Selling items by "Random"

[retrogames10000]

Selling video games as a "mystery box" or in random lots of 1  or 100.

Recently, a listing of mine was removed for being a game of chance, as I offered a random NES game for about $6 + shipping.  I also had 13 other listings for random video games including lots of 25 games that were proving to be more popular in terms of sales than my other 4,000 listings combined.

I purchase most of my own video games by random because I enjoy the chaos and there is deals to be had.

Not withstanding that there are many other U.S. sellers with much more substantial feedback and selling history currently selling by random.  This is a service that eBay users want and it is unfortunate that I will not be able to serve this market here.

In some ways I am frustrated lately with what sometimes appears to be selective enforcement and also that to continue to grow my business - I must acquire more inventory, but it seems sometimes that I am setting myself up to be shut down at any time.

I do think it is a setback in the business when half of my sales volume is random and I cannot do this anymore

[wastingtime101]

You can still do those lots of 25, but you'll have to list out the 25 games in the description. Chance listings are not allowed.

https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/prohibited-restricted-items/chance-listings-policy?id=4311

[retrogames10000]

Yes - we have taken down our random listings.  It is just frustrating because this is what eBay customers were purchasing

[slati_2013]

Most people want to know what they are buying. More importantly for eBay settling disputes requires an accurate description of what the buyer was expecting. I understand you have buyers who know they are taking a chance when they buy one of these random games from you. But if you have a disappointed buyer who believes everything was not worth it, how then do you deal with that? eBay prefers you list everything you want to sell. Let the buyer pick it from the description. Chaos and eBay are a bad mix because scammers love exploiting such chaos 

[retrogames10000]

Thank you for a question.

Undoubtedly, selling games by random is a difficult process that made me sweat when I pack a box, as there is a fine line between taking a profit and making someone unhappy.

I offer completely free returns now, so this is my solution to correcting unhappy customers.
In fact, in nearly every single case, I refunded a few dollars immediately after the transaction for excess shipping, and told the customer I am willing to refund or adjust as necessary to ensure happiness.

To be frank, I dislike selling by random, but it has a benefit and the sales are undeniable.  My advice to someone if I did not know this rule could be - instead of make 4000 listings for different video games, make 10 random listings and you'd be more successful - It is hard to deny

[tobaccocardyahoo]

Standards for seller behavior have been gradually been raised by Ebay.

Those of us who have returned after selling elsewhere can see a difference.

I have had minimal impact on my behavior other than having my inventories censored, and portions of US history being banned from Ebay. In general, they were later in creating bans than other sites.

[ckimodog]

@retrogames10000 

Chance listings and Mystery Boxes are not allowed to be sold on eBay.  Hopefully you have removed all of them as those type of listings can jeopardize your account.  Here's a link that gives more info:

https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/prohibited-restricted-items/chance-listings-policy/

Happy Selling

[retrogames10000]

Yes, thank you.  We have removed all random lot listings from our store.  Truly, I was not aware that this was illegal because it is the most common method of purchasing NTSC-J video games, i.e. bulk lots of 100 product.  I suppose that I am violating U.S. Law and these sellers are under no such restriction so it makes more sense today.

I suppose the only people who can run the hustle anymore are players like Amazon with their random pallets eh.  Thanks for your help

[lacemaker3]

@retrogames10000 

I found a cached copy of your listing, and I think the problem was the word "Random" in your listing title, and the handwriting "Random Game?" in the picture, which clearly makes it a chance listing.

Also, the title is contradictory because your title started "One Random NES ... Game ..." and then you continued with the words "Lot 3 5 10 Bundle" so your title was very unclear what the buyer would be receiving. Many buyers find multi-quantity listings confusing, and sellers should not be adding to the confusion.

eBay updated the Chance Listings policy, and it took effect a few months ago, July 18, 2023. The policy used to allow "grab bag" listings, with multiple items that specified how many and what type of items, but did not need to specify the exact items/games that would be included. That text has now been removed, probably because of too many buyer complaints.

https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/prohibited-restricted-items/chance-listings-policy?id=4311

The cached listing:

...

[retrogames10000]

Thank you - yes, that was the one that eBay specifically removed.

I did one for each system after I had a separate listing "Grand Video Game Random" acquire 5,000 views.

It's ok, if it really is not allowed then I suppose there is nothing to be sad about

[fashunu4eeuh]

Yes, i agree @retrogames10000 that this lucrative selling strategy worked very well. It’s a shame a few bad apples spoiled the fun. (I still have inventory for pre-owned perfume which was also banned by eBay awhile back. Those sales were gang-busters!).

As for some sellers still listing like this, the policy allows pre-approved sellers to do case breaks, etc. From the policy:

“What is the policy?

Listings that offer an opportunity to win an item by chance or contest are not allowed. This includes mystery boxes, giveaways, lotteries, sweepstakes, random drawings, raffles, and contests.

Case breaks, box breaks and pack breaks may only be sold by pre-approved sellersunder the following conditions:

• There is no element of chance involved to determine what the buyer will receive
• Buyers receive the entire pack, box, or case they purchased”

https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/prohibited-restricted-items/chance-listings-policy?id=4311

[coolections]

Just stop listing stuff that people don't even know that they are buying. Not sure was is so difficult about that. Why cheat buyers ? Just sell thing they know that they will get.

[retrogames10000]

Yes, we applied to be a pre-approved seller for eBay, on the basis that I offer free returns and manage customers myself.  This was before I understood what was really happening I guess, I am not sure how I could sell random video games under any scenario at this point.

We have no selling presence anywhere except eBay so any decisions against us do impact our overall business at this point in time.  We have been going non-stop for 5 months now - so we feel great about our mini-vacation this week!

Thanks everyone for your comments

[retrogames10000]

Thank you coolections for your judgements against me.

We have 4,700 active listings of unique and we listed 14 listings by Random, this is a small percentage of anything but those 14 listings were half of sales revenue for a month.

For your accusations that I would cheat anyone is absurd considering the free return policy and considerable risk I take upon myself by offering listings such as this

[soh.maryl]

Perhaps you misread the replies you have been given.

Listing mystery boxes and the like is not forbidden by US law.

Doing so is against eBay's rules.