As (possibly) the "other list member" I want to point out that my
bid on the item was purely coincidental. I was scanning ebay
for "tube" stuff and found the item. I buy (or at least ATTEMPT
to buy) some old tube stuff on eBay, and it was just a lull in
some other activity that allowed me to scan the auction.
I am not sure where I stand on the "notify the list" issue, since
something juicy (that I want more than someone else) just MIGHT
come to my notice this way... Many times it does help scuttle
a deal someone else is zoning in on. Both can be good or bad (at
least bad for the seller.) But in this case, it "wasn't his
fault."
Gary
At 01:47 AM 1/21/99 -0500, you wrote:
>On Wed, 20 Jan 1999, Good Samaritan wrote:
>
>> Neat item here, and there is also a photo of the Module.
>>
>> http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=56733792
>
>OK, since Marvin obviously feels compelled, nay, Destined, to advertise
>for eBay, I feel compelled to dissect this particular example to describe
>why this is such a Bad Idea.
>
>1) The current bidder on this item is/was a list member. Of course,
>Marvin may not remember the email address.
>
>2) I have been watching this particular item all week. Of course, Marvin
>could not possibly know this.
>
>3) I knew that this item was squarely in Mark's domain -- he collects a
>bunch of old IBM and Univac stuff among other interesting bits. I debated
>notifying Mark or bidding on it myself.
>
>4) I chose to wait and nab it myself if Mark didn't find it. He found it.
>
>5) He obviously wanted it. You may have noticed that (3) bids were
>registered, but only one bidder. This typically means that a bidder has
>rebid to increase his max -- he really wants it.
>
>6) Within minutes of Marvin's Good Samaritan Advertisement, another list
>member placed a bid -- the net effect was to increase the price Mark will
>have to pay by at least $26.
>
>Thanks so much for this fine service, Marvin.
>
>-- Doug
>
Received on Thu Jan 21 1999 - 02:34:11 GMT