13 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}
13 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}

Anyone experience this with Flippa?

by Matt.Lake
11 replies
Hey guys,

I've just listed a small, start-up website on Flippa and within 5 minutes received a bid. I looked into the profile of the user who was bidding and they had literally just signed up to Flippa about 25 minutes prior, and this was the second bid they had placed on an auction.

May be it was genuine, but I rejected the bid.

Then, only about 5 minutes after that, I received another bid. This time the user seemed a little bit more legit so I accepted it, seeing as it hadn't reached the reserve anyway. Even so though, this user appears to have signed into their account using proxies based in a number of countries... again, may be legit... but not the cleanest profile.

I'm just wondering if people have had similar experiences to this with Flippa?

This is my third time selling a site on Flippa and I can't say I've noticed this before.

Is it just a case of my auction showing up as a new listing so it received some immediate interest?

Probably nothing to be concerned about but just curious.

Matt
#experience #flippa
  • Profile picture of the author Dinospider
    Banned
    Yes they always do it. You'll be getting a few like that. Just make sure you have the choice to accept bids and not accept the high bids from new profiles.

    Remember to check out each bidder first before accepting.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6219018].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author PaxumChris
    I sold my first site on flippa a few months ago

    it was for a few hundred bucks and it sold to a guy with zero bidding history on a new account.

    He paid instantly.
    Signature
    Paxum.com - Complete payment solution
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6219259].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Matt.Lake
    Yeh you've got to give people the benefit of the doubt to an extent I guess, as everyone starts off with a new account at some point.

    I was more getting at the fact that I had two bids almost instantly after creating my auction, both from new, ever so slightly fishy accounts.

    I just wondered if there was a bot or something doing the bidding.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6219828].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author AnnaMolly
    Yea, just make sure you always have the option to accept the bid for auto accepting it. Sometime they will sign up specifically to bid on your site, so maybe a PM would clear things up to the bidder.
    Signature
    WSO - $9k per month in 60 days with no capital? For real.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6220653].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
    Banned
    When a listing first goes live, there's these a$$monkeys that bid on all of them. Most are from new accounts. They are hoping there is no reserve and that they win a site for really cheap. If you have a reserve, it does no harm to accept them all. It makes your auction more active and the more bids it gets, the higher it will be on the Most Active tab where it will get more views.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6220972].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author theimdude
      Originally Posted by sbucciarel View Post

      When a listing first goes live, there's these a$ that bid on all of them. Most are from new accounts. They are hoping there is no reserve and that they win a site for really cheap. If you have a reserve, it does no harm to accept them all. It makes your auction more active and the more bids it gets, the higher it will be on the Most Active tab where it will get more views.
      Then I must be a $$monkey. I purchased a number of good domains with websites on ebay when I bid and won on low bids. I though that is what auctions is all about. If I bid get in early you could get a good deal. Never bid on flippa before so will give it a try. For buyers out there on auctions remember get in low and make sure your highest bid you prepared to pay is set. That way you not driven by excitement and end up paying more than you want
      Signature
      Do you want 30 back-links in my PRIVATE BLOG network for ONLY $20 ???
      [LIMITED ACCESS + FREE ARTICLE INCLUDED OR YOUR OWN]

      CLICK HERE NOW
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6235745].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author lukedidit
        Originally Posted by theimdude View Post

        Then I must be a $. I purchased a number of good domains with websites on ebay when I bid and won on low bids. I though that is what auctions is all about. If I bid get in early you could get a good deal. Never bid on flippa before so will give it a try. For buyers out there on auctions remember get in low and make sure your highest bid you prepared to pay is set. That way you not driven by excitement and end up paying more than you want
        What filters did you use? I can't seem to find anything good on ebay.
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6235939].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Mike Hlatky
    Happens all the time.

    If the bids are well below the reserve, I just accept them. It appears like there is more interest in your auction, which is a good thing.

    However, once the bidding gets closer and closer to the reserve, you need to look into the person more.

    Here is a little guide from Flippa:
    https://flippa.com/help/research-buyer
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6221293].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author spunkz
    I've sold a 3k site before and a 400 site both with no issues. I just sold a 100 site this week and I'm not having any luck getting the buyer to pay. Oy!
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6221637].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author NBaller
    I would recommend that you just reach out to these people. If the price is under your reserve (assuming you have a reserve), it doesn't hurt you to accept them.

    Like others have mentioned, I've had successful sales from brand new buyers as well. Weren't you excited by all of the new opportunities when you first signed up for Flippa .

    Don't worry about it too much and enjoy the sales process...
    Signature

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6235689].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author equanto
    Non-paying bidders happen all the time, especially if you don't speak to them beforehand.
    If they have a new account, I'll always speak to them before accepting a bid (assuming it's above reserve).

    I doubt it's competitors, though. There are tons of sellers on Flippa so you're not really competing with one person, you're competing with loads. It would be impractical to go around winning every auction just for the sake of it.
    Bear in mind, you'll also get your account suspended if you don't pay. Opening a new account, verifying it and bidding on a few auctions seems pretty pointless.

    I'm sure it's been done a few times, but I highly doubt the main reason for non-paying bidders is just competitors bidding on your auctions..
    Signature
    What saves a man is to take a step. Then another step. It is always the same step, but you have to take it.
    Stories of Another day can be saved by your STEPS
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6235961].message }}

Trending Topics