Listing shows $1 but item is not $1 to buy?

[letscleanupmycupboards]

So I've seen this a few times and can't see how it can be permitted. The listing on the main page shows an item as $1 BIN free post. So you go into the item and it still shows the cheap price, has a choice of 4 or 5 items.

As soon as you select one, the price changes to $13, turns out it is only a plug adaptor that is $1. This is the listing:

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/DIGITAL-LCD-LASER-TACHOMETER-HANDHELD-RPM-REV-COUNTER-TACHO-4-Types-/3509...

Seen it with MP3/4 players listed for $1 but when you select your colour it turns out the headphones are $1 and the player is $16. Surely this is search manipulation, it is confusing but I've reported soooo many listings and they never get deleted as theres so many doing this.

Surely they can't offer 2 different types of items in the one listing especially where the one pictured and listed is not available at the price shown.

[thecatspjs]

why the bots don't pick this type of carp selling tactic up I do not know, 

I have reported that one too, but the report function does not even cater adequately for this type of listing, and you can have no confidence that a reported item will even be reviewed unless they are a small time seller in Australia

[letscleanupmycupboards]

I originally came across it with MP3 players. I wanted one for my car to plug in to the CD player. $1 with free post seemed too good to be true. Turns out it was. $1 was the headphones. The mp3 was $16.

[digital*ghost]

Until eBay start being proactive and enforcing their policies, unfortunately the only thing you can do is refine your searches to try and exclude the bogus item prices from showing up in search results (eg setting the price range at $2 so anything priced under won't show, or excluding the keywords for most common items in such listings, though a search like MP3 player -headphones is likely to exclude some genuine listings using headphones as a keyword legitimately). 

[jerryman12a]

This is rife in the Craft and Jewellery/Beads categories as well , I did report a couple last week that appear to have been relisted with the Title changed so maybe it is worthwhile reporting them .

It makes it hard to search for things as these sellers also list items in wrong categories with dozens of incorrectly listed items . 

[book-of-hezekiah]

In an attempt to counter the inadequate report function I will report the same thing multiple times using different parameters.  This particular listing I would put 1. Listing practices: Avoiding eBay fees: Offering Choices (The listing has different brands of an item, a choice between two entirely different items, or items that aren't in similar condition.); 2. Listing practices: Search and browse manipulation: Other search and browse manipulation (The listing inappropriately draws attention or diverts members to a listing.)

Sometimes the $1 item can be reported for being in an incorrect category using Listing practices: Search and browse manipulation: Listing in an incorrect category (The listing is in a category that doesn't represent the item being sold or it's outside of the appropriate category.)

I have also even seen some listings saying to only buy the $1 item with the more expensive item so in this instance I also report that for Listing practices: Avoiding eBay fees: Offering or requiring additional purchases (The listing offers or requires buyers to make an additional purchase, pay an amount more than the final price and reasonable postage costs, sign up for a service, or take any unrelated action as a condition for receiving the item.)

I do not know how effective this is but I will keep up hope that reporting is not in vain.

[tetrinet]

A year later and this exploit/loophole still exists.  Fix your site!

[daydream**believer]

yep, im seeing this more and more lately and its extremely annoying

[davewil1964]

It's neither a glitch nor a loophole. It is how the system is designed, so the chances of a 'fix' are minimal.

[go-tazz]

That plug is now out of stock as it's greyed out,(so technically it's a false listing as well).

It's become habit in my searches that I automatically hit the back button when I go into one of those type of

listings.

Technically that's not the way a listing with variations is supposed to work.

It's designed so you could list items that are essentially the same but have different sizes,colours,etc and not

for completely different items,(that's search and browse manipulation).

But it's like everything on eBay,give some sellers a chance and they'll try and exploit it for their own means,

http://pages.ebay.com.au/help/sell/listing-variations.html