GetBestOffers Not Returning Prices

[super_tall_midget]

Hi, I'm following the GetBestOffers API details from this page here: https://developer.ebay.com/devzone/xml/docs/reference/ebay/GetBestOffers.html#Samples

On that page it specifies the following: 

• If the user is neither the seller nor a bidder for a listing--The user sees all offer prices and currencies of all bidders IF the listing has ended. Otherwise, the user sees nothing. No email ids are returned.

This is great since I am trying to see the best offer prices for ended listings which I have not been a part of. However, when I run a successful API call, it seems to return everything except the price of the offer. Is there a way for me to see the prices? The documentation above specifically states I should see it but I am not.

Item ID: 385464789784

I am not the seller, not the buyer and I did not submit an offer on this item. It is simply a random item I pulled from eBay for testing this API. Here is the response I receive:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<GetBestOffersResponse xmlns="urnapis:eBLBaseComponents">
    <Timestamp>2023-05-19T22:14:27.231Z</Timestamp>
    <Ack>Success</Ack>
    <Version>1193</Version>
    <Build>E1193_CORE_API_19146280_R1</Build>
    <HardExpirationWarning>2023-05-20 05:30:55</HardExpirationWarning>
    <BestOfferArray>
        <BestOffer>
            <BestOfferID>99687971</BestOfferID>
            <ExpirationTime>2023-03-08T21:24:36.000Z</ExpirationTime>
            <Buyer>
                <FeedbackScore>194</FeedbackScore>
                <RegistrationDate>2012-12-09T02:00:23.000Z</RegistrationDate>
                <UserID>i***e</UserID>
            </Buyer>
            <Status>Declined</Status>
            <Quantity>1</Quantity>
            <BestOfferCodeType>BuyerBestOffer</BestOfferCodeType>
        </BestOffer>
        <BestOffer>
            <BestOfferID>99919989</BestOfferID>
            <ExpirationTime>2023-03-13T18:54:22.000Z</ExpirationTime>
            <Buyer>
                <FeedbackScore>39</FeedbackScore>
                <RegistrationDate>2021-04-20T22:02:39.000Z</RegistrationDate>
                <UserID>u***_</UserID>
            </Buyer>
            <Status>Countered</Status>
            <Quantity>1</Quantity>
            <BestOfferCodeType>BuyerBestOffer</BestOfferCodeType>
        </BestOffer>
        <BestOffer>
            <BestOfferID>99926200</BestOfferID>
            <ExpirationTime>2023-03-13T21:00:55.000Z</ExpirationTime>
            <Buyer>
                <FeedbackScore>39</FeedbackScore>
                <RegistrationDate>2021-04-20T22:02:39.000Z</RegistrationDate>
                <UserID>u***_</UserID>
            </Buyer>
            <Status>Expired</Status>
            <Quantity>1</Quantity>
            <BestOfferCodeType>SellerCounterOffer</BestOfferCodeType>
        </BestOffer>
        <BestOffer>
            <BestOfferID>100425898</BestOfferID>
            <ExpirationTime>2023-03-24T12:37:49.000Z</ExpirationTime>
            <Buyer>
                <FeedbackScore>39</FeedbackScore>
                <RegistrationDate>2021-04-20T22:02:39.000Z</RegistrationDate>
                <UserID>u***_</UserID>
            </Buyer>
            <Status>Accepted</Status>
            <Quantity>1</Quantity>
            <BestOfferCodeType>BuyerBestOffer</BestOfferCodeType>
        </BestOffer>
        <BestOffer>
            <BestOfferID>99764707</BestOfferID>
            <ExpirationTime>2023-03-10T13:45:07.000Z</ExpirationTime>
            <Buyer>
                <FeedbackScore>181</FeedbackScore>
                <RegistrationDate>2019-04-05T19:52:35.000Z</RegistrationDate>
                <UserID>o***o</UserID>
            </Buyer>
            <Status>Declined</Status>
            <Quantity>1</Quantity>
            <BestOfferCodeType>BuyerBestOffer</BestOfferCodeType>
        </BestOffer>
        <BestOffer>
            <BestOfferID>99773267</BestOfferID>
            <ExpirationTime>2023-03-10T17:18:59.000Z</ExpirationTime>
            <Buyer>
                <FeedbackScore>181</FeedbackScore>
                <RegistrationDate>2019-04-05T19:52:35.000Z</RegistrationDate>
                <UserID>o***o</UserID>
            </Buyer>
            <Status>Expired</Status>
            <Quantity>1</Quantity>
            <BestOfferCodeType>BuyerBestOffer</BestOfferCodeType>
        </BestOffer>
    </BestOfferArray>
    <Item>
        <BuyItNowPrice currencyID="USD">728.89</BuyItNowPrice>
        <ListingDetails>
            <EndTime>2023-03-23T16:00:09.000Z</EndTime>
        </ListingDetails>
        <Location>Wilmington, North Carolina</Location>
        <Title>Very Very Very Very Lucky Black Cat - Very Rare - Veefriends Compete and Collect</Title>
    </Item>
</GetBestOffersResponse>

[nguyenth_8117]

Hello,

I understand that you're using the GetBestOffers API on eBay and you're not able to see the prices of the offers, even though the documentation states that you should be able to.

In situations like this, it's possible that there may be specific conditions or requirements that need to be met in order to retrieve the offer prices. Here are a few suggestions to troubleshoot the issue:

Verify API credentials: Double-check that you are using valid and authorized API credentials. Ensure that you have the necessary permissions to access offer prices for ended listings.

Confirm listing status: Make sure that the listings you are querying using the GetBestOffers API have indeed ended. Offer prices may not be visible if the listing is still active or if it has been relisted.

By reviewing your API credentials, ensuring listing status and offer visibility, examining the API response, and contacting eBay Developer Support, you should be able to resolve the issue and access the offer prices as intended.

Best regard,

[super_tall_midget]

Thanks for replying, here are the confirmations to all of those checks.

Verify API credentials: I'm getting successful results back so yes, my credentials are good.

Do I have permissions for offer prices: How do I know if I do or not?

Confirm listing status: When I use the GetMultipleItems API on that item ID, it returns a ListingStatus of Completed so I can confirm it is in completed status.

I tried contacting support but it's $75 per hour and this honestly appears to be an issue with the API so I don't think it's anything with my account unless I don't have access.

The GetBestOffers request is in my original post but here is the result of the GetMultipleItems request so you can see the listing is completed.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<GetMultipleItemsResponse xmlns="urnapis:eBLBaseComponents">
    <Timestamp>2023-05-29T16:56:57.248Z</Timestamp>
    <Ack>Success</Ack>
    <Build>1299_CORE_APILW_19146596_R1</Build>
    <Version>1299</Version>
    <Item>
        <BestOfferEnabled>true</BestOfferEnabled>
        <Description>VeeFriends - Compete and Collect Trading CardsVery Rare (97/100) Very Very Very Very Lucky Black Cat, carefully secured in a card sleeve. Will be securely shipped with cardboard and a bubble wrap sleeve.</Description>
        <ItemID>385464789784</ItemID>
        <EndTime>2023-03-23T16:00:09.000Z</EndTime>
        <StartTime>2023-03-07T16:02:30.000Z</StartTime>
        <ViewItemURLForNaturalSearch>https://www.ebay.com/itm/Very-Very-Very-Very-Lucky-Black-Cat-Very-Rare-Veefriends-Compete-and-Collect-/385464789784</ViewItemURLForNaturalSearch>
        <ListingType>FixedPriceItem</ListingType>
        <Location>Wilmington, North Carolina</Location>
        <GalleryURL>https://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTYwMFgxMjAw/z/f5YAAOSwt1lkB18v/$_57.PNG?set_id=880000500F</GalleryURL>
        <PictureURL>https://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTYwMFgxMjAw/z/f5YAAOSwt1lkB18v/$_57.PNG?set_id=880000500F</PictureURL>
        <PictureURL>https://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTYwMFgxMjAw/z/V8kAAOSwQaxkB18z/$_57.PNG?set_id=880000500F</PictureURL>
        <PictureURL>https://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTYwMFgxMjAw/z/ZhEAAOSwEOtkB18s/$_57.PNG?set_id=880000500F</PictureURL>
        <PostalCode>284**</PostalCode>
        <PrimaryCategoryID>183050</PrimaryCategoryID>
        <PrimaryCategoryName>Collectibles:Non-Sport Trading Cards:Trading Card Singles</PrimaryCategoryName>
        <Quantity>1</Quantity>
        <Seller>
            <UserID>bro473579</UserID>
            <FeedbackRatingStar>None</FeedbackRatingStar>
            <FeedbackScore>1</FeedbackScore>
            <PositiveFeedbackPercent>100.0</PositiveFeedbackPercent>
        </Seller>
        <BidCount>0</BidCount>
        <ConvertedCurrentPrice currencyID="USD">728.89</ConvertedCurrentPrice>
        <CurrentPrice currencyID="USD">728.89</CurrentPrice>
        <ListingStatus>Completed</ListingStatus>
        <QuantitySold>1</QuantitySold>
        <ShipToLocations>US</ShipToLocations>
        <Site>US</Site>
        <TimeLeft>PT0S</TimeLeft>
        <Title>Very Very Very Very Lucky Black Cat - Very Rare - Veefriends Compete and Collect</Title>
        <ItemSpecifics>
            <NameValueList>
                <Name>All returns accepted</Name>
                <Value>ReturnsNotAccepted</Value>
            </NameValueList>
            <NameValueList>
                <Name>Graded</Name>
                <Value>No</Value>
            </NameValueList>
            <NameValueList>
                <Name>Type</Name>
                <Value>Non-Sport Trading Card</Value>
            </NameValueList>
            <NameValueList>
                <Name>Set</Name>
                <Value>Series 2</Value>
            </NameValueList>
            <NameValueList>
                <Name>Character</Name>
                <Value>Black Cat</Value>
            </NameValueList>
            <NameValueList>
                <Name>Card Name</Name>
                <Value>Very Very Very Very Lucky Black Cat</Value>
            </NameValueList>
            <NameValueList>
                <Name>Card Condition</Name>
                <Value>Near Mint or Better</Value>
            </NameValueList>
            <NameValueList>
                <Name>Year Manufactured</Name>
                <Value>2022</Value>
            </NameValueList>
            <NameValueList>
                <Name>Card Number</Name>
                <Value>97/100</Value>
            </NameValueList>
            <NameValueList>
                <Name>Franchise</Name>
                <Value>VeeFriends</Value>
            </NameValueList>
        </ItemSpecifics>
        <PrimaryCategoryIDPath>1:182982:183050</PrimaryCategoryIDPath>
        <Country>US</Country>
        <ReturnPolicy>
            <ReturnsAccepted>ReturnsNotAccepted</ReturnsAccepted>
            <InternationalReturnsAccepted>ReturnsNotAccepted</InternationalReturnsAccepted>
        </ReturnPolicy>
        <AutoPay>false</AutoPay>
        <IntegratedMerchantCreditCardEnabled>false</IntegratedMerchantCreditCardEnabled>
        <HandlingTime>3</HandlingTime>
        <GlobalShipping>false</GlobalShipping>
        <QuantitySoldByPickupInStore>0</QuantitySoldByPickupInStore>
        <NewBestOffer>false</NewBestOffer>
    </Item>
</GetMultipleItemsResponse>

[shipscript]

@super_tall_midget 

For a period of time, we were able to see the negotiated price in ended listings. eBay terminated that practice a couple of years ago because sellers felt it compromised the pricing on their other similar items. Thus, I suspect the offer price is no longer available to an outsider, and the documentation has not been updated.

[super_tall_midget]

Thank you very much, how can I get eBay to confirm if this is indeed the case? Is there a way to contact them and ask?

[shipscript]

@super_tall_midget 

We can ask here, but may not get a response.

To developer_support@ebay  

Does the Trading API "GetBestOffers" documentation need to be updated?

"If the user is neither the seller nor a bidder for a listing--The user sees all offer prices and currencies of all bidders IF the listing has ended. Otherwise, the user sees nothing. No email ids are returned."

eBay removed the ability for an outsider to view the offer amount on sold items. Site search now only displays winning bids and original buy-now prices on ended listings, but not the offer price.  Does the Trading API now function similarly?

[developer_support@ebay · Accepted solution]

Hi @super_tall_midget ,

For BestOffer.Price field to be returned in the response of call, the user must have a relationship to the Best Offer, either as the seller, buyer, or potential buyer who has made the Best Offer or counter offer.