Fair to change ad from sale to auction?

I think if you state OBO in your add you have the right to take the highest bidder. This includes informing the potential buyers, waiting a day or so and see what happens. However, if you make a deal with someone you MUST stick by your word and as mentioned, "do the right thing."

No, you cannot change you mind. To change the deal would be dishonorable, despicable, and worthy of contempt. You must decide before you post whether it will be a classified ad or an auction. Certainly, you have the right to sell your property to whomever you wish, but if you violate the Audiogon rules, you should justifiably be banned from this venue.

Why would anyone think it would be OK to change from an item offered "For Sale" at a given price, to an auction just because there was more than one person showing interest You can't change the rules after the game has started.

Probably every Audiogon member with multiple sales, and multiple purchases can understand your frustration about selling lower than someone else was willing to pay. But, almost certainly, you can look forward to being on the buyer side, and wanting to be treated to any bargain that you earn by promptly agreeing to pay someone else their bargain asking price. Only an auction will elicit the highest possible price if you wish to have buyers fighting for your item. Abruptly changing to an auction after you get your buyer seems contrary to Audiogon spirit. There is definitely a comraderie among Audiogon members based upon trading around equipment at a bargain price. In that regard, Audiogon is serving as a hobbyist outlet rather than a strictly commercial enterprise. I think you can expect your overall experience to be more fun if you do not set the goal of extracting the absolute maximum from others, and giving the least from yourself. Your question shows you have your heart in the right place, and seeing how the membership responds should reflect a range of opinions. Hopefully enough responses will be posted so you can feel comfortable deciding how you want to proceed on Audiogon.

It's called jerking people around and I doubt most people would ask the question and opine that one shouldn't be offended by such a practice. Once you start buying/selling stuff you should act like a mensch. My two cents worth.