Prelisting (First Dibs) For Select Buyers?

[neddiescoolstuff]

I had an idea that came about from a mistake I made (sending the wrong item to a buyer, ouch!). I refunded the buyer and wanted to give them the chance to repurchase the correct item before anyone else could buy it (first dibs). After checking with CS and learning that eBay currently does not have that option, I wonder how it can be implemented. I also think it's a great idea in general to send a "first dibs" pre-listing offer to followers/repeat customers before going "live", for a certain amount of time (24 hours?) as a token of appreciation.. Any thoughts on who to contact with this idea?

[reallynicestamps]

We already can.

I've often over the decades sent a private listing to a customer, by setting up the previously agreed conditions and then using their eBay ID as the title.

No one is likely to find it, unlike the more common title that includes "private listing" and can be a signal of a good deal to an unscrupulous buyer.

The only drawback is that if you are exchanging feedback, the title of the listing and therefore the customers ID appears in that feedback. No one seems to worry about that anyway, since anonymizing FB was brought in to scotch bogus second chance offers.

[neddiescoolstuff]

Thanks for the suggestion! That's a good idea for my mistake. But I would also like to have an "official" listing feature that would make buyers feel special. Not for every item, obviously. Just certain unique items that, for instance, repeat customers could be interested in. You could also send a pre-listing offer to your followers, as a show of appreciation. Then they have a predetermined amount of time to decide before it goes public.

I'd recommend using a "first dibs" feature very scarcely, so as not to "spam" your customers.

[dhbookds]

I would think it would be very complicated to set up........you'd have listings that weren't "live" to everyone, have to give member ids to access them......plus the obvious spam possibility/probability......etc.

There are already coupons that can be sent to buyers........as a "token" of appreciation......

[soh.maryl]

Why not just list the item at a ridiculously high price, but accept that buyer's agreed-upon offer?

Oh, now I see you want to do something to make the buyer feel special, so guess I don't have a suggestion that would accomplish that. 

[nobody*s_perfect]

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@neddiescoolstuff wrote: ... I would also like to have an "official" listing feature that would make buyers feel special..... You could also send a pre-listing offer to your followers, as a show of appreciation. ...

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This proposed option would seem to conflict with eBay's policy prohibiting spam messaging, which (per their definition) would include any unsolicited offer regardless of how little you use it.

https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/member-behavior-policies/spam-policy?id=5033 

[rainbowcomicsandcards]

What I do is make the listing and list it high. Then I can create a private coupon for said item at the lower price or % off or what ever it is and then I can send it to who ever I want to have a chance to get the item for that price. I usually title the coupon something like Thanksagain or something like that and can include a message of thanks in the coupon messaging. 

[wastingtime101]

While the idea is intriguing and I can see positive aspects, I think it would be complicated, prone to fraud, and difficult to implement. I also think usage would be minimal save for a few categories.

As far as options that currently exist, you can use store newsletters to send alerts to your followers and you can send targeted coupons to buyer groups. That may be enough notice to give your buyers a 'first dibs' heads up before the listing gains traction in search.

[slippinjimmy]

I do these frequently and in the following manner (this is usually for combined orders)

Title: custom followed by date (20231108).

I make it a private listing so that the actual details are  unavailable in feedback.

Once listed i send a link to the buyer who often will BIN before it is even indexed in search.

Buyers can still find it in a search of my completed listings for 90 days, a non-issue for me.

[luckythewinner]

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@neddiescoolstuff wrote:

Any thoughts on who to contact with this idea?

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No.

eBay is very wary of taking specific suggestions for new features, because they do not want people coming back later and claiming ownership of the idea.

They even have a formal policy about unsolicited ideas:

"At eBay, we appreciate comments from our members on our products and services. But we have a long-standing policy of not accepting unsolicited suggestions, ideas, or proposals.

We appreciate your input, but we can't respond to suggestions that are sent to eBay. We might have been working on a similar idea internally already, and want to avoid any potential misunderstandings around ownership of the idea. If you do send us an idea, we won't be able to consider it as your property or as confidential information."

https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/member-behavior-policies/unsolicited-idea-submissions-policy?id=4...

[retro_entertainment_collectibles]

Actually its not a bad idea at all.  As The Stamp Man said, can do that now but it is a "work about" process.

Something however where buyers can tag multiple items and submit offer on the lot (if you will) is a good idea.  That could compliment the present offers system by sheer nature and a natural extension to the offers system might be one of "reservation" whereby buyer and seller agree to terms such as holding times whereby the tagged items come off general viewing in lieu of payment.

[reallynicestamps]

@slippinjimmy 

I hadn't thought of the "private listing" detail. Thank you.

How much more special can a customer feel than having a Private Custom Listing in his own name?

Designed to give any buyer the warm pink fuzzies.

BTW- with those custom listings I also give the customer a deadline and if it is not met, the title (and possibly the price) are changed and the listing is made public. 

The timewaster may also meet new friends on my Blocked Buyer List.

[sextons-sweet-deals]

You're thinking too hard!

Best thing to do is just communicate with the buyer (if they still want it) that you have just relisted or revised and let them do their own work to get it. 

If you're doing an auction only, let it run its course. You may sell your item higher than you thought it would. 

[cstpos]

@reallynicestampsI do the same, but I put part of their user id or their first name and then ships to (their zip code). That way, no one else can buy it. I usually make it shipping included as I know where it's going to and can factor that into my selling price. I also put Ships only to zip code  ... in the details of the listing.

[slippinjimmy]

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@cstpos wrote:

@reallynicestampsI do the same, but I put part of their user id or their first name and then ships to (their zip code). That way, no one else can buy it. I usually make it shipping included as I know where it's going to and can factor that into my selling price. I also put Ships only to zip code  ... in the details of the listing.

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There is no way to block buyers by zip code, you can block buyers not located in the lower 48.

I've probably done 1000 custom listings and not once has it sold to anyone other than the intended buyer.

I don't do as many now that ebay refunds fees on partial refunds. I just tell the buyer to expect a partial refund within a few hours.

Sometimes  buyers prefer an adjustment rather than a refund because  cc companies are fast to charge a card but slow to apply credits. For foreign buyers there can also currency exchange ramifications so for those.. transactions a custom listing works better.

If we could go back to the days when Request Total was always available (or at all on mobile) it would eliminate the need for most of these problems.

Too bad for me, I've never been able to make combined shipping rules the way I want/need them to work.