Instead of deleting a listing, can I reuse it to sell something entirely different?

[afoolisharrangement]

I had a couple of auctions that just renewed and I didn't catch them in time.  I was planning on ending them, but now since they have renewed for another 30 days, I was wondering if I could just repurpose the listing with entirely new content.  This would mean a completely different item, different category, different in all aspects.  In theory it sounds like it would work (change category, change text and pictures, etc.), but I wasn't sure if there would be listing bots or some behind the scenes workings that would end up putting the item in the old category or something similar.  I just thought if I could save myself $ of relisting I would like to be able to do that.  Every little bit helps!

Any thoughts on this?

[my_boston_baked_beans]

I have done this with active listing as well. I just made sure I revised the correct description, title,and category works like a charm with no additional charges:)

[my_boston_baked_beans]

Works nicely to change an item that has no watchers, and this allows you to replace with might be a better option.

[upgradedendmills]

My gosh, man!!!!!!! Its 35 cents.

[mam98031]

Yes you can, but Ebay is tightening up on this practice, so don't be surprised if you get hit with a listing fee.  I personally don't think the gain is anywhere near worth the risk.

[bigdeals.etc]

FYI, I've seen this as a tactic to manipulate best match search. Example: Seller has a some expensive jewelry to sell. They go to the 99c store and buy a bunch of stuff totally unrelated and create a listing to sell it dirt cheap (making tons of sales).

Then with thousands of completed sales under the listing, they revise it completely and start to sell the jewelry. The theory is that the listing may have an immediate kick up to the top of the front page because of the massive sales history that is retained in the listing. This sales history will also look appealing to buyers because many would assume that the listing has sold hundreds of units of that jewelry, but little do they know the massive sales history is from the 99c item. Not sure what's ebay's take on this.

[bigdeals.etc]

In regards to the OP, I've done that before a few times in the past for the same reason as they mentioned.

It works just fine, but just know that it can create complication/glitches if it's active for too long. Generally if listings are active for too long, it accumulates lots of data (cluttered up) versus a fresh new listing. I've had listings glitch out because of this.

[upgradedendmills]

If you did this daily on a 7 day auction it would be like getting 7 auctions for the price of one!!!!!

[rockusone]

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@afoolisharrangement wrote:

I had a couple of auctions that just renewed and I didn't catch them in time.  I was planning on ending them, but now since they have renewed for another 30 days, I was wondering if I could just repurpose the listing with entirely new content.  This would mean a completely different item, different category, different in all aspects.  In theory it sounds like it would work (change category, change text and pictures, etc.), but I wasn't sure if there would be listing bots or some behind the scenes workings that would end up putting the item in the old category or something similar.  I just thought if I could save myself $ of relisting I would like to be able to do that.  Every little bit helps!

Any thoughts on this?

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As has been said, it'll work. I've done it in the past but unless you are only a small casual seller, I wouldn't recommend it. If you plan on selling consistently, and earning roughly $100/mo or more, it's just not worth it. And when 50+ free listings aren't enough, just upgrade to a starter store and get 100+ free listings for only $5.95/$7.95. Practically pays for itself.

[parkersparrow]

I've done it by accident a few times when I thought I was doing sell similar but instead clicked on revise listing. The only problem I've had is that the old photo will sometimes show up in search instead of the new updated photo.

[mam98031]

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@parkersparrow wrote:

I've done it by accident a few times when I thought I was doing sell similar but instead clicked on revise listing. The only problem I've had is that the old photo will sometimes show up in search instead of the new updated photo.

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Ebay isn't going to care about an occasional mistake.  But those that do this on a regular basis will eventually pay a price for it.

[kim_y_buran]

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@bigdeals.etc wrote:

FYI, I've seen this as a tactic to manipulate best match search. Example: Seller has a some expensive jewelry to sell. They go to the 99c store and buy a bunch of stuff totally unrelated and create a listing to sell it dirt cheap (making tons of sales).

Then with thousands of completed sales under the listing, they revise it completely and start to sell the jewelry. The theory is that the listing may have an immediate kick up to the top of the front page because of the massive sales history that is retained in the listing. This sales history will also look appealing to buyers because many would assume that the listing has sold hundreds of units of that jewelry, but little do they know the massive sales history is from the 99c item. Not sure what's ebay's take on this.

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Amazon also has a ton of listings like that. 

[mam98031]

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@kim_y_buran wrote:

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@bigdeals.etc wrote:

FYI, I've seen this as a tactic to manipulate best match search. Example: Seller has a some expensive jewelry to sell. They go to the 99c store and buy a bunch of stuff totally unrelated and create a listing to sell it dirt cheap (making tons of sales).

Then with thousands of completed sales under the listing, they revise it completely and start to sell the jewelry. The theory is that the listing may have an immediate kick up to the top of the front page because of the massive sales history that is retained in the listing. This sales history will also look appealing to buyers because many would assume that the listing has sold hundreds of units of that jewelry, but little do they know the massive sales history is from the 99c item. Not sure what's ebay's take on this.

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Amazon also has a ton of listings like that. 

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What, how can that happen on Amazon?  For everything I sell, I don't have access to nor can I change the titles of my listings.  

[mam98031]

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@bigdeals.etc wrote:

FYI, I've seen this as a tactic to manipulate best match search. Example: Seller has a some expensive jewelry to sell. They go to the 99c store and buy a bunch of stuff totally unrelated and create a listing to sell it dirt cheap (making tons of sales).

Then with thousands of completed sales under the listing, they revise it completely and start to sell the jewelry. The theory is that the listing may have an immediate kick up to the top of the front page because of the massive sales history that is retained in the listing. This sales history will also look appealing to buyers because many would assume that the listing has sold hundreds of units of that jewelry, but little do they know the massive sales history is from the 99c item. Not sure what's ebay's take on this.

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That is search manipulations which is exactly why Ebay is starting to tighten up on this when sellers do it.

[buyselljack2016]

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@afoolisharrangement wrote:

I had a couple of auctions that just renewed and I didn't catch them in time.  I was planning on ending them, but now since they have renewed for another 30 days, I was wondering if I could just repurpose the listing with entirely new content.  This would mean a completely different item, different category, different in all aspects.  In theory it sounds like it would work (change category, change text and pictures, etc.), but I wasn't sure if there would be listing bots or some behind the scenes workings that would end up putting the item in the old category or something similar.  I just thought if I could save myself $ of relisting I would like to be able to do that.  Every little bit helps!

Any thoughts on this?

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eBay blue has stated here on the boards that doing that "may" have a fee assessed if the change is significant.

I did it once with a multiple item listing that had  a sale in the past. Won't do that again. Turns into a goat rope when looking at what was sold.