Private bids

milla

Hi all

Can someone help me please ?

There is an item ending on e bay tonight that I really want to bid on but I have now realised that it is 'private' . I feel uneasy with this (because I don't really understand it !)

What does it mean and would it send alarm bells ? Would you bid on it ? or would you steer clear ?

Thanks .

frivolous_fay

The seller is either:

- Hiding shill-bidding
- Trying to prevent other sellers contacting his bidders
- Trying to be discrete in the case of an embarrassing item
- Perhaps another legit reason that escapes me

What is their feedback like?

milla

Hi
Thanks for replying !
He/she has 100% positive feedback .
It's not an embarrassing item !

dotchas

How much feedback does he have and what sort of transactions?

Buying or selling and high or low value

Over how long a period of time?

Do they take paypal?

milla

this is the item .....

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=160201576444&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=006

thanks for your advice

frivolous_fay

Personally, I'd ask him why the listing is private.

susplum

Have all the sellers auctions been private? It could be that its just what the seller does. But it could be that the seller is dodgy as week old trout lol

dotchas

He seems to have all auctions private ,we don't know why?
As Fay says,message the seller politely saying you are intrigued as to why its private,
Maybe as the other poster says he just does it!

Nothing else seems too dodgy ,and he does take Paypal

icandream

Please don't all jump on me for admitting to this, but I keep my listings private now, simply because I'm sick of the way ebay works in terms of everyone being able to see exactly what I've been selling. It's not that I'm selling anything bizarre or outrageous - unless my children's toys/my clothes are unusual :rotfl:!, but I don't want strangers knowing so much about me - does that make any sense?!
I've got more than 300 feedback, all 100%, no negs, so I feel I've proved myself. I often get into friendly communication, as I want my buyers to be happy, so there's no odd reason for it.
I actually prefer private listings when I'm buying too - not because I'm buying anything odd, but because I don't want my husband necessarily knowing I've bought "what, another dress?!"
Is that so odd? Makes sense to me.

frivolous_fay

His early listings weren't private - it seems to be something he started doing later in his ebay career.

dotchas

icandream wrote: »

Please don't all jump on me for admitting to this, but I keep my listings private now, simply because I'm sick of the way ebay works in terms of everyone being able to see exactly what I've been selling. It's not that I'm selling anything bizarre or outrageous - unless my children's toys/my clothes are unusual :rotfl:!, but I don't want strangers knowing so much about me - does that make any sense?!
I've got more than 300 feedback, all 100%, no negs, so I feel I've proved myself. I often get into friendly communication, as I want my buyers to be happy, so there's no odd reason for it.
I actually prefer private listings when I'm buying too - not because I'm buying anything odd, but because I don't want my husband necessarily knowing I've bought "what, another dress?!"
Is that so odd? Makes sense to me.

Thanks for posting:T ,I won't jump on you

I just couldn't see any benefit to putting up private auctions,but I can see your reasoning!

Any ideas how to hide all the parcels arriving via RM from our OHs:rotfl:
Its nice to know that the reasons behind it are not ALL dodgy:T
We get very sceptical on this board:o