What is the proper way to end a listing?

[modulok!]

I like to end listings that have been active for 3 months with no takers.  I then relist the item maybe hours to a day later.  In the past I would just choose end listing and it would end the listing but now it is asking for 1 of 4 reasons:

The item is no longer available for sale.
There was an error in the listing.
There was an error in starting price, Buy It Now price, or reserve price.
The item was lost or broken.

What is the proper reason to choose if one is just going to relist the item at a later time.  I'm thinking the first reason (no longer available).  What reason do you choose?

[ptrainermel]

I always choose the price error option or error in the listing. I end most items and relist them right before the 30 day auto relist. 

[Anonymous]

Actually, my personal opinion on this is that I choose there was an error in starting price because when something hasn't gotten attention, that's usually the first thing I change when relisting. If you aren't getting bids, perhaps it's time to lower your expectation. Go from fixed price to auction style or lower the price on your auction style.

While it really does not matter what you select (although I wouldn't use the broken one, though, which usually means you aren't going to relist it or you will relist it for parts not working), if you plan on reselling for a lower price, that one makes the most sense.

[eunster1313]

(I like to end listings that have been active for 3 months with no takers. I then relist the item maybe hours to a day later. In the past I would just choose end listing and it would end the listing but now it is asking for 1 of 4 reasons:)

(The item is no longer available for sale.)

Ending a listing

https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/listings/creating-managing-listings/ending-listing?id=4146&st=12&p... 

[stephenmorgan]

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@ptrainermel wrote:

I end most items and relist them right before the 30 day auto relist. 

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Why do you do this rather then just let them auto relist?

[pcobra93]

For the same reason you rarely sell something after it has been on for over 3 days. You get shuffled in to the black hole of ebay listings unless it is "new"....ending it and relisting gets you visibility for a couple days. Don't let Ebay tell you otherwise either.

[divwido]

Unrelated but true, eBay changing the thirty day buy it now to good until forever was a huge loss for sellers. 

[pcobra93]

This is interesting as before this abortion we were forced in to yesterday we did not have to put a "reason" for ending a 30 day fixed listing (yes, another of Ebays abortions).... now since the "Classic" selling went away it forces us to once again choose a "reason". I think they should fire everyone at ChnaBay and start over....

[ptrainermel]

"Why do you do this rather then just let them auto relist?"

Because if you don't your listings get buried further and further down the search list. When you end the item and relist it comes up right at the top of the list when someone searches for that item

[luckythewinner]

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@pcobra93 wrote:

This is interesting as before this abortion we were forced in to yesterday we did not have to put a "reason" for ending a 30 day fixed listing (yes, another of Ebays abortions).... now since the "Classic" selling went away it forces us to once again choose a "reason". I think they should fire everyone at ChnaBay and start over....

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I believe when you end listings in bulk through the Seller Hub, you are not asked for a reason. But if you end a single listing, it does ask. 

In my book, I'm not sure that requiring a reason for ending a listing is a firing offense that rises to the level of "abortion", but that is just my opinion. 

[kennys-kollectibles]

Also note that at one time, and I bet it's still in place, when you end a listing you get charged

a final value fee as if had sold.  

The reasoning was, ebay was watching people list stuff then end the listing and selling

it outside ebay and therefore avoiding fees.  

So, they stopped that by just charging a final value fee whenever you ended  a listing. 

My theory on why they ended the 30 day relisting and changed to "list until it sells" was

they knew everything was not going to sell and sooner or later  people would have to 

end the listing, and ebay would get revenue from a non-sale.  Pure genious right?

[stephenmorgan]

That is good to know.  So when they auto relist they stay buried is the search list.  Nice trick!!!....

[ptrainermel]

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@kennys-kollectibles wrote:

Also note that at one time, and I bet it's still in place, when you end a listing you get charged

a final value fee as if had sold.  

The reasoning was, ebay was watching people list stuff then end the listing and selling

it outside ebay and therefore avoiding fees.  

So, they stopped that by just charging a final value fee whenever you ended  a listing. 

My theory on why they ended the 30 day relisting and changed to "list until it sells" was

they knew everything was not going to sell and sooner or later  people would have to 

end the listing, and ebay would get revenue from a non-sale.  Pure genious right?

I have to say I have never been charged a FVF for ending an item and relisting it (or not).... That said, you are correct in that if eBay finds evidence in your messages that you are trying to sell the item outside of eBay and then you just so happen to end your listing....then they can or will hit you with a FVF on the item for selling outside eBay. But again, I have never seen this with simply ending listings and then relisting or choosing to "sell similar".

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[releasethekraken_1]

I just use "no longer available",  because it isn't. Then it becomes available again a few hours later.

[stephenmorgan]

I wonder why eBay wants to track why a listing is canceled?  It should not matter why you ended a listing.  Are they studying this looking for a way to penalize you because of canceling listings.