Ebay itme can only be NEW or USED -- what if it's OLD and NOT USED??

[kustomizer99]

Anyone else annoyed by this logical fallacy that eBay forces the seller to call an item either NEW ('a brand-new, unused, unopened, undamaged item') or USED (which means 'NOT mint') at the top of the listing page?

Many of the items I list are OLD yet in USED condition. Ebay doesn't allow me to describe them as such except in the text, which contradicts the upper-level condition description.

Chimps or lemurs?

[shypansy]

Some categories do have an option that does not say New, but does say unused, or something to that effect, 

But the fact is before anyone opens the listing and views New or Used, they read the Title, put in what the item is,  New, Unused, As New, Used, Restored, Vintage, Mint in Box  etc,  if you have had the item sitting in the cupboard for a few years, but never actually used,  then say so, eg, As new condition Never Used,

[kustomizer99]

Hi Shypansy -- that's the option I'd like to have: 'AS new'..... oddly they do have that for books, but not for 'collectibles'.

Your idea about putting the condition in the title is a good one; still, buyers can get the wrong impression when an old item is described as 'new' in the condition field - they may think the item is a recent reproduction and not vintage.

[kopenhagen5]

I agree, I wouldn't use new, but as shy said I think never used is good.

[kustomizer99]

I've tried reporting this matter to eBay but they just couldn't understand what I was telling them.

Their automated categories for books are completely wrong as well, and don't conform to known standards and grading guides.

[lane-ends]

When is an item new, sitting on a warehouse shelf for 1 week, 1 month, 1 year, 2 years? Even store bought new items are often "old" stock.

I guess the only real definition is never been owned

in the description box, which is all many iphone users read at times, make up your own condition box and clarify it there

[peternt2001]

i have brought quiet a few pairs of sand shoes off of ebay and one term that pops up is ' new dead stock ' that seems to be used by people who apparantly have had sporting goods shops that have gone out of business and are selling dead stock that was never used

[zenremix777]

Like shypansy said, putting its condition at the start of the title might be a good idea. Something like "** New Old Stock **". You could also put it in the description and further clarify.

Maybe list it as Used to start off with, with the same title and description to clarify the item and if it doesn't sell, try listing it as New. If someone buys it as New, just message the buyer and make sure they've read the description and know what they've bought.

[kustomizer99]

It's just a shame that the way eBay structures people's listings leads to confusion for buyers.

The expression 'new old stock' is an oxymoron, and calling a 40 year-old item 'new' is just misleading. No wonder would-be shoppers often get so confused and end up just not buying.

[kustomizer99]

'New dead stock' just sounds positively creepy!