At some stage EBAY started to allow multiple item listings. That means a seller can list a variety of different items in the one listing.
That in itself seems like a great way to have the same item in different colours or sizes with the same or very similar price.
HOWEVER. Sneaky sellers put the items they want to sell (at an inflated price compared to the going rate) and add a trivial much cheaper item, which then makes a price range start at a much lower price and is as such shown much higher up in a user’s cheapest price search. That is even though the actual item in the description is not actually available for that price.
Strictly speaking that is against EBAY’s listing practices, but EBAY is not doing anything about it unless someone complains. And then at best they get that item removed, but the other 500 listings doing exactly the same stay.
EBAY ! WHAT THE …?
- Do something about your listing practices being breached. Proactively seek them out and delist them or
- Abolish multi item listings altogether or
- Option to exclude ALL multi item listings in the searches or
- List ALL multi item listings at their highest price of the listing’s price range
WHY SHOULD EBAY DO THAT?
Simple.
- EBay’s searches become polluted by these fraudulent listings.
- Users are being cheated from actually getting the best price.
- Users are buried in a deluge of fraudulent listings and don’t buy.
- Ebay’s inaction in this matter nurtures uncompetitive and fraudulent behaviour of some unscrupulous sellers.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
- Complain to Ebay about as many listings as you can bother to do.
- Write about it in your blog
- Don’t ever buy from multi listing in Ebay
- Don’t buy at Ebay at all. (There are plenty of options https://www.nchannel.com/blog/other-sites-like-ebay-alternatives/)
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