eBay forcing $4 "Stand out with a bold title in search results" fee

[alexandriafineconsignments]

For the past week the checkbox keeps being checked for the "Stand out with a bold title in search results" fee found underneath the Title field. 

I have cleared my browser's cache, restarted my laptop, started a listing completely from scratch, etc. but that box keeps getting checked when I do "Sell a Similar Item". I have had to go back and edit my items many times to uncheck that box.

I am absolutely NOT a conspiracy theorist, but it seems pretty fishy to me that that box is automatically being checked as we are listing tons of items for the Christmas/Holiday season. Pretty easy way for eBay to pull in tons of $$ in extra fees.

Anyone else having this problem?

Cheers all,

Steve

[donsdetour]

You might check your preferences and see if such is there.

Other wise you need to post this to the technical section.

[jayjaspersgarage]

I believe you.  This used to happen to me in all sorts of devious ways.  I think it was nefarious programmers messing with people at times.   To my surprise one day I noticed the auction duration would switch from 7 days to 3 days right before my eyes.  Three day auctions cost an extra $1.  I would switch to 10 days and sometimes that would stick but I never ran three day auctions.  Then the bold title switcheroo would happen or the 'large photo package' box would be checked without my consent.  

The watch word for all sellers is to always use a large screen (no phone listing) and slow down to double check all these potential upsells before you click the list button.

[ittybitnot]

 but that box keeps getting checked when I do "Sell a Similar Item".

@alexandriafineconsignments 

Often when using the "sell similar" feature it is going to retain settings/specifics from the original.  You will have to make sure to "uncheck" this before you submit.   You can also elect NOT to use "sell similar" and start a listing from scratch to see if that setting is selected by default. 

[m60driver]

The more interesting question is why this option even exists given (1) how few people use it and (2) how negligible the bold title differs from the a regular title, at least on my computer's screen.  At the very least Ebay should require that a seller confirm the selection of the bold title option as all of us have made a few listings with that option clicked in error.

[sextons-sweet-deals]

I always have to be careful when listing (new listing, bulk re-lisitng, sell similar item listing) to make sure the "international sales" block is un-checked

[chapeau-noir]

Creating and using your own templates rather than relying on 'sell similar' may help with this.

[slippinjimmy]

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@m60driver wrote:

The more interesting question is why this option even exists given (1) how few people use it and (2) how negligible the bold title differs from the a regular title, at least on my computer's screen.  At the very least Ebay should require that a seller confirm the selection of the bold title option as all of us have made a few listings with that option clicked in error.

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My theory is that eBay decided they wanted to get rid of this option but instead of upsetting the few people who were using it by eliminating the option they jacked up the price instead.

Similar to the Reserve fee, make it really high and sellers will stop using it (except for the  unlucky ones who don't realize what the fee is).

[chini66]

It's happened to me 3 times in the past month, particularly in the app where there is no check box but they are applying the fee in stealth.  When I "sell similar" now I make sure to do it on the computer and carefully uncheck the automatically checked box!

[inhawaii]

Bottom line is ... check your listings for accuracy before you hit that enter button ... which apparently you are doing. Good catch.

[popsanddolls]

It seems to happen to me once or twice a month

[jercs]

It's happened to me twice now - applied to existing listing that did not originally have the bold promotion checked.  Try explaining that one to the e-bay folks.  They are sure I am revising and then changing my mind.