Relist question

Contains_Mild_Peril

It's been mentioned on this board that if an eBay item is relisted and sells the second time (subject to certain conditions) the basic listing fee for the second listing is refunded. There's one point I'm not clear on though: can anybody tell me whether an item originally listed in one category but relisted in 2 would qualify for a lsiting fee credit in both categories?

Sugar_Coated_Owl

You have to relist it exactly the same as the first time you listed. So if you listed it in 1 category you will need to keep this the same.

Contains_Mild_Peril

It doesn't have to be the same in absolutely every respect, e.g. you can reduce the price and tweak the description, etc. I always assumed that a change of category would be allowed. Are you saying that category changes make the item ineligible for a relistcredit, and that if I added a second category I could lose my relist credit for the first category too?
P.S. THis seems to about all eBay have to say about conditions...

General requirements for the credit

You must relist the item within 90 days of the closing date of the original listing.
Only the first relisting of an item is eligible. Subsequent relistings of the same item do not qualify.
All items relisted in Auction-format and Buy It Now format will be eligible for the relist credit, regardless of format of the original listing. For example, you could list a car using the Classified Ad format and then relist it in Auction-format if it doesn't sell. Your second insertion fee will be refunded if your car sells.
You will not qualify for a relist credit if your original listing format was a Classified Ad and you relist the same item as a Classfied Ad again. If you choose to relist your item using the Classified Ad format (regardless of whether the original listing was done in Auction-format, Buy It Now format or Classified Ad format) the insertion fee will be halved. See fees information for Classfied Ad format listings.
Both the original listing and the relisted item must be single-quantity (not Multiple Item or "Dutch").
The starting price you set for the relisted item must not be greater than that of the original listing.
The relisted item must not have a reserve price if the original listing didn't have one. If it did, the reserve price you set for the relisted item must not be greater than that of the original listing.
The relisted item must end with a winning buyer. If the item doesn't sell the second time, the Insertion Fee is not refunded.
Qualifying Unpaid Items that are relisted and close successfully will receive a standard relist credit automatically if the item is relisted and sells. Read more on the Unpaid Item Process.
If your original listing resulted in an Unpaid Item

Also make sure that you filed an Unpaid Item dispute for the original listing and requested a full Final Value Fee credit for that listing. This credit must be posted to your account before you can receive the Insertion Fee credit.

This offer only applies to the Insertion Fee and not other fees for options such as Bold, Highlight, etc. After your relisted item is sold, you will be charged the applicable Final Value Fee.

Sugar_Coated_Owl

I found out for you because I was intrigued as well.

eBay_Live_Help wrote:

I would be happy to assist you with that. I am afraid that if you add a second category the insertion fees will not be credited. With the free relist credit, if anything affects the fees then the credit will not be given.

jasmineswhiskers

If I list a 'dud' item I relist and change it to an item I know will sell. Then the insertion fee gets credited back so I can try more risky sellers first. So yes you can change the item / category as long as start price is in same category.

Contains_Mild_Peril

I must go and check my seller account to make sure they don't owe me any unpaid relist credits, then. They should pay out if the seller meets all their stated criteria. Since we've uncovered what appears to be a glaring omission, I hope eBay will correct their error as soon as possible, before anyone else is misled. In the meantime, they ought to honour their stated terms, in the same way that if I erroneously offered, say, a postage discount on all my items which I'd intended to apply only to some, I would have to honour it.

Contains_Mild_Peril

The plot thickens. I just checked my seller account and found I have been given a relist refund for an item I'd listed at £9.99 with "free" postage on the recent cheap listing day, and changed to £4.99 with £5 p&p for the relist. I also sold another relisted item on which I'd lowered the price but still within the same listing fee band, but I'd added a Buy It Now option to the auction. My auction listing fee was refunded, but not the BIN upgrade fee, since that feature was not in my original listing.