private listing - bidder identity protected

Terry98

I have just looked at an ebay item for some audio equipment and it has had 10 bids all of which are 'private listing - bidder identity protected'

The auction still has a few days to run.

I thought using the above was only allowed for sensitive products. Have ebay changed the rules lately?

theonlywayisup

It depends on how the seller sets it up. All of our listings are buyer id protected but they aren't sensitive - it stems back to the days where you could see who was buying what and I've been lazy in not changing them. Although it's somewhat moot now as you can't see full user IDs and haven't been able to for some time.

I think the only difference now is on the feedback page where it shows the buyer user ID in part with the item details. On a private listing the item details are blank.

Terry98

Thanks for the reply.

It does not seem fair.

If I bid on the auction it would show my ID(although not all of it) but all the other biders so far have their identity protected.I have got no idea if I am bidding against two,ten or, dare I say it, even one bidder!

Dox

Terry98 wrote: »

Thanks for the reply.

It does not seem fair.

If I bid on the auction it would show my ID(although not all of it) but all the other biders so far have their identity protected.I have got no idea if I am bidding against two,ten or, dare I say it, even one bidder!

Why would it should your ID in a listing where buyer identities are protected? You'd be in the same boat as everyone else, so it's a level playing field for all bidders. True, you don't know how many different potential buyers have bid so far, but then neither do they - and none of you knows who might sneak in at the last moment.

The number of different bidders shouldn't affect how much the item is worth to you (that's the theory, but we all know practice can be different!), so just bid the most you are willing to pay and see what happens.

Tom99

Terry98 wrote: »

Thanks for the reply.

It does not seem fair.

If I bid on the auction it would show my ID(although not all of it) but all the other biders so far have their identity protected.I have got no idea if I am bidding against two,ten or, dare I say it, even one bidder!

You should use a bid sniping tool and make your one and only bid 3 sec before the end.

Terry98

Dox wrote: »

Why would it should your ID in a listing where buyer identities are protected? You'd be in the same boat as everyone else, so it's a level playing field for all bidders.

I have bid now and my user ID is showing but all the other bids are showing 'private listing-bidder identity protected'

Terry98

Tom99 wrote: »

You should use a bid sniping tool and make your one and only bid 3 sec before the end.

That seems an ideal solution. Never used one before I will go and read about them, in the meantime any recommendations?

Tom99

Terry98 wrote: »

That seems an ideal solution. Never used one before I will go and read about them, in the meantime any recommendations?

[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]I have used bidnip for years and with about 50 snipes only one has failed to register. A lot of people recommend gixen which is free.[/FONT]

Tom99

Terry98 wrote: »

I have bid now and my user ID is showing but all the other bids are showing 'private listing-bidder identity protected'

I think thats the way it works and its only you that can see your ID in that list.

forgotmyname

Only you will see your full username, everybody else will see a random part of your username.

View the page on another computer or device, you wont see your name.

Private listings used to be abused by sellers with shill bidders pushing their prices up. I will move onto the next listing if i can.

If there is not other option then choose your price and be happy when then other bidders were genuine or the seller inflating the bids.

Dox

Other users won't see any part of your username on a 'bidders ID protected' listing - you will simply show in the list the same way as everyone else. If you are logged in and looking at the item, you (and only you) will see your ID in full.