Belt Auction

Is it legal to offer a deal to an ebay seller when item is still bidding?

The item I want still has 3 days for bidding and is at $51. However I want to know if it's legal (under Ebay regulations) for me to offer, lets say $100, to the bidder in order to insure that I "win" the item? Thanks.

Public Comments

1. No, it isn't legal, for either you or the seller. If you do this and either or both of you get caught, you could face charges, and you would both probably be banned from eBay. For the seller, if he's a regular seller, it could be costly. Why don't you post a bid of $100, thus assuring that no one can outbid you.
2. You're not going to "face charges" but there is a right way to do this. As long as you do it all on eBay, you are not in violation of their rules. If you make the offer to the seller and they accept, they can cancel the auction, and set up a "buy it now" auction. They send you the item number or link, you execute the buy it now for $100 (or whatever you agree to), pay via PayPal, and all is okay. eBay is happy because they get their fees. The seller is happy because they don't have to wait three more days. However, they will pay a higher fee to eBay for the buy it now option. It isn't much, but their fees will be a little higher to do this. All of this being said, it is unlikely any seller is going to be interested in doing this. There are scammers who might take an approach similar to this, and most sellers will say if they were interested in selling for $100 they would have put in a buy it now option for that. So I don't think it is likely that you will get a favorable response from the seller.
3. Yes it is 'legal' in ebays rules You can message the Seller and propose your price (they cannot add a BIN price as it has bids already) If he accepts you can place your $100 bid and he can end the auction to sell to the highest bidder. Done and dusted and all happy (you, seller and ebay) However there is nothing to say that the present bidder has not already put in a bid of $101, just because it only shows at $51 dosen't mean his placed bid is not $101 or $201. so until you ask and do ; neither of you will know. Also the seller may expect it to go much higher (or not) It's his call if he wants to end the auction or not- but you can only ask
4. 'Legal' - technically, a gray area. Certainly it is outside of the terms and conditions of eBay's buyer and seller policies. Do people do it? All the time. And the forums on eBay and on Y!A have many questions from people who have gotten screwed out of money or items that way. The seller cannot ensure that you win the auction. If you offer the seller $100 under the table and the auction continues, the buyer who officially wins will be entitled to the item at the winning price. The seller will be obligated to sell it or the buyer can file a non-performing seller (NSS ) complaint with eBay against him. If the seller were to agree to this offer from you he would have to a) cancel all the bids currently on the auction and then b) cancel the auction. But this is not in the seller's best interest, nor yours. He might get more than $100 in the last minutes of bidding. That's the only reason someone would offer him a flat fee to stop the auction. Also you lose all your buyer protection making an eBay purchase this way. If the seller screws you over in any way, you will have no recourse.