@wickedharem wrote:Y'all, I done understand ebay any more. I've sold the same item 3 times. No one ever pays, and I have to cancel and relist. Why am I not allowed to message a bidder before the auction ends to try to see if they're a real person? Is this just going to keep happening forever?
I have the same problem on FBMP - I'm selling off some rebuilt PC systems (long story, addictive hobby), and when I post a new listing, I'll get dozens of those canned "Is this still available?" messages. And now I understand why there's a button for "Yes, it's still available" response. But what's worse is out of a dozen contacts, maybe one will continue the conversation beyond that first blurp. And only one out of a dozen who continue the conversation will actually show up to make the purchase.
So little wheat... so much chaff!
The recommendation for Immediate Payment Required for Fixed Price listings is good. For auctions, use the Unpaid Item Assistant to give the buyer a total of 4 days to pay or collect an unpaid item strike on their account. If they don't pay after the four days, use the Second Chance Offer feature on the ended auction to sell a free, private listing/offer to the next highest bidder. The listing will be Fixed Price for their highest bid amount, the amount you'll see on the bid history of the auction, and will last 3 days (I think - been a while). If they accept, you've sold your item! If that bid amount was too low, just don't use the Second Change Offer feature. And if you have only one item, send out only one SCO at a time -- each is a unique listing and sending 3 SCO's for a single auctioned item means you may sell it three times at three different prices. Meaning you'll have to cancel two and that's not good for your metrics.
-Bob.
