Is this against the rules???

[thevintageparadise]

So I have an item up for sale for $50 or best offer, someone sent me an offer for $30. They have an item I want up for $50 or best offer. Can I ask them if they want to buy my item for $20 in exchange for selling me their item for $20? Both transactions would happen on platform and obviously we would both pay fees on each sale.

Just curious if anyone has done this before or if it would be considered against the rules?

Thanks in advance 😉

[jonathanbrightlight]

No rules against it that I'm aware of.  You just send each other offers and can communicate via the offers or via messages.  As long as you both accept the offers, you're good.

[tarotfindsandmore]

Can't imagine what rule(s) would even be at play here.  It sounds a little Abbott & Costello "Who's on First?" to me, but there's nothing wrong with that if you're both content with the arrangement.

[bennotbill]

You can only ask.

[kensgiftshop]

The worse that could happen is the buyer gets your item for $20, then declines your offer.

[tobaccocardyahoo]

In some ways, the question should be "will someone, the buyer or Ebay decide that this is against the rules".

The problem with doing anything which is not normal and straight forward is you cannot predict the IQ of a human or bot who sees a sign of something which looks a little fishy. And once a transaction starts a downhill trek, it may continue to the bottom.

Who knows whether some one or some bot will detect this as fee avoidance?

[chevymontecarlo88]

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@thevintageparadise wrote:

So I have an item up for sale for $50 or best offer, someone sent me an offer for $30. They have an item I want up for $50 or best offer. Can I ask them if they want to buy my item for $20 in exchange for selling me their item for $20? Both transactions would happen on platform and obviously we would both pay fees on each sale.

Just curious if anyone has done this before or if it would be considered against the rules?

Thanks in advance 😉

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I have done this years ago with no issues. eBay does not care if you keep it on the site. They are getting two sales/fees. Just keep the conversations on eBay and don't include personal emails or phone numbers. 

[thevintageparadise]

That's exactly what I was worried about

[slippinjimmy]

What would be the point, if the 2 offers add up to the same total amount what advantage would their be for either party?

Seems like a pointless effort for no gain and potential complications.

[femmefan1946]

Too complicated.

The advantage of using "money" over barter is a paper trail.

Just sell it at his Best Offer and get paid.

Then buy his item at Best Offer and pay.

KISS.

[chevymontecarlo88]

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@slippinjimmy wrote:

What would be the point, if the 2 offers add up to the same total amount what advantage would their be for either party?

Seems like a pointless effort for no gain and potential complications.

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Sometimes it is nice to purchase something without really paying for it. (Trade) It is not that difficult, but it does require some communications between each other which might rule out half of the eBay users on this forum. 😀 I have traded for much better gear that I could flip faster for items that were not selling. It is only complicated if you make it that way. IMHO

[chevymontecarlo88]

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@femmefan1946 wrote:

Too complicated.

The advantage of using "money" over barter is a paper trail.

Just sell it at his Best Offer and get paid.

Then buy his item at Best Offer and pay.

KISS.

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That is how you do it. Agree on price and buy each other's items. 

[thevintageparadise]

That's essentially what I'm talking about lol

[mantle1951]

If you do this you will get involved in a series of messages back and forth, I wouldn't do it.

[thevintageparadise]

We decided to it at the original offer of $40, so I paid $40 for his and he paid $40 for mine. This way eBay gets their fees and we each get a shirt we want for the price of shipping and eBay fees.