Restricting listings for a specified buyer only

[spicy-pickles]

I must not be wording my search right as I can't find any info about this.

How can I restrict a listing so that only a specified buyer(s) can bid/buy it?

I'm sure I have done this before but it was years ago. Now I can only find options for restricting the bidder type based on certain criteria but can't specify a username.

[digital*ghost]

This option is no longer possible, unfortunately (I believe the function was being abused in some way - I have vague memories of people mentioning it being used to manipulate FB in some way, anyway o_O).

The only thing you can do now is create a listing with minimal info in the title and preferably at an agreed-upon time with the buyer, to minimise the risk someone else will buy it. (I usually have Custom listing reserved for: [member ID] as the title, and send the buyer the item number as soon as the item is listed.

Another method (credited to k1ooo-slr-sales), is to have an unusually high Buy It Now price, then use the Best Offer function and let the buyer know they just need to offer the agreed amount. That way, it's highly unlikely anyone will BIN the item, and you can reject any offers that come through from other members.

[camelot_rose]

Why not list the item(s) with "Reserved listing" in the title?  It won't physically prevent other buyers from buying it, but buyers with a decent amount of intelligence and/ or good manners will see that it's intended for someone else and leave it there for your reserved customer.  I've noticed some stores even have a category sometimes for reserved or custom orders.

[k1ooo-slr-sales]

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@digital*ghost wrote:

Another method (credited to k1ooo-slr-sales), is to have an unusually absurdly high Buy It Now price, then use the Best Offer function and let the buyer know they just need to offer the agreed amount. That way, it's highly unlikely anyone will BIN the item, and you can reject any offers that come through from other members. 

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Thanks for the credit D*G  

I have used this method many times since listing fees were dropped.  For an item that I have agreed to sell for $150, I would put a Buy-It-Now price of $850 with best-offer feature.  The buyer then needs to send through an offer of $150 which I have then accepted.  Works every time.

sachi . . . . . the problem with eBay is that not all buyer members are "buyers with a decent amount of intelligence and/ or good manners" and if the listing has a good price then someone that the listing is not intended for might buy and expect the seller to send.  When the seller doesn't send they will surely get a negative.

[trulyspecialgoodies]

I list items for specific buyers as "Private Listing for xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx". I don't include a photo and in the description I write "As arranged with buyer".  If somebody else is daft enough to click on the Buy it Now I can send them a paper clip and they can't claim 'Item not as described'.

Needless to say, I inform the buyer beforehand how the listing is going to look and my reason for doing it this way. I've done about 6 or 7 like this over the last couple of years and haven't had any problems yet...

[phorum_junkie*]

 If somebody else is daft enough to click on the Buy it Now I can send them a paper clip and they can't claim 'Item not as described'.

As much as that, overgenerous, I would send them a full stop on a tiny piece of paper

[digital*ghost]

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@phorum_junkie* wrote:

 If somebody else is daft enough to click on the Buy it Now I can send them a paper clip and they can't claim 'Item not as described'.

As much as that, overgenerous, I would send them a full stop on a tiny piece of paper

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Well, I must be a pushover, cos I'd send them a paperclip and two dots on a piece of paper....

Spoiler

[davewil1964]

Which is not really advisable as it leaves the real buyer without protection as well. Unless they don't use a 'safe' payment method. Which most won't.

i would go with a proper description and a bodgy title.

[trulyspecialgoodies]

Dave, they'd have the protection of eBay being able to see all our communication via messages which refer to the specific item they are wanting to purchase. I find that in these cases we communicate to and fro quite a few times before I put up the actual listing and it's all done through eBay messages not private emails.