Why does eBay make sending offers so difficult?

[feltfootball]

Isn't the goal here to sell things?  Limiting the seller's ability send offers just makes no sense.  If I send an offer and nobody bites, I'm not allowed to send another offer?  

Make it make sense.

[feltfootball]

Of course, you've been selling here for exactly two years... so you cannot be completely blamed for your naiveté and lack of perspective.

I've been selling on eBay since 1998, but thanks for your input.

There seems to be no shortage of disciples, fanboys and I'm guessing employees in my responses.

All of the justifications provided have been fairly limp thus far... 

[fbusoni]

@feltfootball 

Your about page shows you started selling in April of 2023.  That's two years, if my math is correct.

But in the event you have been selling since 1998... you've obviously learned nothing in 27 years.

And your comments above are fairly typical of those here who do not like what others have to say.

No one is providing justifications... you find the facts inconvenient, and will therefore remain grumpy.  

Good luck.

[feltfootball]

Your about page shows you started selling in April of 2023.  That's two years, if my math is correct.

And your comments above are fairly typical of those here who do not like what others have to say.

No one is providing justifications... you find the facts inconvenient, and will therefore remain grumpy.  

Good luck.

How long have you been on eBay?  Pretty naive to believe you're only allowed one account here.

[nanniestreasurechest]

@feltfootball 

This is one of my complaints also.  It's so frustrating get one watcher and send out an offer. Then after the offer is sent you have 3 or 4 more watchers and have to wait until the first one either declines or it expires before sending the offer to the new watchers.  The first offer shouldn't stop you from sending out more. 

[luckythewinner]

Two immediate thoughts on this...

1)  There has to be limits?  How about the same limit for sellers that there is for buyers?  One and done, does not work.  Why shouldn't the seller get 5 offers too? 

YES! LIMITS ARE NEEDED. 

Offers from buyers are explicitly solicited by the seller by putting "Make offer" on the listing. The seller has given his permission for people to make offers. 

On the other hand, offers to buyers are unsolicited. The buyer has not given you permission to send an offer. That means they are SPAM. I am surprised that eBay even allows them at all. 

Your offers to a buyer have an indirect effect on all eBay sellers. If a buyer received too much SPAM from sellers on eBay, some  would get fed up and stop shopping here which hurts us all. 

[luckythewinner]

---

@feltfootball wrote:

An offer to a buyer who is watching your item is an unsolicited message of a commercial nature. 

That is the definition of SPAM. 

eBay very wisely limits the amount of SPAM that sellers on eBay  can inflict on a buyer. 

This is the most ridiculous justification I've read.  This is a commerce website.   The point of it's existence is to sell things.    

Watch lists are for people who are interested in an item.   To the people who say they have sellers in their watch list because they want to know what an item sells for....guess what?  Those sellers will never know unless they also receive the offer that's accepted.  If I can't send offers, they will never know because in their infinite wisdom, eBay hides the sale price on "best offer" items.

---

I disagree completely. 

If a buyer who is watching wanted to make an offer to a seller, he would  have already made an offer. 

I have a better idea - lower the price to what you are willing to accept in the first place. 🤔

[fbusoni]

@feltfootball 

I’ve been here since 1999. 

But, unlike you and so may others suffering from the same sort of entitlement as you who come here to whine about how unfair eBay is, I’ve learned along the way. 

Put another way, it’s more about intelligence, business acumen, and maturity than longevity. 

Meantime, if you want special treatment, see if you can become eBay CEO.   

You’re welcome.  

[fbusoni]

@nanniestreasurechest 

One option is to lower the price to that of the offer you sent.  

Then the other 3 or 4 watchers will get the same benefit.  

[dy60609]

" know what an item sells for....guess what?"  

 " Those sellers will never know unless they also receive the offer that's accepted."

-------------------------------------------------------------

It can be checked by those in the know. It is not a complete secret.

[feltfootball]

YES! LIMITS ARE NEEDED. 

Offers from buyers are explicitly solicited by the seller by putting "Make offer" on the listing. The seller has given his permission for people to make offers. 

On the other hand, offers to buyers are unsolicited. The buyer has not given you permission to send an offer. That means they are SPAM. I am surprised that eBay even allows them at all. 

Your offers to a buyer have an indirect effect on all eBay sellers. If a buyer received too much SPAM from sellers on eBay, some  would get fed up and stop shipping here which hurts us all. 

5 would be a limit, would it not?  3 would also be a limit.  One is far too restrictive and over compensating for a problem when there are plenty of other more sensible solutions.

The irrational fear of SPAM here is as bad as the irrational fear of a certain president of the U.S.

[feltfootball]

I have a better idea - lower the price to what you are willing to accept in the first place. 🤔

That's not a better idea.  I've already explained why that's not the best approach.  

[gator08041971]

I have a rule (or a few) that I list/price items with:

• I look at how many of that item is listed currently  (the more there are, the more your price has to competitive)
• I look at the lowest listing prices and examine those listings to see how the item looks compared to mine (condition can dictate prices)
• I look at sold listings of the item (how many have sold over time recently and how much for)
• I then price mine where it should be in relation to those three things

Most items sell reasonably fast with those things in mind.  For items that very few exist or have sold I will often price them higher to start with and see how they do.  After a while, I can lower the price bit by bit as needed.  I am not in the position where everything must sell fast.  I have the luxury of time, so if it doesn't sell right away, I don't stress over it.

For those listings where I compete with 1000s of other listings selling the same items, I price them as low as I can for costs/profit sake, but continue to offer the best service for that item.  Take HDDs for example.  Mine are a bit higher than the average, but I sell a lot of them, because they are fully tested, very well packaged and have been reliable for the buyers.

[feltfootball]

I’ve been here since 1999. 

But, unlike you and so may others suffering from the same sort of entitlement as you who come here to whine about how unfair eBay is, I’ve learned along the way. 

Put another way, it’s more about intelligence, business acumen, and maturity than longevity. 

So you call out my longevity (wrongly) and then say it's not about longevity.  Got it.

You have provided a valuable service though.  You've reminded my why I visit these forums so infrequently.    Too many closed minded..."It's got to be that way because it's always been that way!" and "eBay is always right!" dinosaurs.  If it we left to the majority of responders here we'd still live in mud huts eagerly awaiting the invention of the wheel.

[luckythewinner]

there are plenty of other more sensible solutions.

Like simply editing your listing to reflect your actual selling price? 

The irrational fear of SPAM here

I suspect eBay's limit was set based on feedback from buyers. Because after all, watching a listing was intended as convenience for buyers, not a tool for sellers.

[fbusoni]

@feltfootball 

Nah, I’d say you’re still here too frequently.  😂

Seriously, you’ve gotten a lot of good advice from other experienced sellers here, and none of us are employees of eBay…  it’s just that we know that there are limits to what we can demand of eBay, and to argue otherwise is obviously futile.

Which, incidentally, is why I suggest that you apply for the job of eBay CEO.  Then you can make all the changes that you want and turn this platform into a place that is just right for you.  😁