How to disable buyer offers for items I simply looked at?

[red308gts]

I can’t find the EXACT preference setting to stop getting offers on items I simply looked at while browsing, while not stopping other offers for “watched” items or offers from people who want to buy my items. 

Background: I’ll sometimes browse items that I’m about to post for sale and the next thing I know I’m getting offers for those items. Lol. I actually looked at an item I was about to list and shortly after I listed my item I got an “offer” on the item I had simply looked at. I was in the middle of doing something and I actually thought the offer was for the item I was selling and accepted the “offer”. Doh! Getting offers for items you simply looked at is a terrible idea unless you like being needlessly bothered. 

[mudshark61369]

@red308gts,

If you open Sponsored or Promoted listings you will get offers. Seller's pay a fee  to list Sponsored/Promoted items so why would ebay allow buyers to shut off those offers? 

"I’ll sometimes browse items that I’m about to post for sale and the next thing I know I’m getting offers for those items". 

Instead of browsing through current listings of an item you are going to sell, Do an Advanced search of sold/completed listings for those items. Not only will you not get offers just by looking at them, but you can get an idea of what price they are selling for.

[red308gts]

Yes. I use the eBay app on my phone. I’ll search for the same item I’m about to sell. I’ll then use the filter to select the ones that have sold so I see how much they sold for. I also look at current unsold listings to see what price they’re asking for and I’ll read the description as to why they chose that price  (broken, missing parts, etc). 
So you’re saying if I only “look” at non-sponsored/non-promoted items, I won’t get these unsolicited offers? 
I’ll definitely STOP looking at promoted and sponsored items if I’m going to be spammed with unsolicited offers. Lol. 

[mudshark61369]

@red308gts,

"So you’re saying if I only “look” at non-sponsored/non-promoted items, I won’t get these unsolicited offers"? 

Yes, if you search current listings on the results page just above the item title you should see Sponsored Personally, I only look at the sold/completed listings, because I know that is what people paid for the item. It doesn't matter to me what price other seller's are asking currently. Just about all of the items that appear on a seller's listing pages are sponsored so if you do not want to get offers, don't open them.

[natoman777]

I do not do promoted listings, so I don't think that is the issue.  eBay gives me suggested items to send offers out on as a seller.  Sometimes the items do NOT have watchers, and I think that means it is situations like you are talking about.  If you are on an item for  certain amount of time eBay will let sellers send out offers.  I don't think there is anything you can do as a buyer as I experience the same thing as a buyer myself. 

[ittybitnot]

 Getting offers for items you simply looked at is a terrible idea unless you like being needlessly bothered. 

@red308gts 

Unfortunately, it is my understanding that it is an "all or nothing" program.  You don't get to pick and choose, either you turn off all offers altogether, or get them all regardless of the reason. 

Sellers who SEND offers do not get to know who is getting them unless they are responding to a message and use the 'reply with offer' feature. 

[simba6]

If you log out of eBay and clear your cookies, then you can look without that.  You would have to log in to bid or buy.

[wastingtime101]

Hi @red308gts . It has absolutely nothing to do with sponsored listings.

The response from @ittybitnot is correct: it is an all or nothing setting. Unfortunately.

I think we all want the granularity to set preferences so we can receive offers from items on our watch list / in our cart, but not on items we just viewed. eBay has not budged on this to date.

Are you using the web when you do research? If so, that makes this easier to "solve" than using the app. When you search the web you can do it while signed out (using a different browser or private browsing mode makes it easier) - then the views won't register on your account to receive offers.

For anybody that wants to turn off all offer notifications:

Go to this page on the website:

https://commspreferences.ebay.com/commsprefs

Under Buying Activity, uncheck "Offers to buyers" near the top. Save changes.