Comics-scifi_collectibles Volunteer Community Mentor
I am just sharing some information that I learned from eBay. They now have a way to report GHOST LISTINGS. As an active community member I know this has been a problem for a LONG time. It's been hard to track down without a consistent reporting method and because the occurrences are random.
The following is directly from eBay>
A ghost listing occurs when an item that has been sold reappears for sale without the seller's intent to relist, seemingly relisted by eBay.
When faced with a ghost listing, sellers are put in a difficult position. They must either cancel the transaction due to the item being out of stock, which unfortunately results in an “out of stock” listing defect on their account, or they must find an alternative solution, such as sourcing the item elsewhere to fulfill the order for the buyer.
We are actively working to address and prevent these occurrences, and your detailed reports are invaluable to our efforts.
To ensure we can address and resolve ghost listings efficiently, we request your cooperation in providing specific details when you encounter these issues. Here’s how you can help:
Note down the Item ID of the ghost listing.
If available, also record the Item ID of the original listing.
Utilize the feedback form located within the “Advanced Listing Tool” (pictured below), and include the following information:
Both Item IDs as mentioned earlier.
Include the phrase “ghost listing” in your feedback to help us identify the issue.
Provide as much detail as possible about the listing to aid in our investigation.
Maybe I was a bit harsh, my apologies. Ebay did not "get" anyone to post this information to the community. Mentors had been discussing this issue among ourselves as one of the problems that has been ongoing for years, trying to figure out why and how we could help the community.
What @comics-scifi-collectibles posted was a result of that conversation as we asked someone at Ebay what we could do to help members more on this topic.
I do agree with you that Ebay has been communicating with members less and less. What I have noticed is it started happening when the too away the Seller Update meeting [I think that was what it was called, it has been awhile] meeting a couple years ago or more. I noticed a notable difference in how or when Ebay would tell us about anything that changed. As time passed, it only got worse and worse to where we are today, almost non existent communication.
Because of this issue, sometimes the mentors as a team will push and push and push, trying to get more information on a given subject. We aren't always successful, but it isn't for a lack of trying.
@brightlightbookseller wrote:Just an update, I just found one today. Item ID 176418235908 is a ghost listing of item ID 176418235918 (or the other way around? Not sure, but the second one is the copy that sold, while the first remained listed). We didn't list it twice, or cancel and relist, or anything like that. We listed it a single time, it sold, then I checked today and it was still active. I reported it and then ended the listing. Just thought some sellers might be able to see something that gives them a clue in the listings if they can pull them up, or else at least the information is out there.
@brightlightbookseller, thanks for sharing those item numbers.
Those two listings were started on the same day, June 10, 2024, one second apart.
Since they were duplicates, in the same format, one would not have been visible in search until the first one was sold.
If you started that from a draft or template, it looks as though you double-clicked and accidentally started the listing twice, resulting in two listings without meaning to.
@rockertype wrote:Yeah, don't worry, this problem that's been happening for YEARS - eBay is right on top of it.
You can tell eBay is SOOOOO concerned by how easy they make it to "report" anything.
eBay is a JOKE!
Ebay has said they are NOT on top of it and want us to give them some specific information as outlined in the OP to help them try to figure out this issue.
I get the frustration. I've been affected by them too. But if you feel you don't want to give Ebay the info then you simply don't have to. It isn't a requirement.
Reporting the info to Ebay IS EASY, but you have to want to do it.
