Buyer received Out of Stock message upon buying a routine single item

[kds99]

I sold an item today and the buyer informs me that he received after purchase an Out of Stock notice of some type from eBay. It concerned him as it now does me. The listing has always been only a quantity of one, so what could explain this? I hope it's a one-time blip. Could the buyer have possibly simply seen a view of the sold item somehow which naturally would be out of stock? When I look at smeone's sold item I don't see that warning.

[toysaver · Accepted solution]

I noticed my sold items now say out of stock at the top of the listing page instead of SOLD as it used to.  I did not alter my selling preference.  My research shows the buyer will receive the out of stock warning if they were a watcher who went on to buy.   I sell one of a kind listings so do not appreciate this new of stock feature or option being forced upon me.    What I read said they will keep it out of stock for 90 days and then kill it.   I hope somebody else can explain it better than me.

[itscalledapostingid]

The buyer was confused by the promotional email that ebay sends to watchers:

"The item is no longer available. Here are some other items you may be interested in..."

Obviously ebay should exclude the buyer who purchased the last item from this promotional email but they don't.

[itscalledapostingid]

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@toysaver wrote:

I noticed my sold items now say out of stock at the top of the listing page instead of SOLD as it used to.  I did not alter my selling preference.  My research shows the buyer will receive the out of stock warning if they were a watcher who went on to buy.   I sell one of a kind listings so do not appreciate this new of stock feature or option being forced upon me.    What I read said they will keep it out of stock for 90 days and then kill it.   I hope somebody else can explain it better than me.

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It sounds like you have the 'out of stock' feature turned on.

It is not enabled by default.

If you don't like it find that in seller settings and change it.

[toysaver]

I checked it first thing. It is off.  

[dhbookds]

This is what I see in seller hub for a sold listing:

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@toysaver wrote:

I noticed my sold items now say out of stock at the top of the listing page instead of SOLD as it used to.  I did not alter my selling preference.  My research shows the buyer will receive the out of stock warning if they were a watcher who went on to buy.   I sell one of a kind listings so do not appreciate this new of stock feature or option being forced upon me.    What I read said they will keep it out of stock for 90 days and then kill it.   I hope somebody else can explain it better than me.

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This is what I see in seller hub for a sold listing:

But in checking yours/better half's...........I see "item ended".........Better half sees the same.......so I think it's intended for and shown only to the seller.......as a reminder that if you have more of the item, it needs to be listed.........neither of us has the "out of stock" feature turned on. 

[kds99]

Thanks for your info!

[toysaver]

If you log out of your account and check your listing it will say sold.