Is there a downside to changing an existing listing to a totally different item?

[modulok!]

Just wondering if there is a downside to changing an existing listing to something totally different?  Such as changing the item, category, price, shipping, description...basically everything.  Also, is this ok to do or is it frowned upon?  Just wondering.

[nobody*s_perfect]

You'll miss out on potential buyers who sort their search results by "Newest first."

You run the risk of having an unhappy auction winner who set up a snipe-service  bid based on the original listing.

[lewisburggold]

You should be fine.  Just make sure to change the catagory to what suits the item your listing.  You cant change anything if its bid or in the last 12 hours of its run time.  Best regards

[tamaralea]

If someone was watching it, it would be confusing.  

I want to try doing it with my sold items.  I have a feeling that Cassini would like those listings.

[m60driver]

I do that on the rare ocasion when I have run out of free listings and I have found something unique that I want up and running quickly.  Usually I am just replacing a slow selling $9.99 or lower item with a higher priced item.  Those 35¢ listing fees can start to add up with low priced low margin widgets.

[dirk12955]

When I buy a collection, I do that item by item using "Sell similar" I'll list the first set, say 1934 such & such and start the listing. I'll do Sell similar to put together the 2nd listing and change, price, amount, category, picture or whatever needs to be changed.

I'm lazy always looking for a shortcut.

Just don't forget and miss something that should have been changed.

[orangehound]

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@modulok! wrote:

Just wondering if there is a downside to changing an existing listing to something totally different?  Such as changing the item, category, price, shipping, description...basically everything.  Also, is this ok to do or is it frowned upon?  Just wondering.

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This is done on Amazon a lot ... they do it to preserve feedback on items.  Very frustrating.

We've done it with a few items here on eBay, but only with slight variations in the product, and always within the same category. 

I don't know what might happen if you dramatically switch the categories for a listing that has previously accumulated sales.  There is a possibility that the eBay search algorithm will not display your item at all - you would just need to check it periodically.  I say this because we once made a mistake and had an item listed incorrectly (completely wrong category), and it would not show up on search results until we categorized it properly.  So, the eBay algorithm is trying some basic checks to verify that a seller isn't improperly manipulating categories.

[pingpong517]

good gosh....why?

you end the one...and then you list the new one .... WHY on EARTH would you bother and filly faddle around switching fields?... just start a new one...so it is ALL corect and is what you want... no mistakes and no fiddle faddle

[muttlymob]

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@lewisburggold wrote:

You should be fine.  Just make sure to change the catagory to what suits the item your listing.  You cant change anything if its bid or in the last 12 hours of its run time.  Best regards

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Completely changing the item in a listing is a bad idea for any auction.

And a disaster in waiting for an auction that is closing in on that 12 hour deadline.

[dhbookds]

I wonder if it could be considered fee avoidance.......i.e.  you are using one listing to advertise 2 items.....obviously  not at the same time.  I doubt Ebay is going to seek such listings out.....

just a thought

[the*dog*ate*my*tablecloth]

It used to be considered fee avoidance and a selling violation. Not sure if it still is.

[pburn]

Help me find where the OP said this was an auction . . . I must have missed it.

[modulok!]

Yes, sorry I forgot to mention that, I was referring to changing up fixed price listings.

[castlemagicmemories]

Anyone who has put the original item in their Watch List will not be happy when they see the whole listing has been changed.

[modulok!]

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@castlemagicmemories wrote:

Anyone who has put the original item in their Watch List will not be happy when they see the whole listing has been changed.

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None of the listings have any watchers or many views for that matter, so I don't think the happiness level of any buyer will be effected.