Would you burst someone's balloon?

[gbsbks2010]

Would you tell a seller on ebid that they have got their pricing completely wrong - majorly, majorly wrong?

I happened to come across a stamp that is very common but is priced in the thousands of pounds by the seller.

The seller thinks it is a different stamp to the one that is listed as he has the wrong year of issue for the stamp.

Or would you leave well alone as this is an auction site.

[Bohemian]

This is a tricky one. I have come across stamps on other sites, described as "x" shall we say, when they are blatantly "y". The old adage comes to mind "let the buyer beware". If a buyer knows his/her subject well enough, then they will realise the mistake in the
listing.

[MagnetsAndHangers]

I was giving this one some thought too - not sure best way to handle it.

If it was a subject I was sure about, i might just send them a question, just mentioning that you believe the price to be slightly high, and would they be willing to lower it slightly. They may have accidently put the wrong price in the listing, so a subtle hint like this may just draw their attention to it.

[suesjools]

No, definitely not. I don't know much about stamps, but regarding vintage jewelry I consider myself fairly knowledgeable and I've seen the same thing, sellers asking waaaaaaaay more than items are worth and sellers lowballing the same or very similar items, both of which, IMHO, are bad for business, but I don't care to get into arguments so I steer clear - the same way I avoid answering the question: do I look fat in this? IMHO any answer/info. volunteered, however well intentioned, is nearly always a surefire recipe for disaster.

Best wishes for many sales to all,

[Juliebabe25]

Yes I would
Even if you were wrong, it would make them check their listing to make sure it is OK.

Just as an aside,
I have been out surfing around and have come across quite a few ebid sellers with many items set up as Run Until sold and no gallery pics etc etc.

I often wonder if I should let them know that they may be better off with BINs etc.
I mean we help the members that come to the forums, but typically the ratio of forum members to non forum visitors is about 1 to 10.

[bykimbo]

I think if I didn't know the person and they hadn't asked for advice, I'd mind my own business.

[Armstrongs]

I asked a question once, with regard to £15 postage from the US...for a scratty little item, smaller than a cigarette packet!

Got my head chewed off for my trouble!!

My motto now...........if in doubt.........keep out.

Yvonne x

[BAGHAG999]

Yes I would
Even if you were wrong, it would make them check their listing to make sure it is OK.

Just as an aside,
I have been out surfing around and have come across quite a few ebid sellers with many items set up as Run Until sold and no gallery pics etc etc.

I often wonder if I should let them know that they may be better off with BINs etc.
I mean we help the members that come to the forums, but typically the ratio of forum members to non forum visitors is about 1 to 10.

Would they see it as help, its why i would keep out of it.

[HerMajesty]

Depends on the seller. It's possible the seller made a mistake. If I were the seller, I would appreciate a heads up as I would want to know so I wouldn't look like a non-expert in the field I am trying to be an expert in (if I'm selling stamps). If the seller is content to knowingly put on an exhorbitant price in the hopes of fooling someone less sophisticated, then that is sad, but the price would stay there. The trick comes in knowing absolutely that YOU are right in saying the pricing is totally wrong. IF you are sure you are right, then a short little 'just fyi - thought you might want to check the listing xyz, as when I saw stamp NNNMNMN 1852 in the book DO I KNOW DIDDLEY? it was valued at £1.79, not £1700.00, and thought perhaps you had a typo' might be appreciated and taken in the spirit given. The downside is, the seller may BELIEVE his stamp is worth beaucoups bucks or pounds, and think you are out to get the bargain of the century if he lowers his price. So, it's a difficult one. Just for the record, please feel free to tell me if any of my listings look totally wrong. I may or may not change them because of it, but I promise I won't bite your head off. Or do the guillotine trick.

[HerMajesty]

re: Juliebabe's comment - for just a normal suggestion on the RUS and pics, I'd say let the seller make his choices.

We believe those things help, A person can see other people's listings and see immediately how his are different. They may have a reason for RUS, and no pics, and to each his own. That, to me, is more a matter of personal opinion. If you are asking a question of them about a specific item, you might want to mention that you would have found it easier with a pic, or they might get more views with a different type of listing, but generally, I'd leave it alone.