Is checking PRIVATE the wrong thing to do?

[dairywyfe]

Whenever I list an item I check the box that says: 

Private listing

Keep bidder and buyer identities hidden from the public. 

Allow buyers to remain anonymous to other eBay users

What does that really mean?  Is that connected to the fact that when they leave me feedback, you are unable to "view item" they are leaving fb on?  Is this good or bad?  

[swenson8781]

It's just a personal choice, I don't think it's good or bad really.  It simply allows the item to be viewed, or NOT if it's listed as 'private'.  For some items I always make them private, for most items I don't select 'private'.  I'm okay with people viewing my sold items, they of course, cannot see who the buyer is anymore.

Years ago, bidders were not anonymous, so others could look up what certain buyers purchased.  Back then it was more relevant to keep certain items hidden, so not everyone was privy to what people were buying.  

[mistwomandancing]

To my way of thinking, when I see that in the feedback area for a seller, I surmise that seller deals in *personal* items... of some sort.  Many don't, but that's a strong reason why sellers might choose to use that for their buyers, so that the kind of merchandise isn't identified on their buyers' accounts.

When I see buyers with this on their buying accounts, I know that it may be because the item was of a personal nature.  Doesn't mean it was, but that's often the reason. 

I don't particularly care either way.

But, for myself and my selling accounts, I absolutely WANT my merchandise shown out there, potentially to be seen on the feedback pages of buyers across the nation!  Every little bit helps.  There is no way I'd make my listings private!

[emerald40]

Yes, back in the day sellers could troll other seller's sold lists and try and solicit their customers.

[ittybitnot]

Keep bidder and buyer identities hidden from the public. 

Basically, the choice is redundant. Nobody can see your bidders anyway. It is either in a DISGUISED mode or not there at all. 

[mistwomandancing]

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ittybitnot wrote:

Keep bidder and buyer identities hidden from the public.

Basically, the choice is redundant. Nobody can see your bidders anyway. It is either in a DISGUISED mode or not there at all. 

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This refers to individual sellers making their merchandise private from sight when it is shown in a buyer's feedback page.

This doesn't refer to a buyer's ID... which is always coded and therefore can't be known to lookers from the outside.

[dairywyfe]

NO! It's scrapbooking items! lol. I'm unchecking it! 😉 Thank you!!!

[dairywyfe]

that's exactly what I was wondering... thank you!

[mistwomandancing]

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dairywyfe wrote:
NO! It's scrapbooking items! lol. I'm unchecking it! 😉 Thank you!!!

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lol  !!!  No need for you to protect your buyers' privacy issues for that. 

Back when we ALL could look over the transactions everyone had participated in, some buyers simply didn't want their purchases shown under their member ID names, because they competed with others (who all knew each other) so wanted privacy when they'd beaten out a friend in an auction, for example.

Or they were sellers who turned around to sell an item they got a great deal on here as the buyer, but everyone could see just what they'd paid for it when they found it here on eBay to resell for more, and they'd get nasty messages about how unfair they were being. 

So eBay made all buyer's IDs into those code names we see nowdays.  Works pretty well to hide WHO they actually are a buyer here.

But being allowed to see what they purchased for a period of months is to your benefit, at least a little bit.  Not one of the real GREAT little tidbit efforts to getting better sales here, but occasionally it can help.  I occasionally have needed to trace back on somebody for some reason, and see something they've purchased from a previous seller they dealt with, and then you see what ELSE that seller has, because it's all Great Stuff... and it can go on from that. 

[7606dennis]

When set up as private listings, only the seller and the individual bidder knows the bidder's identity.  The only one that knows all the bidder's identities is the seller.  Personally, I see nothing wrong with it since even at live auctions bidders are not given introductions to there fellow bidders.  However, there are some that don't like them.  I usually don't use recommend their use unless there is some significant reason for doing so.

Of course, this is totally different from a bidder setting their feedback to "Private."  Sellers can't do that while they are selling and I cancel all bids from someone that bids with feedback set that way and add them to my BBL.

[mistwomandancing]

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7606dennis wrote:

When set up as private listings, only the seller and the individual bidder knows the bidder's identity.  The only one that knows all the bidder's identities is the seller.  Personally, I see nothing wrong with it since even at live auctions bidders are not given introductions to there fellow bidders.  However, there are some that don't like them.  I usually don't use recommend their use unless there is some significant reason for doing so.

Of course, this is totally different from a bidder setting their feedback to "Private."  Sellers can't do that while they are selling and I cancel all bids from someone that bids with feedback set that way and add them to my BBL.

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You're addressing the privacy settings surrounding the BUYER here though.  That their member ID's are coded.  Or that they can set their feedback (and feedback given out) to show private, so that none can read how they treat their selling partners, the types of feedback remarks they leave for them, etc.

The OP was asking about yet another privacy issue here... that of having her LISTINGS turned to the private setting, so that all future buyers and sellers won't be able to see what the item was that was sold and purchased. 

[dairywyfe]

Of course, this is totally different from a bidder setting their feedback to "Private." Sellers can't do that while they are selling and I cancel all bids from someone that bids with feedback set that way and add them to my BBL.
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You mean it's the BUYERS who are making it private? So when they leave feedback... you can't see the item? I thought it was because of what I'd checked in my auction/template

[mistwomandancing]

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dairywyfe wrote:
Of course, this is totally different from a bidder setting their feedback to "Private." Sellers can't do that while they are selling and I cancel all bids from someone that bids with feedback set that way and add them to my BBL.
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You mean it's the BUYERS who are making it private? So when they leave feedback... you can't see the item? I thought it was because of what I'd checked in my auction/template

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Ebay members have the option to click their own feedback received and left for others PRIVATE, so all other members are left in the dark about their feedback remarks history.  You can see the number received and the numbers of positive, neutral, and negative for the last year, but that is all.

Buyers are able to still make purchases while under that *blackout* of information.. they can remain under the private setting and still are allowed to bid and buy here.  It disallows sellers they are dealing with from knowing what type of feedback comments they leave for sellers they deal with, and sometimes they may well have reason to not want sellers they are trying to deal with to know about their past comments left!  

Sellers are required to have their feedback history open for viewing when they are actively selling.  You can't hide troubling comments you've received in feedback and what things you may have said to your buyers... and then be private in selling.  Too late for that.  Sellers are required to allow it all to be seen. 

[duchess-at-speakeasy]

When a seller selects "private" to protect bidder and buyer identities, the reason is generally that the product is very personal or embarassing.  However, it is also useful for niche items and expensive antiques, artwork and jewelry.

Even with masked buyer ID's, it is still possible to find out who buys what. Compare feedback exchanged, noting the number of feedback and the star color.  The item number and title are always visible, and the View Item link is active for 90 days.  When a listing is marked Private, none of that information is published.  Of course, if you know the seller's name and ID, you can see what types of items they sell and take an educated guess!

~~C~~

[7606dennis]

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@dairywyfe wrote:
Of course, this is totally different from a bidder setting their feedback to "Private." Sellers can't do that while they are selling and I cancel all bids from someone that bids with feedback set that way and add them to my BBL.
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You mean it's the BUYERS who are making it private? So when they leave feedback... you can't see the item? I thought it was because of what I'd checked in my auction/template

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In the case of private auctions it is the seller that determines if the auction is private and all bidder's identities are known only to the seller.   Whereas, in the case of feedback being set to PRIVATE that is done by the bidder and has really nothing to do with hiding their identity, but rather their feedback.  Sellers are not allowed to sell while their feedback is set to PRIVATE.

Actually, the PRIVATE feedback comment really doesn't apply to the OP's original question.