back to article Amazon comes over all eBay with new ‘make an offer’ facility

Amazon is making a bid to steal customers from online marketplaces such as eBay with a new option to “make an offer” on items. The firm is introducing the option on Amazon.com for folks to offer a lower price for products in the fine arts and collectibles sections initially, and will then be expanding the service to other …

  1. ukgnome
    Trollface

    I believe this is how HMRC asks Amazon for tax.

  2. Jay 2

    An offer you can refuse!

    If it's like the offers I usually get for anything tech that I sell on (fl)e(a)Bay, then it'll probably be for half the amount the item usually goes for.

    And even then, some punters seem incredulous that you've turned down their "offer".

    1. HausWolf

      Re: An offer you can refuse!

      While I'll counter, if you seriously lowball me the second time, my counter is usually above my initial asking price. I feel I've wasted enough time on you and really don't want your business when you come in that low. OTH I'm just selling used and one off deals I find so it is a hobby more than a living.

      1. VinceH

        Re: An offer you can refuse!

        The one that bugs me is when I'm selling something such as a car and I use the local paper or whatever - some people ring, and ask on the phone "what's the lowest you'll take for it?"

        Silly question. If I've advertised the thing at £x, and answer that question with £y, if they see the vehicle they'll try knocking me down from £y - expecting me to go lower than the figure I'll have said is the lowest I'd take.

        So instead, I answer with "What's the highest you'll pay for it?"

        This usually confuses them.

    2. Tapeador

      Re: An offer you can refuse!

      I had someone win my car on an eBay auction, and the day they'd arranged to pick it up they emailed and said "my brother hijacked my account so I won't be buying the car" - after I'd made the journey 30 miles to meet them. So he then offered me 65% of the price agreed. I took it because it was only £40 loss and they seemed too scary to risk suing, and they knew my mum's address. But if it was anyone else I would resell the car and sue the buyer for the difference. Suing is good.

      1. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: An offer you can refuse!

        If they're buying cars that are that cheap then suing is probably pointless.

  3. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    More like eBay every day

    Amazon already allow their platform to be used to sell fake goods with impunity, so why not turn it into an eBay-esque flea market?

  4. ckm5

    Major new feature just before Xmas?

    I can't believe that Amazon would take the risk of modifying their platform right at the time they make the most money. Most retailers have a feature/tech change freeze a week before black Friday....

  5. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    So you double your prices and then keep your customers happy by letting them negotiate a huge reduction of 40% .

    1. Down not across

      So you double your prices and then keep your customers happy by letting them negotiate a huge reduction of 40% .

      Most likely. Just like many of the Black Friday offers this year which seem to go along the lines "Look here! 50% off!" ...when really the offer was 10% or less off usual selling price. Calculating percentage from RRP and ignoring the usual selling price makes it look better deal than it is.

      1. VBF

        Does ANYBODY pay RRP for ANYTHING any more?

        1. Anonymous Coward
          Coat

          RRP

          Yes, me

  6. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    For those knocking buyers on eBay using MAO...

    It works both ways, with sellers taking the piss too.

    For example, offer say 90% the BIN price to be told "sorry mate the BIN is the lowest I can go" ..WTF

    Submit a (very reasonable) offer that reduces the price by a few quid, get a counter offer in the few pence saving range (one was 4p IIRC although that was a low value item).

    In many cases the BIN price on such items is a joke anyway.

    I have had some good deals using it but a lot of sellers just seem to use it as hook bait.

  7. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Competition

    Isn't this just Amazon's response to Flubbit?

  8. anonymous boring coward Silver badge

    I read "Amazon comes all over eBay".

    Perhaps it will soon.

POST COMMENT House rules

Not a member of The Register? Create a new account here.

  • Enter your comment

  • Add an icon

Anonymous cowards cannot choose their icon

Other stories you might like