Are private listings against ebay rules

moneyless_mac

First post so please dont bite.

Had an auction end this morning with no bids.
Had a message via ebay messaging from a customer requesting to buy it and add it to her existing purchases.
So i relisted with Private listing for xxxcustomer name in title as a buy it now so that the tranaction could be conducted through ebay and paypal.

Is this the correct way or should I have done it a different way as ive just been reported.

Crowqueen

Did you just relist and add words to the title? You didn't just list a blank listing?

The pre-approved bidder facility was discontinued some years ago.

Can't see what you have done wrong from an ethical standpoint (it would have been different had you just done a dummy listing with no item for sale - you could have been selling anything, particularly banned items; eBay need some record of what is being sold on their site and a buyer at a distance needs a concrete description) but if eBay don't want this then they do have the right to respond to reports of this and stop it.

Not that I personally agree with it, but that might be why.

moneyless_mac

Thanks for your reply.

Listing was original listing with private listing for xxx added to the title and a buy it now added so customer could purchase immediately and add it to the existing purchases for combined postage.

Original listing had run as an auction for 5 days without bids.

moneyless_mac

It may be why I have been reported as another buyer used the buy it now and is upset that I wont be sending.
I have been polite and explained but she said its against the rules and I just wanted to clarify if I should have done it a different way.

moneyless_mac

Just to add the buyer said she had reported me to ebay but I havent received any communication from them yet.

Crowqueen

Unfortunately it's first come, first served.

You can't get out of selling to the person who has just bought you out.

They can definitely report you to eBay, they can report as a non-performing seller, give you a neg, give you poor stars and you won't get much (if any) sympathy from anyone here. People find this one of the most frustrating situations on eBay. On the up-side you have a sale - you relisted it at a price you were willing to accept.

I can understand your frustration but if your other buyer didn't notice your listing then it's now gone and you are committed to sell.

annie-c

So was the item bought on a bin by a different buyer than the one you listed it for?

moneyless_mac

Yes product was bought by another ebayer.

Bit of a mess really as the relist for specific customer zero postage to reflect combined sales.

If it had been a genuine BIN for all obviously wouldnt have been listed this way.

I expect a negative and can understand the upset I just wondered if there was an easier way of doing this as obviously dont want to conduct trade outside of ebay

Crowqueen

No, not really. It's always a problem but - generally speaking - if you negotiate something on eBay then of course it should stay there. How long was it up? Did your original buyer know 100% you had listed it?

I'm in a bit of a quandary here. Generally speaking, I do think this sort of thing should go through eBay, and you were right not to sell off eBay. But this is always a risk you run - and you can't extricate yourself from this without severe damage to your account. It's not just the neg, it's the associated ratings and policy violation report.

There's nothing I can really say apart from take it on the chin and move on. Don't fly off the handle when you respond to the neg from the current buyer and make it absolutely clear to people looking that this is your mistake. It helps future buyers to see a contrite seller when there is a problem and I think you are underestimating the potential result of this --- but a respectable and dignified response should minimise the impact.

Best of luck sorting it out.

techspec

It would have been easier to send a new total with the price added on to reflect the extra item - and would save ebay fees too. There is a box to add to or reduce the price.

But to do it the way you said - you should have just relisted at a silly high price with a best offer feature - and told the buyer you will accept the offer at the agreed price. No-one else would have bought it then.

As it stands - you have risked a negative and penalty from ebay for not selling to the rightful owner - the other bidder.

moneyless_mac

Thanks for all your help.

I appreciate I probably will get a negative to which I will reply to politely, my main concern from the messages received was that I wasnt allowed to list with private for xxx as it was against the rules.

Havent received anything from ebay as yet to respond to regarding being reported.