Originally Posted by Stoic Person Eater Are we able to leave negative feedback for an abandoned lowball by a CAG? If they list a lowball on this site, they are susceptible to the feedback system if they do not fulfill their duties by posting on this site. If the member left the site for personal reasons that would be one thing, but for them to abandon the site mid-lowball and return to the site to run a trade list with no mention of why this occurred shouldn't be allowed to go without appropriate feedback or administrator punishment. I'd say it's ban worthy, but this isn't my site. But I am a member on the site and can't stand dishonesty and shadiness.

Your reasoning is justifiable. There should be a high standard for conducting a lowball through honest feedback and communication. Sadly, I feel this sub-category is not getting enough mass appeal to sway more public outcry.

Originally Posted by Stoic Person Eater Are we able to leave negative feedback for an abandoned lowball by a CAG? If they list a lowball on this site, they are susceptible to the feedback system if they do not fulfill their duties by posting on this site. If the member left the site for personal reasons that would be one thing, but for them to abandon the site mid-lowball and return to the site to run a trade list with no mention of why this occurred shouldn't be allowed to go without appropriate feedback or administrator punishment. I'd say it's ban worthy, but this isn't my site. But I am a member on the site and can't stand dishonesty and shadiness.

Information for sellers: Please plan your auction ahead. Your end time is a verbal contract with your bidders and is not flexible. Please ensure that you will be ready and able to end your auction within the window specified in your lowball rules. Items up for auction should be visually verified before being added to your listing (pictures of the actual product are highly recommended!) as sellers will be held responsible for ensuring that their list is accurate and all items are delivered as promised upon completion of the lowball. This means listed items may not be removed from the lowball once it is underway. If payment is required by a certain date, be clear about that in your listed payment guidelines. Otherwise, something general such as, Quote: I would like to receive payment within 10 days of lowball end, but other arrangements may be made if you contact me before bidding. is also acceptable. Appropriate feedback may be left by your buyers for actions outside the rules.

I don't think I can make it any more clear than it already is in the OP. Sellers that do not follow through should absolutely be held accountable for their actions. We, as CAGs, have to count on a certain amount of self-policing, so I hope everyone feels free to leave the appropriate feedback were they affected.

EDIT: I would like to mention that, the CAG in question had a lowball with a similar result the attempt before. The bidders at that time chose to let him slide, and it lead to the exact same result in the next attempt.
I can't express enough how much I am against leniency when it comes to lowballs and following through with your commitment.
Of course, everyone could have an issue of some sort, but the "lowballers" I have had the most respect for are the ones that ate their losses, "manned up" and followed through in spite of low bids, spoiled endings, etc.

I have seen (too) many failed lowballs, and rarely does the person causing the issues redeem themselves with their next attempt.
A good deal is one thing, but those of you piling on to bid when there has been so much disappointment in the past are simply masochists!

I have said it before, and will continue to say it until either myself or this site dies, but the lowballs are for the benefit of ALL CAGS not specifically for the sellers.

Anyone have any further suggestions for the Quick FAQ in the OP?

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I have something I need help with, my lowball ended last Sunday (the 19th) and it's now the 25th. I have a bidder who according to their profile, has not logged on since the 16th. I didn't put any time frame on payment assuming everyone would pay me in a timely manner... But any suggestions on what to do?

Originally Posted by raarar I have something I need help with, my lowball ended last Sunday (the 19th) and it's now the 25th. I have a bidder who according to their profile, has not logged on since the 16th. I didn't put any time frame on payment assuming everyone would pay me in a timely manner... But any suggestions on what to do?

Without a timeframe in your lowball, you will have to PM them. Give them a fair amount of time in order te respond, say 4-5 days. If you do not hear from them, you can send a "final warning" PM and, again, give them a fair amount of time to respond before taking action.

It's been 8 days since I sent them a PM about the lowball and 11 since they last logged onto the site. Guess I'll keep waiting.

Sorry this question is so late, can Used PC games be sold in Lowball Auctions? - I mean games without any of the copy-protection that is becoming more and more prevalent.

Originally Posted by laotahn Sorry this question is so late, can Used PC games be sold in Lowball Auctions? - I mean games without any of the copy-protection that is becoming more and more prevalent.

You can sell anything allowed on CAG in a lowball.
Just explain your items thoroughly so everyone knows exactly what they are getting.

Obviously selling (or offering) copies is not allowed, and copying items to sell the originals is not, and should not be, a topic of conversation on CAG.

I will be conducting a massive lowball shortly here and wanted to ask two questions. First off since I will be unloading 100s of games I wanted to break them up into quite a few auctions that I felt I would hold either weekly or bi weekly. I was wondering if the preference is for me to create a new topic each week or to just edit my first topic. I dont want to flood the forums, but at the same time it seems like conducting multiple lowballs in a single topic could get confusing.

My second question, is it acceptable for me to allow buyers the option to pay when they win but hold off for a larger shipping? So for example someone wins 3 games at my first lowball and they owe me $32 for those games. However they want to wait and see what is in future lowballs to get lower shipping costs by bundling more games together. I would be ok with that, but I dont want to hold games for months or even weeks on end which gives them the chance to back out of payment. Is it acceptable for me to charge them the $32 up front in order to hold those games for them and then as they win future lowballs I naturally just reduce the shipping costs of future payments?

Originally Posted by MSI Magus I will be conducting a massive lowball shortly here and wanted to ask two questions. First off since I will be unloading 100s of games I wanted to break them up into quite a few auctions that I felt I would hold either weekly or bi weekly. I was wondering if the preference is for me to create a new topic each week or to just edit my first topic. I dont want to flood the forums, but at the same time it seems like conducting multiple lowballs in a single topic could get confusing. My second question, is it acceptable for me to allow buyers the option to pay when they win but hold off for a larger shipping? So for example someone wins 3 games at my first lowball and they owe me $32 for those games. However they want to wait and see what is in future lowballs to get lower shipping costs by bundling more games together. I would be ok with that, but I dont want to hold games for months or even weeks on end which gives them the chance to back out of payment. Is it acceptable for me to charge them the $32 up front in order to hold those games for them and then as they win future lowballs I naturally just reduce the shipping costs of future payments?

If you are pretty set on the weekly or bi-weekly system, then opening new threads for each would probably be quite confusing when you would have a few different ones all mixed in at or near the top with previous bidders still posting and continuously mixing them.
If it ends up being more like a monthly lowball, the forum could probably support multiple threads as the previous would have had time to move down a bit when the new one is made.

Again, back to the weekly/bi-weekly system, it would be up to the buyers and you to work out a plan, including payment, for the auction end and possible combined shipping.
I imagine there would be a mix of people wanting to hold off on shipping and payment until they get more items and those that would prefer to pay nearer time of shipment.
As for a longer schedule, I would think that, just for security purposes, most people would prefer shipping be done within a reasonable period of time that still offers them coverage via Paypal.

In any case, there are no real structures in place for exactly how you need to receive payment, but keep in mind that the flexibility you have in dealing with each person is often based on your availability to work things out and, huge lowballs ending in multiple periods will fill up your inbox VERY quickly - not to mention that most people say they end up having a lot more work during and after the lowballs than they originally imagined.

I have seen lowballs in the past in which the sellers became overwhelmed, so just keep that in mind.

If i had a lowball and certain ppl received an invoice but didnt end up paying for the item is it ok to leave bad feedback?

Originally Posted by Mr. Black Ops If i had a lowball and certain ppl received an invoice but didnt end up paying for the item is it ok to leave bad feedback?

Quoting a response that I had made earlier in the thread that may be related as I do not know the process you have already gone through to this point.

Originally Posted by dv8mad Without a timeframe in your lowball, you will have to PM them. Give them a fair amount of time in order to respond, say 4-5 days. If you do not hear from them, you can send a "final warning" PM and, again, give them a fair amount of time to respond before taking action.

Basically, as long as the other party has had plenty of time and opportunity in order to fulfill their commitment, then yes, a negative is an option.

Why do lowbal auctions use red colors (and grey as well as purple) on a black background in the opening post? Any other color would make it easier to read what's being offered.

Originally Posted by Meremare Why do lowbal auctions use red colors (and grey as well as purple) on a black background in the opening post? Any other color would make it easier to read what's being offered.

Are you referring to the rules and such? As far as I know, there is no way to change the default of red under the spoilers. Am I wrong about that?

EDIT: Learn something new everyday! Turns out that you can edit the colors after it has been spoilered. It's only with no color specified that it defaults to red.
Thanks for the question! Looks like my lowballs will be a bit easier to read in the future.

just posted my first lowball and have a quick query. Would i be allowed to cancel my lowball if it appears no one is interested after a few days? or would i have to wait until it ends?

Originally Posted by bitterbuffalo just posted my first lowball and have a quick query. Would i be allowed to cancel my lowball if it appears no one is interested after a few days? or would i have to wait until it ends?

If you have begun accepting bids, you need to continue.
If you have not received any bids, you can end it by cancelling the lowball and locking the thread.

Keep in mind that a slow start doesn't mean you won't have a good finish.

What's a good shipping charge for my lowball? I'm not sure whats good shipping costs to charge someone...I don't want to lose too much cost of the shipping but I don't want to overcharge people either. If for one game or if someone won a handful of games..whats the cheapest and best way to ship them? Thanks.

These are the shipping costs I have running right now:

Shipping/Payment:
Normal games will be $3.50, $3.00 for each additional game. The steelbooks will be $4.00. Guides will be shipped via Media Mail to save money, so it will be $4.00. Due to the various sizes of some of these CE, it will be dependent on the size of the item. The system will be shipped in a padded priority box at $12.35, same as the Max Payne statue. I will also reimburse any extra shipping costs if I am over on my estimate to you. Sorry, only U.S. shipping. Payment should be made within the week (until March 3rd) of the lowball unless discussed about it private.

Shipping isn't a huge issue as long as it's posted clearly, which it is. You also state you will pay back overages, so I don't see any problem at all.

Wasn't sure where to ask this so I went with here. Is there a way to move lowballs that are finished/in the shipping phase so its easier to see which ones are currently ongoing? Really enjoy it but having to keep tabs on different ones is a bit tasking for me. Not complaining, just asking.

Originally Posted by Legendary Gokou Wasn't sure where to ask this so I went with here. Is there a way to move lowballs that are finished/in the shipping phase so its easier to see which ones are currently ongoing? Really enjoy it but having to keep tabs on different ones is a bit tasking for me. Not complaining, just asking.

I don't imagine the mods would look forward to managing a subforum of a subforum.

People can, if they choose, lock a thread after they have shipped everything, but many leave them open until they are 100% complete.
Personally, I will typically lock m own after a majority of people have received, but the easiest way to keep track is just for people to have a title that makes it at least fairly clear if it is open, pending or over.

It's really up to the lowball owner though.