Username in item title?

[just-a-stockboy-to-them]

I have occasionly listed a custom order with the title "Custom order for (user)".
Someone on another forum tells me this is against ebay rules.

Could someone here please point me to the rule?
I don't understand why this would be a problem.
Seems like the best way to sell to a spicific buyer.

[emerald40]

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@just-a-stockboy-to-them wrote:

I have occasionly listed a custom order with the title "Custom order for (user)".
Someone on another forum tells me this is against ebay rules.

Could someone here please point me to the rule?
I don't understand why this would be a problem.
Seems like the best way to sell to a spicific buyer.

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Yes, this is often done on the other E with no problem.

But on ebay you cannot prevent someone else from winning the auction.

One way that has worked for me is to list it at an extremely obnoxious amount with a make an offer .  And then have the buyer make an offer of the predetermined agreed upon price, which you then accept.

[sockmonkeydave]

@emerald40

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@emerald40 wrote:

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@just-a-stockboy-to-them wrote:

I have occasionly listed a custom order with the title "Custom order for (user)".
Someone on another forum tells me this is against ebay rules.

Could someone here please point me to the rule?
I don't understand why this would be a problem.
Seems like the best way to sell to a spicific buyer.

---

Yes, this is often done on the other E with no problem.

But on ebay you cannot prevent someone else from winning the auction.

One way that has worked for me is to list it at an extremely obnoxious amount with a make an offer .  And then have the buyer make an offer of the predetermined agreed upon price, which you then accept.

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Watch your step with that one.... I had an item... 400 bucks, and a buyer ask a question.

I jacked the price to a grand... while we worked the details.

I sold it to him for 350... we all happy.

PP puts my funds on hold... say what....

I call PP and they say the BOT saw the crazy price swing and put a hold on it.

And the rule of the bots is final... 

I did one time have a listing  "Parts for Bob"

And the picture was my little dog Emma.

But me and Bob were on the phone.

Back in the day when you could talk to buyers before the sale...

[pikabo-icu]

I don't believe it violates any rules it just doesn't prevent anyone else from purchasing so doesn't accomplish your goal.

I've yet to see that policy unless it's one of those unwritten rules. 

The very best way is to list at a crazy price as @sockmonkeydave  & @emerald40 posted and include best offer.

Have a deal agreed upon with your buyer and only accept their offer. 

No red flags & little chance of anyone buying at the inflated price.

[chiaretta]

Nothing stops someone else to buy it before the intended, named, buyer gets there, but you can try and limit the risk by setting an agreed time with the intended buyer.

I've had a few listed with my name on it, admittedly they were custom-made so not much of a problem had someone got there before me, last one three months ago, no problem whatsoever

[emerald40]

The very best way is to list at a crazy price as @sockmonkeydave posted and include best offer.

Have a deal agreed upon with your buyer and only accept their offer. 

No red flags & little chance of anyone buying at the inflated price.

______________________________________

Ahem?

[pikabo-icu]

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@emerald40 wrote:

The very best way is to list at a crazy price as @sockmonkeydave posted and include best offer.

Have a deal agreed upon with your buyer and only accept their offer. 

No red flags & little chance of anyone buying at the inflated price.

______________________________________

Ahem?

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I know my bad..

I had already edited after rereading.. 

[duchess-at-speakeasy · Accepted solution]

It's not against the rules, just risky if someone happens to come across the listing before your intended buyer. I've done it on a couple of occasions and several sellers have set up BIN's for me as a buyer, too.

Some sellers remove all reference to what the item is, especially if it's a listing for several items. Then other potential buyers have no idea what they're looking at!
Personally, I provide photos and a brief description but a vague title and encourage my buyer to act immediately. A "place holder" listing -- no product details -- can backfire if a SNAD results. Not likely, but . . . .

I would not use "custom" in the title -- lots of people search for custom-made or personalized products. "Private" is a better term, which makes clear that the listing is for a specific buyer.

Best Offer is a good idea, but means extra work on both sides and really isn't necessary because a keyword search probably won't find the listing anyway.

~~C~~

[sockmonkeydave]

@pikabo-icu

Do not jack the price crazy high... that will get you a PP hold on the funds.

Just put in a picture of your dog, and in the discription, just put parts for Dave.

But then again.... I sell to flyboyz

edit... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZS12RiBQ3o

[sockmonkeydave]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__HPfmvaWRw

[pikabo-icu]

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@sockmonkeydave wrote:

@pikabo-icu

Do not jack the price crazy high... that will get you a PP hold on the funds.

Just put in a picture of your dog, and in the discription, just put parts for Dave.

But then again.... I sell to flyboyz

edit... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZS12RiBQ3o

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That was great!! Thanks!!  

Looks like my neighbors.. LOL

I'm gonna check out some of their other vids..  I'm kind of a you-tube-a-holic 

[sockmonkeydave]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnSNfxjrwck

[evry1nositswindy]

I did that very thing this week but I added the username to the title; it wasn't the complete title.  It was a buy it now and it did not stop someone else from buying it.  We were messaging through eBay and found a time when we were both on the computer at the same time.  I listed it, he found it, bought it, and I shipped it within about 10 minutes.  I keep hearing about waiting for an item to index, but it wasn't the case for this item or many others I have seen sell quickly.  Another seller taught me this trick when I had something I wanted to buy that had ended.  

[partial*eclipse]

IMHO it's better to set up an auction-format listing rather than fixed price with gimmicks like weird titles.  Set the opening bid price at the agreed-upon price, then after your chosen buyer places their bid, you can use the seller's option to end an auction early to sell to the current high bidder.  And if that member flakes on you, then you still have a regular auction that might sell to somebody else.

[just-a-stockboy-to-them]

Thanks Duchess.

You get it. I don't think anybody else did.

Making the title invisible to searches is less hassle than overpricing, best offers, and arranging times.

I will be using "private" from now on.