold in also that you can always ask the seller questions; a failure to get answers might be informative.

Absolutely! If a seller fails to respond/give information, run like Hades!