Private Auction question.

[matt_hopper]

Hi,

I listed an item as private by accident so bidders can remain private. The item is fairly valuable, over a grand. A bidder complained, saying this may put off bidders as it could make it easier for me to scam. He would be reluctant to bid on a private auction. I have a 20 year ebay history and 1100 feedback. 

I am wondering if I should cancel the sale and relist it without private?? Any advice please!

Matt.

[hartungcards]

Just tell him not to bid on your auction if he's uncomfortable.  What does he care if it being private puts off other bidders?

[albertabrightalberta]

If you end an auction with bids, you'll be charged a FVF on the high bid amount. And there's no guarantee that making the person who contacted you will bid anyway. 

I wouldn't give a snarky response to the person who messaged you. If I were to answer, I'd probably say something along the lines of "thank you for looking at my item. My making bidding private was an error on my part but I plan on leaving the listing up and running as ending it wouldn't be fair to those who already bid." 

Personally, I would probably not respond but would add the person to my BBL because they're seeming to question your integrity before even bidding. 

(I don't see any expensive item among your listings. Is it on another account?)

[dbfolks166mt]

     If there are no bids on the auction you may be able to simply edit the posting and remove the private setting. If not and there are no bids I would simply end the listing and repost it without the private setting. I use the auction format a lot and have never used the private setting. 

     If there are bids on the item and end it then as  albertabrightalberta  mentioned eBay will charge you the FVF for ending the auction early and without an actual sale. 

[nobody*s_perfect]

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@matt_hopper wrote: .... A bidder complained ... 

I am wondering if I should cancel the sale and relist it without private?? ...

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No, of course not. Not only because you'll be charged a fee, but also because the auction already has 8 bidders with 5 days left to run, so there's no reason to respond so drastically to a suggestion from one random potential bidder.

[lilyrose1231]

Hello,

Being private is only for the other customers can't see in the stroll down. Like per say" I bought a book from you that's titles, "How to make something out of nothing". I want to buy it, but I don't want anyone to know about it. Now your listing is private, but someone else has the same book listed but theirs is not private and it is cheaper. Since I don't want anyone to know I bought the book, I am going to buy yours even if it was more expensive. Now if you want to change private to non-private all you have to do is Revise it. Stroll down until you see on your left side private it's a very small marking spot you can click it or unclick. You don't have to cancel your listing, especially if have watchers looking and viewer. 

[nobody*s_perfect]

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@albertabrightalberta wrote: .... 

(I don't see any expensive item among your listings. Is it on another account?)

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I think it's probably this auction:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/bfl/viewbids/354243870918?item=354243870918&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2565

[nobody*s_perfect]

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@lilyrose1231 wrote: ... if you want to change private to non-private all you have to do is Revise it. Stroll down until you see on your left side private it's a very small marking spot you can click it or unclick. You don't have to cancel your listing, especially if have watchers looking and viewer. 

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That's not possible, because the auction has received bids.

[stuff4divas]

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@matt_hopper wrote:

Hi,

I listed an item as private by accident so bidders can remain private. The item is fairly valuable, over a grand. A bidder complained, saying this may put off bidders as it could make it easier for me to scam. He would be reluctant to bid on a private auction. I have a 20 year ebay history and 1100 feedback. 

I am wondering if I should cancel the sale and relist it without private?? Any advice please!

Matt.

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I would tell him that when bidders are bidding on high end items, most prefer to remain anonymous and if he feels uncomfortable with your listing, you prefer he does not bid.

Then block him.

[soh.maryl]

Looks like there are quite a few bidders that are proving his theory wrong, doesn't it?

[soh.maryl]

And it looks like there are least 8 bidders currently proving his theory wrong, doesn't it?

[annadryl]

Sounds like this auction is going well, private or not. I would block this guy and not reply at all. He's trying to interfere, don't let him. His sage advice is actually just feckless. Good luck~

[femmefan1946]

Definitely put him on your Blocked Bidder List.

It's none of his business and should be bid at the last second and win, he will be a pain to deal with.

[bearswatching]

What does “like per say” mean? Is this eBay making up sentences that they think you mean? That is extremely annoying!

[soh.maryl]

Per se is derived from the Latin and means, essentially, by itself.

It's hard to even use it in a sentence in modern language.

For instance, I might say:  It's not Walt Disney World, per se, but something close to it.