eBay

jeaway2 · ‎11-29-2021

I make the items I sell, and sometimes buyers ask for a custom item. I can't find any way to send them the listing without putting it up as a buy it now, and anyone could grab it if they aren't fast enough. I have no problem with Ebay banning sales ordered through messaging, but there should be a way to make that single sale. I can't find one.

slippinjimmy · ‎11-29-2021

I do this frequently.....

Listing Title: Custom Order 20211128

Listing Image: Something not that interesting but still relevant to the intended buyer

Listing Description: A brief description of the sale which will be relevant to the buyer

Upload the listing, provide the buyer with a link.

In my experience buyers are usually pretty quick to buy and after doing this hundreds of times I have NEVER had a unknown buyer purchase....why would they?

Make it a Private Listing if you don't want others to see the screaming bargain you offered to your special buyer.

Paranoia strikes deep
Into your life it will creep

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soh.maryl · ‎11-29-2021

Why not list the item with a ridiculously high price, but enable make an offer?

The buyer offers a previously agreed-upon price and you accept his offer.

Maybe there is a potential problem there somewhere, but I don't think there is.

divwido · ‎11-29-2021

I've had some luck with RESERVED FOR THEIR USER NAME IN THE TITLE.

and you could add, if it is possible, in the condition line that others are available if anyone is interested.

Good Moms let you lick the Beaters.

Great Moms turn them off first.

emsw-7184 · ‎11-29-2021

Now I know how easy it is to customize according to customer requirements 🙂

sirrantsalot · ‎11-29-2021

@soh.maryl wrote:
Why not list the item with a ridiculously high price, but enable make an offer?
The buyer offers a previously agreed-upon price and you accept his offer.
Maybe there is a potential problem there somewhere, but I don't think there is.

That's what I do. It's pretty foolproof because even if someone else makes an offer, you don't have to accept it.

itsjustasprain · ‎11-29-2021

@jeaway2 wrote:
I make the items I sell, and sometimes buyers ask for a custom item. I can't find any way to send them the listing without putting it up as a buy it now, and anyone could grab it if they aren't fast enough.

If its a custom item then it sounds like it would have limited appeal to anyone else anyway. I dont think that should really be an issue.

Actually in my selling account I have done several listings like that which were for a specific buyer. However I think its up to them to hold up their end of the deal by actually buying it - so I tell them nicely that it is First come first served. You snooze you lose and all that.

I do meet them halfway by setting the listing for a delayed start a little while from now - like the top of the next hour. I send them a link to the listing in advance and tell them when it will go live. But beyond that I make it clear that I am not holding the listing for them. There is some period of time before it indexes so they still have an advantage by having the link in advance. Beyond that if they decide to ghost me then I still have a valid listing up that anyone else is welcome to have.

cstpos · ‎11-29-2021

@jeaway2I create custom listings quite often. I just add "Shipping only to (the buyer's zip code)" to the title and description fields and make sure you uncheck the box for Offers accepted. Make sure you ask the buyer to carefully review the listing and to let you know if there are any details you still need to discuss. If not, they can go ahead and purchase. I also ask them for their shipping address and calculate that cost, add it to the price quoted to the buyer, and list as free shipping. Our FVF fees are usually lower that way. Best of Luck!

nobody*s_perfect · ‎11-29-2021

Other posts have mentioned using (1) fixed price listing with a very high price and "Best offer" option and (2) specific title or description terms that limit the listing's audience and appeal.

In addition, consider (3) setting up a regular auction-format listing with the opening bid price set at the agreed-upon purchase price. Then after your chosen buyer places their bid, you can use the seller's option to end a listing at any time to sell to the current high bidder.

Frankly in that position I'd just list it and take my chances; if somebody else bought it, I'd be glad to make an extra sale and just make another custom item to list for the original buyer.

richard1rst · ‎11-29-2021

I had one where I put the buyer's name as the title and the description merely said "Per your request" then I sent the direct link to the buyer.

"Laissez-faire capitalism (AKA The Great Material Continuum) is the only social system based on the recognition of individual rights and, therefore, the only system that bans force from social relationships." ~ Ayn Rand

dhbookds · ‎11-29-2021

@soh.maryl wrote:
Why not list the item with a ridiculously high price, but enable make an offer?
The buyer offers a previously agreed-upon price and you accept his offer.
Maybe there is a potential problem there somewhere, but I don't think there is.

agree with this........it's the most foolproof......because if something goes fishy you can always decline....

and no one can "play" at buying a special listing and then not paying...........you can decline any extraneous offers.

itsjustasprain · ‎11-29-2021

@dhbookds wrote:

@soh.maryl wrote:
Why not list the item with a ridiculously high price, but enable make an offer?
The buyer offers a previously agreed-upon price and you accept his offer.
Maybe there is a potential problem there somewhere, but I don't think there is.

agree with this........it's the most foolproof......because if something goes fishy you can always decline....
and no one can "play" at buying a special listing and then not paying...........you can decline any extraneous offers.

But people can also 'play' at requesting a special listing and then not buying. Or even making that offer as described above and then not paying for that either.

Thats why I prefer to set up a Buyitnow with Immediate payment required and just sell it to the 1st person who comes along and pays for it. I DO still give an advantage to the person who requested it by giving them full info and a link in advance so the ball IS in their court up front. But by doing things this way I still have a good listing for anyone else if the first guy ghosts me.

slippinjimmy · ‎11-29-2021